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Many of the intrinsic facets of forest planning are surrounded by uncertainty. Decision-makers strive to improve their understanding of the sources of uncertainty and their impact on the decision-making process. However, uncertainty is rarely integrated into real-world forestry applications or into decision support tools used in forest planning problems. To identify the needs, interests, and challenges of managing uncertainty in forest planning, we interviewed forestry professionals. All the interviewees indicated the positive potential of a tool that could address some facets of uncertainty. Additionally, we conducted a review of the most recent literature on this topic to understand current hot topics and future trends that could help address real-world challenges. This study highlights the next steps to incorporate uncertainty into the decision support systems for forest planning. However, to strengthen the bond between the practical needs of forestry professionals and the theoretical approaches proposed by recent literature, more effort should be placed on defining terminology and formulating a theoretical framework for uncertainty analysis. This will provide the forestry community with a common language and typology, help increase its general understanding, and improve communication between forestry researchers, forestry professionals, and other stakeholders. Key words: decision support systems, forest management, forest planning, stochastic, uncertainty, 1. Introduction Forest planning decisions operate at various spatial scales, from stand to landscape to national, and these decisions need to balance economical, societal, and ecological benefits (Bettinger et al. [...]

We study the light emission of plasmonic-luminescent hybrid nanostructures consisting of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in europium oxide (EuOX). The Ag NPs present a bidimensional organization in the nanostructures and they optically behave as oblate spheroids. The photoluminescence (PL) spectral response of the nanostructures evolves from a narrow red emission characteristic of Eu3+ ions in absence of Ag NPs to a broad blue-green emission band associated with Eu2+ ions when the layer of Ag NPs is present. This behavior is not related to a change in the Eu2+/Eu3+ ratio, which is verified by compositional analysis. Instead, a detailed investigation of the PL emission of the nanostructures suggests that the coupling of the Ag NPs to the Eu2+ ions present in the EuOX layer, which manifests itself in an efficient sensitization of these ions, enhances their broad visible emission. In particular, the longitudinal mode of the Ag NPs surface plasmon is considered to be responsible for the efficient energy transfer for the non-normal incidence excitation PL configuration used. Finally, the use of a capping amorphous Al2O3 layer allows improving the robustness of hybrid nanostructures and further enhances their PL emission. These findings provide a new path to actively control the selective excitation of Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions via a controlled coupling with the surface plasmon resonance modes of the Ag NPs and points to these nanostructures as promising building blocks for the development of integrable white light sources.

Materials such as wood, textiles, or plastics that are part of the exhibition system in museums are known to emit pollutants such as organic acids. Scientific and technical objects that include these materials in their composition can themselves be a potential source of emissions, which, together with inappropriate humidity and temperature conditions, can lead to corrosion of the metallic parts. In this work, we have studied the corrosivity of different locations in two venues of the Spanish National Museum of Science and Technology (MUNCYT). Coupons of the most representative metals from the collection were placed in different showcases and rooms for 9 months. The corrosion of the coupons has been evaluated in terms of the rate of mass gain, colour changes and characterisation of the corrosion products. The results were correlated to the relative humidity and concentration of gaseous pollutants to determine which metals are most susceptible to corrosion. The results show that metal artefacts exposed in showcases have a higher risk of corrosion than those exposed directly in the room, and that some pollutants are emitted by the artefacts. The corrosivity of the museum environment is low for copper, brass, and aluminium in most locations; however, some placements present a higher aggressivity for steel and lead, due to the high humidity and the presence of organic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White matter injury is a progressive vascular disease that leads to neurological deficits and vascular dementia. It comprises up to 30% of all diagnosed strokes, though up to ten times as many events go undiagnosed in early stages. There are several pathologies that can lead to white matter injury. While some studies suggest that white matter injury starts as small infarcts in deep penetrating blood vessels in the brain, others