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Objective: Epilepsy is a neurological disease that affects ~50 million people worldwide, 30% of which have refractory epilepsy and recurring seizures, which may contribute to higher anxiety levels and poorer quality of life. Seizure detection may contribute to addressing some of the challenges associated with this condition, by providing information to health professionals regarding seizure frequency, type, and/or location in the brain, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and medication adjustment, and alerting caregivers or emergency services of dangerous seizure episodes. The main focus of this work was the development of an accurate video‐based seizure‐detection method that ensured unobtrusiveness and privacy preservation, and provided novel approaches to reduce confounds and increase reliability. Methods: The proposed approach is a video‐based seizure‐detection method based on optical flow, principal component analysis, independent component analysis, and machine learning classification. This method was tested on a set of 21 tonic–clonic seizure videos (5–30 min each, total of 4 h and 36 min of recordings) from 12 patients using leave‐one‐subject‐out cross‐validation. Results: High accuracy levels were observed, namely a sensitivity and specificity of 99.06% ± 1.65% at the equal error rate and an average latency of 37.45 ± 1.31 s. When compared to annotations by health care professionals, the beginning and ending of seizures was detected with an average offset of 9.69 ± 0.97 s. Significance: The video‐based seizure‐detection method described herein is highly accurate. Moreover, it is intrinsically privacy preserving, due to the use of optical flow motion quantification. In addition, given our novel independence‐based approach, this method is robust to different lighting conditions, partial occlusions of the patient, and other movements in the video frame, thereby setting the base for accurate and unobtrusive seizure detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we focused on the diversity and abundance of Carabidae in the Somosierra forest in Madrid, Spain. This forest is atypical for the Mediterranean region due the presence of birch. Collection of 13 monthly samples yielded 29 635 specimens, including 4829 imagos of 21 Carabidae species. The dominant species was west European chorotype of Calathus (Amphyginus) rotundicollis. There was a high proportion of endemism of Iberian species, and considerable seasonal variations in the activity of different species. A wing development assessment indicated that most species were brachypterous (i.e., with reduced wings). This feature restricts the carabid dispersal suggesting high environmental stability in the forest. Overall, our study supports the uniqueness of the study forest and that stable environments support species that are highly vulnerable for anthropogenic disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, different non-thermal and thermal technologies have been developed for food processing. However, in many cases, it is not clear which experimental parameters must be reported to guarantee the experiments' reproducibility and provide the food industry a straightforward way to scale-up these technologies. Since reproducibility is one of the most important science features, the current work aims to improve the reproducibility of studies on emerging technologies for food processing by providing guidelines on reporting treatment conditions of thermal and non-thermal technologies. Infrared heating, microwave heating, ohmic heating and radiofrequency heating are addressed as advanced thermal technologies and isostatic high pressure, ultra-high-pressure homogenization sterilization, high-pressure homogenization, microfluidization, irradiation, plasma technologies, power ultrasound, pressure change technology, pulsed electric fields, pulsed light and supercritical CO2 are approached as non-thermal technologies. Finally, growing points and perspectives are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fowl adenovirus (FAdV), a non-enveloped, double stranded DNA virus, causes varying clinical presentations in commercial broiler flocks which include gizzard erosion, hepatitis, and hydropericardium. A commercial broiler farm in Tarlac, Central Luzon, Philippines showed clinical signs indicative of inclusion body hepatitis which also manifested through increased numbers of underweight birds. Serological and molecular diagnostic procedures were carried out to confirm the disease. Serological results showed tentative diagnoses with titers indicative of Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Bursal Disease, Fowl Adenovirus, and Newcastle Disease. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of genes of interest showed positive results for IB B48 strain of the Massachusetts serotype (vaccine strain) and FAdV-8b serotype (field strain) of the species E. Medication program with consideration to impaired liver function, hypovitaminosis, and impaired metabolism was recommended for the succeeding grows. Furthermore, procedures for routine monitoring of the disease and vaccination of the parent stock sources with an inactivated FAdV-4/8 bivalent vaccine were recommended. To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first report of FAdV-8b infection in the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active Bilingual Learners/Users of English (ABLE) represent a student population underserved by research even when ABLEs currently represent 10% of public-school enrollments, 78% of which speak Spanish as their native language. In Texas, the overall representation of ABLE Latinx students is 17%, and is expected to grow considerably over the next 10 years. Unfortunately, there is limited research that explores the experiences of Latinx ABLE college students (Núñez, et al., 2016) and the role that Spanish language plays in the creation of identity-affirming institutional practices. Thus, the proliferation of Latinx students at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) that are now Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) as well, for example, requires a deeper interrogation of institutional practices and student experiences. As a result, this study explores the experiences of 15 Spanish Native-Speaking ABLEs at an HSI in the south, called Southwestern University. We use the Nuñez’ conceptual framework of intersectionality work, to better understand the contextual influences that impact Spanish Native-Speaking ABLE’s academic experiences. We also apply a case-study methodology approach to examine Latinx student experiences at an HSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drugs assessed by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products or European Medicines Agency made public in September, October and November of 2017, and considered of interest to the healthcare professional, are reviewed. These are positive technical reports prior to the authorization and placing on the market of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human evolutionary genetics gives a chronological framework to interpret the human history. It is based on the molecular clock hypothesis that suppose a straightforward relationship between the mutation rate and the substitution rate with independence of other factors as demography dynamics. Analyzing ancient and modern human complete mitochondrial genomes we show here that, along the time, the substitution rate can be significantly slower or faster than the average germline mutation rate confirming a time dependence effect mainly attributable to changes in the effective population size of the human populations, with an exponential growth in recent times. We also detect that transient polymorphisms play a slowdown role in the evolutionary rate deduced from haplogroup