Two Distinct, Geographically Overlapping Lineages of the Corallimorpharian Ricordea Florida (Cnidaria: Hexacorallia: Ricordeidae)

We examined the genetic variation of the corallimorpharian Ricordea florida; it is distributed throughout the Caribbean region and is heavily harvested for the marine aquarium trade. Eighty-four distinct individuals of R. florida were sequenced from four geographically distant Caribbean locations (Curaçao, Florida, Guadeloupe, and Puerto Rico). Analysis of the ribosomal nuclear region (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) uncovered two geographically partially overlapping genetic lineages in R. florida, probably representing two cryptic species. Lineage 1 was found in Florida and Puerto Rico, and Lineage 2 was found in Florida, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, and Curaçao. Because of the multi-allelic nature of the ITS region, four individuals from Lineage 1 and six from Lineage 2 were cloned to evaluate the levels of hidden intra-individual variability. Pairwise genetic comparisons indicated that the levels of intra-individual and intra-lineage variability (\u3c1%) were approximately an order of magnitude lower than the divergence (~9%) observed between the two lineages. The fishery regulations of the aquarium trade regard R. florida as one species. More refined regulations should take into account the presence of two genetic lineages, and they should be managed separately in order to preserve the long-term evolutionary potential of this corallimorpharian. The discovery of two distinct lineages in R. florida illustrates the importance of evaluating genetic variability in harvested species prior to the implementation of management policies

Sentinel 2 as a visualization tool of the historical urban growth of cities

La observación multiespectral de las ciudades desde el espacio es una herramienta sumamente valiosa para conocer la situación actual de las mismas. Sin embargo, estas mismas imágenes pueden aportar información también sobre la historia pasada de las mismas. En este trabajo se propone el procesado de imágenes Sentinel 2 para visualizar el crecimiento urbano de las ciudades a lo largo del tiempo. En concreto, se ha usado la combinación de bandas 12,11,4 y 12,8,3 para obtener imágenes en falso color que resaltan intensamente los diferentes materiales de techado utilizados en el tiempo. Esta combinación de bandas infrarrojas y roja resultan muy útiles para diferenciar materiales como la teja, el cemento o los materiales sintéticos impermeabilizantes, permitiendo diferenciar a simple vista los distintos barrios que forman la ciudad en función de su época de construcción, dando una visión global de las fases de crecimiento de la ciudad. Este tipo de imágenes resultan muy intuitivas para los estudiantes, convirtiéndose en una valiosa herramienta didáctica y de divulgaciónMultispectral observation of cities from space is a key tool for understanding their current state. Moreover, this kind of imagery may provide insight into the past history of cities. This work proposes the process of Sentinel 2 images for visualizing urban growth of cities in time. In particular, RGB composite of bands 12,11,4 and 12,8,3 provide false color images that highlight the different roofing materials used through history. This particular combination of infrared and red bands are very useful for differentiating materials such as red tile, cement or sinthetic impermeabilization materials, allowing to visually different phases of city growth. These images are very intuitive for students and non professionals, becoming a valuable tool for history teaching and divulgatio

Spatio-temporal analysis of the degradation of salts-affected soils in the lacustre system of Texcoco Valley (Mexico)