point to the breakdown of endothelial function or the blood–brain barrier as the primary cause of the disease. Whether due to local endothelial or BBB dysfunction, or to local small infarcts (or a combination), white matter injury progresses, accumulates, and expands from preexisting lesions into adjacent white matter to produce motor and cognitive deficits that present as vascular dementia in the elderly. Vascular dementia is the second leading cause of dementia, and white matter injury–attributed vascular dementia represents 40% of all diagnosed dementias and aggravates Alzheimer's pathology. Despite the advances in the last 15 years, there are few animal models of progressive subcortical white matter injury or vascular dementia. This review will discuss recent progress in animal modeling of white matter injury and the emerging principles to enhance glial function as a means of promoting repair and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different studies carried out in the last three decades on the magnetic susceptibility of the spinel ZnFe2O4 ferrite have revealed the positive character of its Curie–Weiss temperature, contradicting its observed antiferromagnetic behavior which is characterized by a well-defined susceptibility peak centered around the Neel temperature (10 K). Some approaches based on ab initio calculations and mixture of interactions have been attempted to explain this anomaly. This work shows how for very low values of the inversion parameter, the small percentage of Fe atoms located in tetrahedral sites gives rise to the appearance of ferrimagnetic clusters around them. Superparamagnetism of these clusters is the main cause of the anomalous Curie–Weiss behavior. This finding is supported experimentally from the thermal dependence of the inverse susceptibility and its evolution with the degree of inversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weathering steels are widely used in civil engineering, architecture and contemporary art due to their mechanical properties, their enhanced resistance to atmospheric corrosion as well as their aesthetic properties. Artists and blacksmiths often apply chemical treatments to obtain the appealing colors of a patina in a shorter period of time. However, the development of an accelerated patina may have an effect on the final appearance and color of the surface. With the aim of evaluating differences in color and studying the evolution of the surface, eight accelerated patinas were made and exposed to the atmosphere for periods of time of up to 24 months and were compared to a natural patina. The characterization studies showed the presence of lepidocrocite on the surface. A close inspection of the X-ray diffraction patterns showed the displacement of the (020) lepidocrocite reflection and asymmetric broadening of selective lines of this phase that were associated to stacking and twins faults, respectively. These faults decrease with the exposure time and are related to a maximum at 630 nm in the reflectance spectrum and the stabilization of the b* coordinate (yellow color). The colors of the accelerated patinas differ from the natural patina at short exposure times. However, they tend to converge at longer exposure times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damage to axons is a core feature of ischemic stroke and cerebrovascular disease. The burden of axonal injury is correlated with the acute clinical deficits, the underlying burden of ischemic brain injury, the prognosis of recovery, and may be a meaningful therapeutic target for brain repair. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has been identified as a blood-based biomarker that reflects neuroaxonal damage resulting from stroke. However, the utility of NfL as a blood-based biomarker in stroke is confounded by studies examining different temporal windows and patient populations. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to verify the utility of blood NfL as a diagnostic, prognostic, and monitoring stroke biomarker. Nineteen studies reporting serum/plasma NfL values for a total of 4,237 distinct patients with stroke were identified. Using available summary data from the 10 studies that employed a common immunoassay platform, we utilized random effects linear mixed modeling and weighted averages to create a phasic model of serum/plasma NfL values in distinct time periods of acute stroke. Weighted averages show that blood NfL levels vary significantly across three distinct temporal epochs of acute (0–7 days), subacute (9–90 days), and chronic (>90 days) stroke with a steep peak in the early subacute period between 14 and 21 days after stroke. Blood NfL values can function as a diagnostic biomarker in distinguishing acute ischemic stroke from transient ischemic attack as well as amongst other cerebrovascular subtypes. Release of NfL into the bloodstream after stroke follows a distinct temporal dynamic that lags several weeks behind stroke onset and reliably associates with a stroke diagnosis despite some variability based on stroke subtype and severity. Identification of these temporal dynamics and the contribution of co- existent cerebrovascular disease