intraspecific trees. Finally, we propose the use of the most divergent lineages within haplogroups as a practical approach to correct these molecular clock mismatches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The molecular clock is an important genetic tool for estimating evolutionary timescales. However, the detection of a time-dependent effect on substitution rate estimates complicates its application. It has been suggested that demographic processes could be the main cause of this confounding effect. In the present study, I propose a new algorithm for estimating the coalescent age of phylogenetically related sequences, taking into account the observed time-dependent effect on the molecular rate detected by others. Results: By applying this method to real human mitochondrial DNA trees with shallow and deep topologies, I obtained significantly older molecular ages for the main events of human evolution than were previously estimated. These ages are in close agreement with the most recent archaeological and paleontological records favoring the emergence of early anatomically modern humans in Africa 315 ± 34 thousand years ago (kya) and the presence of recent modern humans outside of Africa as early as 174 ± 48 thousand years ago. Furthermore, during the implementation process, I demonstrated that in a population with fluctuating sizes, the probability of fixation of a new neutral mutant depends on the effective population size, which is in better accordance with the fact that under the neutral theory of molecular evolution, the fate of a molecular mutation is mainly determined by random drift. Conclusions: I suggest that the demographic history of populations has a more decisive effect than purifying selection and/or mutational saturation on the time-dependent effect observed for the substitution rate, and I propose a new method that corrects for this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limodromus emetikos sp. n. (Coleoptera: Carabidae) is described and illustrated from Baltic amber (Eocene). Based on its morphological features, the new species is considered a sister taxon of the extant Holarctic assimilis species group. Furthermore, the specimen described here could represent a case of stress-triggered regurgitation, which would represent the first fossil record of such a process in beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drugs assessed by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products or European Medicines Agency made public in September, October and November of 2017, and considered of interest to the healthcare professional, are reviewed. These are positive technical reports prior to the authorization and placing on the market of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his Anthology (Ἀνθολόγιιον) IV. 55, 11, Joannes Stobaeus alludes to the funerary rite of the exposure of corpses to be devoured by dogs in Hyrcania or by vultures in Celtiberia --in the hypothesis that we propose. Stobaeus attributes the information to Diogenes of Sinope, with a clearly moralizing intention. The text has been fully ignored by historiography, and therefore its assessment within the corpus of information referring to this peculiar form of burial in Celtiberia is relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofloc Technology (BFT) is characterized by high densities, low water consumption, and reduced spaces; however, there are few studies adapting this technology to native species such as bocachico Prochilodus magdalenae. The aim was to evaluate the zootechnical performance of bocachico in BFT culture at three densities in the pre-growth stage: 5(T1), 10(T2) y 20(T3) fishes/ m3. In nine rectangular tanks of 6 m3 (3/treatment), fingerlings of 1,6±0,2 g and 5,0±0,5 cm of total length were stocked, fed a commercial diet of 24% crude protein and the system was managed by adding molasses and lime based on the C:N ratio. Dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature were measured daily and ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, hardness, alkalinity, sedimentable solids, total suspended solids and sludge volumetric index were measured weekly. Water quality oscillated in the range suitable for bocachico and BFT stability, with no significant difference between treatments (p>0,05). Survival ranged from 78,9±3,8% (T1) to 83,8±0,6% (T3) (p>0,05); the higher growth (74,3±16,0 g, 18,2±1,2 cm) was recorded in T1 (31,9±1,2-45,9±3,4 g, 14,0±0,1-15,8±0,7 cm) and the lower growths were obtained at the higher densities (T2, T3). In conclusion, the culture of bocachico in pre-growth phase is possible with biofloc technology at densities of at least 5 fish/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passion fruit juice (PFJ) is very susceptible to thermal degradation and may benefit from processing by non-thermal methods such as sonication. This study pursued to test the effect of sonication on sensory quality and related chemical compounds of PFJ during refrigerated storage. Treatment conditions were those of a previous study where a microbiologically stable PFJ was achieved. The effect of ultrasound (20 kHz, 263 W, 89.25 µm) on sensory quality, °Brix, total titratable acidity (TTA), °Brix/TTA and reducing and total sugars of PFJ during storage at 4 °C up to 10 days was studied. Sonication did not cause significant (P>0.05) effects on TTA, °Brix/TTA and reducing sugars but significantly (P<0.05) increased °Brix and total sugars content. Panel scored sonication PFJ significantly (P<0.05) lower in colour, flavour and aroma scores; but the global acceptance was similar (P>0.05) than that of non-sonicated juice. Results indicate that sonication of PFJ is a treatment that does not affect the global sensory quality of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsed light (PL) is a non-thermal preservation method in which foods are subjected to one or several intense pulses of wide-spectrum light. Peroxidase (POD) is an enzyme that needs to be inactivated or inhibited because of its deleterious effects on the quality of fruits and vegetables. The feasibility of using PL to inactivate POD was tested and results explained based on measurements of UV–vis spectrum, far-UV circular dichroism and tryptophan fluorescence, and the phase-diagram method. PL reduced the activity of POD by more than 95% after applying 128 J cm −2 . There was observed a decrease in the Reinheitzahl value and ellipticity and an increase in tryptophan fluorescence at incremental fluences, as well as linear phase diagrams. The study indicates that the inactivation of POD by PL is an all-or-none process related to loss of helical structure, weak unfolding and ejection of the prostetic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a support system for the inspection, diagnosis, and rehabilitation of door and window frames with the purpose of standardizing and systemizing the procedures of those responsible for these actions. In this study, a classification of anomalies is proposed along with their probable causes. To assist the diagnosis of the anomalies and respective causes, a classification of in situ nondestructive tests and repair techniques is presented to ensure the maintenance and/or to restore the functional properties of the framework system. Within the study several correlation matrices were created relating anomalies with other anomalies, probable causes, and diagnosis and rehabilitation techniques. This system was validated and calibrated through an extensive campaign of 295 frame inspections in 96 Portuguese army and air force buildings. The implementation of this system supports the inspection activities of a proactive maintenance strategy and the standardization of inspections, resulting in an increase in the effectiveness and objectivity of the actions to be taken upon the occurrence of these anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolyzed