Use of an Inverse Method for Time Series to Estimate the Dynamics of and Management Strategies for the Box Jellyfish Carybdea marsupialis

Frequently, population ecology of marine organisms uses a descriptive approach in which their sizes and densities are plotted over time. This approach has limited usefulness for design strategies in management or modelling different scenarios. Population projection matrix models are among the most widely used tools in ecology. Unfortunately, for the majority of pelagic marine organisms, it is difficult to mark individuals and follow them over time to determine their vital rates and built a population projection matrix model. Nevertheless, it is possible to get time-series data to calculate size structure and densities of each size, in order to determine the matrix parameters. This approach is known as a “demographic inverse problem” and it is based on quadratic programming methods, but it has rarely been used on aquatic organisms. We used unpublished field data of a population of cubomedusae Carybdea marsupialis to construct a population projection matrix model and compare two different management strategies to lower population to values before year 2008 when there was no significant interaction with bathers. Those strategies were by direct removal of medusae and by reducing prey. Our results showed that removal of jellyfish from all size classes was more effective than removing only juveniles or adults. When reducing prey, the highest efficiency to lower the C. marsupialis population occurred when prey depletion affected prey of all medusae sizes. Our model fit well with the field data and may serve to design an efficient management strategy or build hypothetical scenarios such as removal of individuals or reducing prey. TThis This sdfsdshis method is applicable to other marine or terrestrial species, for which density and population structure over time are available.

The activating role of phospho-(Tyr)-calmodulin on the epidermal growth factor receptor

The activity of calmodulin (CaM) is modulated not only by oscillations in the cytosolic concentration of free Ca2+, but also by its phosphorylation status. In the present study, the role of tyrosine-phosphorylated CaM [P-(Tyr)-CaM] on the regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been examined using in vitro assay systems. We show that phosphorylation of CaM by rat liver solubilized EGFR leads to a dramatic increase in the subsequent phosphorylation of poly-L-(Glu:Tyr) (PGT) by the receptor in the presence of ligand, both in the absence and in the presence of Ca2+. This occurred in contrast with assays where P-(Tyr)-CaM accumulation was prevented by the presence of Ca2+, absence of a basic cofactor required for CaM phosphorylation and/or absence of CaM itself. Moreover, an antibody against CaM, which inhibits its phosphorylation, prevented the extra ligand-dependent EGFR activation. Addition of purified P-(Tyr)-CaM, phosphorylated by recombinant c-Src (cellular sarcoma kinase) and free of non-phosphorylated CaM, obtained by affinity-chromatography using an immobilized anti-phospho-(Tyr)-antibody, also increased the ligand-dependent tyrosine kinase activity of the isolated EGFR toward PGT. Also a CaM(Y99D/Y138D) mutant mimicked the effect of P-(Tyr)-CaM on ligand-dependent EGFR activation. Finally, we demonstrate that P-(Tyr)-CaM binds to the same site (645R-R-R-H-I-V-R-K-R-T-L-R-R-L-L-Q660) as non-phosphorylated CaM, located at the cytosolic juxtamembrane region of the EGFR. These results show that P-(Tyr)-CaM is an activator of the EGFR and suggest that it could contribute to the CaM-mediated ligand-dependent activation of the receptor that we previously reported in living cells.

Enantioselective addition of aryl ketones and acetone to nitroalkenes organocatalyzed by carbamate-monoprotected cyclohexa-1,2-diamines

Enantiomerically pure carbamate-monoprotected trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamines are used as chiral organocatalysts for the addition of aryl ketones and acetone to nitroalkenes to give enantioenriched β-substituted γ-nitroketones. The reaction was performed in the presence of 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid as an additive, in chloroform as the solvent at room temperature, achieving enantioselectivities up to 96%. Theoretical calculations are used to justify the observed sense of the stereoinduction.

Solvent-Induced Reversal of Enantioselectivity in the Synthesis of Succinimides by the Addition of Aldehydes to Maleimides Catalysed by Carbamate-Monoprotected 1,2-Diamines

A simple change in the polarity of the solvent allows both enantiomers of substituted succinimides to be obtained in the enantioselective conjugate addition reaction of aldehydes, mainly α,α-disubstituted, to maleimides catalysed by chiral carbamate-monoprotected trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamines. Using a single enantiomer of the organocatalyst, both enantiomers of the resulting Michael adducts are obtained in high yields by simply changing the reaction solvent from aqueous DMF (up to 84 % ee) to chloroform (up to 86 % ee). Theoretical calculations are used to explain this uncommon reversal of the enantioselectivity; two transition state orientations of different polarities are differently favoured in polar or nonpolar solvents.

