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The rise of nature-based tourism has provided a new avenue for disturbing animal behaviour, especially in protected areas. One of the most important tourism sectors in aquatic environments is scuba diving, an activity considered sustainable given its non-extractive nature and capability of bringing relevant socio-economic benefits to local communities. However, knowledge about its impact on the activity patterns of aquatic animals is still scarce. Here, we used biotelemetry techniques to assess the importance of scuba diving in modulating the activity patterns of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus, Lowe, 1834), a marine predatory fish of high interest for fishing and tourism. We implemented Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) on high-resolution acceleration data using a temporal and spatial control while controlling for a set of environmental variables (i.e. photoperiod, time-of-day, moon phase, temperature, wave height, and intensity and direction of marine currents) within a multiple-use marine protected area, and diving tourism hot-spot, of the western Mediterranean Sea. Our results underlined the more decisive influence of environmental-related stressors on the activity patterns of the dusky grouper compared to the impact of scuba diving. A high heterogeneity existed in the response against most of the stressors, including the presence of scuba divers. Overall, the activity of dusky grouper was higher at night than at day, showing a positive relationship with wave height, water temperature, and current intensity and a negative one with the moon phase. Remarkably, our findings, based on novel biotelemetry tools, differed substantially from the common wisdom accepted for this species. In conclusion, there is no clear evidence of scuba divers influence on the general activity patterns of the dusky grouper. Beyond their relevance from an ecological perspective, these results provide useful insights for the sustainable management of coastal resources, suggesting that

Background Electrophysiological studies show that reductions in power within the alpha band are associated with the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continuum. Physical activity (PA) is a protective factor that has proved to reduce AD risk and pathological brain burden. Previous research has confirmed that exercise increases power in the alpha range. However, little is known regarding whether other non-modifiable risk factors for AD, such as increased age or APOE ε4 carriage, alter the association between PA and power in the alpha band. Methods The relationship between PA and alpha band power was examined in a sample of 113 healthy adults using magnetoencephalography. Additionally, we explored whether ε4 carriage and age modulate this association. The correlations between alpha power and gray matter volumes and cognition were also investigated. Results We detected a parieto-occipital cluster in which PA positively correlated with alpha power. The association between PA and alpha power remained following stratification of the cohort by genotype. Younger and older adults were investigated separately, and only younger adults exhibited a positive relationship between PA and alpha power. Interestingly, when four groups were created based on age (younger-older adult) and APOE (E3/E3-E3/E4), only younger E3/E3 (least predicted risk) and older E3/E4 (greatest predicted risk) had associations between greater alpha power and higher PA. Among older E3/E4, greater alpha power in these regions was associated with improved memory and preserved brain structure. Conclusion PA could protect against the slowing of brain activity that characterizes the AD continuum, where it is of benefit for all individuals, especially E3/E4 older adults.

La rinitis alérgica es una enfermedad inflamatoria de la mucosa nasal, con síntomas de prurito nasal, obstrucción, estornudos en salva y escurrimiento nasal hialino. Es una enfermedad muy frecuente, en todo el mundo la llega a padecer 15% de la población. Entre los múltiples tratamientos que se han utilizado para el alivio de los síntomas de esta enfermedad existe un inhibidor selectivo de los receptores H1, ebastina.

Sorption of Th(IV) onto two-line ferrihydrite and magnetite in NaClO4 solutions has been studied as a function of pH and ionic strength revealing that sorption onto both solids increases with pH while it is independent on ionic strength. Sorption capacity of both solids is high, the maximum sorption (almost 100% of Th(IV)) occurs at pH higher than 3.5 for ferrihydrite, and higher than 3.0 for magnetite. Sorption variation with pH was modeled with three different models using the FITEQL 4.0 code: non-electrostatic model, constant capacitance model, and diffuse-double layer model. In all cases, good fit to the experimental data is obtained with one-species: a corner-sharing bidentate-mononuclear surface complex, (triple bond; length of mdashFeO)2Th2+, which coincides with the surface complex postulated on these solids surface in previous spectroscopic studies; however, the monodentate species triple bond; length of mdashFeOThOH2+ also gives a satisfactory fit. Under the experimental conditions of the present study, any effect of possible thorium colloid formation is negligible., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Long-term performance assessment of nuclear waste repositories is affected by the ability of the outer barrier systems to retain radionuclides after possible corrosive leakage of waste containers. The mobility of the radionuclides released from the spent fuel depends strongly on the processes that take place in the backfill material. The interaction of steel corrosion products and radionuclides is part of such a scenario. In this work, the sorption of Th(IV) onto 2-line-ferrihydrite (FeOOH center dot H2O) and magnetite (Fe3O4), used as models for steel corrosion products, has been studied using EXAFS spectroscopy. Sorption samples were prepared in 0.1 M NaClO4 solutions at acidic pH (initial pH values in the range 3.0-4.2) either from undersaturation and supersaturation conditions with respect to amorphous ThO2. Two oxygen subshells, one at 2.37 angstrom and another at 2.54 angstrom, were observed in the first hydration sphere of Th in the case of the ferrihydrite samples. Th-Fe distances for the different ferrihydrite samples are similar to 3.60 angstrom. These results indicate a corner sharing surface complex of Th(IV) ion onto the ferrihydrite surface where the Th atom shares one 0 atom with each of two coordinated octahedra. The longer Th-O distance accounts for coordinated water molecules. No significant changes in the structural environment of Th in terms of coordination numbers and distances were detected as a function of Th(IV) concentration. Magnetite samples sorbing Th(IV) also showed also a strong distortion of the 0 shell, but in contrast to ferrihydrite, two types of nearest Fe atoms were detected at 3.50 angstrom and 3.70 angstrom. These results indicate that Th(IV) ion sorbs onto the magnetite surface as bidentate-corner sharing arrangements to [FeO6] octahedra and [FeO4] tetrahedra.

The zebrafish Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) - Listonella anguillarum infection model was used to identify genes associated with resistance to the infection. In the present study we analysed differential expression profiles in L. anguillarum infected zebrafish compared to control zebrafish, using DNA chip array (Affymetrix technology) and quantitative real-time PCR. The knowledge acquired in this study could be valuable in designing new strategies and tools for the selection of resistant individuals for the fish industry., Se empleó el modelo de infección pez cebra Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) - Listonella anguillarum para identificar genes asociados con la resistencia a la infección. Se analizaron los perfiles de expresión diferencial en peces cebra infectados con la bacteria L. anguillarum y peces de control mediante chips de DNA y PCR cuantitativa a tiempo real. El conocimiento adquirido en este estudio será de gran valor a la hora de diseñar nuevas estrategias de selección de individuos resistentes en la industria piscícola.