states can improve the value of NfL as a stroke biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple ecological, economic, social, and political facets influence forest-planning decisions. Decision models have been widely used in forest management planning, but most are deterministic models. However, long-term forest planning problems are surrounded by potential uncertainties. To begin to account for uncertainty surrounding growth and yield under climate change conditions, a stochastic forest planning model was developed and tested. The intent of the model is to help identify potential current forest management actions that will perform well over a range of plausible climate change scenarios (futures). The stages of the model address how uncertainty about the future might unfold, with model solutions providing immediate management actions plus detailed contingency (recourse) plans for each future. The use of specialized decomposition methods of operations research has allowed for testing the model in a detailed and large application. Results from the case study showed that planning for an average deterministic case produces a misleading solution, underestimating the potential impact of climate change. On the other hand, only planning for a worst-case scenario ignores the potential value of management opportunities under other likely futures in which harvesting benefits could be greater. Overall, results advance our understanding of recognizing forest-wide uncertainty in forest management planning models. Study Implications Stand-level decisions often have forest-wide implications. Forest planning helps coordinate management of stands to address ecological, economic, and social aspects. Decision models are often used, but most assume all the information is known. However, long-term forest planning is surrounded by potential uncertainties, such as climate change. We developed a model to identify current forest management actions that will perform well over a range of plausible climate change scenarios instead of just one. The novelty lies in how we solve the problem. Breaking it into smaller subproblems allows us to include more stand-level details while still tackling a large problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has overloaded national health services worldwide. Thus, early identification of patients at risk of poor outcomes is critical. Our objective was to analyse SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in serum as a severity biomarker in COVID-19. Retrospective observational study including 193 patients admitted for COVID-19. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in serum (viremia) was performed with samples collected at 48–72 h of admission by two techniques from Roche and Thermo Fischer Scientific (TFS). Main outcome variables were mortality and need for ICU admission during hospitalization for COVID-19. Viremia was detected in 50–60% of patients depending on technique. The correlation of Ct in serum between both techniques was good (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.612; p < 0.001). Patients with viremia were older (p = 0.006), had poorer baseline oxygenation (PaO2/FiO2; p < 0.001), more severe lymphopenia (p < 0.001) and higher LDH (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p = 0.021), C-reactive protein (CRP; p = 0.022) and procalcitonin (p = 0.002) serum levels. We defined "relevant viremia" when detection Ct was < 34 with Roche and < 31 for TFS. These thresholds had 95% sensitivity and 35% specificity. Relevant viremia predicted death during hospitalization (OR 9.2 [3.8–22.6] for Roche, OR 10.3 [3.6–29.3] for TFS; p < 0.001). Cox regression models, adjusted by age, sex and Charlson index, identified increased LDH serum levels and relevant viremia (HR = 9.87 [4.13–23.57] for TFS viremia and HR = 7.09 [3.3–14.82] for Roche viremia) as the best markers to predict mortality. Viremia assessment at admission is the most useful biomarker for predicting mortality in COVID-19 patients. Viremia is highly reproducible with two different techniques (TFS and Roche), has a good consistency with other severity biomarkers for COVID-19 and better predictive accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astro-therapy for stroke: Astrocytes, axons, and myelin are subjected to major damage during subcortical white matter stroke (WMS), a debilitating disorder leading to cognitive and motor impairments. Previous studies have shown that immature astrocyte transplantation could promote remyelination in rodent models. Now, Llorente et al. used a model of WMS in mice to demonstrate that transplantation of glial enriched progenitor cells differentiated from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-GEPs) shortly after stroke matured into a mature astrocyte phenotype and had therapeutic effect on axonal damage, demyelination, and cognitive impairments more effectively than hiPSC-derived neuronal precursor cells. The results suggest that astrocyte precursors have therapeutic potential in stroke. Subcortical white matter stroke (WMS) accounts for up to 30% of all stroke events. WMS damages primarily astrocytes, axons, oligodendrocytes, and