Irrigation canals in a semi-arid agricultural landscape surrounded by wetlands: Their role as a habitat for birds during the breeding season

Traditional water supply systems in semi-arid agrarian ecosystems, mainly irrigation canals, contribute to the diversity of the landscape and influence the composition of species. To evaluate their effect on bird communities in the breeding season, we selected a rural area in southeastern Spain, where an intricate and extensive network of irrigation canals and cultivated areas is located between two wetlands declared as Natural Parks. Birds were counted at representative points distributed throughout the canal network at which we recorded several variables related to the physical features, the vertical and horizontal structure of associated vegetation, reed development (Phragmites australis) and land use in the neighboring areas. We detected 37 bird species, most of which were also breeding in the wetlands nearby. We used Hierarchical Partitioning analyses to identify the variables most strongly related to the probability of the presence of selected species and species richness. Vegetation cover and height close to the canals, together with reed development, were the most important types of variables explaining species presence and richness. We found that current management practices for reeds in canals are not well-suited for biodiversity conservation. We therefore propose alternatives that could be implemented in the area in cooperation with stakeholders.

Ultrasound-assisted selective hydrogenation of C-5 acetylene alcohols with Lindlar catalysts

The selective hydrogenation of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol (MBY) was performed in the presence of Lindlar catalyst, comparing conventional stirring with sonication at different frequencies of 40, 380 and 850 kHz. Under conventional stirring, the reaction rates were limited by intrinsic kinetics, while in the case of sonication, the reaction rates were 50–90% slower. However, the apparent reaction rates were found to be significantly frequency dependent with the highest rate observed at 40 kHz. The original and the recovered catalysts after the hydrogenation reaction were compared using bulk elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The studies showed that sonication led to the frequency-dependent fracturing of polycrystalline support particles with the highest impact caused by 40 kHz sonication, while monocrystals were undamaged. In contrast, the leaching of Pd/Pb particles did not depend on the frequency, which suggests that sonication removed only loosely-bound catalyst particles.

Visions of the Spanish Revolution: identities and conflicts in post-welfare societies

This is a case study that analyzes photographic documents of the social protest in Spain between 2011 and 2013. The analysis is qualitative and considers the use of space, the visual expression of the messages and the orientation toward the causes or effects of political, economic and social changes. Visual sociology allows us to appreciate, in the case of the Spanish Revolution, a dynamic of “reflexivity” unrecognizable from other research approaches. Two successive waves of social mobilization in response to two different shocks can be appreciated. The first is given by political corruption, unemployment and the threat to consumer society. The second shock is caused by the savage cuts in the Welfare State. Social mobilization is expressed differently in each phase, and the forms taken by the protests show how the class structure in post industrial society shapes the reactions to the crisis of the Welfare State.

Las ayudas estatales para la reestructuración de la siderurgia española en perspectiva europea (1975-1988)

El objetivo de este artículo es realizar una comparación cuantitativa de las ayudas públicas destinadas a los procesos de reestructuración de la siderurgia en España y en los países de la CECA en el período 1975-1988. Las fuentes utilizadas corresponden tanto a documentación de archivo como a publicaciones periódicas de diversas instituciones: empresas españolas, patronal siderúrgica (Unesid), organismos públicos españoles y de la CEE e informes de la Comisión Europea. El trabajo demuestra que la principal diferencia entre la políticas siderúrgicas española y comunitaria estribó no tanto en el montante de las ayudas públicas destinadas al proceso de reestructuración como en el uso que se hizo de las mismas. Así, mientras en la CEE las ayudas públicas estuvieron condicionadas a la eliminación de los excedentes de capacidad productiva, en España no se realizó ningún ajuste en este sentido hasta nuestra integración en la Comunidad en 1986.

Health-Sector Responses to Intimate Partner Violence Fitting the Response Into the Biomedical Health System or Adapting the System to Meet the Response?

This study aims to analyze how middle-level health systems’ managers understand the integration of a health care response to intimate partner violence (IPV) within the Spanish health system. Data were obtained through 26 individual interviews with professionals in charge of coordinating the health care response to IPV within the 17 regional health systems in Spain. The transcripts were analyzed following grounded theory in accordance with the constructivist approach described by Charmaz. Three categories emerged, showing the efforts and challenges to integrate a health care response to IPV within the Spanish health system: “IPV is a complex issue that generates activism and/or resistance,” “The mandate to integrate a health sector response to IPV: a priority not always prioritized,” and “The Spanish health system: respectful with professionals’ autonomy and firmly biomedical.” The core category, “Developing diverse responses to IPV integration,” crosscut the three categories and encompassed the range of different responses that emerge when a strong mandate to integrate a health care response to IPV is enacted. Such responses ranged from refraining to deal with the issue to offering a women-centered response. Attempting to integrate a response to nonbiomedical health problems as IPV into health systems that remain strongly biomedicalized is challenging and strongly dependent both on the motivation of professionals and on organizational factors. Implementing and sustaining changes in the structure and culture of the health care system are needed if a health care response to IPV that fulfills the World Health Organization guidelines is to be ensured.