El Valle de Texcoco, uno de los cinco lagos que conformaban el gran lago de Tenochticlan en el periodo colonial de la ciudad de México (año 1520), es hoy en día una de las regiones del planeta con mayor superficie de suelos afectados por salinidad extrema (>10 000 ha). La salinidad de los suelos es un grave problema en regiones áridas o semiáridas, ya que afecta a la productividad agrícola y la calidad de las aguas, con graves consecuencias socioeconómicas, como la desertificación y migración a las ciudades. Además, las sales se disuelven con facilidad en el suelo, por lo que se requieren herramientas de monitorización precisas que permitan evaluar la alta variabilidad espacio-temporal de los suelos afectados por sales. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo evaluar el estado de los suelos afectados por salinidad en el valle de Texcoco, así como los cambios de uso de suelo acontecidos en los últimos 30 años. Para ello se emplearán técnicas de GIS, imágenes de satélite Landsat desde la década de los 80 hasta la actualidad (1985-2015), y radiómetros de campo para identificar las firmas espectrales de los suelos en condiciones de laboratorio. Una vez procesadas las imágenes de satélite Landsat (corrección radiométrica y atmosférica, y aplicación de filtros), se identificaron diferentes cubiertas o usos de suelo: agua, vegetación semi-natural, tierras de cultivo, suelos sin vegetación y suelos salinos. Se calcularon diferentes índices radiométricos para distinguir la vegetación de las tierras de cultivo y de los suelos salinos. El sistema de clasificación no supervisada mostró cambios de uso de la tierra en el 80% de la superficie en 30 años. Disminuye el agua potable y las tierras agrícolas e incrementan en más de un 20% los suelos degradados por sales o de uso urbano. Se trata de una región con riesgo extremo por pérdida y degradación de las tierras de cultivo por efecto de la salinidadThe Valley of Texcoco, one of the five lakes that formed the great lake of Tenochticlan in the colonial period of Mexico City (year 1520), is today one of the regions with the largest surface area of soils affected by extreme salinity (>10 000 ha). The salinity of soil is a serious problem in arid or semi-arid regions. It affects to agricultural productivity and water quality, with serious socioeconomic consequences, such as desertification and migration of the rural populations to the cities. So, salts dissolve easily in the soil, so precise monitoring tools are necessary to evaluate the high spatiotemporal variability by salts-affected soils. The aim is to evaluate the state of salts-affected soils in the Texcoco Valley, as well as the land use changes in the last 30 years. GIS, Landsat satellite images from the 1980s to the present (1985-2015), and field radiometers will be used to identify the spectral signatures of salts-affected soils under laboratory conditions. Once processed the multispectral images (radiometric and atmospheric correction, and filters application), different land uses were identified: water, semi-natural vegetation, agricultural lands, soil without vegetation and saline soils. Different radiometric indices were used to differentiate vegetation from agricultural and saline soils. The unsupervised classification system showed changes at 80% of the surface in land use in 30 years. Clear water and agricultural land decreased and increased at 20% the soils degraded by salts or urban use. It is a region with extreme risk due to the salts-affected soil

Balancing porosity and mechanical properties of titanium samples to favor cellular growth against bacteria

Two main problems limit the success of titanium implants: bacterial infection, which restricts their osseointegration capacity; and the stiffness mismatch between the implant and the host cortical bone, which promotes bone resorption and risk of fracture. Porosity incorporation may reduce this difference in stiffness but compromise biomechanical behavior. In this work, the relationship between the microstructure (content, size, and shape of pores) and the antibacterial and cellular behavior of samples fabricated by the space-holder technique (50 vol % NH4HCO3 and three ranges of particle sizes) is established. Results are discussed in terms of the best biomechanical properties and biofunctional activity balance (cell biocompatibility and antibacterial behavior). All substrates achieved suitable cell biocompatibility of premioblast and osteoblast in adhesion and proliferation processes. It is worth to highlighting that samples fabricated with the 100–200 μm space-holder present better mechanical behavior—in terms of stiffness, microhardness, and yield strength—which make them a very suitable material to replace cortical bone tissues. Those results exposed the relationship between the surface properties and the race of bacteria and mammalian cells for the surface with the aim to promote cellular growth over bacteria.University of Seville (Spain) VI Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia—US 2018, I.3A

Quantification of virus syndrome in chili peppers

One of the most important problems to produce chili crops is the presence of diseases caused by pathogen agents, such as viruses, therefore, there is a substantial necessity to better predict the behavior of the diseases of these crops, determining a more precise quantification of the disease’s syndrome that allows the investigators to evaluate better practices, from handling to the experimental level and will permit producers to take opportunistic corrective action thereby, reducing production loses and increasing the quality of the crop. This review discussed methods that have been used for the quantification of disease in plants, specifically for chili peppers crops, thereby, suggesting a better alternative for the quantification of the disease’ syndromes in regards to this crop. The result of these reflections indicates that most methods used for quantification are based on visual assessments, discarding differences of data between distinctive evaluators. These methods generate subjective results.Key words: Quantification, plant diseases, severity, syndrome, viruses

High resolution 80Se(n,γ) cross section measurement at CERN n_TOF

We acknowledge support from from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement No. 681740), and the Spanish Science Ministry for funding projects FPA2017-83946-C2-1-P and PID2019-104714GB-C21. This work is part of the PhD Thesis of V. Babiano-Suarez.Neutron capture cross section measurements of isotopes close to s -process branching -points are of fundamental importance for the understanding of this nucleosynthesis mechanism through which about 50% of the elements heavier than iron are produced. We present in this contribution the results corresponding to the high resolution measurement, for first time ever, of the 80Se(n, y) cross section, in which 98 resonances never measured before have been reported. As a consequence, ten times more precise values for the MACS have been obtained compared to previous accepted value adopted in the astrophysical KADoNiS data base.European Research Council (ERC)European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program 681740Spanish Science Ministry FPA2017-83946-C2-1-P, PID2019-104714GB-C2