myelin. We hypothesized that a therapeutic intervention targeting astrocytes would be ideally suited for brain repair after WMS. We characterize the cellular properties and in vivo tissue repair activity of glial enriched progenitor (GEP) cells differentiated from human-induced pluripotent stem cells, termed hiPSC-derived GEPs (hiPSC-GEPs). hiPSC-GEPs are derived from hiPSC–neural progenitor cells via an experimental manipulation of hypoxia inducible factor activity by brief treatment with a prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, deferoxamine. This treatment permanently biases these cells to further differentiate toward an astrocyte fate. hiPSC-GEPs transplanted into the brain in the subacute period after WMS in mice migrated widely, matured into astrocytes with a prorepair phenotype, induced endogenous oligodendrocyte precursor proliferation and remyelination, and promoted axonal sprouting. hiPSC-GEPs enhanced motor and cognitive recovery compared to other hiPSC-differentiated cell types. This approach establishes an hiPSC-derived product with easy scale-up capabilities that might be effective for treating WMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increasing prevalence of forest-cover change and conflicts, most studies have been unable to unravel the complex relations between the two processes. We attribute this failure to methodological limitations. We put forward an alternative approach that combines different datasets (remote sensing, GIS, local narratives, official censuses, newspaper articles), methods (spatial and relational analyses), and scales (subregions, economic sectors, land-based activities) to create a robust explanation of the relations between different intensities of forest-cover change and conflict in the Meseta Purépecha region, central Mexico. This is an important forest region, inhabited by indigenous and mestizo peasants; it has a worldwide reputation for community forestry and is also the epicenter of international avocado production. Forest-cover change is intense and there are recurrent episodes of conflict. We clustered communities in three subregions according to their patterns of forest-cover change. We analyzed the spatial patterns of forest-cover change and conflicts and we characterized the structure and function of the different economic sectors to unravel the nonlinear, interdependent (and sometimes contradictory) relations among these processes. We found that avocado production has differentially shaped the composition and working of society within each subregion, leading to three diverging patterns. Avocado production has provoked conflicts over landownership and over illegal logging in nearby areas. In some areas, a low incidence of conflicts over forest clearance might be explained by high profits, coercion, and violence. We suggest that, by combining spatial and relational analyses, we can integrate and check the congruence of nonequivalent representations from quantitative sources and observant participation at different scales and explain the heterogeneity that processes display across space. Our methodological approach can thus improve our understanding of similar and other complex and uncertain environmental problems elsewhere, especially when accurate or appropriate data are missing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atmospheric corrosion of zinc in pure marine coastal atmospheres has not been extensively studied. This paper presents the results obtained in six pure marine atmospheres located at different distances from the seashore in the same coastal area with annual chloride deposition rates of between 47 and 1142 mg · m−2 · day−1. Zinc specimens were exposed for 3, 6, 9, and 12 months in two annual exposure sequences starting 6 months apart. Tests were performed to determine the corrosion rate and its evolution with exposure time. Quantitative (Rietveld) grazing X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (C 1s) were applied to analyze the corrosion products formed. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry were employed to study the morphology of the corrosion layers. The most relevant findings of this study are: (a) the presence of hydrozincite [Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6]; (b) the aqueous precipitation can be a major controlling factor of the atmospheric corrosion of zinc in atmospheres with low chloride deposition rates (30–50 mg · m−2 · day−1); and (c) the formation of zinc hydroxysulfates also takes place due to the presence of sulfate ions in the marine aerosol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously demonstrated that the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent meloxicam has neuroprotective effects in an oxygen and glucose deprivation model (OGD) of rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. We wondered if GABAergic transmission changed the neuroprotective effects of meloxicam and if meloxicam was able to modulate endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) in this model. Mortality was measured using propidium iodide. Western blot assays were performed to measure levels of cleaved and non-cleaved caspase-3 