On the calibration of the relation between geometric albedo and polarimetric properties for the asteroids

We present a new extensive analysis of the old problem of finding a satisfactory calibration of the relation between the geometric albedo and some measurable polarization properties of the asteroids. To achieve our goals, we use all polarimetric data at our disposal. For the purposes of calibration, we use a limited sample of objects for which we can be confident to know the albedo with good accuracy, according to previous investigations of other authors. We find a new set of updated calibration coefficients for the classical slope - albedo relation, but we generalize our analysis and we consider also alternative possibilities, including the use of other polarimetric parameters, one being proposed here for the first time, and the possibility to exclude from best-fit analyzes the asteroids having low albedos. We also consider a possible parabolic fit of the whole set of data.Comment: Accepted by MNRA

Ensemble Properties of Comets in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We present the ensemble properties of 31 comets (27 resolved and 4 unresolved) observed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). This sample of comets represents about 1 comet per 10 million SDSS photometric objects. Five-band (u,g,r,i,z) photometry is used to determine the comets' colors, sizes, surface brightness profiles, and rates of dust production in terms of the Af{\rho} formalism. We find that the cumulative luminosity function for the Jupiter Family Comets in our sample is well fit by a power law of the form N(< H) \propto 10(0.49\pm0.05)H for H < 18, with evidence of a much shallower fit N(< H) \propto 10(0.19\pm0.03)H for the faint (14.5 < H < 18) comets. The resolved comets show an extremely narrow distribution of colors (0.57 \pm 0.05 in g - r for example), which are statistically indistinguishable from that of the Jupiter Trojans. Further, there is no evidence of correlation between color and physical, dynamical, or observational parameters for the observed comets.Comment: 19 pages, 8 tables, 11 figures, to appear in Icaru

Suitability of composting process for the disposal and valorization of brewer’s spent grain

The brewing industry is characterized by the large production of by-products. Following the fundamentals of a circular economy, several attempts to recycle brewers’ spent grain (BSG) have been investigated. However, little information is available on its use for composting. Consid-ering the main parameters required for optimal development of composting, the objective of the present review was to analyze the literature to determine whether the microbial and physicochemical characteristics of BSG make it suitable for direct composting. As the main factors in the composting process, we considered the BSG moisture content, total carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio, and pH. As described in the literature, the BSG moisture content, C/N ratio, and pH range from 70.6% to 81.3%, 7.1 to 26.5, and 3.8 to 6.9, respectively. This C/N ratio range is lower than the composting target range (20–30). Instead, the mean moisture content in the literature is higher than the 60% to 65% recommended for composting. Optimum pH for aerobic stabilization of compost ranges from 5.5 to 7.5, while the BSG pH in the literature is typically more acidic. Therefore, BSG is not suitable for direct composting. Addition of lignocellulosic bulking agents improves the reduction of moisture content during composting, while also optimizing the substrate properties, such as C/N ratio, air spaces, and pH, to positively affect the composting process. Moreover, livestock manure should be included as a starting material to promote the composting process. In this context, two hypothetical initial mixtures of BSG plus a lignocellulosic bulking agent and livestock manure are presented

Genotypic variability enhances the reproducibility of an ecological study

Many scientific disciplines are currently experiencing a “reproducibility crisis” because numerous scientific findings cannot be repeated consistently. A novel but controversial hypothesis postulates that stringent levels of environmental and biotic standardization in experimental studies reduces reproducibility by amplifying impacts of lab-specific environmental factors not accounted for in study designs. A corollary to this hypothesis is that a deliberate introduction of controlled systematic variability (CSV) in experimental designs may lead to increased reproducibility. We tested this hypothesis using a multi-laboratory microcosm study in which the same ecological experiment was repeated in 14 laboratories across Europe. Each laboratory introduced environmental and genotypic CSV within and among replicated microcosms established in either growth chambers (with stringent control of environmental conditions) or glasshouses (with more variable environmental conditions). The introduction of genotypic CSV led to lower among-laboratory variability in growth chambers, indicating increased reproducibility, but had no significant effect in glasshouses where reproducibility was generally lower. Environmental CSV had little effect on reproducibility. Although there are multiple causes for the “reproducibility crisis”, deliberately including genetic variation may be a simple solution for increasing the reproducibility of ecological studies performed in controlled environments

