Jordi Garcia-Orellana

Submarine groundwater discharge as a major source of nutrients to the Mediterranean Sea

Significance The Mediterranean Sea (MS) is one of the most oligotrophic seas in the world, and external inputs of nutrients are especially relevant to sustaining primary productivity in this basin. Here we evaluate the role of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) as a source of nutrients to the entire MS, a pathway that has been largely overlooked. This study demonstrates that SGD is a volumetrically important process in the MS, is of a larger magnitude than riverine discharge, and also represents a major source of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphorous, and silica to the MS. The Mediterranean Sea (MS) is a semienclosed basin that is considered one of the most oligotrophic seas in the world. In such an environment, inputs of allochthonous nutrients and micronutrients play an important role in sustaining primary productivity. Atmospheric deposition and riverine runoff have been traditionally considered the main external sources of nutrients to the MS, whereas the role of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) has been largely ignored. However, given the large Mediterranean shore length relative to its surface area, SGD may be a major conveyor of dissolved compounds to the MS. Here, we used a 228Ra mass balance to demonstrate that the total SGD contributes up to (0.3–4.8)⋅1012 m3⋅y−1 to the MS, which appears to be equal or larger by a factor of 16 to the riverine discharge. SGD is also a major source of dissolved inorganic nutrients to the MS, with median annual fluxes of 190⋅109, 0.7⋅109, and 110⋅109 mol for nitrogen, phosphorous, and silica, respectively, which are comparable to riverine and atmospheric inputs. This corroborates the profound implications that SGD may have for the biogeochemical cycles of the MS. Inputs of other dissolved compounds (e.g., iron, carbon) via SGD could also be significant and should be investigated.

Investigation of residence time and groundwater flux in Venice Lagoon: comparing radium isotope and hydrodynamical models

The four naturally-occurring isotopes of radium were coupled with a previously evaluated hydrodynamic model to determine the apparent age of surface waters and to quantify submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into the Venice Lagoon, Italy. Mean apparent age of water in the Venice Lagoon was calculated using the ratio of 224Ra to 228Ra determined from 30 monitoring stations and a mean pore water end member. Average apparent age was calculated to be 6.0 d using Ra ratios. This calculated age was very similar to average residence time calculated for the same period using a hydrodynamic model (5.8 d). A mass balance of Ra was accomplished by quantifying each of the sources and sinks of Ra in the lagoon, with the unknown variable being attributed to SGD. Total SGD were calculated to be 4.1 +/- 1.5, 3.8 +/- 0.7, 3.0 +/- 1.3, and 3.5 +/- 1.0 x 10(10) L d(-1) for (223,224,226, 228)Ra, respectively, which are an order of magnitude larger than total mean fluvial discharge into the Venice Lagoon (3.1 x 10(9) L d(-1)). The SGD as a source of nutrients in the Venice Lagoon is also discussed and, though significant to the nutrient budget, is likely to be less important as the dominant control on SGD is recirculated seawater rather than freshwater.

Radioactivity contents in dicalcium phosphate and the potential radiological risk to human populations

Potentially harmful phosphate-based products derived from the wet acid digestion of phosphate rock represent one of the most serious problems facing the phosphate industry. This is particularly true for dicalcium phosphate (DCP), a food additive produced from either sulphuric acid or hydrochloric acid digestion of raw rock material. This study determined the natural occurring radionuclide concentrations of 12 DCP samples and 4 tricalcium phosphate (TCP) samples used for animal and human consumption, respectively. Metal concentrations (Al, Fe, Zn, Cd, Cr, As, Hg, Pb and Mg) were also determined. Samples were grouped into three different clusters (A, B, C) based on their radionuclide content. Whereas group A is characterized by high activities of 238U, 234U (approximately 10(3) Bq kg(-1)), 210Pb (2 x 10(3) Bq kg(-1)) and (210)Po ( approximately 800 Bq kg(-1)); group B presents high activities of (238)U, (234)U and (230)Th (approximately 10(3) Bq kg(-1)). Group C was characterized by very low activities of all radionuclides (< 50 Bq kg(-1)). Differences between the two groups of DCP samples for animal consumption (groups A and B) were related to the wet acid digestion method used, with group A samples produced from hydrochloric acid digestion, and group B samples produced using sulphuric acid. Group C includes more purified samples required for human consumption. High radionuclide concentrations in some DCP samples (reaching 2 x 10(3) and 10(3) Bq kg(-1) of 210Pb and 210Po, respectively) may be of concern due to direct or indirect radiological exposure via ingestion. Our experimental results based on 210Pb and 210Po within poultry consumed by humans, suggest that the maximum radiological doses are 11 +/- 2 microSv y(-1). While these results suggest that human health risks are small, additional testing should be conducted.

Multiple site study of recent atmospheric metal (Pb, Zn and Cu) deposition in the NW Iberian Peninsula using peat cores.

In order to estimate atmospheric metal deposition in Southern Europe since the beginning of the Industrial Period (~1850 AD), concentration profiles of Pb, Zn and Cu were determined in four (210)Pb-dated peat cores from ombrotrophic bogs in Serra do Xistral (Galicia, NW Iberian Peninsula). Maximum metal concentrations varied by a factor of 1.8 for Pb and Zn (70 to 128μgg(-1) and 128 to 231μgg(-1), respectively) and 3.5 for Cu (11 to 37μgg(-1)). The cumulative metal inventories of each core varied by a factor of 3 for all analysed metals (132 to 329μgcm(-2) for Pb, 198 to 625μgcm(-2) for Zn and 22 to 69μgcm(-2) for Cu), suggesting differences in net accumulation rates among peatlands. Although results suggest that mean deposition rates vary within the studied area, the enhanced (210)Pb accumulation and the interpretation of the inventory ratios ((210)Pb/Pb, Zn/Pb and Cu/Pb) in two bogs indicated that either a record perturbation or post-depositional redistribution effects must be considered. After correction, Pb, Zn and Cu profiles showed increasing concentrations and atmospheric fluxes since the mid-XX(th) century to maximum values in the second half of the XX(th) century. For Pb, maximum fluxes were observed in 1955-1962 and ranged from 16 to 22mgm(-2)yr(-1) (mean of 18±1mgm(-2)yr(-1)), two orders of magnitude higher than in the pre-industrial period. Peaks in Pb fluxes in Serra do Xistral before the period of maximum consumption of leaded petrol in Europe (1970s-1980s) suggest the dominance of local pollutant sources in the area (i.e. coal mining and burning). More recent peaks were observed for Zn and Cu, with fluxes ranging from 32 to 52mgm(-2)yr(-1) in 1989-1996, and from 4 to 9mgm(-2)yr(-1) in 1994-2001, respectively. Our results underline the importance of multi-core studies to assess both the integrity and reliability of peat records, and the degree of homogeneity in bog accumulation. We show the usefulness of using the excess (210)Pb inventory to distinguish between differential metal deposition, accumulation or anomalous peat records.