to quantify apoptosis, while levels of GRP78, GRP94 and phosphorylated eIF2α were used to detect unfolded protein response (UPR). Transcript levels of GRP78, GRP94 and GABAergic receptor α, β, and γ subunits were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In the present study, we show that the presence of meloxicam in a 30 min OGD assay, followed by 24 h of normoxic conditions, presented an antiapoptotic effect. The simultaneous presence of the GABA A receptor antagonist, bicuculline, in combination with meloxicam blocked the neuroprotective effect provided by the latter. However, in light of its effects on caspase 3 and PARP, bicuculline did not seem to promote the apoptotic pathway. Our results also showed that meloxicam modified the unfolded protein response (UPR), as well as the transcriptional response of different genes, including the GABA A receptor, alpha1, beta3 and gamma2 subunits. We concluded that meloxicam has a neuroprotective anti-apoptotic action, is able to enhance the UPR independently of the systemic anti-inflammatory response and its neuroprotective effect can be inhibited by blocking GABA A receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated pathogenic yeast that can change the size of the cells during infection. In particular, this process can occur by enlarging the size of the capsule without modifying the size of the cell body, or by increasing the diameter of the cell body, which is normally accompanied by an increase of the capsule too. This last process leads to the formation of cells of an abnormal enlarged size denominated titan cells. Previous works characterized titan cell formation during pulmonary infection but research on this topic has been hampered due to the difficulty to obtain them in vitro. In this work, we describe in vitro conditions (low nutrient, serum supplemented medium at neutral pH) that promote the transition from regular to titan-like cells. Moreover, addition of azide and static incubation of the cultures in a CO2 enriched atmosphere favored cellular enlargement. This transition occurred at low cell densities, suggesting that the process was regulated by quorum sensing molecules and it was independent of the cryptococcal serotype/species. Transition to titan-like cell was impaired by pharmacological inhibition of PKC signaling pathway. Analysis of the gene expression profile during the transition to titan-like cells showed overexpression of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, as well as proteins from the coatomer complex, and related to iron metabolism. Indeed, we observed that iron limitation also induced the formation of titan cells. Our gene expression analysis also revealed other elements involved in titan cell formation, such as calnexin, whose absence resulted in appearance of abnormal large cells even in regular rich media. In summary, our work provides a new alternative method to investigate titan cell formation devoid the bioethical problems that involve animal experimentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroscopic growths at geographically separated acid mine drainages (AMDs) exhibit distinct populations. Yet, local heterogeneities are poorly understood. To gain novel mechanistic insights into this, we used OMICs tools to profile microbial populations coexisting in a single pyrite gallery AMD (pH ∼2) in three distinct compartments: two from a stratified streamer (uppermost oxic and lowermost anoxic sediment-attached strata) and one from a submerged anoxic non-stratified mat biofilm. The communities colonising pyrite and those in the mature formations appear to be populated by the greatest diversity of bacteria and archaea (including 'ARMAN' (archaeal Richmond Mine acidophilic nano-organisms)-related), as compared with the known AMD, with ∼44.9% unclassified sequences. We propose that the thick polymeric matrix may provide a safety shield against the prevailing extreme condition and also a massive carbon source, enabling non-typical acidophiles to develop more easily. Only 1 of 39 species were shared, suggesting a high metabolic heterogeneity in local microenvironments, defined by the O2 concentration, spatial location and biofilm architecture. The suboxic mats, compositionally most similar to each other, are more diverse and active for S, CO2, CH4, fatty acid and lipopolysaccharide metabolism. The oxic stratum of the streamer, displaying a higher diversity of the so-called 'ARMAN'-related Euryarchaeota, shows a higher expression level of proteins involved in signal transduction, cell growth and N, H2, Fe, aromatic amino acids, sphingolipid and peptidoglycan metabolism. Our study is the first to highlight profound taxonomic and functional shifts in single AMD formations, as well as new microbial species and the importance of H2 in acidic suboxic macroscopic growths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Possible relations between the native oxide film formed spontaneously on the AZ31 and AZ61 magnesium alloy substrates with different surface finish, the chemistry of the outer surface of the conversion coatings that grows after their subsequent immersion on saturated aqueous NaHCO3 solution treatment