Forest Ecosystem Services: An Analysis of Worldwide Research

The relevance of forests to sustain human well-being and the serious threats they face have led to a notable increase of research works on forest ecosystem services during the last few years. This paper analyses the worldwide research dynamics on forest ecosystem services in the period from 1998 to 2017. A bibliometric analysis of 4284 articles was conducted. The results showed that the number of published research articles has especially increased during the last five years. In total, 68.63% of the articles were published in this period. This research line experiences a growing trend superior to the general publishing trend on forest research. In spite of this increase, its relative significance within the forest research is still limited. The most productive subject areas corresponded to Environmental Science, Agricultural and Biological Sciences and Social Sciences Economic topics are understudied. The scientific production is published in a wide range of journals. The three first publishing countries are United States, China and the United Kingdom. The most productive authors are attached to diverse research centres and their contributions are relatively recent. A high level of international cooperation has been observed between countries, institutions and authors. The findings of this study are useful for researchers since they give them an overview of the worldwide research trends on forest ecosystem services

The Sustainable Management of Metals: An Analysis of Global Research

The objective of this study was to analyze research trends in the field of sustainable management of metals on a global level between 1993 and 2017. To do so, a bibliometric analysis was carried out on a total of 6967 articles. The results revealed the growing interest in this research field, particularly over the last five year-period during which 63% of all articles were published. The three journals in which most articles had been published were the Journal of Cleaner Production, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, and Chemsuschem. The countries that published the most articles were China, the United States, India, Germany, and the United Kingdom. A sizeable network of collaboration has been established between countries for the joint publication of studies. The main lines of research have been focused on metal decontamination in water and soil, waste management oriented towards reuse and recycling, and the innovation of processes for cleaner and more efficient production. The results revealed the need for comprehensive studies that integrate different disciplines within the same analytical framework, and to promote research that contributes to the different dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic, and social)

Cultivation of Agaricus bitorquis mushroom as an strategy for the Integrated Pest Management of the myceliophagous mite Microdispus lambi

BACKGROUND: The phorid fly Megaselia halterata Winnertz (Diptera: Phoridae) is the principal vector of Microdispus lambi (Acari: Pygmephoroidea) in Spanish Agaricus bisporus Lange (Imbach) mushroom farms. This myceliophagous mite does not appear to be a pest in Agaricus bitorquis (Quél.) Sacc mushroom crops. This study explores the role of phorid flies as vectors of Microdispus lambi in Agaricus bitorquis mushroom crops. RESULTS: The incidence of M. lambi in A. bitorquis growing substrates did not reach appreciable levels at any point during the growing cycle. The presence of phorid flies in A. bitorquis farms was normally higher than that in the case of Agaricus bisporus Lange (Imbach) species. The percentage of phorid vectors did not statistically differ between both Agaricus crops during infection periods. However, by the end of the crop, this percentage had increased only in A. bisporus crops, coinciding with a high incidence of mites in the substrate of this mushroom species; Megaselia halterata emerging from the mushroom substrate of A. bitorquis summer crops did not carry mites as they were absent from compost and casing. CONCLUSION: M. halterata is a pest in Spanish A. bitorquis mushroom crops, meanwhile M. lambi, its phorectic mite, has shown not to be a pest of this species mushroom farms during the spring–summer growing season. A. bitorquis crops could potentially be used as an IPM measure to decrease the incidence and prevent the propagation of the myceliophagous mite M. lambi in A. bisporus mushroom growing farms.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Phoretic relationship between the myceliophagous mite Microdispus lambi (Acari: Microdispidae) and mushroom flies in Spanish crops

We studied the role played by the phorid Megaselia halterata (Wood) and the sciarid Lycoriella auripila (Winnertz) in the phoretic dispersion of the myceliophagous mite Microdispus lambi (Acari: Pygmephoridae). Twenty‐four crops were monitored during 18 months in commercial mushroom farms in Castilla‐La Mancha (Spain). Adults of both species were collected weekly and the mites they carried were counted and identified. Both phorids (19.6%) and sciarids (4.4%) carried the mite M. lambi. The calculated load of each was 3.4 M. lambi mites per phorid and 1.9 per sciarid. The same percentage of male and female phorid was used as vector, but the load was slightly higher for females (1.86 mites per female compared with1.48 mites per male). A mean of 7.2% of the phorids examined in winter were vectors of M. lambi, while in spring and autumn of the first year the average was more than 22%. The mean load did not vary significantly between seasons. Inside the mushroom farms, less than 10% of a small initial population of phorids carried mites (less than two mites per phorid). As the cycle progressed, more than 35% of a larger population of emerging flies did so (average 3.5 mites per phorid vector). At the end of the growth cycle, the flies may fly off to colonise nearby farms, favouring the propagation of M. lambi from infested to uninfested crops. Megaselia halterata is the principal vector of M. lambi in the mushroom farms of Castilla‐La Mancha due to their high numbers, the high percentage carrying mites and the number of M. lambi they carry.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

