Autumn-winter diet of three carnivores, European mink (Mustela lutreola), Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and small-spotted genet (Genetta genetta), in northern Spain

This study describes the autumn-winter diet of three carnivores (Mustela lutreola, Lutra lutra and Genetta genetta) in northern Spain. Diet composition was analysed from 85 European mink, 156 otter and 564 spotted genet fecal samples The European mink diet was based on small mammals (relative frequency of occurrences 38.1%), fish (30.9%) and birds (16.7%). Spotted genet consumed mainly small mammals, birds and fruits, whilst otter predated practically only fish (95%). Using Levins’ index, trophic-niche widths in European mink, small-spotted genet and Eurasian otter were 3.76, 3.77 and 1.10, respectively. The trophic niche overlap by Pianka index for autumn-winter was 0.77 for European mink vs. Small-spotted genet, and 0.60 for European mink vs. otter. The average size of brown trout taken by otter was larger than those consumed by European mink

Crystal Reorientation and Amorphization Induced by Stressing Efficient and Stable P-I-N Vacuum-Processed MAPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells

Herein, the long‐term stability of vacuum‐deposited methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of around 19% is evaluated. A low‐temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) Al2O3 coating is developed and used to protect the MAPbI3 layers and the solar cells from environmental agents. The ALD encapsulation enables the MAPbI3 to be exposed to temperatures as high as 150 °C for several hours without change in color. It also improves the thermal stability of the solar cells, which maintain 80% of the initial PCEs after aging for ≈40 and 37 days at 65 and 85 °C, respectively. However, room‐temperature operation of the solar cells under 1 sun illumination leads to a loss of 20% of their initial PCE in 230 h. Due to the very thin ALD Al2O3 encapsulation, X‐ray diffraction can be performed on the MAPbI3 films and completed solar cells before and after the different stress conditions. Surprisingly, it is found that the main effect of light soaking and thermal stress is a crystal reorientation with respect to the substrate from (002) to (202) of the perovskite layer, and that this reorientation is accelerated under illumination

Low-dimensional non-toxic A3Bi2X9 compounds synthesized by a dry mechanochemical route with tunable visible photoluminescence at room temperature

We have synthesized fifteen inorganic and hybrid organic-inorganic non-toxic A3Bi2X9 compounds (A = K+, Rb+, Cs+, CH3NH3+ and HC(NH2)2+; X = I−, Br−, Cl−) through dry mechanochemistry. We demonstrate that this synthetic method is very well suited to prepare compounds from poorly soluble precursors, allowing thus the preparation of so far unreported compounds. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrates the high crystallinity of the so-formed ternary bismuth halides. Furthermore, we show that, through substitution of the A-cation and X-anion, the bandgap of these compounds can be tuned to absorb throughout the whole visible spectrum. As-prepared powders of Cs3Bi2Br9 and Cs3Bi2I9 without any passivating agents show room-temperature photoluminescence covering the visible spectrum from 450 nm to 800 nm, making them especially promising for white-light emission

Les territoires du tourisme littoral et les pouvoirs locaux dans la province d’Alicante (Espagne)

L'urbanisation touristique qui occupe une bonne partie des 200 km de littoral de la province d'Alicante a permis depuis les années 1960 une diversification de l'économie, mais a provoqué un déséquilibre dans l'usage des sols et une dégradation des paysages naturels. La détérioration des zones humides, le modèle touristique de Benidorm (constructions en hauteur au centre, pavillonnaire dans les alentours, énorme parc thématique de loisirs Terra Mitica) et les politiques d'urbanisme de Santa Pola et de Elche sont autant d'exemples négatifs alimentés par la pression spéculative sur le foncier et la permissivité des autorités locales face à la demande nationale et étrangère.Since the 60s, touristic urban areas which occupy most of the 200 kilometre coastline of the province of Alicante have brought about an economic diversification, but have completely disturbed soil management and damaged the landscape’s natural quality. The deterioration of wetlands, the Benidorm touristic model (high buildings in city centre, and private housing estates in the outskirts, a huge thematic park called Terra Mitica) as well as the urbanizing policies of Santa Pola and Elche are so many negative examples promoted still further by speculative pressure and the permissive attitude of local authorities to meet national and foreign demand.La urbanización turística de los 200 km del litoral de la provincia de Alicante ha permitido desde los años 1960 una diversificación de la economía, pero ha provocado desequilibrios en los usos del suelo y una degradación de los paisajes naturales. El deterioro de zonas húmedas, el modelo urbanístico de Benidorm (construcciones en altura en el centro, baja densidad en los municipios vecinos, gran parque temático de ocio Terra Mítica) y las políticas de urbanismo litoral de Santa Pola y de Elche, son ejemplos negativos alimentados por la presión especulativa sobre el suelo y la permisividad de las autoridades locales frente a la demanda nacional y extranjera

Paclitaxel and baccatin III production induced by methyl jasmonate in free and immobilized cells of Taxus baccata

Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch)The effects of 100 and 200 µM methyl jasmonate (MJA) on cell proliferation and paclitaxel and baccatin III production were investigated in free and alginate immobilized cells of Taxus baccata growing in a selected product formation culture medium. The greatest accumulation of paclitaxel (13.20 mg dm−3) and baccatin III (4.62 mg dm−3) occurred when 100 µM MJA was added to the culture medium of cells entrapped using a 1.5 and 2.5 % alginate solution. The effects of different treatments on the viability of cultured cells and their capacity to excrete both taxanes into the surrounding medium were considered.