and the enhancement of corrosion resistance have been studied. The significant increase in the amount of aluminum and carbonate compounds on the surface of the conversion coating formed on the AZ61 substrate in polished condition seems to improve the corrosion resistance in low chloride ion concentration solutions. In contrast, the conversion coatings formed on the AZ31 substrates in polished condition has little effect on their protective properties compared to the respective as-received surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Assays on “ex vivo” sections of rat hippocampus and rat cerebral cortex, subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) and a three-hour reperfusion-like (RL) recovery, were performed in the presence of either GABA or the GABAA receptor binding site antagonist, bicuculline. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and propidium iodide were used to quantify cell mortality. We also measured, using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), the early transcriptional response of a number of genes of the glutamatergic and GABAergic systems. Specifically, glial pre- and post-synaptic glutamatergic transporters (namely GLAST1a, EAAC-1, GLT-1 and VGLUT1), three GABAA receptor subunits (α1, β2 and γ2), and the GABAergic presynaptic marker, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), were studied. Mortality assays revealed that GABAA receptor chloride channels play an important role in the neuroprotective effect of GABA in the cerebral cortex, but have a much smaller effect in the hippocampus. We also found that GABA reverses the OGD-dependent decrease in GABAA receptor transcript levels, as well as mRNA levels of the membrane and vesicular glutamate transporter genes. Based on the markers used, we conclude that OGD results in differential responses in the GABAergic presynaptic and postsynaptic systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition of the normal ZnFe2O4 has been intensively investigated with results showing a lack of long-range order, spin frustrations, and a "hidden" entropy in the calorimetric properties for inversion degrees δ ≈ 0 or δ = 0. As δ drastically impacts the magnetic properties, it is logical to question how a δ value slightly different from zero can affect the magnetic properties. In this work, (Zn1-δFeδ)[ZnδFe2-δ]O4 with δ = 0.05 and δ = 0.27 have been investigated with calorimetry at different applied fields. It is shown that a δ value as small as 0.05 may affect 40% of the unit cells, which become locally ferrimagnetic (FiM) and coexists with AFM and spin disordered regions. The spin disorder disappears under an applied field of 1 T. Mossbauer spectroscopy confirms the presence of a volume fraction with a low hyperfine field that can be ascribed to these spin disordered regions. The volume fractions of the three magnetic phases estimated from entropy and hyperfine measurements are roughly coincident and correspond to approximately 1/3 for each of them. The "hidden" entropy is the zero point entropy different from 0. Consequently, the so-called "hidden" entropy can be ascribed to the frustrations of the spins at the interphase between the AFM-FiM phases due to having δ ≈ 0 instead of ideal δ = 0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: This study analyzes how age and inflammation modify the response of the vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs), VGLUT1–3 to global brain ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in brain areas with different I/R vulnerabilities. Results: Global ischemia was induced in 3- and 18-month-old male Sprague–Dawley rats and CA1 and CA3 hippocampal areas, dentate gyrus and cerebral cortex of sham-operated and I/R animals were removed 48h after insult. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that I/R challenge resulted in a significant decrease of the VGLUT mRNA levels in young animals. Western blot assays showed a lessened age-dependent response to the ischemic damage in VGLUT1 and VGLUT3, while VGLUT2 presented an age and structure-dependent response to challenge. The use of the anti-inflammatory agent meloxicam following challenge showed that COX2 inhibition promotes the expression of VGLUTs in both sham and injured animals, which results in a lessened response to I/R injury. Conclusions: VGLUT1 and VGLUT3 presented an age-dependent response to ischemic damage, while this VGLUT response was age both and structure-dependent. In addition, COX-2 inhibition resulted in an increase of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 protein amounts both in sham and injured animals together with a lessening of the transporters’ response to ischemia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The work is an attempt to learn more about the role of several experimental variables in the corrosion of magnesium alloys in immersion tests carried out in 0.6M NaCl. The effect of as-received and polished surface conditions, geometrical characteristics of the exposed area and different aluminium contents in the magnesium based alloys is considered. Results indicated that polished surfaces and AZ61 surfaces tend to develop corrosion