water (EW) is known by its bactericidal efficacy and capability to oxidize organic matter. The present research evaluated the efficacy of recently developed electrolytic cells able to generate higher concentration of reactive oxygen species using lower power and salt concentration than conventional cells. This study tested the inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7, the organic matter depletion and trihalomethane (THM) generation by EW in process wash water under dynamic conditions. To achieve this, clean tap water was continuously added up to 60 min with artificial process water with high chemical oxygen demand (COD) inoculated with E. coli O157:H7, in experiments performed in a pilot plant that recirculated water through one electrolytic cell. Plate counts of E. coli O157:H7, COD, THMs, free, combined and total chlorine, pH, temperature and oxidation-reduction potential were determined. Results indicate that the novel electrolysis system combined with minimal addition of NaCl (0.05%) was able to suppress E. coli O157:H7 population build-up and decreased the COD accumulation in the process wash water. THM levels in the water were relatively high but its concentration in the washed product was marginal. Highly effective electrolysis has been proven to reduce the occurrence of foodborne diseases associated to cross-contamination in produce washers without having an accumulation of THMs in the washed product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) cause neurodevelopmental abnormalities. However, publications about epilepsy and electroencephalographic features are scarce. In this study, we prospectively performed electroencephalography (EEG) and brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in 61 patients with diagnosis of FASD. One patient had multiple febrile seizures with normal EEGs. Fourteen children showed EEG anomalies, including slow background activity and interictal epileptiform discharges, focal and/or generalized, and 3 of them had epilepsy. In one patient, seizures were first detected during the EEG recording and one case had an encephalopathy with electrical status epilepticus during slow sleep (ESES). Focal interictal discharges in our patients did not imply the presence of underlying visible focal brain lesions in the neuroimaging studies, such as cortical dysplasia or polymicrogyria. However, they had nonspecific brain MR abnormalities, including corpus callosum hypoplasia, vermis hypoplasia or cavum septum pellucidum. The latter was significantly more frequent in the group with EEG abnormal findings (p < 0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for higher education to be more responsive in meeting the growing needs of a global marketplace, while simultaneously becoming more efficient, necessitates a reexamination of faculty roles and responsibilities. Using data from a case study that examined faculty work through the conceptual framework of high performing organizations, the author considers how one for-profit university organizes faculty responsibilities and structures for "high performance." The author illustrates how the institution employs three interconnected strategies to develop and execute institutional goals and priorities that contribute to faculty performance within a market-based educational context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional tillage (CT) and cover crops (CC) trigger different runoff ( Q ) and runon ( Q in ) magnitudes and patterns in woody crops. The spatial and temporal stability of these patterns is not well known yet. In this study, we run the uncalibrated DR2-2013© SAGA v1.1 model (0.5 × 0.5 m of cell size) to simulate time to ponding ( Tp ), runoff duration ( T Q ), initial runoff per raster cell ( q 0 ), Q sim and Qin in six olive plots (480 m 2 per plot) during two years (108 rainfall events and 648 simulations). Two plots were managed with a mixture of plant species (CC-I), two with one single plant species (CC-II) and two with CT. Runoff yield from each plot was collected ( Q obs ) in gauging-stations during 27 time-integrated samples and used for modelling validation (162 control points). On average, Q obs was 9% higher under CT than under CC-I, and 8% higher than under CC-II. Topsoil saturation was simulated for the entire plots during 29 events (test-period), and Q sim appeared in another 51 and 52 events in the plots with CC and CT. Tp with CT was 2.3 times higher (59 s) than the average duration with CC and the topsoil became saturated 3.3 times faster in the inter-rows than below the trees. Values of q 0 with CC were 2.3% lower than with CT and total Q sim with CC was 2% higher than with CT. However, the differences of Q sim between the different treatments were not statistically significant. The mean observed and simulated runoff coefficients were of 11 and 14%, with median values of 7 and 10%. Q sim correlated well with Q obs (Pearson ca. 0.861), and Q sim was overestimated ca. 10%. The model performed better when rainfall depth and intensity were high, and the range of variability of both Q sim and Q obs was similar. The average, best and worst Nash–Sutcliffe coefficients were 0.665, 0.791 (P6) and 0.512 (P3) and thus model simulations were satisfactory. The four plots with CC presented on average a worse performance (Kling–Gupta coefficient = 0.607) than the two plots with CT (KGE = 0.769). The lowest spatial variability of q 0 , Q obs , Q sim and actual available water ( Waa , the sum of Qin and stored water in the soil surface) were found in the plots with CC. CT triggered higher spatial variability of runoff and higher temporal variability of runon than CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minimally processed vegetables (MPV) are any fresh vegetables that have been physically altered from their original form, but remains in a fresh state. Microorganisms present in MPV can cause foodborne illnesses or spoilage; hence, decontamination of MPV can produce more stable products. The present review examines the difficulties to decontaminate and prolong the shelf-life of MPV, evaluating the current way of data analysis and interpretation. It addresses the different aspects of the problem of the accessibility of sanitizers to microorganisms (irregularities of produce surface, injuries, internalization, attachment, and biofilms). It also includes a critical exposition of the methodological problems to estimate the prolongation of shelf-life due to a decontamination method, namely: the variability among samples, the reproducibility of the results, and the interpolation when lacking some crucial data. Furthermore, it revises the difficulties to control the microbial loads of decontaminated MPV during storage (the enhanced growth rate of microorganisms in decontaminated MPV, the patterns of microbial growth in non decontaminated and decontaminated MPV, and the role of temperature in keeping the decontamination effect). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we have prepared Polyaniline (PANI) thin films by electrochemical polymerization on ITO substrates in acidic medium at room temperature. We have followed a systematic modification of both the precursor concentration as well as the number of electropolymerization cycles in order to optimize the response of the films as hole selective contacts for organic photoelectrochemical cells. We report the structural, optical and electrochemical properties of the PANI films aiming at providing such optimized hole selective contacts. Our results clearly confirm that PANI acts as efficient hole selective layer in these devices, with photocurrents of more than 2 mA cm −2 at −0.5 V vs RHE, and 0.3 mA cm −2 at 0 V vs RHE for hydrogen generation and further modifications should be focused on enhancing the device stability for technological application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Star-shaped triphthalocyaninehexaazatriphenylene 1 was synthesized via condensation between a new building block 1,2-diaminophthalocyanine and cyclohexanehexaone. Compound 1 represents the largest star-shaped phthalocyanine-fused hexaazatriphenylene reported so far. This largely expanded phthalocyanine shows good solubility and has a strong tendency to aggregate both in solution and on the surface, indicating its potential as an active component in organic electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 35-year-old patient, gravida 1 para 0, was referred to our centre at 23 weeks of gestation for evaluation of a fetal thoracic cystic mass. Advances in prenatal ultrasound, complemented by fetal MRI, allow detailed characterisation of many thoracic lesions I in utero i . Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 29 weeks confirmed the diagnosis. [Extracted from the article]

