Theoretical study of the chemiluminescence of the Al + H2O reaction

We performed surface hopping simulations of Al + H2O collisions by a direct semiempirical method, reproducing the conditions of previous beam-gas experiments. We observed the formation of the HAlOH species, that dissociates to AlOH + H after a lifetime of about 0.6 ps. This species undergoes nonadiabatic transitions to its first excited state and is responsible for chemiluminescence in the visible range, while the Al−H2O complex emits in the infrared. The computed emission band in the visible is red-shifted with respect to the experimental one, because of slight inaccuracies of the potential energy surfaces. However, collisions with more water molecules and exciplex formation with excited Al(2S, 4P) atoms may also contribute to the short wavelength emission, as we show by accurate ab initio calculations

Morpholigical study of honey bees on the Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera)

A morphological study was made of worker bees from 49 hives located at four island from the Canary archipelago. The study analysed 18 morphological characters and we have found that the bees from Gran Canaria and Tenerife belong to the same groupe, the animals from Gomera constitute a group near the afore mentioned, and the bees from La Palma form an independent group. Also, we have compared the data with data to come from hives placed in the south of the Iberian peninsula and in the north of Africa. We have found that the bees from Africa form an independent group, and the bees from the Iberian peninsula are included in the La Palma group.Se ha llevado a cabo un estudio morfológico de las abejas obreras procedentes de 49 colmenas situadas en cuatro islas del Archipiélago Canario. Se han analizado 18 características morfológicas, encontrando que las abejas procedentes de Gran Canaria y Tenerife pertenecen al mismo grupo; los animales de Gomera constituyen un grupo cercano al anterior y las abejas de La Palma forman un grupo independiente. También hemos comparado los datos obtenidos, con los procedentes de colmenas situadas en el sur de la península Ibérica y en el norte de África. Encontramos que las abejas del norte de África constituyen un grupo independiente y que los animales del sur de la península se incluyen en el grupo de las abejas de La Palma

Modeling of Soybean under Present and Future Climates in Mozambique

Citation: Talacuece, M. A. D., Justino, F. B., Rodrigues, R. D., Flores, M. E. P., Nascimento, J. G., & Santos, E. A. (2016). Modeling of Soybean under Present and Future Climates in Mozambique. Climate, 4(2), 14. doi:10.3390/cli4020031This study aims to calibrate and validate the generic crop model (CROPGRO-Soybean) and estimate the soybean yield, considering simulations with different sowing times for the current period (1990-2013) and future climate scenario (2014-2030). The database used came from observed data, nine climate models of CORDEX (Coordinated Regional climate Downscaling Experiment)-Africa framework and MERRA (Modern Era Retrospective-Analysis for Research and Applications) reanalysis. The calibration and validation data for the model were acquired in field experiments, carried out in the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 growing seasons in the experimental area of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Angonia, Mozambique. The yield of two soybean cultivars: Tgx 1740-2F and Tgx 1908-8F was evaluated in the experiments and modeled for two distinct CO2 concentrations. Our model simulation results indicate that the fertilization effect leads to yield gains for both cultivars, ranging from 11.4% (Tgx 1908-8F) to 15% (Tgx 1740-2Fm) when compared to the performance of those cultivars under current CO2 atmospheric concentration. Moreover, our results show that MERRA, the RegCM4 (Regional Climatic Model version 4) and CNRM-CM5 (Centre National de Recherches Meteorologiques - Climatic Model version 5) models provided more accurate estimates of yield, while others models underestimate yield as compared to observations, a fact that was demonstrated to be related to the model's capability of reproducing the precipitation and the surface radiation amount