Distribution of artificial radionuclides in deep sediments of the Mediterranean Sea.

Artificial radionuclides enter the Mediterranean Sea mainly through atmospheric deposition following nuclear weapons tests and the Chernobyl accident, but also through the river discharge of nuclear facility effluents. Previous studies of artificial radionuclides impact of the Mediterranean Sea have focussed on shallow, coastal sediments. However, deep sea sediments have the potential to store and accumulate pollutants, including artificial radionuclides. Deep sea marine sediment cores were collected from Mediterranean Sea abyssal plains (depth >2000 m) and analysed for (239,240)Pu and (137)Cs to elucidate the concentrations, inventories and sources of these radionuclides in the deepest areas of the Mediterranean. The activity - depth profiles of (210)Pb, together with (14)C dating, indicate that sediment mixing redistributes the artificial radionuclides within the first 2.5 cm of the sedimentary column. The excess (210)Pb inventory was used to normalize (239,240)Pu and (137)Cs inventories for variable sediment fluxes. The (239,240)Pu/(210)Pb(xs) ratio was uniform across the entire sea, with a mean value of 1.24x10(-3), indicating homogeneous fallout of (239,240)Pu. The (137)Cs/(210)Pb(xs) ratio showed differences between the eastern (0.049) and western basins (0.030), clearly significant impact of deep sea sediments from the Chernobyl accident. The inventory ratios of (239,240)Pu/(137)Cs were 0.041 and 0.025 in the western and eastern basins respectively, greater than the fallout ratio, 0.021, showing more efficient scavenging of (239,240)Pu in the water column and major sedimentation of (137)Cs in the eastern basin. Although areas with water depths of >2000 m constitute around 40% of the entire Mediterranean basin, the sediments in these regions only contained 2.7% of the (239,240)Pu and 0.95% of the (137)Cs deposited across the Sea in 2000. These data show that the accumulation of artificial radionuclides in deep Mediterranean environments is much lower than predicted by other studies from the analysis of continental shelf sediments.

Contribution of groundwater discharge to the coastal dissolved nutrients and trace metal concentrations in Majorca Island: karstic vs detrital systems.

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and derived nutrient (NO2(-), NO3(-), NH4(+), PO4(3-), and SiO2) and trace element (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) loadings to the coastal sea were systematically assessed along the coast of Majorca Island, Spain, in a general survey around the island and in three representative coves during 2010. We estimated that brackish water discharges through the shoreline are important contributors to the DIN, SiO2, Fe, and Zn budgets of the nearshore waters. Furthermore, our results showed that SGD-derived elements are conditioned by the hydrogeological formations of the aquifer and discharge type. Thus, while rapid discharges through karstic conduits are enriched in SiO2 and Zn, the large detrital aquifers of the island typically present enhanced concentrations of Fe. The estimated total annual inputs of chemicals constituents discharged by SGD to the coastal waters were as follows: DIN: 610 × 10(3) kg yr(-1), SiO2: 1400 × 10(3) kg yr(-1), Fe: 3.2 × 10(3) kg yr(-1), and Zn: 2.0 × 10(3) kg yr(-1). Our results provide evidence that SGD is a major contributor to the dissolved pool of inorganic nutrients and trace metals in the nearshore waters of Majorca.

A new Certified Reference Material for radionuclides in Irish sea sediment (IAEA-385)

A new Certified Reference Material (CRM) for radionuclides in sediment (IAEA-385) is described and the results of the certification process are presented. Eleven radionuclides ((40)K, (137)Cs, (226)Ra, (228)Ra, (230)Th, (232)Th, (234)U, (238)U, (238)Pu, (239+240)Pu and (241)Am) have been certified and information mass activities with 95% confidence intervals are given for seven other radionuclides ((90)Sr, (210)Pb((210)Po), (235)U, (239)Pu, (240)Pu and (241)Pu). Results for less frequently reported radionuclides ((60)Co, (99)Tc, (134)Cs, (155)Eu, (224)Ra and (239)Np) and information on some activity and mass ratios are also reported. The CRM can be used for quality assurance/quality control of the analysis of radionuclides in sediment samples, for the development and validation of analytical methods and for training purposes.

Sedimentology, physical properties and age of mass transport deposits associated with the Marqués de Pombal Fault, Southwest Portuguese Margin

