Determination of 15N stable isotope natural abundances for assessing the use of saline reclaimed water in grapefruit

We reported the results of an isotopic study aimed at evaluating the medium to long-term effects of different water qualities and deficit irrigation strategies on the ecophysiology of grapefruit in a 7-year-old plantation in SE Spain. For a better understanding of the interaction between nitrogen and salts from reclaimed water, RW, an experiment using natural abundance (δ) of 15N was conducted. This study showed that in grapefruit crop irrigated with RW leaf δ15N value increased. We concluded that: (i) causal links exist between leaf δ15N isotope and salt stress: positive correlation between values of this isotope and leaf salt content was showed; (ii) excess of nitrates provided by the reclaimed irrigation water were lost in the ecosystem through leaching, denitrification, etc., enriching the medium with δ15N and increasing δ15N values in plants. Therefore, the results of this study highlight the key role that salt content from RW can play in N uptake by plants and, hence, isotopic discrimination of leaf N. Consequently, it has been demonstrated the usefulness of isotopic discrimination measure to predict crop sustainability in the medium to long term when using water sources of different quality combined with deficit irrigation strategies

Key distillation from Gaussian states by Gaussian operations

We study the secrecy properties of Gaussian states under Gaussian operations. Although such operations are useless for quantum distillation, we prove that it is possible to distill a secret key secure against any attack from sufficiently entangled Gaussian states with non-positive partial transposition. Moreover, all such states allow for key distillation, when Eve is assumed to perform finite-size coherent attacks before the reconciliation process.Comment: 2 figures, REVTEX

Los aludes en el macizo de Peñalara

Ponencia presentada en: XXXIII Jornadas Científicas de la AME y el XIV Encuentro Hispano Luso de Meteorología celebrado en Oviedo, del 7 al 9 de abril de 2014

Effect of deficit irrigation and reclaimed water on yield and quality of grapefruits at harvest and postharvest

The aim of our research was to discover the effects of the long-term irrigation with saline reclaimed (RW) and transfer (TW) water and different irrigation strategies: control (C) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on yield and fruit quality of grapefruit at harvest and during cold storage. T W-RDI treatment decreased tree canopy (TC) and crop load, resulting in a 21% reduction of fruit yield. Regarding fruit quality, RW notably decreased peel thickness at harvest (about 8%); however, this difference was not remained during cold storage. Sugar/acid ratio was mainly increased by RDI, but also by RW, due to an important increase in soluble solid content (11% of average value for TW-RDI, RW-C and RW-RDI). In addition, RDI combined with RW, significantly increased the number of fruits in small category 5 at the end of cold storage. Finally, neither ratio yield/TC nor irrigation water productivity were affected by any irrigation treatments.This study was supported by two CICYT projects (AGL2010-17553 and AGL2013-49047-C2- 515 2-R) projects and SENECA-Excelencia Científica (19903/GERM/15)

Effects of saline reclaimed waters and deficit irrigation on Citrus physiology assessed by UAV remote sensing

The aim of our research was to discover the effects of the long-term irrigation with saline reclaimed (RW) and transfer (TW) water and different irrigation strategies: control (C) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on yield and fruit quality of grapefruit at harvest and during cold storage. TW-RDI treatment decreased tree canopy (TC) and crop load, resulting in a 21% reduction of fruit yield. Regarding fruit quality, RW notably decreased peel thickness at harvest (about 8%); however, this difference was not remained during cold storage. Sugar/acid ratio was mainly increased by RDI, but also by RW, due to an important increase in soluble solid content (11% of average value for TW-RDI, RW-C and RW-RDI). In addition, RDI combined with RW, significantly increased the number of fruits in small category 5 at the end of cold storage. Finally, neither ratio yield/TC nor irrigation water productivity were affected by any irrigation treatments.This study was supported by two CICYT (AGL2010-17553 and AGL2013-49047-C2-482 515 2-R) projects and SIRRIMED (KBBE-2009-1- 2-03, PROPOSAL N◦245159) 483 project. We are also grateful to SENECA–Excelencia Científica (19903/GERM/15) for 484 providing funds for this research

Clasificación del terreno frente al peligro de aludes en el Macizo de Peñalara

En el Sistema Central, la nieve no es un meteoro abundante. Sin embargo, el riesgo de desencadenamiento de aludes no es despreciable debido a las características geoecológicas de la cadena. Así, en numerosas ocasiones se han registrado avalanchas con víctimas, incluso en algún caso mortales. Si bien los aludes en la sierra de Guadarrama son comparativamente menores en tamaño y frecuencia que en otras cordilleras más grandes, también es cierto que, dada la gran afluencia de público de esta sierra, la probabilidad de que estos provoquen daños personales y materiales es mayor que en otras áreas de montaña. Todas estas consideraciones hacen que el estudio y análisis del desencadenamiento de aludes en la sierra de Guadarrama tenga un alto interés no solo desde el punto de vista teórico sino también en aspectos prácticos como pueden ser el diseño y la elección de itinerarios de montaña en época invernal

Influencia de programas de actividad física en la calidad del sueño de personas mayores de 55 años