STUDY ON NUTRITIONAL AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE SEAWEEDS OF NORTHERN SAMAR, PHILIPINES

The purpose of the study: In this work, the nutritional and elemental analysis of seaweeds in Northern Samar is analyzed. Methodology: The seaweeds of Northern Samar are collected from the intertidal zone, and it was brought back to the College of Science for taxonomic identity.   The nutritional and elemental content of the seaweeds were determined. Main findings: Based on the results obtained a total of 39 species belonging to eighteen (18) families of seaweeds were recorded from different coastal towns in Northern Samar, Philippines.  The results revealed that for seaweeds with the economic value the nutritional and elemental content is comparable to the unknown seaweeds with no economic value.     Implications: The results of the bioavailability of nutrients of this study might be the basis that unknown seaweeds with no economic value can be used directly in the diet and promote health advantage. Originality/Novelty of study: The seaweeds of Northern Samar are not properly documented in comparison with other marine flora.  The results demonstrated that some species of seaweeds collected in Northern Samar with no economic value could also accumulate non-essential elements.  Further studies would surely be a great contribution to our local food and pharmaceutical industries.&nbsp

Malnutrition Has No Effect on the Timing of Human Tooth Formation

The effect of nutrition on the timing of human tooth formation is poorly understood. Delays and advancements in dental maturation have all been reported as well as no effect. We investigated the effect of severe malnutrition on the timing of human tooth formation in a large representative sample of North Sudanese children. The sample (1102 males, 1013 females) consisted of stratified randomly selected healthy individuals in Khartoum, Sudan, aged 2-22 years using a cross-sectional design following the STROBE statement. Nutritional status was defined using WHO criteria of height and weight. Body mass index Z-scores and height for age Z-scores of ≤-2 (cut-off) were used to identify the malnourished group (N = 474) while the normal was defined by Z-scores of ≥0 (N = 799). Clinical and radiographic examination of individuals, with known ages of birth was performed including height and weight measurements. Mandibular left permanent teeth were assessed using eight crown and seven root established tooth formation stages. Mean age at entry and mean age within tooth stages were calculated for each available tooth stage in each group and compared using a t-test. Results show the mean age at entry and mean age within tooth stages were not significantly different between groups affected by severe malnutrition and normal children (p>0.05). This remarkable finding was evident across the span of dental development. We demonstrate that there is little measurable effect of sustained malnutrition on the average timing of tooth formation. This noteworthy finding supports the notion that teeth have substantial biological stability and are insulated from extreme nutritional conditions compared to other maturing body systems

Mass bound of the lightest neutral Higgs scalar in the extra U(1) models

The upper mass bound of the lightest neutral Higgs scalar is studied in the $\mu$ problem solvable extra U(1) models by using the analysis of the renormalization group equations. In order to restrict the parameter space we take account of a condition of the radiative symmetry breaking and some phenomenological constraints. We compare the bound obtained based on this restricted parameter space with the one of the next to the minimal supersymmetric standard model (NMSSM). Features of the scalar potential and renormalization group equations of the Yukawa couplings among Higgs chiral supermultiplets are rather different between them. They can reflect in this bound.Comment: 22 pages, latex, 11 eps-figure

Lignin-Degrading Bacteria in Paper Mill Sludge

The effluents generated in the paper industry, such as black liquor, have a high content of lignin and other toxic components; however, they represent a source of lignin-degrading bacteria with biotechnological potential. Therefore, the present study aimed to isolate and identify lignin-degrading bacteria species in paper mill sludge. A primary isolation was carried out from samples of sludge present in environments around a paper company located in the province of Ascope (Peru). Bacteria selection was made by the degradation of Lignin Kraft as the only carbon source in a solid medium. Finally, the laccase activity (Um-L−1) of each selected bacteria was determined by oxidation of 2,2′-azinobis-(3-etilbencenotiazolina-6-sulfonate) (ABTS). Bacterial species with laccase activity were identified by molecular biology techniques. Seven species of bacteria with laccase activity and the ability to degrade lignin were identified. The bacteria Agrobacterium tumefasciens (2), Klebsiella grimontii (1), and Beijeinckia fluminensis (1) were reported for first time. K. grimowntii and B. fluminensis presented the highest laccase activity, with values of 0.319 ± 0.005 UmL−1 and 0.329 ± 0.004 UmL−1, respectively. In conclusion, paper mill sludge may represent a source of lignin-degrading bacteria with laccase activity, and they could have potential biotechnological applications