6 pages, 4 figures, 17 references.-- Trabajo presentado al 7th International Workshop on Sap Flow, celebrado del 21-24 de octubre 2008, en Sevilla, Espana.This research has been supported in part by the “Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia”, Spain, (VIN00-036-C6-3, RF02-004-C5-2, HP2000-0032, VIN03-002-C6-3). The Excma. Diputacion Provincial de Pontevedra also provided a research grant.Presentacion con 38 diapositivas ; Conferencia invitada ; ECLA 2016: Gas on the rock, CSIC, Madrid, Spain, 21-25 Nov. 2016El objetivo perseguido en este trabajo ha sido avanzar y profundizar en el conocimiento de la ruta de degradacion del acido fenilacetico (PA) en Escherichia coli W En primer lugar se ha caracterizado la segunda etapa en la degradacion de PA, la transformacion de PA en fenilacetil-CoA (PA-CoA). Se ha demostrado por una parte, que los genes paaABCDE son todos necesarios para la hidroxilacion del anillo aromatico de PA-CoA, primer intermediario de la ruta, y por otro lado, que esta hidroxilacion es dependiente de oxigeno. En segundo lugar se han estudiado el gen paaX, que codifica un represor que controla la expresion de los genes catabolicos. En este trabajo se ha confirmado que la proteina PaaX tambien esta implicada en la represion de su propia expresion, y se ha observado que el PA-CoA es el inductor del sistema. La proteina PaaX es capaz de competir y desplazar la union de la RNA polimerasa a la zona promotora. Se ha observado que los promotores de la ruta de degradacion del PA no se pueden activar en anaerobiosis, porque no puede sintetizarse PA-CoA, ya que la PA-CoA ligasa pierde rapidamente su actividad en ausencia de oxigeno. En tercer lugar se ha estudiado la funcion del gen paaY que se encuentra contiguo al gen paaX La ausencia del gen paaY retrasa de forma significativa el crecimiento de E. coli en PA pero solo cuando esta presente el represor PaaX. Ademas las celulas deficientes en este gen no son capaces de activar de forma efectiva la ruta paa cuando la bacteria utiliza unicamente PA como fuente de energia. La proteina PaaY se ha hiperexpresado y purificado, comprobandose que es una metaloenzima trimerica que presenta actividad tioesterasa sobre algunos compuestos derivados de CoA.8 paginas.-- 3 figuras.-- 1 tabla.-- 23 referencias.-- Comunicacion oral presentada en Geothermal biology and geochemistry in Yellowstone National Park: Proceeding of the Thermal Biology Institute workshop, Yellowstone National Park, WY, October 2003This paper was made possible thanks to the sponsorship of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (Research Project BHA2003-04414-C03-01).Recientemente se ha sintetizado en nuestro laboratorio el primer oxido mixto de cobre y plata. Tal sintesis ha sido posible gracias a la utilizacion de metodos de quimica suave y baja temperatura, que impiden que los oxidos de plata se descompongan. En este trabajo se describe el estudio llevado a cabo sobre el comportamiento electroquimico del oxido mixto de cobre y plata, Ag2Cu2O3 ,mediante voltametria ciclica y electrolisis tanto para los procesos de oxidacion como de reduccion. Dicho compuesto sufre varios procesos redox cuando es reducido, obteniendose plata metalica y cobre metalico como productos finales, sin que se de regeneracion del oxido al volver a oxidar a estos. En cambio al ser oxidado el Ag2Cu2O3, se observa la formacion de una fase oxidada de estequiometria Ag2Cu2O4�}� a partir de la cual se puede regenerar el compuesto original.Con el desarrollo de la biologia molecular, la produccion de proteinas en sistemas heterologos ha cobrado gran importancia en el campo de la biotecnologia. La posibilidad de purificar e inmovilizar estas proteinas recombinantes representan una ventaja importante para su aplicacion en procesos industriales o en el desarrollo de productos biotecnologicos. Por ello, el uso de polipeptidos de afinidad, mas conocidos como tags, que proporcionan caracteristicas determinadas a las proteinas de fusion es una tecnologia ampliamente utilizada tanto en investigacion basica como en procesos industriales. En esta Tesis se ha trabajado con dos sistemas muy ventajosos que permiten purificar e inmovilizar proteinas de fusion en soportes solidos utilizando dos tipos de tags: - El ChBD, tag de afinidad que reconoce colina y otros compuestos analogos, permiten purificar en un unico paso de cromatografico utilizando un soporte muy economico, la DEAE-celulosa. Ademas ofrece la posibilidad de inmovilizar dichas proteinas en papel de DEAE-celulosa manteniendo su funcionalidad. - BioF, un nuevo tag disenado en esta Tesis, que permite obtener proteinas de fusion inmovilizadas en granulos de polihidroxialcanoato de cadena media, un soporte solido biodegradable y biocompatible conocido como bioplastico. Las proteinas de fusion asociadas a estos granulos pueden purificarse con ellos mediante una sencilla centrifugacion y, si es necesario, liberarse en solucion mediante tratamientos suaves. En esta Memoria se han determinado distintas caracteristicas de dichos tags se han disenado las herramientas biotecnologicas necesarias para su utilizacion. Ademas se han realizado proteinas de fusion que demuestran la funcionalidad de ambos tags. Entre las proteinas obtenidas, es relevante destacar, por su interes industrial, la DAO-ChBD, con actividad D-aminoacido oxidasa y la ChBD-Pyr, con actividad pirofosfatasa. Tambien seIn Possibilistic Decision Theory (PDT), decisions are ranked by a pressimistic or by an optimistic qualitative criteria. The preference relations induced by these criteria have been axiomatized by corresponding sets of rationality postulates, both a la von Neumann and Morgenstern and a la Savage. In this paper we first address a particular issue regarding the axiomatic systems of PDT a la von Neumann and Morgenstern. Namely, we show how to adapt the axiomatic systems for the pessimistic and optimistic criteria when some finiteness assumptions in the original model are dropped. Second, we show that a recent axiomatic approach by Giang and Shenoy using binary utilities can be captured by preference relations defined as lexicographic refinements of the above two criteria. We also provide an axiomatic characterization of these lexicographic refinements.The southwestern margin of the Iberian Peninsula hosts the present-day convergent boundary between the European and African Plates. Plate convergence is about 4 mm/yr and is accommodated over a wide and diffuse deformation zone (Sartori et al. 1994) characterized by significant and widespread seismic activity (e.g. Grimison & Chen 1986; Buforn et al. 1995; Stich et al. 2005), being the source of the largest events in Western Europe, such as the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake and Tsunami (estimated Moment Magnitude Mw 8.5) (Abe 1989; Johnston 1996; Baptista et al. 1998) and 1969 Horseshoe Earthquake (Mw 7.8) (Fukao 1973; Stich et al. 2005) (Fig. 1).Application of Isotopic analysis in archaeometallurgy research Isotopic analysis of archaeological metals plays a key role in provenance and trade/exchange studies. These analytical techniques were developed originally in the field of Earth Sciences for the study of rocks and minerals, but since the 60s of the XX century have also been used for the analysis of many ancient materials (metals, glass and glazed pottery). Of particular interest for tracing the provenance of metals is lead (Pb). Depending on age, type and geochemical composition of the ore source, different isotopic compositions are found. Due to isotopic ratios not changing through the metallurgical processes (smelting and melting), the isotopic fingerprint of one metal can be linked with the ore sources. Recent investigations with Cu, Sn and Os isotopes provide new paths for the study of the metals provenance.Financial support of the DGES (Project PB97-1046) and DGI (Project BOS2000-0296-C03-01) of Spain is kindly acknowledged.Trabajo presentado por Yolanda Aguilera Gutierrez para optar al grado de Doctor y que ha sido realizado en el Departamento de Quimica Agricola de la Facultad de Ciencias de la UAM.En esta Tesis Doctoral se caracterizan las dos proteinas MFP1 (MAR-blinding Filament-like Protein 1) nucleares de Allum cepa mediante inmunodeteccion e inmunoprecipitacion con dos sueros desarrollados contra las proteinas de tomate y Arabidopsis. AcMFP1-78KDa es una proteina constitutiva con un pl ligeramente acido (5,5), y se distribuye en distintos subdominios nucleares en funcion del tipo celular y el tejido. Mediante microscopia electronica se ha demostrado que lo hace en pequenos dominios localizados preferentemente en la periferia de las masas de heterocromatina densa. Posee ademas una doble localizacion subcelular, localizados en los cloroplastos con un patron de distribucion similar al de MFP1 en otras especies. El segundo homologo, de 90 Kda y al basico (8,5-9,5), posee distintos estados de fosforilacion que influyen en su union a la matriz nuclear, habiendose demostrado que la Caseina kinasa CK2 endogena puede regular dicha union. AcMFP1-90KDa se acumula en cuerpos nucleares cuyo numero se incrementa por la proliferacion celular y la presencia de luz. Tambien se distribuye por el reticulo de la matriz nuclear, asociada a los filamentos del nucleoesqueleto. Estudios de co-localizacion demuestran que las proteinas AcMFP1 no forman