Biogas production from animal manure produced in farms in the Canary Islands may represent an additional energy source for producing heat and/or electricity. Data of different animal farms ...distributed all around the islands were used for evaluating the potential biogas generation and contribution to the production of renewable energy in the Canary Islands. Total manure production is 495,622 tons per year. Results show that animal manure as a source of biogas may be associated with an overall biogas potential of 27.1 Mm3 year−1 with an equivalent installed power capacity of 6.8 MWe. Considering 0.5 t day−1 manure as the lowest limit for implementing biogas projects, 546 farms raising different animal types (poultry, sheep, swine, cows or goats) have potential for producing and using their own biogas for generating heat and/or electricity with electrical powers ranging from 3 to 185 kWe. Potential GHG emissions savings due to the production of biogas from animal manure could reach yearly 55,745.1 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, including both substitution of fossil fuels and appropriate management of animal manure.
The application of appropriate policies described in this study should contribute to overcome main challenges identified for the development of the biogas industry in the Canary Islands, which are related to the small size of the livestock holdings, the lack of a culture of association in the livestock sector and the lack of specific subsidies for biogas production. This study could be used as a basis for further studies in other European outermost regions with similar characteristics to the Canary Islands, such as Madeira and Azores.
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•Manure production on the Canary Islands amounts to 495,622 t year−1.•Potential biogas production is 27.1 millions of m3 year−1.•Biogas potential can contribute up to 14.6 toe year−1 and 6.8 MWe.•Potential electricity is 0.68% and 8.56% of total and renewable electricity of 2016.•Potential GHG emissions savings could reach 55,745.1 tCO2e year−1.
CNO behaviour in planet-harbouring stars Suarez-Andres, L; Israelian, G; Hernandez, J I Gonzalez ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
07/2016, Letnik:
591
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Context. Carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen (CNO) are key elements in stellar formation and evolution, and their abundances should also have a significant impact on planetary formation and evolution. Aims. ...We present a detailed spectroscopic analysis of 74 solar-type stars, 42 of which are known to harbour planets. We determine the nitrogen abundances of these stars and investigate a possible connection between N and the presence of planetary companions. Methods. We used VLT/UVES to obtain high-resolution near-UV spectra of our targets. Spectral synthesis of the NH band at 3360 A was performed with the spectral synthesis codes MOOG and FITTING. Results. We identify several spectral windows from which accurate N abundance can be obtained. Nitrogen distributions for stars with and without planets show that planet hosts are nitrogen-rich when compared to single stars. However, given the linear trend between N/Fe vs. Fe/H, this fact can be explained as being due to the metal-rich nature of planet hosts. Conclusions. We conclude that reliable N abundances can be derived for metal-rich solar type stars from the near UV molecular band at 3360 A. We confirm a linear trend between N/Fe and metallicity expected from standard models of Galactic chemical evolution.
Context.
The study of exoplanet atmospheres is essential for understanding the formation, evolution, and composition of exoplanets. The transmission spectroscopy technique is playing a significant ...role in this domain. In particular, the combination of state-of-the-art spectrographs at low- and high-spectral resolution is key to our understanding of atmospheric structure and composition.
Aims.
We observed two transits of the close-in sub-Saturn-mass planet, WASP-127b, with ESPRESSO in the frame of the Guaranteed Time Observations Consortium. We aim to use these transit observations to study the system architecture and the exoplanet atmosphere simultaneously.
Methods.
We used the Reloaded Rossiter-McLaughlin technique to measure the projected obliquity
λ
and the projected rotational velocity
v
eq
⋅sin(
i
*
). We extracted the high-resolution transmission spectrum of the planet to study atomic lines. We also proposed a new cross-correlation framework to search for molecular species and we applied it to water vapor.
Results.
The planet is orbiting its slowly rotating host star (
v
eq
⋅sin(
i
*
) = 0.53
−0.05
+0.07
km s
−1
) on a retrograde misaligned orbit (
λ
= −128.41
−5.46
+5.60
°). We detected the sodium line core at the 9-
σ
confidence level with an excess absorption of 0.34 ± 0.04%, a blueshift of 2.74 ± 0.79 km s
−1
, and a full width at half maximum of 15.18 ± 1.75 km s
−1
. However, we did not detect the presence of other atomic species but set upper limits of only a few scale heights. Finally, we put a 3-
σ
upper limit on the average depth of the 1600 strongest water lines at equilibrium temperature in the visible band of 38 ppm. This constrains the cloud-deck pressure between 0.3 and 0.5 mbar by combining our data with low-resolution data in the near-infrared and models computed for this planet.