South-western Duero and Ciudad Rodrigo basins: infill and dissection of a Tertiary basin

In the soult western sector of the intracontinetal Duero basin, the post-Hercynian sedimentary record consist of Upper Cretaceous to Quaternary terrestrial sediments. Climates shifted from tropical, with poorly defined seansos (end of Cretaceous), to Mediterranean (Neogene). Tertiary deposits are divided into three tectonographic completes. The Late Cretaceous-Paleocene, related to the end of the Mesozoic cycle, is caractericed by a well developed weathering profile that eroded later. The Eocene Oligocene, formed during the morpho-structural definition of the actual basin boundaries, consists of three unconformity-bounded units related to successive tectonic events of the Alpine Orogeny by the cnd of this cycle, progressive incision of the Atlantic nuvial network led to capture of the fluvial systems of the southern Duero basin and degradation (emptying) began. The Miocene-Phocene, related to and extensional tectonic regime represents the spreading of exorheik conditions to the whole basin that marked a complete hydrugraphic reorganisation. Deposition and aggradation continued in more central areas of the basin until the end of the Neogene, coeval with degradation of the south-western corner of the Duero Basin. The coexistence resulted from differential subsidence, hinge lines (uplift zones) separated sub-basins, and the dynamics of capture processes

Cenozoic lacustrine deposits in the Duero Basin (Spain)

Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Lacustrine Neogene systems of the Duero Basin: evolution and controls

Vertical aggradation of Neogene fluvial and lacustrine deposits occurred until the Late Neogene in central and northem areas of the Duero Basin, coeval with river incision in the southwestern corner of the basin. The whole basin became exorheic in the Latest Neogene. We have differentiated five tectonosedimentary units (TSUs) of basinal extent, bounded by unconfonnities or breaks in the sedimentary record. Deposits in each TSU consist of alluvial-fan deposits in areas close to the active northern and eastern margins, and fluvial deposits along the western margin. These systems converged in the lower, subsiding areas of the basin occupied by carbonate-evaporite lacustrine systems. Tectonics and climate controlled sedimentation. The main faults active from the Neogene to the Present reflect Late Hercynian basement fractures that were re-activated during the Alpine Orogeny, both fracturing blocks and modifying landscapes, and creating or modifying the areas of subsidence. Analysis of climatic variations during the Miocene shows that deposition of saline materials occurred in dry TSUs (1, 2) and, particularly, in humid TSUs (3,4). Climate does not seem to have been a determining factor for the formation of evaporites. However, it was a very important factor in determining both the amount of water that reached the basin and, eventually, also the extent of the lacustrine systems

The Duero Basin: a general overview

The Duero basin occupies a large area in the north-west of the Iberian Península. It has ao approximately quadrangular shape, and three of its four corners are the sites of distinctive sub-basins that extend outwards from the main basic. The different margins of lhe sub-basins and the main basic tend to have distinctive histories of tectonic and sedimentary evolution

NT-proBNP as predictor factor of cardiotoxicity during trastuzumab treatment in breast cancer patients

Background Trastuzumab is a drug used in HER2-positive breast cancer that increases patient survival. Due to cardiotoxicity is the most important side effect of trastuzumab treatment, cardiac monitoring should be a priority. The purpose of this study is to evaluate plasma NT-proBNP level and major cardiovascular risk factors as possible early predictors of trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study involving 66 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab. Left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), NT-proBNP values, and the history of cardiovascular risk factors were collected. Cardiotoxicity was diagnosed considering a decrease of the LVEF from baseline or clinical manifestation of congestive heart failure. NT-proBNP cut-off points were considered to establish normal or abnormal values according to patient age. Results 27.3% of the patients suffered cardiotoxicity during trastuzumab treatment. Most cases were diagnosed due to the appearance of cardiac symptomatology (66.7%). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of diabetes mellitus (OR 5.9, 95% CI 1.2–28.5, p = 0.028) and high NT-proBNP levels (OR 22.0, 95% CI 5.7–85.4, p < 0.0001) with the development of trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity. Conclusion NT-proBNP levels above the upper limit of the normal range adjusted to age or diabetes mellitus seem to be associated with a higher risk of developing cardiotoxicity. However, some limitations of the present study make necessary further studies aimed to clarify whether NT-proBNP and diabetes-associated markers determinations can be useful in the monitoring of cardiotoxicity risk in breast cancer patients undergoing trastuzumab therapy.Ramon Areces Foundation, Madrid, Spai