Trophic interactions will expand geographically but be less intense as oceans warm

Interactions among species are likely to change geographically due to climate-driven species range shifts and in intensity due to physiological responses to increasing temperatures. Marine ectotherms experience temperatures closer to their upper thermal limits due to the paucity of temporary thermal refugia compared to those available to terrestrial organisms. Thermal limits of marine ectotherms also vary among species and trophic levels, making their trophic interactions more prone to changes as oceans warm. We assessed how temperature affects reef fish trophic interactions in the Western Atlantic and modeled projections of changes in fish occurrence, biomass, and feeding intensity across latitudes due to climate change. Under ocean warming, tropical reefs will experience diminished trophic interactions, particularly herbivory and invertivory, potentially reinforcing algal dominance in this region. Tropicalization events are more likely to occur in the northern hemisphere, where feeding by tropical herbivores is predicted to expand from the northern Caribbean to extratropical reefs. Conversely, feeding by omnivores is predicted to decrease in this area with minor increases in the Caribbean and southern Brazil. Feeding by invertivores declines across all latitudes in future predictions, jeopardizing a critical trophic link. Most changes are predicted to occur by 2050 and can significantly affect ecosystem functioning, causing dominance shifts and the rise of novel ecosystems.Postprint6,86

Wind-driven ventilation improvement with plan typology alteration: a CFD case study of traditional Turkish architecture

Aligned with achieving the goal of net-zero buildings, the implementation of energy-saving techniques in minimizing energy demands is proving more vital than at any time. As practical and economic options, passive strategies in ventilation developed over thousands of years have shown great potential for the reduction of residential energy demands, which are often underestimated in modern building’s construction. In particular, as a cost-effective passive strategy, wind-driven ventilation via windows has huge potential in the enhancement of the indoor air quality (IAQ) of buildings while simultaneously reducing their cooling load. This study aims to investigate the functionality and applicability of a common historical Turkish architectural element called “Cumba” to improve the wind-driven ventilation in modern buildings. A case study building with an archetypal plan and parameters was defined as a result of a survey over 111 existing traditional samples across Turkey. Buildings with and without Cumba were compared in different scenarios by the development of a validated CFD microclimate model. The results of simulations clearly demonstrate that Cumba can enhance the room’s ventilation rate by more than two times while harvesting wind from different directions. It was also found that a flexible window opening strategy can help to increase the mean ventilation rate by 276%. Moreover, the room’s mean air velocity and ventilation rate could be adjusted to a broad range of values with the existence of Cumba. Thus, this study presents important findings about the importance of plan typology in the effectiveness of wind-driven ventilation strategies in modern dwellings

Sulfation and carbonation competition in the treatment of flue gas from a coal-based power plant by calcium hydroxide

In this work, a gas containing CO2 and SO2 at the usual concentrations on the coal combustion flue gas reacted with calcium hydroxide to evaluate and quantify the influence of SO2 on the CO2 capture and vice versa. This influence was quantified with a continuous gas analyzer and by thermogravimetry (TG). Results show that the CO2 retained increases in general as its concentration does and decreases as the SO2 concentration increases. A similar behavior was found for the SO2 retention at different CO2 concentrations being more relevant the influence of the presence of SO2 on the CO2 capture than the opposite one. Results suggest that for a high CO2 capture, SO2 should be eliminated previously. With respect to the reaction process it was found that the desulfurization product clearly identified was CaSO3·½H2O; in the reaction between Ca(OH)2 and CO2, CaCO3 is mainly obtained, the complex CaO·CO2 being another possible product synthesized in low amount. Gas analyzer shows that SO2 and CO2 react simultaneously and that a part of the CaCO3 reacts with the SO2 and releases CO2. Sulfation values calculated by TG and from the gas analyzer are very similar but the amount of CO2 captured is not possible to know clearly by TG due to the synthesis and decomposition of CaCO3 during the process. The study of the evolution of the sorbent porosity in the process reveals that the presence of both acid gases produces a lower blockage of the pores than when only one gas is present probably due to the generation of new pores in the reaction of CaCO3 and SO2.We are thankful to MICINN in Spain, National Plan for Scientific Research, Development and Innovation, for financial support under Project: MAT2010-18862 and to the University of Cantabria, Project Ref. 51.VP10.64005

Rapid temperature responses of photosystem II efficiency forecast genotypic variation in rice vegetative heat tolerance

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are grateful to the University of Nottingham glasshouse staff for their assistance with general plant maintenance. We thank Laura Briers for supplying the photograph used in Figure 1. This article benefited substantially from the critical insight of Dr Alex Burgess. JNF is supported by the Palaeobenchmarking Resilient Agriculture Systems (PalaeoRAS) project funded by the Future Food Beacon of the University of Nottingham. EHM receives funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC, grant no. BB/R004633/1). KES is supported by a University of Nottingham–BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership studentship.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Ocean acidification and temperature increase impact mussel shell shape and thickness: Problematic for protection?