Identificación de asteroides Hungaria en resonancias seculares

El grupo dinámico Hungaria, conformado por más de 10 000 asteroides, ocupa la región comprendida entre el planeta Marte y el borde interno del cinturón principal (1.77 < a < 2.06 ua). A partir de la base de datos de acceso público AstDyS se analizó la distribución de asteroides en el espacio de frecuencias propias (g,s), se identificaron resonancias seculares que atraviesan la región y se seleccionaron candidatos a evolucionar dinámicamente influenciados por éstas. Mediante los elementos osculadores obtenidos de la base de datos SBDB (JPL Small Body Database) y haciendo uso de un código A-cuerpos se reconstruyeron los ángulos críticos que nos permitieron identificar aquellos objetos que se encuentran en interacción con estas resonancias.The Hungaria dynamic group, formed by more than 10 000 asteroids, occupies the region between Mars and the inner edge of the asteroid belt (1.77 &lt; a &lt; 2.06 ua). From the AstDyS public access database, we analyzed the asteroid distribution in the frequencies space (g,s). Besides, we identified secular resonances in the region and candidates that could evolve dynamically influenced by them have been selected. Using the osculating elements obtained from the JPL Small Body Database (SBDB) and employing an A-body code, the critical angles were reconstructed that allowed us to identify those objects that are interacting with these resonances.Asociación Argentina de Astronomí

Experimental nest cooling reveals dramatic effects of heatwaves on reproduction in a Mediterranean bird of prey

Future climatic scenarios forecast increases in average temperatures as well as in the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme events, such as heatwaves. Whereas behavioral adjustments can buffer direct physiological and fitness costs of exposure to excessive temperature in wild animals, these may prove more difficult during specific life stages when vagility is reduced (e.g., early developmental stages). By means of a nest cooling experiment, we tested the effects of extreme temperatures on different stages of reproduction in a cavity-nesting Mediterranean bird of prey, the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), facing a recent increase in the frequency of heatwaves during its breeding season. Nest temperature in a group of nest boxes placed on roof terraces was reduced by shading them from direct sunlight in 2 consecutive years (2021 and 2022). We then compared hatching failure, mortality, and nestling morphology between shaded and non-shaded (control) nest boxes. Nest temperature in control nest boxes was on average 3.9 degrees C higher than in shaded ones during heatwaves, that is, spells of extreme air temperature (>37 degrees C for =2 consecutive days) which hit the study area during the nestling-rearing phase in both years. Hatching failure markedly increased with increasing nest temperature, rising above 50% when maximum nest temperatures exceeded 44 degrees C. Nestlings from control nest boxes showed higher mortality during heatwaves (55% vs. 10% in shaded nest boxes) and those that survived further showed impaired morphological growth (body mass and skeletal size). Hence, heatwaves occurring during the breeding period can have both strong lethal and sublethal impacts on different components of avian reproduction, from egg hatching to nestling growth. More broadly, these findings suggest that the projected future increases of summer temperatures and heatwave frequency in the Mediterranean basin and elsewhere in temperate areas may threaten the local persistence of even relatively warm-adapted species

Experimental nest cooling reveals dramatic effects of heatwaves on reproduction in a Mediterranean bird of prey

Future climatic scenarios forecast increases in average temperatures as well as in the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme events, such as heatwaves. Whereas behavioral adjustments can buffer direct physiological and fitness costs of exposure to excessive temperature in wild animals, these may prove more difficult during specific life stages when vagility is reduced (e.g., early developmental stages). By means of a nest cooling experiment, we tested the effects of extreme temperatures on different stages of reproduction in a cavity-nesting Mediterranean bird of prey, the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), facing a recent increase in the frequency of heatwaves during its breeding season. Nest temperature in a group of nest boxes placed on roof terraces was reduced by shading them from direct sunlight in 2 consecutive years (2021 and 2022). We then compared hatching failure, mortality, and nestling morphology between shaded and non-shaded (control) nest boxes. Nest temperature in control nest boxes was on average 3.9 degrees C higher than in shaded ones during heatwaves, that is, spells of extreme air temperature (&gt;37 degrees C for =2 consecutive days) which hit the study area during the nestling-rearing phase in both years. Hatching failure markedly increased with increasing nest temperature, rising above 50% when maximum nest temperatures exceeded 44 degrees C. Nestlings from control nest boxes showed higher mortality during heatwaves (55% vs. 10% in shaded nest boxes) and those that survived further showed impaired morphological growth (body mass and skeletal size). Hence, heatwaves occurring during the breeding period can have both strong lethal and sublethal impacts on different components of avian reproduction, from egg hatching to nestling growth. More broadly, these findings suggest that the projected future increases of summer temperatures and heatwave frequency in the Mediterranean basin and elsewhere in temperate areas may threaten the local persistence of even relatively warm-adapted species

Práctica y estrategia: Derecho de Familia

Fil: Orlandi, Olga E. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Lloveras, Nora. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Faraoni, Fabián Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Assandri, Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Maldonado, Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Rossi, Julia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Ríos, Juan Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.El CCyC establece cambios paradigmáticos para el derecho de las familias, desde el 1 de agosto del 2015.Es menester que tengamos en cuenta estos cambios, hasta que se instale el desarrollo de la doctrina y/o la jurisprudencia en la materia.Se trata de una de las áreas más reestructuradas en el nuevo derecho del CCyC, por lo que toda aclaración es bienvenida para la mejor lectura de los destinatarios.Fil: Orlandi, Olga E. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Lloveras, Nora. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Faraoni, Fabián Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Assandri, Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Maldonado, Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Rossi, Julia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Ríos, Juan Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Otras Derech