parte de los complejos de replicacion, los de procesamiento co-transcripcional, los granulos intercromatinicos ni los Cuerpos de Cajal. Las distintas caracteristicas y patrones de distribucion y expresion de ambas proteinas sugieren funciones diferentes, o al menos distintas formas de regulacion. Los resultados sugieren una interaccion de AcMFP1-78KDa con la eucromatina, y una funcion estructural en la matriz nuclear para AcMFP1-90KDa.6 pages, 5 figures, 18 references. Electronic Newsletter. CSIC Thematic Network on Cultural Heritage and Network on Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Sevilla, CSIC, Apartado de Correos 1052, 41080 Sevilla (Spain)This paper deals with three main aspects os the imagery of youth in Hellenistic Iberia. First, I study the iconography of vegetation and flowers associated with juvenile vigour and with the gods, as expressed in vase scenes from San Miguel de Liria or La Alcudia de Elche. Second, I analyze the ideal of the young leader or prince, spread in Iberia by the Barcids and especially by Hannibal and, later, by the Roman conquerors, exemplified by Publius Cornelius Scipio). I point to the function fulfilled by the youth in political pacts, via amicitia and fides. Literary and numismatic sources, emphasizing the Carthago Nova mint, are also studied. Finally, I refer to the representation of a duel by youths, as in the case of the sculptured monument at Osuna (Seville), and put forward the hypothesis of a ritualization of war in festivals, in which young men and women take part, although I leave this last part open to further debate.espanolSe estudio el efecto de la contaminacion con altas cantidades de un residuo compuesto de isomeros de 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexaclorociclohexano (HCHs) (10, 50 y 100 g HCHs kg-1 suelo) sobre la densidad en el suelo de microorganismos heterotrofos, algas y cianobacterias fijadoras de N2 , sobre algunos microorganismos implicados en los ciclos de C y N (amonificantes, amiloliticos, y celuloliticos) asi como sobre la capacidad de las comunidades microbianas edaficas para degradar varios sustratos carbonados (perfiles fisiologicos de las comunidades microbianas, CCLP). Estas propiedades microbianas se analizaron a las 2 semanas y los 2 y 4 meses de la aplicacion del contaminante. Tambien se estudio el efecto de la contaminacion con HCHs aplicado a distintas concentraciones y en forma de particulas de distinto tamano, sobre la respiracion del suelo. A corto plazo tras la adicion del contaminante al suelo, la densidad de los microorganismos heterotrofos aumento, la abundancia de algas descendio y la poblacion de cianobacterias no vario significativamente. A los 4 meses de la contaminacion el efecto de las concentraciones de contaminante mas altas (50 y 100 g HCHs kg-1 suelo) sobre los grupos microbianos mencionados fue negativo. El residuo de HCHs tuvo un efecto sobre la poblacion amonificante similar a la observada en los microorganismos heterotrofos. Las densidades de amiloliticos y celuloliticos no se vieron afectadas o aumentaron, a corto plazo despues de la adicion de contaminante, aunque, a largo plazo (4 meses tras la contaminacion) experimentaron una reduccion con las concentraciones mas altas de HCHs. A los dos meses de la contaminacion, la capacidad de las comunidades microbianas del suelo para degradar sustratos carbonados (CCLP) se vio negativamente afectada por el residuo de HCHs. Cabe resaltar el descenso en la degradacion de aminoacidos, que fue especialmente importante en los suelos con 50 y 100 g HCHs kg-1 suelo. El residuo de HCHs tambien afecto a la respiracion del suelo, aunque el efecto dependio de la cantidad y tamano de particula del contaminante y de la presencia o ausencia de microorganismos procedentes de un emplazamiento contaminado con HCHs por largo tiempo (adaptados a la contaminacion con HCHs). Cuando estuvieron presentes microorganismos adaptados a HCHs y el contaminante se aplico en forma de particulas 4-10 mm, la respiracion del suelo se vio estimulada con concentraciones entre 20 y 100 g HCHs kg-1 suelo e inhibida con concentraciones mayores de 200 g HCHs kg-1 suelo. Al aplicar el residuo de HCHs en forma de particulas EnglishThe effect of heavy contamination with a residue composed of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs) (10, 50 and 100 g HCHs kg-1 soil) on the densities of cultivable soil heterotrophs, algae and N2 -fixing cyanobacteria, on soil microorganisms involved in the N and C cycles (ammonifiers, amylolytics and cellulolytics) as well as on the ability of soil microbial communities to degrade several C substrates (community level physiological profiles, CCLP) was studied. These microbial properties were analysed 2 weeks, and 2 and 4 months, after the soil was artificially contaminated. The effect of HCHs residue applied at different concentrations, and in the form of particles of different sizes on soil respiration was studied. The influence of the presence or absence of microorganisms from a long term polluted site on the effect of HCHs on soil respiration was also analysed. In the short term after the addition of the contaminant to the soil, the density of heterotrophs increased, the abundance of algae decreased, while the population of cyanobacteria did not change significantly. Four months after contamination the effect of the highest concentrations of HCHs (50 and 100 g HCHs kg-1 soil) on these microbial groups was negative. The HCH residue had a similar effect on the ammonifying population to that on heterotrophs. The densities of amylolytics and cellulolytics were either not modified, or were stimulated by the contaminant in the short term but, in the longer term (4 months after the contamination), were inhibited by HCHs applied at the highest concentrations. Two months after contamination, the ability of soil microbial communities to degrade C substrates (CCLP) was negatively affected by HCHs. It was noteworthy the decrease in the ability for degrading aminoacids, which was particularly important in the soils with 50 and 100 g HCHs kg-1 soil. HCHs also affected soil respiration but the effect depended on the HCH concentration, particle size of the contaminant, and on the presence or absence of microorganisms from a long term HCH-contaminated site (adapted to HCH contamination). When microorganisms adapted to HCH contamination were present and the contaminant was applied in form of particles of 4-10 mm, the soil respiration was stimulated by HCH at concentrations between 20 and 100 g HCH kg-1 and inhibited with concentrations higher than 200 g HCH kg-1 soil. If the HCHs were applied as particlesThis study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (grant BOS2000-0450).Este trabajo pretende una reflexion sobre la verdadera dimension cientifica de Jose Maria Esquerdo. A la luz de las escasas fuentes disponibles, se lleva a cabo un analisis critico de sus aportaciones a la teoria y a la clinica �que vienen a completar otros acercamientos previos centrados en aspectos politicos, profesionales y asistenciales�. Se hace hincapie en la vertiente mas doctrinal de su pensamiento, ubicando el mismo en el marco del alienismo espanol y europeo de su epoca y valorando hasta que punto la obra de esta figura de la medicina espanola decimononica pueden ser considerada, tal y como se ha sostenido con frecuencia, relevante en el contexto en que fue realizadaIn this paper, we propose a box particle filtering algorithm for state estimation in nonlinear systems whose model assumes two types of uncertainties: stochastic noise in the measurements and bounded errors affecting the system dynamics. These assumptions respond to situations frequently encountered in practice. The proposed method includes a new way to weight the box particles as well as a new resampling procedure based on repartitioning the box enclosing the updated state. The proposed box particle filtering algorithm is applied in a fault detection schema illustrated by a sensor network target tracking example.Tesis doctoral inedita. Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Geologia y Geoquimica. Fecha de lectura: 22-04-0811 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, 75 references. We thank the Consejeria de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucia, and the Direction of the National Park of Sierra Nevada for permission to field work, constant support and facilities. We are also especially grateful to Empresa de Transformacion Agraria S.A. (TRAGSA) for carrying out the experimental reforestation. We thank Sergio de Haro and several students for field assistance. David Nesbitt looked over the English version of the manuscript.En este trabajo se ha estudiado la sintesis de hidroxiapatito por el metodo de combustion. Se ha considerado la influencia de los parametros de temperatura, tiempo de reaccion, relacion Ca/P y la acidez del medio, para sintetizar particulas nanometricas de hidroxiapatito por un metodo rapido y simple como es el de combustion. Se han empleado como materias primas nitrato de calcio y fosfato amonico, y como combustible urea. Las diferentes sintesis se han llevado a cabo en una mufla y los polvos obtenidos han sido caracterizados por DRX, FESEM, ATD-TG, FTIR y superficie especifica.En este trabajo se presentan y discuten los resultados de la caracterizacion arqueometrica realizada sobre un conjunto representativo de figurillas ceramicas del Clasico Tardio procedentes de las excavaciones arqueologicas efectuadas en la ciudad maya de Calakmul (Campeche, Mexico). Los objetivos principales han sido recabar informacion sobre la tecnologia de manufactura de estas ceramicas y evaluar su posible procedencia. La caracterizacion arqueometrica se ha llevado a cabo mediante las siguientes tecnicas complementarias: microscopia optica convencional (MO), difraccion de rayos X (DRX) de polvo, espectroscopia infrarroja por Transformada de Fourier (FT- R) y fluorescencia de rayos X (FRX). Con el fin de aislar grupos ceramicos con un perfil quimico similar, los datos obtenidos con FRX se han analizado tambien con tecnicas exploratorias de analisis estadistico multivariante. Los resultados indican que la mayoria de las figurillas se manufacturaron localmente con una materia prima arcillosa rica en carbonato de calcio (calcita). Tambien se ha identificado un pequeno grupo de ceramicas rico en carbonatos mixtos de calcio y magnesio (dolomita), que podria ser foraneo o procedente de otra zona de la region de Calakmul. Estos datos sugieren que la produccion de figurillas ceramicas pudo estar asociada a talleres ligados al monopolio sobre la produccion ceramica que el poder centralizado de la ciudad de Calakmul ejercio en este periodo.Se ha estudiado la influencia del humo de silice sobre el mecanismo de hidratacion del monoaluminato de calcio (CaAl2O4) a temperatura ambiente y con una relacion agua/solidos de 0,5. La evolucion de las fases hidratadas, que se forman en los primeros instantes de la reaccion, se ha estudiado por difraccion de rayos X de laboratorio con una resolucion temporal de 36 min. La integracion de picos de difraccion seleccionados de las fases: Ca2Al2O5·8H2O (Ca2Al2(OH)10·3H2O), CaAl2O4 y Ca4Al2(OH)12(CO3)·5H2O, ha permitido establecer la cinetica de la reaccion. Asi, se ha puesto de manifiesto que el humo de silice provoca una drastica disminucion en el periodo de induccion de la hidratacion y acelera la formacion de los hidratos cristalinos metaestables Ca2Al2(OH)10·3H2O y Ca4Al2(OH)12(CO3)·5H2O. Estos resultados se han confirmado por Termogravimetria, Analisis Termico Diferencial y Microscopia Electronica de Barrido. El mecanismo de hidratacion propuesto se apoya en datos previos de Resonancia Magnetica Nuclear de Solidos (RMN) de 29Si de los autores de este articulo.Una version anterior de este trabajo fue presentada en el XIX Congreso de Geografos Espanoles: ‘Espacios publicos, espacios privados’, organizado por la AGE y el Departamento de Geografia, Urbanismo y Ordenacion del Territorio de la Universidad de Cantabria. Santander (Espana), Octubre 2005.Trabajo realizado en el marco del proyecto de investigacion BHA2003-01664 del MCYT y como contratado por el Programa Ramon y Cajal del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia (convocatoria 2002)The aim of the present work is to determine the physical and hydrodynamic properties of the soils and the factors that govern the spatial and temporal variability of soil moisture in the semiarid sector of the Duero basin (Spain). To accomplish this, we used a soil moisture-measuring network, with 20 stations, each endowed with 4 TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) probes inserted at different depths. At each of the soil moisture sampling points we determined the texture, bulk density, organic matter content and the water retention curve. The study period lasted 21 months, during which contrasted climatic situations were recorded. The results show that the textural fraction is the main variable accounting for the patterns of spatial soil moisture distribution over time. Its effect is direct on i) the water retention capacity of the soils, with an amount of plant available water ranging between 6.5 and 8.9 % vol.; ii) the spatial variability of the soil moisture throughout the area, and iii) soil moisture distribution along the profile. Finally, an outstanding aspect is the considerable effect of the organic matter, despite its low contents, on the water retention capacity of the soils studied.El trabajo experimental presentado en esta memoria por Roberto Alonso Gil, ha sido realizado en el Instituto de Biologia y Genetica Molecular (Universidad de Valladolid-CSIC) y en el Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas “Alberto Sols” (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid-CSIC; Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biologia Molecular), bajo la direccion del Dr. Manuel Izquierdo Pastor.Two new sterols, 1-2, unus ually hydroxylated at C -21 have been isolated from the marine pulmonate Trimusculus peruvianus. Compound 2 possesses a Δ 7 -3α,5α,6β-triol nucleus unprecedented in marine organisms. The structure and stereochemistries were determined on the basis of spectral studies, particularly NMR and MS spectroscopic data. 1 and 2 are the entire sterol content of the mollusk and both exhibit moderate in vitro cytotoxic activity against human colon carcinoma cell lines.4 paginas, 4 figuras, 4 tablas.-- Trabajo presentado a la 34a Sesion Cientifica, Bilbao 2003.In Drosophila, mutations in double-strand DNA break (DSB) repair enzymes, such as spn-B, activate a meiotic checkpoint leading to dorsal-ventral patterning defects in the egg and an abnormal appearance of the oocyte nucleus. Mutations in spn-D cause an array of ovarian phenotypes similar to spn-B. We have cloned the spn-D locus and found that it encodes a protein of 271 amino acids that shows significant homology to the human RAD51C protein. In mammals the spn-B and spn-D homologs, XRCC3 and RAD51C, play a role in genomic stability in somatic cells. To test for a similar role for spn-B and spn-D in double-strand DNA repair in mitotic cells, we analyzed the sensitivity of single and double mutants to DSBs induced by exposure to X rays and MMS. We found that neither singly mutant nor doubly mutant animals were significantly sensitized to MMS or X rays. These results suggest that spn-B and spn-D act in meiotic recombination but not in repair of DSBs in somatic cells. As there is no apparent ortholog of the meiosis-specific DMC1 gene in the Drosophila genome, and given their meiosis-specific requirement, we suggest that spn-B and spn-D may have a function comparable to DMC1.Este trabajo se realizo en el marco del proyecto BTE 2002-040 17 -C02-01 del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia en el desarrollo de la beca FPI con referencia BES- 2003-1573.Trabajo realizado en el marco del Programa Contrato Ramon y Cajal (2002) y financiado por los proyectos de Investigacion: BHA-2002-00588 y BHA 2003-01664 del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia.Trabajo realizado en el marco del Proyecto BHA 2002-00588 (Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia- Espana)espanolUna caracteristica esencial de la vida de todo organismo es la adaptacion constante a los cambios que tienen lugar en su entorno. Para ello, esas variaciones ambientales deben ser leidas y traducidas en respuesta fisiologica. De ahi que, los organismos hayan desarrollado diversos mecanismos de integracion, de amplificacion y de mantenimiento de la senal del medio. La naturaleza de los mecanismos de senalizacion y respuesta celular varia en funcion de la complejidad del organismo. Sin embargo, se puede decir que el aspecto basico de toda adaptacion es de caracter universal, en el que se pueden distinguir tres grandes etapas: 1) la lectura de la senal propiciada por el entorno, 2) la transmision de la senal recibida y, 3), la respuesta celular. Al final toda respuesta celular implica un cambio intracelular basado en el control de la expresion genica y/o actividad de proteinas, cuya funcion permite adecuar el metabolismo celular a las necesidades de cada momento. La tesis aqui presentada se centra en el mecanismo de senalizacion por glucosa. La glucosa es la principal fuente de carbono y de energia para la mayoria de los organismos. Ademas de ser nutriente se puede considerar a la glucosa como una hormona de crecimiento, ya que regula varios aspectos del crecimiento, metabolismo y desarrollo celular. Para llevar a cabo dicho estudio hicimos uso de la levadura Saccharomyces cerevisiae. En S. cerevisiae la presencia de glucosa modula distintos procesos celulares. La regulacion del metabolismo supone controlar las rutas implicadas a distintos niveles: a corto plazo se modifica la actividad de distintas proteinas, como es el caso de la inactivacion por catabolito de los transportadores de galactosa y maltosa; mientras que a largo plazo se producen cambios en la actividad transcripcional. La glucosa en S. cerevisiae regula la expresion genica mediante dos rutas diferentes denominadas ruta de induccion y ruta de represion. Mediante la ruta de represion se inactiva la expresion genica de un gran numero de genes tales como los genes responsables de la utilizacion de otras fuentes de carbono distintas a la glucosa, de la gluconeogenesis y la respiracion. Por el contrario, mediante la ruta de induccion se activan los genes responsables de la utilizacion de la glucosa, tales como genes que codifican para enzimas glicoliticos y transportadores de glucosa, HXTs. Para estudiar la senalizacion por glucosa estudiamos la regulacion de la expresion genica del transportador de glucosa de baja afinidad, HXT1, de S. cerevisiae, cuyo sistema de expresion se considera modelo de induccion genica por glucosa. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que la regulacion por glucosa de la expresion del transportador de glucosa de baja afinidad, HXT1, de S. cerevisiae se realiza a traves de al menos tres mecanismos de senalizacion diferentes: el sistema de induccion genica por glucosa, la ruta TOR, ruta de senalizacion de nutrientes a traves de los homologos a las proteinas 14-3-3, y la ruta HOG, ruta de respuesta a estres osmotico. La accion coordinada de dichos mecanismos modula la actividad transcripcional sobre el gen HXT1, permitiendo finalmente que el gen se exprese ante la presencia de glucosa. Por tanto, la regulacion de HXT1 es un ejemplo mas de como se interrelacionan distintos procesos celulares para adecuar el metabolismo celular segun las necesidades. TOR (target of rapamycin). HOG ( High osmolarity glycerol signal transduction pathway ). __________________________________________________________________________________________________ EnglishSensing nutrients is a fundamental requisite for all living cells. For most eukaryotic cells glucose is a major source of energy, having significant and varied effects on cell function. Maintaining glucose homoeostasis is consequently of great importance to many organisms. Interest in identifying mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to variations in glucose concentration has increased lately. Glucose regulates genes in all cells by mechanisms which have been conserved throughout evolution. The consensus is that glucose could act on target cells either by binding to a receptor at the cell surface, or through its metabolism. The aim of this thesis is to elucidate the mechanism involved in glucose sensing in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast cells prefer glucose as carbon source and have evolved mechanisms for sensing and responding to wildly fluctuating levels of extracellular glucose. These mechanisms involve a large family of hexose transporters (HXT proteins) and the glucose transporter homologues Snf3 and Rgt2. Snf3 and Rgt2 are glucose-sensing proteins at the plasma membrane with no detectable transport activity. They sense the extracellular glucose and generate an intracellular glucose signal that triggers the induction of HXT gene expression. Expression of HXT1, a gene encoding a Saccharomyces cerevisiae low-affinity glucose transporter, is regulated by glucose availability, being activated in the presence of glucose and inhibited when the levels of the sugar are scarce. In this study we show how glucose regulate HXT1 expression, and how glucose requires at least the coordinated action of three different mechanisms of signalling: glucose signalling pathway, osmotic stress signalling (HOG pathway) and nutrient-signalling (TOR pathway) .9 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, 55 references. We thank the Consejeria de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucia, for permitting our fieldwork in the Sierra Nevada National Park and Sierra de Baza Natural Park. We are especially grateful to Sergio de Haro, Elena Baraza and Jose Antonio Hodar for their help in the field. Peter Klinkhamer and two anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments on earlier versions of the manuscript. David Nesbitt improved the English version.The Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (Project REN2003-00381) and the Spanish Ministry of Environment (Project RESEL).Resumen del poster presentado al 48th European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting, celebrado en Berlin (Alemania) del 1 al 5 de octubre de 2012.-- et al.2 paginas y 1 tabla.- Resumen del poster presentado en el IV Congreso de Mejora genetica de plantas, celebrado en Cordoba entre el 14 y el 16 de octubre de 2008.Understanding the processes of tree population recruitment and their limitations, is the scientific basis to assure the forest natural regeneration, and to improve techniques of restoration and afforestation. We present here preliminary results of a collaborative project (HETEROMED). The environmental heterogeneity of Mediterranean forests was related to natural patterns of seedling establishment. Factorial design experiments of seed addition were carried out and the resulting emergence and survival were related to the conditions of light and soil moisture. The fieldwork was carried out at two natural areas in South Spain: Sierra Nevada National Park (higher mountains on the Southeast) and Los Alcornocales Natural Park (lower mountains in Sierra del Aljibe range, on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula). The experiments were focussed in seven target species - Quercus suber, Quercus canariensis, Quercus ilex, Quercus pyrenaica, Pinus sylvestris, Acer granatense and Sorbus aria. In addition, a glasshouse factorial experiment investigated the differential response of the four Quercus species to the combined effects of shade and drought. In both field sites (Sierra Nevada and Sierra del Aljibe) seedling emergence differed among species, but was not significantly affected by habitat (light availability). In Sierra Nevada, seedling survival after dry summer was statistically different between tree species, habitat type and irrigation treatment. Summer drought was the main cause of seedling mortality. Survival was higher in deep shade habitats than in open stands. Irrigation boosted survival in open areas (full light) and under shrublands (medium shade), but had scant effect inside woodland stands (deep shade). In Sierra del Aljibe, there were significant differences in seedling survival of Quercus suber between habitat types. Most surviving seedlings after the dry summer were in habitats with medium shade (under tree canopy), rather than in full light (open areas) or deep shade (closed forest) habitats. In the glasshouse study, the seedling mass (after six months of growth) was statistically different between species, and between light and water treatments. In the deep shade treatment seedling mass was not affected by stopping irrigation (simulating seasonal drought), unlike in the full light. A comparison of field and glasshouse results is carried out. A conflict between components of regeneration (seedling emergence, survival, and growth) is demonstrated as common in Mediterranean forests. The implications for ecological restoration are discussed and future perspectives of HETEROMED project are advanced.Presentacion con 40 diapositivas; Theoretical Challenges in Small Molecule Dynamics; The 15th ICQC Satellite Meeting, Dalian, China, 2-6 June 2015; http://www.sklmr.dicp.ac.cn/2015icqc/Financiacion del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia a traves de los proyectos MAT2000-1495 y MAT2000-1533-C03-02.Los fondos para la realizacion de los estudios que componen la presente memoria fueron proporcionados por el Ministerio de Educacion que concedio una beca de formacion de personal investigador al licenciado Rodrigo Manuel Megia Palma (BES-2010-038427).8 paginas, 3 figuras, 20 referencias.-- 5th International Symposium on Olive Growing, celebrado en Izmir, Turquia, 2004.Los estudios realizados en esta Tesis han permitido la identificacion y caracterizacion del potencial catabolico de Azoarcus sp. CIB, capaz de degradar anaerobicamente (condiciones desnitrificantes) compuestos aromaticos tales corno tolueno y m-xileno. Por primera vez en el genero Azoarcus se ha propuesto una ruta central de degradacion anaerobica de compuestos aromaticos via benzoil-CoA y se han identificado los genes responsables de dicha ruta bioquimica, que se agrupan en un cluster, denominado bzd, organizado en un operon regulador, constituido por el gen bzdR, bajo el control del promotor PR y otro operon catabolico, bzdNOPQMSTUVWXYZ, bajo el control del promotor PN. Se ha disenado una casete portadora de los genes bzd en un vector movilizable de amplio espectro de huesped con el objetivo de explorar el potencial de la ingenieria de rutas anaerobicas, siendo esta la primera casete que se describe en el catabolismo anaerobico de compuestos aromaticos. El gen bzdA codifica una benzoato-CoA ligasa involucrada en la primera reaccion del catabolismo anaerobico de benzoato y reconoce corno sustratos una mayor variedad de compuestos aromaticos que otras benzoato-CoA ligasas descritas hasta el momento, por lo que su hiperproduccion en huespedes heterologos muestra interes biotecnologico para la sintesis de derivados de benzoil-CoA. La proteina reguladora BzdR constituye el primer represor transcripcional que se describe en el catabolismo anaerobico de compuestos aromaticos. Este regulador transcripcional interacciona con tres regiones operadoras presentes en el promotor catabolico PN inhibiendo su actividad, habiendose caracterizado, tambien por primera vez en catabolismo anaerobico de compuestos aromaticos, la naturaleza de la molecula inductora, el benzoil-CoA. La novedosa estructura modular de la proteina BzdR, constituida por un dominio de tipo HTH-XRE tipico de proteinas de union a ADN yEste trabajo ha sido realizado en el marco del Programa Ramon y Cajal del MCyT (Convocatoria 2002).Se pretende estimar el efecto de un eventual cambio climatico y edafico sobre el patron de almacenamiento