Primera detección de Lonsdalea quercina subsp. populi en chopo en España

Lonsdalea quercina (ex Brenneria quercina) subsp. populi es una bacteria recientemente identificada en Hungría y China como una nueva subespecie causante del chancro de la corteza del chopo. Los árboles afectados presentan chancros longitudinales en el tronco, de los que fluyen abundantes exudados espumosos de color blanco y exudados acuosos oscuros que tiñen la corteza. Los chopos afectados muestran un debilitamiento generalizado. En España se han localizado choperas con síntomas similares y se ha identificado L. quercina subsp. populi como el agente causal de los mismos. En este trabajo se presenta la primera detección de esta bacteria en España y se describen los métodos de diagnóstico e identificación utilizados. Esta nueva bacteriosis podría tener un impacto económico importante, siendo necesario evaluar las pérdidas causadas y realizar nuevas prospecciones para determinar su distribución en el país

Short photoluminescence lifetimes in vacuum-deposited ch3nh3pbI3 perovskite thin films as a result of fast diffusion of photogenerated charge carriers

It is widely accepted that a long photoluminescence (PL) lifetime in metal halide perovskite films is a crucial and favorable factor, as it ensures a large charge diffusion length leading to a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) in solar cells. It has been recently found that vacuumevaporated CH3NH3PbI3 (eMAPI) films show very short PL lifetimes of several nanoseconds. The corresponding solar cells, however, have high photovoltage (>1.1 V) and PCEs (up to 20%). We rationalize this apparent contradiction and show that eMAPI films are characterized by a very high diffusion coefficient D, estimated from modeling the PL kinetics to exceed 1 cm2/s. Such high D values are favorable for long diffusion length as well as fast transport of carriers to film surfaces, where they recombine nonradiatively with surface recombination velocity S ∼ 104 cm/s. Possible physical origins leading to the high D values are also discussedIt is widely accepted that a long photoluminescence (PL) lifetime in metal halide perovskite films is a crucial and favorable factor, as it ensures a large charge diffusion length leading to a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) in solar cells. It has been recently found that vacuumevaporated CH3NH3PbI3 (eMAPI) films show very short PL lifetimes of several nanoseconds. The corresponding solar cells, however, have high photovoltage (>1.1 V) and PCEs (up to 20%). We rationalize this apparent contradiction and show that eMAPI films are characterized by a very high diffusion coefficient D, estimated from modeling the PL kinetics to exceed 1 cm2/s. Such high D values are favorable for long diffusion length as well as fast transport of carriers to film surfaces, where they recombine nonradiatively with surface recombination velocity S ∼ 104 cm/s. Possible physical origins leading to the high D values are also discusse

Numerical response of a mammalian specialist predator to multiple prey dynamics in Mediterranean farmlands

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Acknowledgments This work was funded through the projects ECOCYCLES (BIODIVERSA 2008, Era‐net European project, EUI2008‐03641 and EUI2008‐03658), ECOVOLE (CGL2012‐35348), and ECOTULA (CGL2015‐66962‐C2‐1‐R; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain), and by NERC NE/G002045/1 to XL. We thank the many people that help during fieldwork, and Deon Roos and Sally Bach for correcting the English. We held all necessary permits for animal experimentation for Spain and small‐mammal capture.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The Spanish Pancreatic Club recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis: Part 1 (diagnosis)

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a relatively uncommon, complex and heterogeneous disease. The absence of a gold standard applicable to the initial phases of CP makes its early diagnosis difficult. Some of its complications, particularly chronic pain, can be difficult to manage. There is much variability in the diagnosis and treatment of CP and its complications amongst centers and professionals. The Spanish Pancreatic Club has developed a consensus on the management of CP. Two coordinators chose a multidisciplinary panel of 24 experts on this disease. A list of questions was drafted, and two experts reviewed each question. Then, a draft was produced and shared with the entire panel of experts and discussed in a face-to-fac

Religious transformations in the Middle Ages: towards a new archaeological agenda

The study of religious change in Europe between the collapse of the Roman Empire and the Reformation forms one of the cornerstones of medieval archaeology but has been riven by period, denominational and geographical divisions. This paper lays the groundwork for a fundamental rethink of archaeological approaches to medieval religions, by adopting a holistic framework that places Christian, pagan, Islamic and Jewish case studies of religious transformation in a long-term, comparative perspective. Focused around the analytical themes of ‘hybridity and resilience’ and ‘tempo and trajectories’, our approach shifts attention away from the singularities of national narratives of religious conversion towards a deeper understanding of how religious beliefs, practices and identity were renegotiated by medieval people in their daily lives