Topsoil water content (TSWC) is a key factor for crop establishment and subsequent production, runoff generation, soil detachment, and other soil processes. TSWC is one of the most variable soil properties due to the complexity of water fluxes in the unsaturated zone. The studies about TSWC in cultivated Calcisols are limited and almost inexistent under fallow treatment in rainfed cereal fields. We hypothesize that certain wetness characteristics (patterns, ranges and changes) of a soil portion remain over time. This study seeks to identify the spatial patterns of TSWC and their temporal stability in a Mediterranean fallow rainfed cereal field (1.6 ha, partial stubble retention, no weed growth allowed) and Haplic Calcisol-type soil. During 15 months (December 2009 to February 2011) and 25 field surveys measurements were made at 156 points (three values per point) by using a frequency-domain probe. Values of TSWC varied significantly and four humidity periods were identified using antecedent rainfall and evapotranspiration values: wet (November–February, 27.1 vol.% on average), spring (March–June, 18.8 vol.%), dry (July–September, 12.1 vol.%) and wetting-up (October, 18.8 vol.%). The relative differences within the field decreased under wet conditions and were higher in the dry surveys. The combined analysis of the standard deviation of the relative differences ( SDRD ) and the maps of TSWC showed that the spatial patterns of both the water content and the value changes were not stable at short-term. However, eight water content zones were defined at long-term supporting the initial hypothesis: wettest (23.8 vol.%), driest (16.8 vol.%), stable ( SDRD < 0.134) and moist and dry, medium stability and moist and dry, most variable ( SDRD > 0.247) and moist and dry. Satisfactory correlations were obtained with two topographic factors (average slope of the contributing area and convexity) and four soil properties (rock, silt, carbonates and the water content at field capacity) and correlations improved in the wet period related to the dry period. A different time response of the TSWC values appeared in the wet (between 2 and 3 days) and dry (6 and 7 days) periods related to the antecedent rainfall and evapotranspiration. The different water content zones presented different values of the soil and topographic factors that explain the different temporal stability of the relative differences in TSWC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present-day population structure of La Gomera is outstanding in its high aboriginal heritage, the greatest in the Canary Islands. This was earlier confirmed by both mitochondrial DNA and autosomal analyses, although genetic drift due to the fifteenth century European colonization could not be excluded as the main factor responsible. The present mtDNA study of aboriginal remains and extant samples from the six municipal districts of the island indeed demonstrates that the pre-Hispanic colonization of La Gomera by North African people involved a strong founder event, shown by the high frequency of the indigenous Canarian U6b1a lineage in the aboriginal samples (65%). This value is even greater than that observed in the extant population (44%), which in turn is the highest of all the seven Canary Islands. In contrast to previous results obtained for the aboriginal populations of Tenerife and La Palma, haplogroups related to secondary waves of migration were not detected in La Gomera aborigines, indicating that isolation also had an important role in shaping the current population. The rugged relief of La Gomera divided into several distinct valleys probably promoted subsequent aboriginal intra-insular differentiation that has continued after the European colonization, as seen in the present-day population structure observed on the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essay is presented on conducting a type of Native Pacific studies that focus on cultural survival and vernacular progress based on U.S. educational institution's resistance of a campaign to boycott Israeli universities. The American academy reportedly aims to uphold solidarity with Palestine and academic freedom. Also discussed are Steven Salaita's appointment as chairman of American Indian Studies at the University of Illinois and impact of colonization on indigenous peoples.

The suitability of high power ultrasound (HPU, 20 kHz, 0.28 kW/l) combined with residual chemical sanitizers for water reconditioning was studied. A synergetic disinfection effect was observed when HPU was combined with peroxyacetic acid (PAA) or a commercial mix of organic acids and phenolic compounds (OA/PC). In recycled water (RW) with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 500 mg O 2 /l, PAA inactivated 2 log units of Escherichia coli O157:H7 at concentrations of 3.2, 6.4, 16 mg/l after 7 min, 2 min, 29 s, respectively. The OA/PC or HPU treatments alone needed 26 min treatments to achieve the same reduction. The addition of TiO 2 (5 g/l) to HPU (sonocatalysis) did not improve E. coli O157:H7 inactivation. However, when HPU was combined with a residual concentration of PAA (3.2 mg/l), the total inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella (6 log unit reductions) occurred after 11 min, but for Listeria monocytogenes only 1.7 log reductions were detected after 20 min. When HPU was combined with OA/PC, a synergistic effect for the inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 was also observed, but this sanitizer significantly modified the physical-chemical quality characteristics of the RW. These results show that the residual PAA concentration that can be found in the wash water combined with HPU could result in an environmentally friendlier and toxicologically safer strategy for water reconditioning of the fresh-cut industry. The use of the sanitizer alone requires higher concentrations and/or longer contacts times. Even though the residual PAA in combination with HPU was adequate for water reconditioning, it is not appropriate for the process wash water because this wash water must be instantaneously disinfected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new procedure for the cosensitization with quantum dots (QDs) and dyes for sensitized solar cells is reported here. Cascade cosensitization of TiO2 electrodes is obtained by the sensitization with CdS QDs and zinc phthalocyanines (ZnPcs), in which ZnPcs containing a sulfur atom are specially designed to produce a cascade injection by direct attachment to QDs. This strategy causes a double synergetic interaction. This is the differentiating point of cascade cosensitization in comparison with other approaches in which dyes with conventional functionalization are anchored to TiO2 electrodes. Cosensitization produces a panchromatic response from the visible to near-IR region already observed with other sensitization strategies. However, cascade cosensitization produces in addition a synergistic interaction between QDs and dye, that it is not merely