de carbohidratos en plantulas de un ano de tres especies lenosas mediterraneas del genero Quercus. Para ello se han cultivado las plantulas bajo tres condiciones contrastadas de fertilidad y tres de riego, experimento no factorial, durante una estacion de crecimiento. Se espera que en los medios menos fertiles se acumule carbono en forma de reservas debido a la limitacion en el crecimiento por falta de nutrientes. Asimismo, en condiciones de riego bajo, aumente la concentracion de glucosa para contribuir al ajuste osmotico de las hojas. Por ultimo, esperamos que Q. faginea, la especie de crecimiento mas rapido, invierta mayor cantidad de carbono en crecimiento y por tanto acumule menos almidon. Las concentracion de almidon en raiz y tallo de Q. ilex y Q. coccifera fue inversamente proporcional al nivel de fertilizacion. La concentracion de glucosa foliar mostro mayores concentraciones en las plantulas que experimentaron deficit hidrico. La especie que mas carbohidratos almaceno fue Q. faginea. Nuestro estudio sugiere, que el efecto de un incremento de aridez sobre el almacenamiento de carbohidratos depende, no solo de la especie, sino tambien de la fertilidad del suelo sobre el que se asiente.Trabajo presentado en el V Simposio Nacional sobre Control de la Degradacion y uso Sostenible del Suelo, celebrado en Murcia (Espana), del 27 al 30 de junio de 2011Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (Proyecto RESEL) y Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Proyecto REN2003-00381).Thesis submitted to the University of Castilla La Mancha by Silvia Diaz Fernandez in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.El presente trabajo comprende el diseno y procesamiento por colaje de suspensiones de sistemas multicapa basados en capas gruesas de alumina y capas finas de alumina-circona. Durante el enfriamiento desde la temperatura de sinterizacion se generan tensiones residuales en las capas debido a la expansion asociada a la transformacion martensitica de la circona. En esta investigacion se estudian los parametros de procesamiento para la fabricacion de estos sistemas laminados y se caracterizan microestructuralmente las capas que lo componen. Como resultado se obtienen multicapas ceramicas con diferente relacion de espesores entre capas adyacentes utilizando como metodo de control las cineticas de colaje de los correspondientes monoliticos. Adicionalmente, se determinan analiticamente las tensiones residuales generadas en los laminados por medio de las diferencias volumetricas determinadas en ensayos dilatometricos y del modulo elastico de cada capa. Se encuentra que en las capas delgadas se desarrollan elevadas tensiones de compresion mientras que en las gruesas se inducen tensiones residuales de traccion. El efecto de estas tensiones sobre la integridad mecanica del material se discute en terminos de las observaciones de fenomenos de fisuracion intrinseca: tanto de grietas de borde o ?edge cracks? en la superficie libre de las capas delgadas como de fisuras tunel o ?tunneling cracks? en las capas gruesas.Trabajo presentado en II EMBO Workshop on Cortical Interneurons in Health and Disease, celebrado en Costa d’en Blanes, Mallorca (Espana), del 24 al 27 de junio de 2012CBR systems solve problems by assessing their similarity with already solved problems (cases). Explanation of a CBR system prediction usually consists of showing the user the set of cases that are most similar to the current problem. Examining those retrieved cases the user can then assess whether the prediction is sensible. Using the notion of symbolic similarity, our proposal is to show the user a symbolic description that makes explicit what the new problem has in common with the retrieved cases. Specifically, we use the notion of anti-unification (least general generalization) to build symbolic similarity descriptions. We present an explanation scheme using anti-unification for CBR systems applied to classification tasks. This scheme focuses on symbolically describing what is shared between the current problem and the retrieved cases that belong to dierent classes. Examining these descriptions of symbolic similarities the user can assess which aspects are determining that a problem is classified one way or another. The paper exemplifies this proposal with an implemented application of the symbolic similarity scheme to the domain of predicting the carcinogenic activity of chemical compounds.Reseda sect. Glaucoreseda is a monophyletic group composed of five endemic tetraploid species with a disjunct distribution in the high mountains and plateaus of the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco. It was previously suggested that range shifts induced by Quaternary glaciations played an important role in the speciation of the group. We studied the evolution of R. sect. Glaucoreseda in order to infer historical range dynamics and speciation processes, and to understand current distributional patterns. Phylogeographic analyses were performed using nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid trnL-F and rps16 sequences. Cloning of additive ITS sequences was carried out to elucidate the origin of intra-individual polymorphisms. A dated phylogeny based on ITS and cpDNA (rbcL, matK, trnL-F) sequences was used to estimate divergence times of R. sect. Glaucoreseda. Time estimates using Penalized Likelihood analyses indicate a late Pleistocene diversification of R. sect. Glaucoreseda. Incomplete lineage sorting of ancestral polymorphisms due to recent divergence, rather than rampant hybridisation, is suggested as the main cause of the phylogenetic incongruence detected between nuclear and plastid datasets. Our results support the vicariance hypothesis for population disjunctions in the Iberian Peninsula, in which an ancestral, widespread species could have undergone differentiation by Quaternary interglacial fragmentation. In contrast, long-distance dispersal across the Strait of Gibraltar may have been involved in the colonisation of North African plateaus by R. battandieri.La informacion cuantitativa sobre la radiacion disponible en el sotobosque es crucial para la comprension de multitud de aspectos relacionados con la ecologia y dinamica del bosque. Dado que la gestion del bosque es en buena medida la gestion de la luz, la combinacion de estudios sobre ecofisiologia, heterogeneidad luminica, dinamica forestal y cambio global representa un punto de encuentro entre la ecologia y la gestion forestal, algo muy necesario en ecosistemas mediterraneos donde las incertidumbres son grandes y las predicciones poco optimistas. En este trabajo se presentan resultados sobre la heterogeneidad temporal y espacial de la luz en el sotobosque de diversas formaciones forestales ibericas (encinares, alcornocales, pinares, abedulares y hayedos). En general se observa que las formaciones mediterraneas tiene una mayor estructura espacial y una mayor heterogeneidad luminica que los bosques no mediterraneos, que la radiacion disponible bajo un dosel es inversamente proporcional a la tolerancia a la sombra de las especies arboreas que lo componen y que el numero de destellos de sol disminuye con la radiacion total que llega al sotobosque (i.e. los destellos se hacen largos e intensos). Las implicaciones de estos resultados se interpretan considerando la informacion disponible sobre las respuestas de las plantas a la combinacion de sombra y sequia, y sobre el papel de la heterogeneidad abiotica en la coexistencia de especies. Se propone que el cambio global conduce a un sotobosque mas oscuro y luminicamente homogeneo, lo cual unido al incremento de aridez ira dando lugar a bosques huecos, pobres en especies y con escasa capacidad de regeneracion natural.The Tufted(1) (Tft(1)) dominant mutation promotes the generation of ectopic bristles (macrochaetae) in the dorsal mesothorax of Drosophila. Here we show that Tft(1) corresponds to a gain-of-function allele of the proneural gene amos that is associated with a chromosomal aberration at 36F-37A. This causes ectopic expression of amos in large domains of the lateral-dorsal embryonic ectoderm, which results in supernumerary neurons of the PNS, and in the notum region of the third instar imaginal wing, which gives rise to the mesothoracic extra bristles. Revertants of Tft(1), which lack ectopic neurons and bristles, do not show ectopic expression of amos. One revertant is a loss-of-function allele of amos and has a recessive phenotype in the embryonic PNS. Our results suggest that both normal and ectopic Tft(1) bristles are generated following similar rules, and both are subjected to Notch-mediated lateral inhibition. The ability of Tft(1) bristles to appear close together may be due to amos having a stronger proneural capacity than that of other proneural genes like asense and scute. This ability might be related to the wild-type function of amos in promoting development of large clusters of closely spaced olfactory sensilla.Web tematica.-- Proposito: divulgativo.-- Estado del proyecto: finalizado.-- Fecha de la consulta: 2019-01-10.-- Los materiales contenidos en esta pagina web estan protegidos por el Texto Refundido de la Ley de Propiedad Intelectual y legislacion conexa.Poster presentado a las II Jornadas del Grupo de Viticultura y Enologia (SECH), celebradas en Madrid el 3 y 4 de noviembre de 2016.