slower than the respective as-received and AZ31 surfaces; these tendencies can change by prolonging exposure time. Filiform and localised corrosion are influenced by the presence of cut surfaces and small exposed areas, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Even though the electroosmotic flux through hardened cementitious materials during laboratory realkalisation trials had been previously noticed, it has never been in-situ monitored, analysing at the same time the establishment of the electroosmotic flux and the microstructure changes in the surroundings of the rebar. In this paper, two series of cement pastes, cast with CEM I and CEM I substituted in a 35% by fly ash, previously carbonated at 100% CO2, were submitted to realkalisation treatments followed on line by simultaneous acquisition of neutron diffraction data. As a result, it has been possible to confirm the electroosmosis as the driving force of carbonates towards the rebar and to determine the range of pH in the anolyte in which most of the relevant electroosmotic phenomena takes place. On the other hand, the behaviour of the main crystalline phases involved in the process has been monitored during the treatment, with the precipitation of portlandite as main result. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The requirements for the formation of a protective patina on conventional weathering steels (WS) are well known in the scientific literature related to civil structures. However, these criteria are not always given due consideration when WS is used in cultural heritage, as in the case of sculptural work. An artificial patina was produced simulating artists' working procedures using a direct patination technique, applying a solution of 10% H2SO4 on WS specimens. These were exposed for two years in the urban atmosphere of Madrid along with weathering steel specimens without artificial patina, called natural patina. The patinas generated have been analyzed using colorimetry, micro-Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thickness measurements.The artificial patina color formed hardly differs from the color that the natural patina acquires from practically the beginning of its formation in the atmosphere of Madrid. After two years, the atmospheric corrosion rate of patinated WS is lower than 6 µm/year. The sulfuric acid treatment accelerates the protective ability of the patina with respect to the natural patina according to the ratio goethite to lepidocrocite (α/γ). Chromium-rich goethite is located in the inner part of the artificial patina as well as chromium-rich ferrihydrite. Ferrihydrite may act as a precursor of nanophasic goethite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the physicochemical study of the adsorption of dysprosium (Dy3+) in aqueous solution onto two types of activated carbons synthesized from spent coffee ground. Potassium hydroxide (KOH)-activated carbon is a microporous material with a specific Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of 2330 m2·g−1 and pores with a diameter of 3.2 nm. Carbon activated with water vapor and N2 is a solid mesoporous, with pores of 5.7 nm in diameter and a specific surface of 982 m2·g−1. A significant dependence of the adsorption capacity on the solution pH was found, but it does not significantly depend on the dysprosium concentration nor on the temperature. A maximum adsorption capacity of 31.26 mg·g−1 and 33.52 mg·g−1 for the chemically and physically activated carbons, respectively, were found. In both cases, the results obtained from adsorption isotherms and kinetic study were better a fit to the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetics. In addition, thermodynamic results indicate that dysprosium adsorption onto both activated carbons is an exothermic, spontaneous, and favorable process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest management situations are intrinsically challenging due to the nature of being an interconnected and multi-faceted problem. Integrating ecological, social, and economic objectives is one of the biggest hurdles for forest planners. Often, decisions made with the interest of producing a specific ecosystem service may affect the production of other forest ecosystem services. We present a forest management scheduling model that involves multiple ownerships and addresses the joint production of two ecosystem services: timber and upland hardwood old forest. We use a marginal value approach to evaluate old forest. We analyze the impacts of considering different management options, shapes and levels of marginal value functions for old forest, and potential benefits of rewarding the major forest land ownership groups to produce old forest. Results show the downward-sloping marginal value function as a compromise strategy and the benefits of applying it over approaches using either fixed values or targets for addressing ecosystem services. A decomposition model was useful for recognizing important stand-level detail. A broad landscape and multiple ownership approach helped identify interconnections between forest cover types and between landowner groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]