Hydrological rehabilitation is widely used to improve soil conditions and promote passive recovery. However, climate variability that is seldom considered in restoration planning can affect ...hydrological rehabilitation goals.
We used long‐term observations to assess the effects of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate variability and hydrologic rehabilitation on tree recruitment and landscape cover changes in a South American mangrove complex.
ENSO climate variability and rehabilitation hydrology measure types collectively explained 88%, 90% and 70% of mangrove cover change rates in the whole mangrove system and porewater salinity in basin and riverine sites, respectively. Therefore, major and detrimental rehabilitation measures counterbalanced or reinforced the effects of ENSO phase intensity on the system. In addition, climate variability explained the rates of change of salinity in the basin site (58%).
Porewater salinity, its rates of change and ENSO explained 28%–75% of propagule density and seedling/sapling growth rates of Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa and Avicennia germinans in representative basin and riverine sites.
Tree colonization in the basin site, under high irradiance, was triggered by high seedling/saplings diameter growth rates (0.5–1.6 cm year−1) of L. racemosa and R. mangle generated by strong porewater salinity drop rates during consecutive La Niña episodes, while widespread tree mortality occurred during a strong El Niño. Tree size categories were more stable to ENSO climate variability in the riverine site.
Synthesis and implications. This study shows that hydrologic rehabilitation effectiveness depended on its influence on freshwater flows and on the effects of ENSO climate variability. ENSO, porewater salinity and its rates of change regulated tree recruitment and landscape cover changes. Thus, besides porewater salinity, rates of change of porewater salinity, light availability and climate variability need to be included in monitoring and mangrove restoration planning to better understand and predict mangrove trajectories. Climate‐smart restoration in mangroves should implement the types of hydrological rehabilitation measures that offset or avoid reinforcing ENSO strong phases.
Resumen
La rehabilitación hidrológica es ampliamente utilizada para mejorar las condiciones del suelo y promover una recuperación pasiva de los ecosistemas. Sin embargo, la variabilidad climática que es poco considerada en la planificación de la restauración puede afectar los objetivos de la rehabilitación hidrológica
Se utilizaron observaciones de largo plazo para determinar los efectos de la variabilidad climática asociada a la Oscilación del Niño Sur ENOS y de la rehabilitación hidrológica en el reclutamiento de árboles y los cambios de cobertura del paisaje en un complejo de manglar suramericano
La variabilidad climática asociada a ENOS y los tipos de medidas de rehabilitación hidrológica explicaron en 88%, 90% y 70% las tasas de cambio de cobertura de manglar en todo el sistema y la salinidad intersticial en sitios de cuenca y ribera, respectivamente. Por lo tanto, las medidas de rehabilitación hidrológica más intensas y las medidas perjudiciales contrarrestaron o reforzaron los efectos de la intensidad de las fases ENOS en el sistema. Adicionalmente, la variabilidad climática explicó las tasas de cambio de la salinidad intersticial en el sitio de cuenca (58%)
La salinidad intersticial, sus tasas de cambio, y el ENOS explicaron en 28%–75% la densidad de propágulos y las tasas de crecimiento de plántulas en Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa y Avicennia germinans en sitios de cuenca y ribera representativos.
La colonización de árboles en el sitio de cuenca, bajo alta irradiancia, fue desencadenado por altas de tasas de crecimiento diamétricas en las plántulas (0.5–1.6 cm year−1) de L. racemosa y R. mangle generadas por disminuciones fuertes de la salinidad intersticial durante años La Niña consecutivos. Por el contrario, una mortalidad extensiva de árboles ocurrió durante un El Niño fuerte. Las clases de tamaño arbóreas fueron más estables a la variabilidad climática de ENOS en el sitio de ribera.
Síntesis e implicaciones. Este estudio muestra que la efectividad de la rehabilitación hidrológica depende de su influencia en los flujos de agua dulce y de los efectos de la variabilidad climática asociada al ENOS. El ENOS, la salinidad intersticial y sus tasas de cambio regularon el reclutamiento de los árboles y los cambios de cobertura en el paisaje. Por lo tanto, además de la salinidad intersticial, sus tasas de cambio , la disponibilidad de luz y la variabilidad climática deben ser incluidas en el monitoreo y en la planificación de la restauración para entender y predecir mejor las trayectorias de los manglares. La restauración climáticamente inteligente deberá implementar los tipos de medidas de rehabilitación que contrarrestan o evitan reforzar las fases fuertes de ENOS.
This study shows that hydrologic rehabilitation effectiveness depended on its influence on freshwater flows and on the effects of ENSO climate variability. ENSO, porewater salinity and its rates of change regulated tree recruitment and landscape cover changes. Thus, besides porewater salinity, rates of change of porewater salinity, light availability and climate variability need to be included in monitoring and mangrove restoration planning to better understand and predict mangrove trajectories. Climate‐smart restoration in mangroves should implement the types of hydrological rehabilitation measures that offset or avoid reinforcing ENSO strong phases.