limited to the complementary light absorption, but dye enhances the efficiency of QD sensitization acting as a passivating agent. The cascade cosensitization concept is demonstrated with using [Co(phen)3]3+/2+ redox electrolyte. The TiO2/CdS QD-ZnPc/[Co(phen)3]3+/2+ sensitized solar cell shows a large improvement of short-circuit photocurrent and open-circuit voltage in comparison with samples just sensitized with QDs. The advent of such cosensitized QD-ZnPc solar cells paves the way to extend the absorbance region of the promising QD-based solar cells and the development of a new family of molecules designed for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymmetric BODIPY 1 a (BODIPY=4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza- s-indacene), containing two chloro substituents at the 3,8-positions and a reactive 5-methyl group, was synthesized from the asymmetric dipyrroketone 3, which was readily obtained from available pyrrole 2 a. The reactivity of 3,8-dichloro-6-ethyl-1,2,5,7-tetramethyl-BODIPY 1 a was investigated by using four types of reactions. This versatile BODIPY undergoes regioselective Pd0-catalyzed Stille coupling reactions and/or regioselective nucleophilic addition/elimination reactions, first at the 8-chloro and then at the 3-chloro group, using a variety of organostannanes and N-, O-, and S-centered nucleophiles. On the other hand, the more reactive 5-methyl group undergoes regioselective Knoevenagel condensation with an aryl aldehyde to produce a monostyryl-BODIPY, and oxidation with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) gives the corresponding 5-formyl-BODIPY. Investigation of the reactivity of asymmetric BODIPY 1 a led to the preparation of a variety of functionalized BODIPYs with λmax of absorption and emission in the ranges 487-587 and 521-617 nm, respectively. The longest absorbing/emitting compound was the monostyryl-BODIPY 16, and the largest Stokes shift (49 nm) and fluorescence quantum yield (0.94) were measured for 5-thienyl-8-phenoxy-BODIPY 15. The structural properties (including 16 X-ray structures) of the new series of BODIPYs were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water can be a vector for foodborne pathogen cross-contamination during washing of vegetables if an efficient method of water disinfection is not used. Chlorination is the disinfection method most widely used, but it generates disinfection by-products such as trihalomethanes (THMs). Therefore, alternative disinfection methods are sought. In this study, a dynamic system was used to simulate the commercial conditions of a washing tank. Organic matter and the inoculum of Escherichia coli O157:H7 were progressively added to the wash water in the washing tank. We evaluated the effectiveness of the electrolyzed water (EW) when combining with the addition of salt (1, 0.5 and 0.15 g/L NaCl) on the pathogenic inactivation, organic matter depletion and THM generation. Results indicated that electrolysis of vegetable wash water with addition of salt (0.5 g/L NaCl) was able to eliminate E. coli O157:H7 population build-up and decrease COD accumulation while low levels of THMs were produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power conversion efficiency of CdSe and CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cells is enhanced by passivation with asymmetrically substituted phthalocyanines. The introduction of the phthalocyanine dye increases the efficiency up to 45% for CdSe and 104% for CdS. The main mechanism causing this improvement is the quantum dot passivation. This study highlights the possibilities of a new generation of dyes designed to be directly linked to QDs instead of the TiO2 electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow accumulation algorithms (FAAs) predict the cumulative upstream drainage but each FAA generates a different map and this uncertainty still remains unsolved. This study makes advances in flow path research by testing 8 FAAs and analyzing the uncertainties of 15 simulations. The DR2-2013 © SAGAv1.0 hydrological software is presented in a study carried out for two catchment lakes (NE Spain) over a 69-month test period. The best simulations were obtained with two single flow ( Rho8 and Deterministic Infinity ) and two multiple flow ( Multiple Flow with threshold value and Triangular Multiple Flow ) algorithms. Correlations between runoff depths and lake levels improved when the test period was split into wet and dry seasons. Correlations also improved with a one-month delay in response time and no delay in the large and small lakes. The DR2-2013 © tool helped predict changes in lake volume and the highest model efficiencies were obtained with the multiple flow algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fires intensify sediment transport and aggravate local and off-site consequences of soil erosion. This study evaluates the influence of post-fire measures on structural and functional sediment connectivity (SC) in five fire-affected Mediterranean catchments, which include 929 sub-catchments, by using the "aggregated index of connectivity" (AIC) at two temporal scenarios: I) immediately after the fire and before implementing post-fire practices ('Pre-man'), and II) two years after the fire ('Post-man'). The latter includes all the emergency stabilization practices, that are hillslope barriers, check-dams and afforestation. The stream system was set as the target of the computation (STR), to be representative of intense rainfall-runoff events with effective sediment delivery outside the catchments. Output normalization (AIC N) allows comparing the results of the five basins between them. The sedimentological analysis is based on specific sediment yield (SSY) –measured at the check-dams installed after the fire –, and this data is used for output evaluation. Stream density and slope variables were the most influential factors on AIC N-STR results at the sub-catchment scale. Post-fire hillslope treatments (barriers when built in high densities and afforestation) significantly reduced AIC N-STR in comparison with untreated areas in both structural and functional approaches. Despite the presence of hillslope treatments, the higher erosive rainfall conditions resulted in higher AIC N-STR values in the Post-man scenario (functional approach). A positive and good correlation was found between the measured SSY and the AIC N-STR changes due to the post-fire practices and vegetation recovery, showing the good correspondence of the computation results and the real sediment dynamics of the studied catchments. Overall, AIC N demonstrated to be a useful and versatile tool for post-fire management, which needs further research to optimize its applicability. [Display omitted] • High-density hillslope barriers and afforestation boosted lower connectivity. • Under intense rainfall conditions, an increase of lateral connectivity is observed. • Check-dams produced a clear and local disconnectivity in the flow path. • Changes in connectivity correlated well with measured SSY and stabilization measures density. • AIC reflected satisfactorily the effects of the different emergency stabilization measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Spain by Consejería de Educación, Cultura y Deportes. Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha. Background Phospholamban regulates SERCA2a pump activity by reducing its calcium affinity in the heart. Under β-adrenergic stimulation, protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylates phospholamban attenuating its inhibitory effect on SERCA2a. The phospholamban mutation Arg 9 to Cys (R9C) was firstly identified in an American family with ventricular dilatation and premature death, and subsequently in a cohort of dilated cardiomyopathy patients in South Africa. Emerging evidence suggests that phospholamban R9C is a loss-of-function mutation with autosomal dominant inheritance. In vitro studies revealed that it enhances pentamer assembly by disulfide bridge formation, reducing the availability of phospholamban monomers to regulate SERCA2a. Purpose The present study aimed to investigate defects in Ca2+ handling and cardiac function of phospholamban R9C mutation in an in vivo zebrafish model. Methods We generated transgenic zebrafish lines overexpressing phospholamban wild-type (TgPLNwt) and phospholamban R9C (TgPLNR9C) in the heart of zebrafish. To measure calcium kinetics in 3 day-old larvae, TgPLNwt and TgPLNR9C fish were outcrossed with transgenic zebrafish lines expressing the fluorescent calcium biosensor mCyRFP1-GCaMP6f (TgRFP-GcaMP6f) and the bioluminescence calcium biosensor GFP-Aequorin (TgGA) in the heart. Results Overexpression of phospholamban wild-type and R9C did not alter the heart rate compared to sibling larvae, and no differences were observed in the upstroke and recovery time of the calcium transients.  However, atrial and ventricular calcium transient amplitude were higher in TgPLNR9C larvae with respect to TgPLNwt larvae. Contractile force of the heart, assessed as the fractional shortening, increased in TgPLNR9C larvae compared to siblings and TgPLNwt. Furthermore, stroke volume and cardiac output were also higher in TgPLNR9C larvae. Bioluminescence experiments were performed to estimate the average calcium levels in the heart. We found that TgPLNR9C larvae showed higher calcium levels than sibling and TgPLNwt larvae. To evaluate the responsiveness to β-adrenergic stimulation, larvae were treated with the β-agonist isoproterenol. Calcium transient amplitude and contractile force increased in sibling and TgPLNwt larvae after treatment. However, this response was absent in TgPLNR9C larvae, suggesting that they were hyper-stimulated in basal conditions, displaying amplitude and contractile force similar to sibling and TgPLNwt larvae treated with isoproterenol. Conclusion TgPLNR9C larvae exhibited aberrant calcium handling in the heart with higher calcium levels and contractility, consistent with a lack of inhibition of SERCA2a. Consequently, TgPLNR9C larvae did not respond to β-adrenergic stimulation. These results were consistent with previous in vitro studies carried out in cardiomyocites infected with phospholamban R9C and highlighted the pathological defects of phospholamban R9C at early stages of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and "ERDF A way of making Europe" by the European Union Background Ca2+ ion is pivotal in excitation-contraction coupling. The dysregulation of Ca2+ fluxes is at the core of inherited and acquired arrhythmias. In recent years zebrafish have become an attractive vertebrate model to study heart development, cardiotoxicity, and heart diseases. We recently reported that the transgenic zebrafish line Tg(myl7:Twitch-4) expressing the ratiometric Ca2+ indicator Twitch-4 in the heart, allowed imaging Ca2+ transients (CaT) simultaneously with heart contraction in zebrafish larvae, thus maintaining the physiological mechano-electrical feedback. Purpose This study aimed to detect subtle disturbances in Ca2+ cycling, contractility, and hemodynamics induced by arrhythmogenic drugs in zebrafish larvae. Methods We have used the zebrafish transgenic line Tg(myl7:Twitch-4) and a custom software to acquire and analyze fluorescence emission ratio images of the heart. Larvae of 3- and 5-days post-fertilization (dpf) were incubated with arrhythmogenic drugs, and their effects on the systolic and diastolic Ca2+ and the CaT amplitude in the atrium and ventricle were determined. As the ventricular diameter was assessed in the same fluorescence images, a simultaneous, real-time, measurement of contraction correlated with Ca2+ was obtained. The systolic and diastolic areas, measured independently, were used to estimate hemodynamic parameters. Results Dofetilide caused time-dependent bradycardia and ultimately a 2:1 arrhythmia in 3 and 5 dpf larvae, with an increase in the CaT amplitude. the ejection fraction and the stroke volume increased, but the cardiac output decreased due to the low heart rate (2:1 arrhythmia). The T-type Ca2+ channel antagonist ML218 induced bradycardia and decreased systolic and diastolic Ca2+ levels in 3 dpf larvae, but the CaT amplitude did not change. Interestingly, some larvae (3 out of 14) displayed a progressive lengthening of the time between the start of atrial and ventricular CaT, analogous to increased PR interval of the electrocardiogram, until a ventricular systole failed. This is reminiscent of a second-degree atrioventricular block in humans. At higher ML218 concentration, a 2:1 arrhythmia was observed and increased ventricular CaT amplitude in all larvae. Conclusions We characterized Ca2+ changes induced by arrhythmogenic drugs and correlated them with contractility and hemodynamic parameters. The zebrafish line Tg(myl7:Twitch-4) allowed investigating drug-induced arrhythmias in this animal model with unprecedented detail. This transgenic line will serve to screen cardiotoxicity during drug development and to study conduction and rhythm defects in zebrafish, and their correlation with human disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neural origins of spontaneous or self-initiated actions are not well understood and their interpretation is controversial. To address these issues, we used a task in which rats decide when to abort waiting for a delayed tone. We recorded neurons in the secondary motor cortex (M2) and interpreted our findings in light of an integration-to-bound decision model. A first population of M2 neurons ramped to a constant threshold at rates proportional to waiting time, strongly resembling integrator output. A second population, which we propose provide input to the integrator, fired in sequences and showed trial-to-trial rate fluctuations correlated with waiting times. An integration model fit to these data also quantitatively predicted the observed inter-neuronal correlations. Together, these results reinforce the generality of the integration-to-bound model of decision-making. These models identify the initial intention to act as the moment of threshold crossing while explaining how antecedent subthreshold neural activity can influence an action without implying a decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Even though chlorination of wash water in the fresh-cut industry is a common practice, little is known about the minimum free chlorine residual level required to keep water free from foodborne pathogens and its concomitant generation of disinfection by-products. This work aimed to provide insight to these issues. Two kinds of tests were performed to simulate a fresh-cut industry washing tank of spinach. In the first, a washing tank containing clean water was continuously filled with concentrated process wash water with high organic matter obtained from spinach and inoculated with an Escherichia coli O157:H7 cocktail (5logCFU/ml). A peristaltic pump dosed a chlorinated solution to the washing tank during the test in order to adjust free chlorine (FC) concentration to 1 and 3 mg/l. In the second test, the washing tank already contained process wash water from the beginning of the experiments and the FC concentration was adjusted to 3 and 5 mg/l. Results showed that the maintenance of a FC concentration of ca. 5 mg/l (until a maximum of 7 mg/l) during washing of fresh-cut spinach kept the wash water free from the pathogen during one hour although trihalomethane levels > 1000 μg/l were generated. Results indicate that a minimum residual level of ca. 7 mg/l FC is an effective treatment to inactivate E. coli O157:H7 under industrial conditions. Validation of sanitizer efficacy by using a dynamic system might facilitate the implementation of selected treatments in the food industry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Symmetric