Conclusions.
WASP-127b, with an age of about 10 Gyr, is an unexpected exoplanet by its orbital architecture but also by the small extension of its sodium atmosphere (~7 scale heights). ESPRESSO allows us to take a step forward in the detection of weak signals, thus bringing strong constraints on the presence of clouds in exoplanet atmospheres. The framework proposed in this work can be applied to search for molecular species and study cloud-decks in other exoplanets.
Composting has been traditionally considered a process in which a succession of mesophilic and thermophilic microbial populations occurs due to temperature changes. In order to deepen in this model, ...1380 bacterial and fungal strains (the entire culturable microbiota isolated from a composting process) were investigated for their ability to grow across a wide range of temperatures (20 to 60 °C). First, qualitative tests were performed to establish a thermal profile for each strain. Then, quantitative tests allowed ascertaining the extent of growth for each strain at each of the tested temperatures. The identity of the isolates enabled to position them taxonomically and permitted tracking the strains throughout the process. Results showed that 90% of the isolates were classified as thermotolerant (they grew at all tested temperatures). Only 9% and 1% of the studied strains showed to be strictly mesophilic or thermophilic, respectively. Firmicutes exhibited the greatest thermal plasticity, followed by Actinobacteria and Ascomycota. Most of the Proteobacteria and all Basidiomycota strains were also able to grow at all the assayed temperatures. Thermotolerance was clearly demonstrated among the composting microbiota, suggesting that the idea of the succession of mesophilic and thermophilic populations throughout the process might need a reassessment.
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•The temperature-driven succession of the composting microbial populations was revisited.•Thermotolerance was demonstrated for a vast majority of the composting microbiota.•Thermotolerant strains were repeatedly identified in most of the composting stages.•Firmicutes and Ascomycota accounted for the best represented thermotolerant phyla.•Thermal plasticity is a microbial reply to the ever changing composting conditions.
The role of subthreshold depression (subD) in Parkinson's Disease (PD) is not clear. The present study aimed to compare the quality of life (QoL) in PD patients with subD vs patients with no ...depressive disorder (nonD). Factors related to subD were identified.
PD patients and controls recruited from the COPPADIS cohort were included. SubD was defined as Judd criteria. The 39-item Parkinson's disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) and the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index (EUROHIS-QOL8) were used to assess QoL.
The frequency of depressive symptoms was higher in PD patients (n = 694) than in controls (n = 207) (p < 0.0001): major depression, 16.1% vs 7.8%; minor depression, 16.7% vs 7.3%; subD, 17.4% vs 5.8%. Both health-related QoL (PDQ-39; 18.1 ± 12.8 vs 11.6 ± 10; p < 0.0001) and global QoL (EUROHIS-QOL8; 3.7 ± 0.5 vs 4 ± 0.5; p < 0.0001) were significantly worse in subD (n = 120) than nonD (n = 348) PD patients. Non-motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) total score was higher in subD patients (45.9 ± 32 vs 29.1 ± 25.8;p < 0.0001). Non-motor symptoms burden (NMSS;OR = 1.019;95%CI 1.011–1.028; p < 0.0001), neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPI; OR = 1.091; 95%CI 1.045–1.139; p < 0.0001), impulse control behaviors (QUIP-RS; OR = 1.035; 95%CI 1.007–1063; p = 0.013), quality of sleep (PDSS; OR = 0.991; 95%CI 0.983–0.999; p = 0.042), and fatigue (VAFS-physical; OR = 1.185; 95%CI 1.086–1.293; p < 0.0001; VAFS-mental; OR = 1.164; 95%CI 1.058–1.280; p = 0.0001) were related to subD after adjustment to age, disease duration, daily equivalent levodopa dose, motor status (UPDRS-III), and living alone.
SubD is a frequent problem in patients with PD and is more prevalent in these patients than in controls. QoL is worse and non-motor symptoms burden is greater in subD PD patients.