The aims of this study were to analyse the presence of oqxA and oqxB genes in a collection of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, to determine their ...chromosomal and/or plasmidic locations and to analyse expression levels in relation to susceptibility or resistance to quinolones. A collection of 114 non-repetitive isolates of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae was used. K. pneumoniae ATCC 27799 and K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603 were also included. Detection of oqxA and oqxB genes was performed by PCR. Testing for chromosomal and/or plasmidic location was carried out using plasmid DNA and subsequent hybridization. oqxA gene expression was analysed using real-time RT-PCR. Transfer of the plasmid-encoded OqxAB was evaluated. The prevalence of both oqxA and oqxB detected in K. pneumoniae was high: 76% and 75%, respectively. Hybridization assays showed that oqxA (16%) and oqxB (13%) were simultaneously present in locations on the chromosome and on large plasmids. The plasmids were transferable by transformation into K. pneumoniae. RT-PCR assays showed higher expression (4-fold) in strains with reduced susceptibility to quinolones than in susceptible strains. Interestingly, K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603 showed an 18-fold higher expression than K. pneumoniae ATCC 27799. These differences were in accordance with quinolone susceptibility. The prevalence of the OqxAB efflux pump (both chromosomal and plasmid encoded) in ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae is high in Spain and represents a potential reservoir for the spread of these genes. High expression of this pump contributes to reduced susceptibility to quinolones in clinical isolates of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae.
The performance of a pan-fungal PCR-based technique was evaluated to assess the aetiology of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs). A total of 89 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy samples from 84 ...patients with proven IFD were studied. Culture of tissue was performed in 68 (81%) patients. The sensitivities of the PCR-based technique and microbiological culture of tissues were 89% and 56%, respectively (p <0.01). According to PCR results, Aspergillus species accounted for 67%, Candida species for 13%, zygomycetes for 11%, and rare and emerging fungi for 9%. Aspergillus species were significantly associated with lung samples (79.6%, p <0.01), Mucorales were associated with skin/subcutaneous samples, and Candida species were associated with gastrointestinal samples. Regarding biopsy samples with Aspergillus species, Aspergillus fumigatus DNA was detected in 43 of 50 (86%), and Aspergillus flavus in six of 50 (12%). PCR was positive in 24 of 30 (80%) cases with negative culture. In nine of the 84 patients, the PCR technique failed to amplify the DNA. Six also had negative cultures, and in the remaining three cases culture was positive (Rhizopus microsporus, Rhizopus arrhizus, and Sakseneae vasiformis), suggesting that the PCR technique was not as effective in amplifying the DNA of some species of Zygomycetes. In five cases, there was no correlation between culture results and those obtained with DNA amplification, indicating the possibility of a mixed infection or the presence of colonizer/contaminant microorganisms. In summary, PCR-based techniques for DNA amplification should be implemented in histopathology and microbiology departments, as they appear to be complementary to conventional methods for IFD detection.
Optical forces allow manipulation of small particles and control of nanophotonic structures with light beams. While some techniques rely on structured light to move particles using field intensity ...gradients, acting locally, other optical forces can 'push' particles on a wide area of illumination but only in the direction of light propagation. Here we show that spin-orbit coupling, when the spin of the incident circularly polarized light is converted into lateral electromagnetic momentum, leads to a lateral optical force acting on particles placed above a substrate, associated with a recoil mechanical force. This counterintuitive force acts in a direction in which the illumination has neither a field gradient nor propagation. The force direction is switchable with the polarization of uniform, plane wave illumination, and its magnitude is comparable to other optical forces.
Solar light-active Zr-doped TiO
nanoparticles were successfully immobilized on delaminated clay materials by a one-step sol-gel route. Fixing the amount of TiO
at 65wt.%, this work studies the ...influence of Zr loading (up to 2%) on the photocatalytic activity of the resulting Zr-doped TiO
/clay materials. The structural characterization demonstrates that all samples were formed by a delaminated clay with nanostructured anatase assembled on its surface. The Zr dopant was successfully incorporated into the anatase lattice, resulting in a slight deformation of the anatase crystal and the reduction of the band gap. These materials exhibit high surface area with a disordered mesoporous structure formed by TiO
particles (15-20nm) supported on a delaminated clay. They were tested in the solar photodegradation of antipyrine, usually used as an analgesic drug and selected as an example of emerging pollutant. High degradation rates have been obtained at low antipyrine concentrations and high solar irradiation intensities with the Zr-doped TiO
/clay catalyst, more effective than the undoped one. This work demonstrates the potential application of the synthesis method for preparing novel and efficient solar-light photocatalysts based on metal-doped anatase and a delaminated clay.