Factores sociales y didácticos en el proceso de aprendizaje en foros online

Este artículo presenta un estudio descriptivo de las dimensiones social y didáctica del aprendizaje a través de foros online. El objetivo es conocer cómo se relacionan los factores sociales y didácticos en las fases del proceso de aprendizaje del modelo Community of Inquiry. Se analizan los mensajes escritos por estudiantes y profesores en cursos de postgrado. El método de análisis empleado se basa en el principio de minimalización lógica, aplicado con AQUAD. Se concluye que el aprendizaje en foros ocurre con independencia de la simultaneidad de los factores estudiados, aunque se le presupone un valor añadido para la actividad educativa. This article proposes a descriptive study of the social and didactic presences of discourse in online forums. The objective is to fi nd trends adopted by the structure in social and didactic discourse on the various phases that defi ne the learning process of the Community of Inquiry model. The analyzed discourse was taken from the discussions led by students and teachers in postgraduate courses. The analytical method was based on the principle of logical minimization as applied by the AQUAD. In conclusion the forum learning takes place regardless of the simultaneity of the factors studied, although an added value for the educational community is presupposed.

MARINE INFLUENCE DURING LATE EOCENE IN EASTERN AND SOUTH EASTERN COLOMBIA

Durante el Eoceno Tardío en las Cuencas Subandinas de Colombia tuvo lugar la depositación de uno de los más importantes reservorios del país: la Formación Mirador. Diversos modelos deposicionales reconocen un ambiente típicamente fluvial para su base, y ambientes más transicionales para su tope. Sin embargo, la presencia de una influencia marina en el tope del Mirador es aún discutida, y la distribución geográfica de este probable evento es desconocida. Con el objeto de establecer la paleogeografía de esta ingresión marina se analizaron palinológicamente 77 pozos y 3 secciones ubicados en el Oriente de Colombia. La influencia marina en los sedimentos se estableció determinando la Paleosalinidad asociada mediante un Índice de Salinidad (SI), que describe la relación entre palinomorfos marinos y continentales. La ingresión marina está registrada en dos áreas: la primera, en la Cordillera Oriental y el Piedemonte Llanero Central; y la segunda, en la cuenca del Putumayo. El comportamiento de la paleosalinidad sugiere que al Sur, en la Cuenca del Putumayo, la ingresión marina invadió el territorio Colombiano en sentido S-N a través de la costa Ecuatoriana. Sin embargo, cómo ingresó a la Cordillera Oriental y al sector central del Piedemonte no es claro, y los modelos paleogeográficos propuestos no lo explican satisfactoriamente. Un nuevo modelo paleogeográfico para el Eoceno Tardío deberá ser planteado.   Palabras Claves: Eoceno Tardío; Palinología; Índice de Salinidad; Influencia Marina; Formación Mirador          During Late Eocene in the Colombian Subandean basins one of the most important oil bearing Rocks in Colombia was deposited: The Mirador Formation. Most of the depositional models proposed recognize a typically fluvial environment for the Mirador´s base and transitional environments for its top. These models disagree about a probable Marine Influence in the Mirador´s Top, and the geographical distribution of this event remains unknown. In order to determine the paleogeography of this event, 77 wells and 3 sections were palynologically analyzed. The presence of the marine influence in the sediments was determined using a Salinity Index (SI) which describes the reverse relationship between continental and marine palynomorphs. Marine Influence was recognized in two areas: the first one, in the Eastern Cordillera and the Central-Eastern Foothills; and the second one, in the Putumayo Basin. Paleosalinity patterns suggest that in the Putumayo Basin the marine ingression flooded in to the Colombian territory in a South-North direction, through the Ecuatorian Coast. How the Marine Ingression flooded into the Eastern Cordillera and Central-Eastern Foothills is not clear, and paleogeographical models proposed can not explain it. A new paleogeographical model for the Colombian Late Eocene considering this event must be proposed.   Key Words: Late Eocene; Palynology; Salinity Index; Marine Influence; Mirador Formation &nbsp