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Fuel cells are emerging as main power source for portable applications. These devices need power management circuit to connect varying output fuel cell voltage to desired regulated voltage load with high efficiency. Maintaining high efficiency of the converter over a wide loading range can improve stored fuel longevity. The purpose of this paper is to report a general review of most used topologies in fuel cell power conditioning applied to portable systems. Finally, a 100W DC–DC converter for a particular fuel cell portable application will be presented. This converter was designed to fulfill several specifications of input and output voltage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Albufera Natural Park situated in Valencia (Spain), with a very rich flora and fauna is surrounded by rice fields in which pesticide spraying is a regular practice. With this in mind, the sensitivity of four algal species, Scenedesmus acutus, Scenedesmus subspicatus, Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella saccharophila to pesticides propanil, tebufenozide and mefenacet was studied using single species toxicity tests. Organisms were exposed to different concentrations of these herbicides and the algal growth was measured in a microplate reader at 410 nm, at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h. Tebufenozide appeared to be the most inhibitory to Scenedesmus and Chlorella species growth. 72 h EC50 of propanil, tebufenozide and mefenacet ranged from 0.29 to 5.98 mg/l, 0.12 to 0.15 mg/l and from 0.25 to 0.67 mg/l, respectively for the four algal species. The two species of Chlorella were more tolerant than the two species of Scenedesmus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims: To evaluate different entomopathogenic fungal isolates against the cactus weevil Metamasius spinolae under laboratory and field conditions, and select an isolate to be used as a tool in the management of this insect pest. Methods and Results: Four experiments were carried out. The effect of temperature on the in vitro growth of eight isolates of entomopathogenic fungi (two Metarhizium anisopliae and six Beauveria bassiana) was assessed. The susceptibility of adult M. spinolae to the same isolates was evaluated. Using three selected isolates, the interaction between susceptibility and sex of the insect was studied. Finally, a field experiment was carried out to evaluate infection of adult M. spinolae by the same three isolates under natural abiotic conditions. Overall, growth rate was greatest at 25°C for all the isolates. In vitro growth of M. anisopliae was greater than B. bassiana. Mortality of adult M. spinolae was greater when inoculated with B. bassiana compared with isolates of M. anisopliae. Susceptibility had no interaction with the sex of the insect. The proportion of insects succumbing to infection was smaller when incubated under field conditions than when incubated under laboratory conditions. Conclusions: The experiments described here showed a complex interaction between entomopathogenic fungi and M. spinolae, and these data allows us to select isolate Bb107 as a first step towards its use in the management of this pest insect. Significance and Impact of the Study: Our results showed that entomopathogenic fungi can be used for the control of M. spinolae, which may help reduce the use of chemical insecticides and, therefore, the exposure of Opuntia ficus-indica producers to pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new Aeromonas bioassay is described to assess the potential harmful effects of the glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup®, in the Albufera lake, a protected area near Valencia. Viability markers as membrane integrity, culturability and β-galactosidase production of Aeromonas caviae were studied to determine the influence of the herbicide in the bacterial cells. Data from the multifactor analysis of variance test showed no significant differences (P >0. 05) between A. Caviae counts of viability markers at the studied concentrations (0, 50 and 100mgl−1 of glyphosate). The effects of Roundup® on microbial biota present in the lake were assessed by measuring the number of indigenous mesophilic Aeromonas in presence of different amounts of the herbicide at 0, 50 and 100mgl−1 of glyphosate. In samples containing 50 and 100mgl−1 of glyphosate a significant (P <0. 05) increase in Aeromonas spp. Counts and accompanying flora was observed. The acute toxicity of Roundup® and of Roundup® diluted with Albufera lake water to Microtox® luminescent bacterium (Vibrio fischeri) also was determined. The EC50 values obtained were 36. 4mgl−1 and 64. 0mgl−1 of glyphosate respectively. The acidity (pH 4. 5) of the herbicide formulation was the responsible of the observed toxicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate exposure conditions and acute health effects in subjects participating in the Prestige oil spill cleanup activities and the association between these and the nature of the work and use of protection devices in the regions of Asturias and Cantabria (Spain). The sample comprised 400 subjects in each region, selected from a random sampling of all persons involved in cleanup activities, stratified by type of worker and number of working days. Data were obtained via a structured questionnaire and included information on specific tasks, number of working days, use of protective materials, and acute health effects. These effects were classified into two broad groups: injuries and toxic effects. Data analysis was performed using complex survey methods. Significant differences between groups were evaluated using Pearson's test. Unconditional logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Bird cleaners accounted for the highest prevalence of injuries (19% presented with lesions). Working more than 20 days in highly polluted areas was associated with increased risk of injury in all workers. Occurrence of toxic effects was higher among seamen, possibly due to higher exposure to fuel oil and its components. Toxic effects were more frequent among those working longer than 20 days in highly polluted areas, performing three or more different cleaning activities, having skin contact with fuel oil on head/neck or upper limbs, and eating while in contact with fuel or perceiving disturbing odors. No severe disorders were identified among individuals who performed these tasks. However, potential health impact should be considered when organizing cleanup activities in similar environmental disasters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bottom sediment samples from 121 sites of the Lake Albufera of Valencia were analyzed. Dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor and op′-DDT were not detected (&#60;0.01ngg−1) in 88–93% of the sites. Aldrin and HCB concentration ranges were between &#60;0.01 and 0.1ngg−1 in 86% and 94% of the sites, respectively. Heptachlor-epoxide and lindane 95% confidence intervals were 0.2–0.5 and 0.06–0.12, respectively. The greatest average concentration corresponds to pp′-DDE, pp′-DDD and pp′-DDT. The sum of six isomers and derivatives of the DDT average concentration reaches 2.1ngg−1, as opposed to 2.7ngg−1 for the sum of 13 pesticides considered. In the site with a major contamination, 27.0ngg−1 of pp′-DDD and 12.8ngg−1 of pp′-DDT were accumulated. The DDE:DDT proportion average was 0.37, indicating an aged DDT contamination. Concentrations of pesticides in sediments were compared to three sediment quality guidelines, and indicated that a low biological effects level can be expected in either sediments or aquatic organisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Modern trends in technology require efficient control and processing platforms based on connected software-hardware subsystems. Due to their complexity and size, algorithms implemented on these platforms are difficult to test and verify. When these types of solution are being designed, it is necessary to provide information of the internal values of registers and memories of both the software and hardware during the execution of the complete system. The final architecture of the targeted design and its debugging capabilities strongly depends on how the hybrid system is connected and clocked. This article discusses different architectural strategies that have been adopted for a hybrid hardware-software platform, built ready for debugging, and that uses components that can be easily found with a few special features. All the solutions have been implemented and evaluated using the UNSHADES-2 framework. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Assesses the toxicity of some pesticides and their metabolites affecting a natural aquatic environment. Importance of the conservation and preservation of aquatic ecosystems; Evaluation of the potential adverse environmental impact caused by pesticides entering water bodies; Parameters in aquatic toxicity.