The reliable assessment of water quality through water quality monitoring programs (WQMPs) is crucial in order for decision-makers to understand, interpret and use this information in support of ...their management activities aiming at protecting the resource. The challenge of water quality monitoring has been widely addressed in the literature since the 1940s. However, there is still no generally accepted, holistic and practical strategy to support all phases of WQMPs. The purpose of this paper is to report on the use cases a watershed manager has to address to plan or optimize a WQMP from the challenge of identifying monitoring objectives; selecting sampling sites and water quality parameters; identifying sampling frequencies; considering logistics and resources to the implementation of actions based on information acquired through the WQMP. An inventory and critique of the information, approaches and tools placed at the disposal of watershed managers was proposed to evaluate how the existing information could be integrated in a holistic, user-friendly and evolvable solution. Given the differences in regulatory requirements, water quality standards, geographical and geological differences, land-use variations, and other site specificities, a one-in-all solution is not possible. However, we advance that an intelligent decision support system (IDSS) based on expert knowledge that integrates existing approaches and past research can guide a watershed manager through the process according to his/her site-specific requirements. It is also necessary to tap into local knowledge and to identify the knowledge needs of all the stakeholders through participative approaches based on geographical information systems and adaptive survey-based questionnaires. We believe that future research should focus on developing such participative approaches and further investigate the benefits of IDSS's that can be updated quickly and make it possible for a watershed manager to obtain a timely, holistic view and support for every aspect of planning and optimizing a WQMP.
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•No holistic solution exists to cover all steps of water quality monitoring programs.•Existing approaches to plan or optimize water quality monitoring programs were reviewed.•Intelligent decision support systems are needed in support of watershed managers.•Participative geographical information systems are useful to tap into local knowledge.•Stakeholder involvement is necessary for successful integrated watershed management.
First law for Kerr Taub-NUT AdS black holes Rodríguez, Nelson Hernández; Rodriguez, Maria J.
The journal of high energy physics,
10/2022, Letnik:
2022, Številka:
10
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
A
bstract
The first law of black hole mechanics, which relates the change of energy to the change of entropy and other conserved charges, has been the main motivation for probing the thermodynamic ...properties of black holes. In this work, we investigate the thermodynamics of Kerr Taub-NUT AdS black holes. We present geometric Komar definitions for the black hole charges, that by construction satisfy the Smarr formula. Further, by a scaling argument based on Euler’s theorem, we establish the first law for the Kerr Taub-NUT AdS black holes. The corresponding first law includes variations in the cosmological constant, NUT charges and angular momenta. The key new ingredient in the construction are the independent variations of both angular momenta, the black hole and Misner string angular momenta. Employing the Brown-York quasi-local charge definitions we show that our expression for the mass and spin coincide with our generalized Komar expressions. We indicate the relevance of these results to the thermodynamics of rotating AdS black holes, including the proper choice of time-like Killing vector to produce the correct thermodynamic mass.
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•The article accounts all the proposed chemical routes for PU recycling.•Literature concerning glycolysis is ordered according the type of PU foam recycled.•A description of the past ...and running pilot and industrial facilities is provided.
The recycling of any kind of plastic to convert it in valuable products is one of the main challenges of today’s society. Besides, if the recycling process is itself green, then it would be a great achievement.
This paper reviews the way covered from the first attempts of reusing the polyurethane (PU) scraps as a filler for cushions to the last chemical routes employing green recycling agents.
Polyurethane is the 6th most used polymer all over the world with a production of 18 millions tons per year, which means a daily production of PU specialties greater than 1 million of cubic meters, equivalent to the volume of the Empire State Building.
The thermostable nature of the majority of the polyurethanes specialties has made that the preferred solution for their recycling are the chemical recycling processes. Among them, glycolysis is the one that receives a greater attention from an industrial point of view, so this review puts the spotlight on it. However, the existing reviews in literature do not paid a special attention on glycolysis and only give a superficial description of the process. Nevertheless, in the present review, the scientific literature relative to glycolysis is completely reviewed, updated and ordered according the type of PU specialty recycled. Additionally, the other main chemical recycling processes are also revisited in a more extended and deeper way than in the previous approaches to this topic.
Moreover, it is crucial to take into account that some of these technologies, which were described in the literature as promising technologies at laboratory scale are now commercial processes running at industrial scale. For that reason, it is essential to remark that the present review comprises not only a detailed state of art of the scientific literature on the subject, also includes a detailed revision of the past and running on pilot plants and industrial facilities, including several patents, which has never been covered in the current literature. Moreover, this review also describes the most recent studies employing crude glycerol (biodiesel subproduct) as an economic, sustainable and environmental friendly cleavage agent, which should lead the way to the industrial implantation of split-phase glycolysis in a near future, providing high quality recovered products, susceptible of replacing raw ones in the synthesis of new PU specialties.