Ocean acidification threatens organisms that produce calcium carbonate shells by potentially generating an under-saturated carbonate environment. Resultant reduced calcification and growth, and subsequent dissolution of exoskeletons, would raise concerns over the ability of the shell to provide protection for the marine organism under ocean acidification and increased temperatures. We examined the impact of combined ocean acidification and temperature increase on shell formation of the economically important edible mussel Mytilus edulis. Shell growth and thickness along with a shell thickness index and shape analysis were determined. The ability of M. edulis to produce a functional protective shell after 9 months of experimental culture under ocean acidification and increasing temperatures (380, 550, 750, 1000 μatm pCO2, and 750, 1000 μatm pCO2 + 2°C) was assessed. Mussel shells grown under ocean acidification conditions displayed significant reductions in shell aragonite thickness, shell thickness index, and changes to shell shape (750, 1000 μatm pCO2) compared to those shells grown under ambient conditions (380 μatm pCO2). Ocean acidification resulted in rounder, flatter mussel shells with thinner aragonite layers likely to be more vulnerable to fracture under changing environments and predation. The changes in shape presented here could present a compensatory mechanism to enhance protection against predators and changing environments under ocean acidification when mussels are unable to grow thicker shells. Here, we present the first assessment of mussel shell shape to determine implications for functional protection under ocean acidification. © 2015 Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Evaluación de dosis en pacientes sometidos a procedimientos de angiografía y angioplastía coronaria transluminal percutanea

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo aplicar protocolos internacionales de dosimetría en pacientes sometidos a procedimientos de radiología intervencionista guiada por fluoroscopia (IGF) con el fin de establecer los valores típicos (VT) aplicables a pacientes sometidos a procedimientos de angiografía coronaria (AC) y angioplastia coronaria transluminal percutánea (ACTP) en el servicio de hemodinamia del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio a partir del análisis de los valores del Producto Kerma - Área acumulado. Esto permitirá´ la optimización de los procedimientos, a partir de la identificación de las posibles situaciones de riesgo en las cuales se pueda reducir la exposición de los pacientes, sin afectar el procedimiento clínico. Para realizar la evaluación de los VT aplicados al PKA en el paciente, se tomó una muestra de 27 y 15 pacientes para AC y ACTP, respectivamente, que cumplían características estándares, tales como peso aproximado de 75 kg y en un rango de edad entre los 50 y 80 años. Los VT para el PKA de los procedimientos de AC y ACTP fueron 4,5 y 12,3 Gy·cm2, respectivamente. Adicionalmente, se evaluó la tasa de kerma en la superficie de entrada utilizando un maniquí, obteniendo valores del 23% y 17% de la tolerancia recomendadas para los modos de fluoroscopia alta y normal, respectivamente, sin magnificación y para el caso de una magnificación de 22 cm los valores son del 56% y 33% de la tolerancia para los modos de fluoroscopia alta y normal, respectivamente.The objective of this work is to apply international protocols of dosimetry in patients undergoing radiology procedures Fluoroscopically guided interventional (FGI) in order to establish typical values (TV) applicable to patients undergoing coronary angiography procedures (CA) and Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) In the service of Hemodynamics of the university Hospital San Ignacio, starting from the analysis of the values of the product Kerma - Area accumulated. This will allow the optimization of procedures, based on the identification of the possible risk situations in which they can reduce the exposure of patients, without affecting the clinical procedure. For the evaluation of the TV applied to the protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) in the patient, a sample of 27 and 15 CA and PTCA patients, respectively, who met standard features, such as approximate weight of 75 kg and in an age range between 50 and 80 years. The TV to the PKI of the procedures of CA and PTCA were 4,5 and 12,3 Gy·cm2, respectively. In addition, we evaluated the rate of kerma in the surface using a dummy, obtaining values of 17% and 23% of the tolerance for the fluoroscopy modes normal and high, respectively, without magnification and, in the case of a magnification of 22 cm values are 56% and 33% of the tolerance for the fluoroscopy modes high and normal, respectively.Magíster en Física MédicaMaestrí

Drop-in energy performance evaluation of R1234yf and R1234ze(E) in a vapour compression system as R134a replacements

[EN] This paper presents an energy performance evaluation of two low-GWP refrigerants, R1234yf and R1234ze(E), as drop-in replacements for R134a. Tests are carried out in a monitored vapor compression system combining different values of evaporation and condensation temperature, and without/with the adoption of an internal heat exchanger. The parameters analyzed are volumetric efficiency, cooling capacity and COP and they are presented taking R134a as baseline. Results show that without IHX the average volumetric efficiency for R1234yf and R1234ze is 4% and 5% lower compared with R134a. The cooling capacity obtained with R1234yf and R1234ze is reduced, with an average difference of 9% and 30% without IHX. Also, COP values are about 7% lower for R1234yf and 6% lower for R1234ze than those obtained using R134a. Finally, the use of an internal heat exchanger reduces the COP differences for both replacements. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The authors thankfully acknowledge "Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte" for supporting this work through "Becas y Contratos de Formacion de Profesorado Universitario del Programa Nacional de Formacion de Recursos Humanos de Investigacion del ejercicio 2012".Mota-Babiloni, A.; Navarro-Esbrí, J.; Barragán Cervera, Á.; Molés, F.; Peris, B. (2014). Drop-in energy performance evaluation of R1234yf and R1234ze(E) in a vapour compression system as R134a replacements. Applied Thermal Engineering. 71(1):259-265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.06.056S25926571

Scientific review of the impact of climate change on plant pests: a global challenge to prevent and mitigate plant pest risks in agriculture, forestry and ecosystems.

Climate change represents an unprecedented challenge to the world?s biosphere and to the global community. It also represents a unique challenge for plant health. Human activities and increased market globalization, coupled with rising temperatures, has led to a situation that is favourable to pest movement and establishment. This scientific review assesses the potential effects of climate change on plant pests and consequently on plant health. The evidence assessed strongly indicates that climate change has already expanded some pests? host range and geographical distribution, and may further increase the risk of pest introduction to new areas. This calls for international cooperation and development of harmonized plant protection strategies to help countries successfully adapt their pest risk management measures to climate change.bitstream/item/224381/1/Scientific-review-of-the-impact-of-climate-2021.pd