Separation and Measurement of Pa, Th, and U Isotopes in Marine Sediments by Microwave-Assisted Digestion and Multiple Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

This manuscript describes a new protocol for determination of Pa/Th/U in marine sediments. It is based on microwave-assisted digestion and represents an important reduction of working time over conventional hot-plate digestion methods, and the use of HClO(4) is avoided. Although Th and U are completely dissolved with a first microwave step, around 40% of (231)Pa remains undissolved, and a short hot-plate step with reverse aqua regia is required to achieve total digestion and spike equilibration. Next, the method involves a separation of these elements and a further purification of the Pa fraction using Dowex AG1-X8 resin. Separation with Bio-Rad and Sigma-Aldrich resins was compared; although both perform similarly for Th and U, Pa yields are higher with Bio-Rad. Finally, samples are measured using a Nu instruments multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS). Overall chemical yields range around 50% for Pa, 60% for Th, and 70% for U.

Time-series sampling of 223Ra and 224Ra at the inlet to Great South Bay (New York): a strategy for characterizing the dominant terms in the Ra budget of the bay.

Ra isotopes are a powerful tool for quantifying the flux of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into the sea. Previous studies of 223Ra and 224Ra mass balances in coastal embayments have shown that the Ra balance is dominated by supply via SGD, exchange with the open ocean and radioactive decay. The current study shows that a single time series over a tidal cycle at the principal inlet to Great South Bay (NY, US) is sufficient to determine the net flux of Ra across the inlet, and also can be used to estimate the decay of short-lived Ra in the bay. Estimates of the net Ra flux obtained from a single tidal time-series by using three different approaches agree with those determined from a more time-consuming survey of Ra within the bay, and may represent a first step of estimating SGD in bays and coastal lagoons.