dipyrrylketones 1 a, b were synthesized in two steps from the corresponding α-free pyrroles, by reaction with thiophosgene followed by oxidative hydrolysis under basic conditions. The dipyrrylketones produced the corresponding 5-chloro-dipyrrinium salts or 5-ethoxy-dipyrrins on reaction with phosgene or Meerwein's salt, respectively. Boron complexation of the dipyrrins afforded the corresponding 8-functionalized BODIPYs (borondipyrromethenes) in high yields. The 5-chloro-dipyrrinium salts reacted with methoxide or ethoxide ions to produce monopyrrole esters, presumably via a 5,5-dialkoxy-dipyrromethane intermediate. In contrast, 8-chloro-BODIPYs underwent a variety of nucleophilic substitutions of the chloro group in the presence of alkoxide ions, Grignard reagents, and thiols. In the presence of excess alkoxide or Grignard reagent, at room temperature or above, substitution at the boron center also occurred. The 8-chloro-BODIPY was a particularly useful reagent for the preparation of 8-aryl-, 8-alkyl-, and 8-vinyl-substituted BODIPYs in very high yields, using Pd0-catalyzed Stille cross-coupling reactions. The X-ray structures of eleven BODIPYs and two pyrroles are presented, and the spectroscopic properties of the synthesized BODIPYs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spain is one of the preferred destinations by European tourists, justified by the number of visitors it receives, number of overnight stays that it registers and the economic contribution that it generates for the country. Nevertheless, during the year 2011, the Spanish hotels registered only a slight increase, in relation to 2010, in aspects as overnight stays, occupation degree and contribution to the Scale of Payments. This scarce variation, can be motivated by the high competence, the opening of new markets, the economic international crisis, the increase of the hotel offer and the raise of the prices of complementary services. The present work tries to analyse, by means of a review of the publications appeared in the major index impact magazines, the worry of the sector for the Cost System and Activity Based Costing Systems (ABC/ABM), as a tool destined to examine and optimize the managerial costs. The results reflect that the fact of focusing more on the client, where the quality in the service is a basic attribute, carries to move to the background the need to have an information management system. Nevertheless, a great interest is observed in the empirical studies in companies of services that develop the ABC/ABM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a series of systematized studies of the Milieu Souterrain Superficiel (MSS) are being carried in several enclaves of the Iberian Peninsula, which have entailed the finding of the enigmatic ant Aphaenogaster cardenai Espadaler, 1981, hitherto considered as hypogean, in a mountain range far away from its known distribution area. Its ecological role and its possible area of distribution are discussed due to this finding, as well as its known morphology, distribution, habitat use, flight ability of the sexual forms, and moment of activity. This enabled reviewing and discussing the actual knowledge on the possible adaptations and exaptations of the Formicidae to the subterranean environments in wide sense and concretely to the MSS. According to all above, ants might adapt to the deepest hypogean environments by means of changes in their social structure, but without those changes, the MSS would be their last frontier in their process of colonization of hypogean environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: During the last two decades there has been a thorough research and development of standards and protocols in order to cope with different electrocardiogram formats from heterogeneous acquisition systems. Despite the efforts of public and private consortiums on creating a standardized electrocardiogram (ECG) storage format, there is still not a single one. Indeed, there is also the necessity of access to raw data of the ECGs previously acquired. Most of these documents have been saved as Adobe PDF files, since for medical staff it is an easy format for later visualization. However, this format presents difficulties when trying to access original raw data for subsequent studies and signal analysis. In this manner, this paper presents an application that obtains plain numerical data from ECG files stored with PDF format. Data can also be exported to one of the most common file formats in existence, to be easily accessed thereafter. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Trihalomethane (THM) levels in the process water after washing baby spinach with chlorine-based sanitizers were close to the limits for drinking water. [•] THM levels in baby spinach were very low and became undetectable after rinsing. [•] Quality of baby spinach was not affected by any of the chlorine and non-chlorine sanitizers tested. [•] Chlorine-based sanitizers used in the fresh-cut industry have a low potential risk of THM generation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation ( HSCT) recipients colonized with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus ( VRE) may have an increased risk of developing VRE bacteremia. Identification of risk factors for the development of subsequent VRE bacteremia among colonized HSCT recipients is necessary to predict which patients may benefit the most from receiving anti- VRE antibiotic therapy as part of an initial antimicrobial regimen when gram-positive bacteremia is suspected. Methods This study was a retrospective chart review conducted from May 2008 to May 2011. Adult HSCT patients admitted to the hospital found to have positive VRE surveillance cultures were included. A multivariate analysis was completed to identify risk factors for the development of VRE bacteremia in the study population. Results Of 152 patients, 19 (13%) patients developed subsequent VRE bacteremia. Risk factors identified for patients with current VRE colonization for VRE bacteremia were the utilization of vancomycin subsequent to VRE surveillance culture positivity ( P = 0.017), prolonged duration of neutropenia ( P = 0.001), immunosuppression ( P < 0.001), and timing of first VRE surveillance screen positivity at week 1 ( P = 0.005). A history of VRE colonization on a prior admission was not an independent risk factor for bacteremia in HSCT patients ( P = 1.0). HSCT patients with VRE bacteremia had a 30-day all-cause inpatient mortality rate of 29% ( P = 0.001). Conclusion HSCT patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, who have been exposed to vancomycin subsequent to surveillance culture positivity, have had prolonged neutropenia of >30 days, or first surveillance culture positive at week 1 of admission are potential candidates for early implementation of anti- VRE therapy when a gram-positive bacteremia is suspected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Caesium-137 derived from nuclear testing in the past century has been widely used as a sediment tracer of soil redistribution, providing information on medium term (40–50years) erosion rates. To date, most studies have focused on individual fields of limited extent, but estimated rates and patterns of soil redistribution require upscaling to catchment level. An attempt to assess soil redistribution processes with strong geomorphic control on complex terrain, such as an internally drained karst catchment, is presented in this work. A comprehensive geomorphological survey of the Estanya Lake catchment (Spanish Pyrenees) enabled the main geomorphic elements to be identified with a grid resolution of 5×5m, which was the basis for the terrain analyses. A detailed DEM was constructed and improved after field identification of the drainage system and point measures on gentle slopes with Total Topographic Station. A 100×100m sampling grid was