•Subthreshold depression (SubD) is a frequent problem in patients with PD and is near to triple prevalent than in controls.•Health-related and global perceived quality of life (QoL) are worse in subD than in non-depressed (nonD) PD patients.•A greater non-motor symptoms burden is associated with subthreshold depression in PD.•Specifically, fatigue, sleep problems, and neuropsychiatric symptoms seems to be related to subD in PD.•All this suggests that detection of subD in PD could be an important factor in clinical practice.
Context.
The detection and characterization of exoplanet atmospheres is currently one of the main drivers pushing the development of new observing facilities. In this context, high-resolution ...spectrographs are proving their potential and showing that high-resolution spectroscopy will be paramount in this field.
Aims.
We aim to make use of ESPRESSO high-resolution spectra, which cover two transits of HD 209458b, to probe the broadband transmission optical spectrum of the planet.
Methods.
We applied the chromatic Rossiter–McLaughin method to derive the transmission spectrum of HD 209458b. We compared the results with previous HST observations and with synthetic spectra.
Results.
We recover a transmission spectrum of HD 209458b similar to the one obtained with HST data. The models suggest that the observed signal can be explained by only Na, only TiO, or both Na and TiO, even though none is fully capable of explaining our observed transmission spectrum. Extra absorbers may be needed to explain the full dataset, though modeling approximations and observational errors can also be responsible for the observed mismatch.
Conclusions.
Using the chromatic Rossiter–McLaughlin technique, ESPRESSO is able to provide broadband transmission spectra of exoplanets from the ground, in conjunction with space-based facilities, opening good perspectives for similar studies of other planets.
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•Intense turnover of organic matter was induced by inoculation of composting piles.•More simple compounds were released from polymeric fractions in inoculated piles.•Humification was ...more intense and earlier achieved in inoculated piles.•Inoculation clearly stimulated growth and activity of the composting microbiota.•Inoculation affected microbiota structure but its functionality remained unaltered.
Enhanced organic matter turnover was detected in lignocellulosic composting piles inoculated with microorganisms specifically capable of decomposing polymeric compounds. In comparison to uninoculated piles, the following results were obtained in the inoculated piles: degradation of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin were 28%, 21% and 25% respectively higher. Total organic matter, total sugars and phenolic compounds also decreased more intensely. Greater amounts of soluble organic carbon, reducing sugars and soluble proteins were available to the composting microbiota. Recycling of organic to inorganic nitrogen was improved and humification was more intense and earlier attained. Microbial community structure was also affected by inoculation. It was initially thought that these effects were due to enzymatic capabilities of inoculants, however, microbial counts, especially those corresponding to functional groups, revealed that inoculation induced a true stimulation of microbial growth and activity in the entire composting microbiota which was actually responsible for all the beneficial effects reported here.
To determine the effectiveness of a hydrophobic dressing (Cutimed Sorbact
) against a silver dressing (Aquacel
Ag Extra) in the level of colonization of chronic venous leg ulcers. The secondary ...endpoints are health-related quality of life, level of pain, and time to complete healing.
Open randomized controlled trial, with blinded endpoint.
Patients with chronic venous leg ulcers with signs of critical colonization will be randomized in a concealed sequence using computer software to receive one of the alternative dressings. A total of 204 participants recruited in Primary Health Care and nursing homes will be necessary to assure statistical power. Measures will include sociodemographic variables, wound-related variables (area, exudate, and time to healing), level of pain, adverse effects, and health-related quality of life. Smear samples will be collected from the ulcers and will be subject to DNA-typing technique through polymerase chain reaction to obtain the level of colony-forming units. Measures will be collected at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks.
Elevated levels of microorganisms prevent wound healing and favour its chronification. The main target when colonization is present is to reduce the bacterial load to levels that promote immune system mobilization. Hydrophobic dressings prevent the formation of biofilm in the wound by means of physical effect, so that the possibility of antimicrobial resistance is significantly reduced.
Current evidence about the effectiveness of dressings to minimize venous leg ulcers colonization is very limited. Previous studies have important methodological flaws. This study will permit to obtain the effectiveness of hydrophobic dressings against silver dressings with a robust design based on conditions of routine clinical practice in Primary Health Care and nursing homes.
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