Bifunctional primary amine 2-aminobenzimidazole organocatalyst anchored to trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine in enantioselective conjugate additions of aldehydes

Bifunctional chiral primary amine 8 containing an (S,S)-trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine scaffold and a 2-benzimidazole unit is used as a general organocatalyst for the Michael addition of α,α-branched aldehydes to nitroalkenes and maleimides. The reactions take place, with 20 mol % of catalyst in dichloromethane at rt for nitroalkenes and with 15 mol % catalyst loading in toluene at 10 °C for maleimides, in good yields and enantioselectivities. DFT calculations demonstrate the bifunctional character of this organocatalyst activating the aldehyde by enamine formation and the Michael acceptor by double hydrogen bonding.

Dynamic Social and Media Content Syndication for Second Screen

Social networking apps, sites and technologies offer a wide range of opportunities for businesses and developers to exploit the vast amount of information and user-generated content produced through social networking. In addition, the notion of second screen TV usage appears more influential than ever, with viewers continuously seeking further information and deeper engagement while watching their favourite movies or TV shows. In this work, the authors present SAM, an innovative platform that combines social media, content syndication and targets second screen usage to enhance media content provisioning, renovate the interaction with end-users and enrich their experience. SAM incorporates modern technologies and novel features in the areas of content management, dynamic social media, social mining, semantic annotation and multi-device representation to facilitate an advanced business environment for broadcasters, content and metadata providers, and editors to better exploit their assets and increase their revenues.

A semantic framework for textual data enrichment

In this work we present a semantic framework suitable of being used as support tool for recommender systems. Our purpose is to use the semantic information provided by a set of integrated resources to enrich texts by conducting different NLP tasks: WSD, domain classification, semantic similarities and sentiment analysis. After obtaining the textual semantic enrichment we would be able to recommend similar content or even to rate texts according to different dimensions. First of all, we describe the main characteristics of the semantic integrated resources with an exhaustive evaluation. Next, we demonstrate the usefulness of our resource in different NLP tasks and campaigns. Moreover, we present a combination of different NLP approaches that provide enough knowledge for being used as support tool for recommender systems. Finally, we illustrate a case of study with information related to movies and TV series to demonstrate that our framework works properly.

Associative Behaviours and Political Participation of EU migrants

Civic culture is structured on a network of interpersonal associations with different degrees of formalization. According to theories on civic and political action, certain agents, such as associations, play a key role in setting targets, socializing or coordinating sociopolitical actions, among other functions. Associations strengthen the political and civic system of societies. Likewise, they are a vehicle for individuals’ integration, which is particularly important in the case of immigrants. For these, associations are both a vehicle for integration and an instrument for political participation. This article explores the use and purpose of associations according to immigrants from Romania, Poland, the United Kingdom and Germany living in Spain.

Paving the way for methane hydrate formation on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)

The presence of a highly tunable porous structure and surface chemistry makes metal–organic framework (MOF) materials excellent candidates for artificial methane hydrate formation under mild temperature and pressure conditions (2 °C and 3–5 MPa). Experimental results using MOFs with a different pore structure and chemical nature (MIL-100 (Fe) and ZIF-8) clearly show that the water–framework interactions play a crucial role in defining the extent and nature of the gas hydrates formed. Whereas the hydrophobic MOF promotes methane hydrate formation with a high yield, the hydrophilic one does not. The formation of these methane hydrates on MOFs has been identified for the first time using inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (SXRPD). The results described in this work pave the way towards the design of new MOF structures able to promote artificial methane hydrate formation upon request (confined or non-confined) and under milder conditions than in nature.

On the behavior of the Pt(1 0 0) and vicinal surfaces in alkaline media

We address in this paper a voltammetric study of the charge transfer processes characteristic of Pt(1 0 0) and vicinal surfaces in alkaline media. The electrochemical behavior of a series of stepped surfaces of the type Pt(S)[n(1 0 0) × (1 1 1)] has been characterized using cyclic voltammetry at different pHs, charge displacement measurements and FTIR experiments for adsorbed CO. The results from these techniques allow assigning the different peaks appearing in the voltammogram to hydrogen and/or OH adsorption on the different sites of these surfaces, namely, terrace and step sites. Additionally, the potential of zero total charge (pztc) of the electrodes was determined. The resulting pztc values shift to more negative values when the step density increases on the surface up to n = 5. FTIR spectroscopy experiments have been used to monitor the adsorption of CO on the different surfaces as well as the consequent CO oxidation, accompanying a positive potential sweep. The oxidation of adsorbed CO on (1 0 0) terraces is catalyzed by the presence of the (1 1 1) steps. The FTIR spectra revealed that CO is mostly bonded in bridge configuration at low potentials interconverting to on-top when the electrode potential is increased.