Los trastornos del sueño suponen una importante patología clínica, por lo que adoptar hábitos saludables al dormir resulta clave para la calidad del sueño y de la vida. Por ello existe gran interés por adoptar medidas que prevengan sus efectos adversos, especialmente durante la vejez, destacando principalmente los programas de actividad física porque facilitan la activación de las estructuras cognoscitivas de los sujetos, aumentando su nivel de actividad, calidad de vida e higiene del sueño. Partiendo de dichas argumentaciones, se pretende comprobar, mediante un estudio cuasiexperimental, si una intervención con diferentes programas de actividad física puede producir cambios significativos en diversas variables relacionadas con la calidad del sueño en sujetos mayores de 55 años. Los resultados resaltan la utilidad de los programas de actividad física para mejorar su calidad del sueño. Se hace necesario investigar si invertir en este tipo de programas que favorecen la prevención y el mantenimiento de la salud y la calidad de vida de la persona, es más rentable que invertir en servicios sanitarios.Sleeping disorders are an important clinical pathology, but adopting healthy habits proves to be beneficial towards improving both quality of sleep and life. Consequently, there exists a great deal of interest in implementing measures that prevent the adverse effects of such disorders, particularly those that appear with old age. Most notable among these measures are physical fitness programs, as they facilitate the activation of cognitive structures among participants, increasing their level of activity, quality of life, and sleep hygiene. Taking these ideas as a starting point, it was the intention of the authors to verify, by means of a quasi-experimental study, whether the application of different physical fitness programs is able to produce significant changes in the different variables related to the quality of sleep among subjects over 55 years of age. The results highlight the usefulness of physical fitness programs for improving quality of sleep hygiene. As a result, this makes it necessary to evaluate whether investing in these types of programs, which favor the prevention of health problems and maintain overall health and quality of life among people, are more profitable than investing in healthcare services.Os transtornos do sono supõem uma importante patologia clínica, pelo que adoptar hábitos saudáveis ao dormir é de vital importância para a qualidade do sono e da vida. Como tal, existe um grande interesse na adopção de medidas que previnam os seus efeitos adversos, especialmente durante a velhice, com principal destaque para os programas de actividade física uma vez que facilitam a activação das estruturas cognitivas dos sujeitos, aumentando o seu nível de actividade, qualidade de vida e higiene do sono. Partindo destes argumentos, pretende-se comprovar, mediante um estudo quase-experimental, se uma intervenção com diferentes programas de actividade física pode produzir mudanças significativas em diversas variáveis relacionadas com a qualidade do sono em sujeitos maiores de 55 anos. Os resultados enfatizam a utilidade dos programas de actividade física para melhorar a qualidade de sono. É igualmente necessário investigar se investir neste tipo de programas favorece a prevenção e manutenção da saúde e da qualidade de vida da pessoa, e se é mais rentável que investir em serviços de saúde

La geo-alfabetización sobre la división territorial española de los futuros maestros de Educación Primaria en la Universidad de Salamanca

Today there is a growing interest in measuring the academic performance and the acquisition of certain skills and content by students at different ages. It has also been extended to the field of geography in recent years. The objective of this paper is to analyse the geo-literacy of a sample of university students of the degree in Primary Education Teacher by its possible multiplier effect, since they will be the ones who teach geography to future generations. In order to achieve the formulated objective, 168 students from the University of Salamanca participated in this research. They were administered a questionnaire made up of socio-demographic questions and a question in which the respondents have to draw a mental map of the political-administrative division of Spain. The results indicate that those surveyed students have some difficulties in locating the provinces of our country, especially those furthest from their place of origin.Existe un creciente interés por medir el conocimiento previo y la adquisición de competencias y contenidos por parte del alumnado y del futuro profesorado, algo que, en los últimos años, también se ha extendido al ámbito de la geografía. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar la alfabetización en geografía de una muestra de estudiantes universitarios del grado en Maestro de Educación Primaria por su posible efecto multiplicador, ya que serán ellos quienes enseñen geografía a las generaciones futuras. Para alcanzar el objetivo formulado se contó con la participación de 168 estudiantes de la Universidad de Salamanca, que respondieron un cuestionario compuesto por preguntas de carácter sociodemográfico y por una pregunta en la que debían dibujar un mapa mental sobre la división político-administrativa de España. Los resultados indican que los encuestados tienen ciertas dificultades para situar las provincias de nuestro país, especialmente aquellas más alejadas de su lugar de procedencia

Adaptación y validación española del Controlling Coach Behaviors Scale (CCBS)

The aim of this study was to validate and adapt the Controlling Coach Behaviors Scale (CCBS). In the study 444 high school students with a mean age of 15.3 years were involved. The analysis confirmatory factorial revealed adequate adjustment indices for the new version of the scale, showing the invariant factor structure with respect to sex. The factors that make up the scale obtained a high internal consistency and temporary stability. The analysis of criterion validity showed that intimidation and control through rewards significantly predicted demotivation, with a positive regression weight. This new instrument can help to analyze with validity and reliability the interpersonal style of physical education teacher control over students.El objetivo de este estudio fue validar y adaptar el Controlling Coach Behaviors Scale (CCBS). En el estudio participaron 444 estudiantes de secundaria con una edad media de 15.3 años. El análisis factorial confirmatorio reveló unos índices de ajuste adecuados para la nueva versión de la escala, mostrándose la estructura factorial invariante respecto al sexo. Los factores que integran la escala obtuvieron una alta consistencia interna y estabilidad temporal. El análisis de validez de criterio mostró que la intimidación y el control mediante recompensas predijeron significativamente la desmotivación, con un peso de regresión positivo. Este nuevo instrumento puede ayudar a analizar con validez y fiabilidad el estilo interpersonal de control del docente sobre los estudiantes