What is more, this review intends that any reader could know and understand the reactions involved in the polyurethane chemistry and recycling, the main polyurethanes types and the fundamentals of the recycling strategies in order to comprehend what are the advantages and drawbacks of each recycling process as starting point for looking for new advantageous alternatives from an environmental, technical and economic point of view.
Broader context.
This paper reviews the main advances in the polyurethane (PU) recycling field, from laboratory and academia processes to pilot plant and industrial scale ones, including the most relevant patents in the subject. Opposite to other common used plastics, PUs are not polymerization but condensation polymers, synthesized from polyols and isocyanates. The wide diversity of polyols and isocyanates allows the synthesis of numerous different compounds covering a huge range of applications. As a direct consequence of their commercial success, an increasing quantity of PU waste is being disposed by landfilling in the last decades. Such waste comprises not only post-consumer products but also scrap from slabstock manufacturing, which can reach the 10% of the total foam production. However, the massive enforcement of the environmental laws is pointing out a new route in the polymer waste removal sector based in the polymer recycling, and this fact has placed the research in waste treatment as one of the most prolific topics nowadays. In fact, polymer recycling processes have experienced a growing attention from the research and industrial worlds as a direct result of the enforcement of the environmental legislations.
Hence, it is essential to develop new environmental sustainable recycling processes with the aim of conserving the natural resources, reducing the amount of waste disposed in landfills and enhancing the sustainability for forthcoming generation.
1. Sown flower strips are increasingly implemented within agri-environment schemes (AES) to increase functional biodiversity and ecosystem services such as pollination or natural pest control, but ...their effectiveness in achieving these goals remains poorly studied. 2. We tested the performance of experimentally sown annual flower strips specifically designed to promote natural enemies of aphids and their pest control services (tailored flower strips) in adjacent potato crops (n = 8) compared with control fields (n = 10). Flower strips consisted of 11 plant species providing abundant floral and extra-floral resources. 3. The abundance of key natural enemies of aphids (hoverflies, lacewings and ladybirds) and hoverfly species richness was greatly enhanced in tailored flower strips compared with potato control strips. This resulted in an average increase in the number of eggs deposited by hoverflies and lacewings by 127% and 48%, respectively, and a reduction in the number of aphids by 75% in adjacent potato crops. 4. Synthesis and applications. We conclude that tailored flower strips can be an effective agrienvironmental measure to enhance natural enemies and aphid control in nearby crops. Indeed, tailored flower strips may help to reduce insecticide input in potato production as they significantly decrease the probability that action thresholds are reached. Promoting natural enemy abundance and diversity, as observed for hoverflies, may increase the stability of pest control and provide additional benefits to agro-ecosystems in terms of natural enemy conservation. We thus recommend establishing tailored flower strips as a promising management option to reconcile the objectives of ecological intensification and biodiversity conservation.
Method-dependent Etest epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs) are not available for susceptibility testing of either Candida or Aspergillus species with amphotericin B or echinocandins. In addition, ...reference caspofungin MICs for Candida spp. are unreliable. Candida and Aspergillus species wild-type (WT) Etest MIC distributions (microorganisms in a species-drug combination with no detectable phenotypic resistance) were established for 4,341 Candida albicans, 113 C. dubliniensis, 1,683 C. glabrata species complex (SC), 709 C. krusei, 767 C. parapsilosis SC, 796 C. tropicalis, 1,637 Aspergillus fumigatus SC, 238 A. flavus SC, 321 A. niger SC, and 247 A. terreus SC isolates. Etest MICs from 15 laboratories (in Argentina, Europe, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States) were pooled to establish Etest ECVs. Anidulafungin, caspofungin, micafungin, and amphotericin B ECVs (in micrograms per milliliter) encompassing ≥97.5% of the statistically modeled population were 0.016, 0.5, 0.03, and 1 for C. albicans; 0.03, 1, 0.03, and 2 for C. glabrata SC; 0.06, 1, 0.25, and 4 for C. krusei; 8, 4, 2, and 2 for C. parapsilosis SC; and 0.03, 1, 0.12, and 2 for C. tropicalis The amphotericin B ECV was 0.25 μg/ml for C. dubliniensis and 2, 8, 2, and 16 μg/ml for the complexes of A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger, and A. terreus, respectively. While anidulafungin Etest ECVs classified 92% of the Candida fks mutants evaluated as non-WT, the performance was lower for caspofungin (75%) and micafungin (84%) cutoffs. Finally, although anidulafungin (as an echinocandin surrogate susceptibility marker) and amphotericin B ECVs should identify Candida and Aspergillus isolates with reduced susceptibility to these agents using the Etest, these ECVs will not categorize a fungal isolate as susceptible or resistant, as breakpoints do.
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