Polyurethane/acrylic hybrid dispersions containing phosphorus reactive flame retardants as transparent coatings for wood

Phosphorus modified polyurethane/acrylic hybrid dispersions were prepared for flame retardant transparent wood coatings. The polymerisation was carried out in three steps. In the first one, the polyurethane was synthesised using an acrylic monomer as solvent. The second step involved water addition that promoted the phase inversion and lastly, acrylic part was polymerised. The phosphorous compounds were covalently linked to polyurethane using a phosphorylated polyol and to the acrylic phase using an acrylic phosphate. Polymerisation was monitored by FTIR and NMR and the molar mass of the hybrids was measured by AF4 and SEC. The effects of the phosphorus in fire-retardant properties were analysed by thermogravimetry and pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry. The introduction of phosphorus did not produce significant changes in the polymerisation process but promoted the cross-linking of the coatings. The coated wood samples maintained the transparency and good properties with the introduction of phosphorus and presented a slight reduction in the Peak Heat Release Rate measured by cone calorimeter. The action of phosphorus as a fire retardant was effective as it gave rise to significant reduction of the CO and CO2 peaks.The funding received from University of the Basque Country (GIU19/077, predoctoral grant of M. Puyadena and postdoctoral grant of M. Cobos) and the Basque Government (IT1313-19, PIBA20/16) is gratefully acknowledged. Technical and human support provided by SGIker is also sincerely acknowledged (UPV/EHU/ERDF, EU)

Regional Differences in the Sensitivity of MEG for Interictal Spikes in Epilepsy

MEG interictal spikes as recorded in epilepsy patients are a reflection of intracranial interictal activity. This study investigates the relationship between the estimated sources of MEG spikes and the location, distribution and size of interictal spikes in the invasive ECoG of a group of 38 epilepsy patients that are monitored for pre-surgical evaluation. An amplitude/surface area measure is defined to quantify and rank ECoG spikes. It is found that all MEG spikes are associated with an ECoG spike that is among the three highest ranked in a patient. Among the different brain regions considered, the fronto-orbital, inter-hemispheric, tempero-lateral and central regions stand out. In an accompanying simulation study it is shown that for hypothesized extended sources of larger sizes, as suggested by the data, source location, orientation and curvature can partly explain the observed sensitivity of MEG for interictal spikes

Polyurethane/acrylic hybrid dispersions containing phosphorus reactive flame retardants as transparent coatings for wood

Phosphorus modified polyurethane/acrylic hybrid dispersions were prepared for flame retardant transparent wood coatings. The polymerisation was carried out in three steps. In the first one, the polyurethane was synthesised using an acrylic monomer as solvent. The second step involved water addition that promoted the phase inversion and lastly, acrylic part was polymerised. The phosphorous compounds were covalently linked to polyurethane using a phosphorylated polyol and to the acrylic phase using an acrylic phosphate. Polymerisation was monitored by FTIR and NMR and the molar mass of the hybrids was measured by AF4 and SEC. The effects of the phosphorus in fire-retardant properties were analysed by thermogravimetry and pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry. The introduction of phosphorus did not produce significant changes in the polymerisation process but promoted the cross-linking of the coatings. The coated wood samples maintained the transparency and good properties with the introduction of phosphorus and presented a slight reduction in the Peak Heat Release Rate measured by cone calorimeter. The action of phosphorus as a fire retardant was effective as it gave rise to significant reduction of the CO and CO2 peaks.The funding received from University of the Basque Country (GIU19/077, predoctoral grant of M. Puyadena and postdoctoral grant of M. Cobos) and the Basque Government (IT1313-19, PIBA20/16) is grate-fully acknowledged. Technical and human support provided by SGIker is also sincerely acknowledged (UPV/EHU/ ERDF, EU

ZONACIÓN DE LA VEGETACIÓN HALÓFILA A LO LARGO DE UN GRADIENTE DE EXPOSICIÓN MAREAL Y PROCESOS ASOCIADOS

The zonation of vegetation in the salt-marsh of Mundaka-Gemika (Bay of Biscay, N. Spain) is studied along a small scale topographic gradient. Species distribution appears closely linked to abiotic factors deriving from topographical level, such as organic matter, pH, moisture and conductivity. The redox potential and the compactness of the soil vary in other ways, thus increasing the heterogeneity of the habitat. There is a critica1 elevation, close to MHW level, after which coexistence processes give way to dominance by the best equipped species. A model of the zonation is given. In this model the degree of overlap decreases towards the top area, where there is competitive exclusion and segregation of interior species to the most exposed area. It can not be concluded that the marked segregation of the species along the gradient is exclusively due to physiological requirements of the plants. Tidal dispersal probably plays an important role on the distributional pattem of the annual species Salicornia and Suaeda, but a minor role on the species with vegetative expansion, Spartina maritima, Arthrocnemum perenne, Halimioneportulacoides, and Arthrocnemumfr.uticosum. Plant zonation can only be explained bearing in mind associated processes such as physical disturbance and interspecific competition. As other authors found in higher latitudes, these processes will need to be considered in relation to edaphic factors in elucidating the underlying mechanisms of salt marsh plant zonation. Experimental work in field and laboratory is needed to determine the niche position of each species in the salt marshes in this part of the Atlantic Coast.Se ha estudiado la zonación de la vegetación a lo largo de un gradiente topográfico a pequeña escala en la marisma de Mundaka-Gemika (Norte de España, Golfo de Vizcaya). La distribución de las especies aparece estrechamente ligada a los factores derivados de la topografía, como son la materia orgánica, el pH, la humedad y la conductividad. El potencial redox y la compactación del suelo varían independientemente, aumentando la heterogeneidad del hábitat. La altura media de las pleamares es el nivel a partir del cual los procesos de coexistencia dan paso a la dominancia de las especies competidoras. Se plantea un modelo de zonación. En este modelo, el grado de solapamiento disminuye hacia tierra adentro, donde se produce una competencia y una segregación de las especies inferiores hacia los lugares más expuestos. No se puede concluir que la marcada segregación de las especies a lo largo del gradiente sea debida exclusivamente a los requerimientos fisiológicos de las plantas. La dispersión mareal juega probablemente un importante papel en la distribución de las anuales Salicornia y Suaeda, pero escaso en las especies con crecimiento vegetativo, Spartina maritima, Arthrocnemum perenne, Halimione portuhcoides, y Arthiocnemum fruticosum. La zonación de las plantas debe ser explicada teniendo en cuenta procesos asociados como la perturbación física y la competencia interespecífica, que deben ser considerados en relación con los factores edáficos, para explicar los mecanismos subyacentes de tal zonación. Es necesario el trabajo en el campo y en el laboratorio para determinar el nicho de estas especies en las marismas de esta parte de la Costa Atlántica

Molecular techniques for Dicistrovirus detection without RNA extraction and purification

Dicistroviridae is a new family of small, nonenveloped, and +ssRNA viruses pathogenic to both beneficial arthropods and insect pests as well. Triatoma virus (TrV), a dicistrovirus, is a pathogen of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), one of the main vectors of Chagas disease. In this work, we report a single-step method to identify TrV, a dicistrovirus, isolated from fecal samples of triatomines.The identification method proved to be quite sensitive, even without the extraction and purification of RNA virus.Fil: Querido, Jailson F. B.. Universidade Nova de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Agirre, Jon. Universidad del Pais Vasco; EspañaFil: Marti, Gerardo Anibal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Guerin, Diego M. A.. Universidad del Pais Vasco; EspañaFil: Silva, Marcelo Sousa . Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Portuga