established to derive point data of 137Cs inventories across the catchment. Geostatistical interpolation of point samples of 137Cs inventories in soil was carried out to identify and assess the areas of sediment gain and loss by comparing with 137Cs reference inventories. Profile activity models were used to calibrate 137Cs data and to derive estimates of soil redistribution. GIS was used to provide spatially distributed erosion and deposition rates in the landscape for the whole catchment. The median values of soil erosion and deposition of 4.7 and 3.1Mgha−1 year−1, respectively, showed a large variability and reveal coupling between erosional and depositional forms in the catchment. The highest erosion and deposition rates were found in cultivated fields at the southern sector of the catchment. The spatial analysis of the results supports the importance of taking into account geomorphological features in karst catchments as relevant controlling factors in soil redistribution processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Internalization of foodborne pathogens in fruits and vegetables is an increasing safety concern. The aim of this research was to assess the potential for internalization of an enteric pathogen (Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium) in a leafy vegetable (baby spinach) during washing as influenced by three postharvest handling conditions: (i) illumination, (ii) negative temperature differential, and (iii) relative humidity (RH). To compare these potential postharvest handling conditions, leaves were exposed to different levels of illumination (0, 1,000, and 2,000 Ix), temperature differential (5, 11, 14, 20, and 26°C), and RH (99, 85, and 74%) for a short time before or during washing. Washing of baby spinach was carried out in water containing green fluorescent protein-tagged Salmonella Typhimurium (6.5 log CFU/ml) at 5°C for 2 min, followed by surface disinfection with chlorine (10,000 µg/ml) for 1 min, two rinses in water for 10 s, and spin drying for 15 s. Internalization was assessed by enumerating the pathogen on Salmonella-Shigella agar and by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Illumination of spinach leaves before and during washing and a negative temperature differential during washing did not significantly (P > 0.05) increase the number of internalized bacteria. However, exposure of leaves to low-RH conditions before washing, which reduced the tissue water content, decreased internalization of Salmonella compared with internalization in baby spinach exposed to high RH (P ≤ 0.05). Green fluorescent protein-tagged Salmonella Typhimurium was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy at a depth of up to 30 µm beneath the surface of spinach leaves after exposure to a high inoculum level (8 log CFU/ml) for an extended time (2 h). Results show that internalization of Sahnonella into baby spinach leaves can occur but can be minimized under specific postharvest handling conditions such as low RH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The SERT model assesses rates and balances of soil erosion in agricultural lands. [•] The new SERT model divides the simulation procedure into four modules. [•] Runoff depth varied in time and space, presenting areas without runoff production. [•] Soil erosion was minimum in February and 23 times higher in October. [•] Predictions validated with 137Cs got a good Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There are several methods and corresponding artefacts to assess Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) errors. In this paper, we present a novel method based on a designed new artefact that can be seen as a simplification of the hexapod machine, commonly used in several contexts in engineering, to determine the CMM's global errors. The artefact is constituted by a set of three fixed spheres connected by telescopic links to a moving sphere which is the reference for CMM calibration. By comparison of the coordinates of the center of the moving sphere measured by the artefact system against the correspondent coordinates measured by the CMM, the global errors of the machine are determined. Shifting the moving sphere, the links' variations are measured by laser interferometry using the laser interferometers installed in the interior of the telescopic links. Applying the equations of trilateration, the coordinates of the moving sphere center are determined. However, it is necessary prior knowledge of the artefact geometry and of the initial links length which should be done by calibrating the artefact. To avoid the difficult and expensive artefact calibration, we develop a method which performs the self-calibration of the artefact, by shifting the moving sphere on the same plane defined by the other three. The self-calibration of the artefact is done solving a nonlinear problem both with and without constraints. Finally, we present some results obtained from extensive simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Overland flow connectivity and runoff and sediment trap effectiveness are currently the cutting edge topics in soil erosion research. The effect of agricultural terraces, irrigation channels and trails on runoff and soil erosion modelling at catchment scale is still a remaining research question. In this study we run the index of connectivity of Borselli et al. (2008) and a modified version of the revised Morgan, Morgan and Finney (RMMF) model to predict the hydrological connectivity and the rates of soil erosion under four different scenarios of land uses and land abandonment. This goal is achieved by using geographic information systems (GIS) in the Estanque de Arriba catchment (74ha; Spanish Pre-Pyrenees) where 83 soil samples were collected. The different maps of hydrological connectivity were used to create runoff and sediment trap effectiveness masks that were included in the assessment of the effective cumulative runoff. The results showed that the index of connectivity was very high in the irrigation channels and walls of the agricultural terraces for the past and current scenarios. The runoff and sediment connectivity of the catchment from the hillsides to the lake decreased with an increasing vegetation cover and a decreasing number of linear landscape elements. The connectivity decreased from the past to the current scenario and from the current to the future scenario with vegetation recovery in the abandoned fields. The vegetation factor appeared to be more important than the disappearance of the agricultural terraces and channels to explain the changes in the connectivity at catchment scale. Random changes in the IC values appeared between the current and the future scenario without vegetation recovery in some parts of the catchment and were related to the mathematical procedure of the model that combines the upslope and downslope components at each pixel. This information is of special relevance in areas disturbed by humans and those with complex topography. The average erosion rates ranged between 1.5 and 3.7Mgha−1 year−1 for the different land use scenarios decreasing with the increase of the vegetation recovery in the abandoned fields. A significant percentage of the study area will suffer more erosion in the early stage of future land abandonment with an increasing volume of overland flow in the fields at the bottom of the catchment whereas soil erosion will decrease significantly after long-term land abandonment with vegetation recovery. Further research is proposed to better account the changes that happen in the soil and vegetation parameters at the early stages of land abandonment. The results of this study suggest that current active systems could be stabilized by trapping and retaining eroded sediment by increasing the vegetation cover and preserving the agricultural terraces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]