Browsing by Subject "Density"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Anatomical investigation of root, stem and branch wood in 10-year-old Inga laurina in the context of anatomical adaptation to hydraulic and mechanical stresses
    (Murcia: Servicio de publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia, 2018) Longui, Eduardo L.; Galão, Ana T. D.; Rajput, Kishore Shankarsinh; Melo, Antônio C.G. de
    Wood varies between species, from pith to bark, roots to crown within the same plant to ensure hydraulic safety and efficiency. Inga laurina (Sw.) Willd. is investigated herewith for the structural heterogeneity of the wood, since this species thrives well in all major forests of Brazil. I. laurina stem wood possessed narrow vessels; thick walled fibres; wider, taller and higher frequency of rays, features that provide hydraulic and mechanical adjustments. Thick walled fibres and less parenchyma as compared to root provide enough strength to stem to support the large crown. Higher proportion of parenchyma cells in roots results in a high storage capacity for starch, which is important for the shoot recovery after fire damage, common in the Cerrado.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Density assessment and reporting for Phlebotomus perniciosus and other sand fy species in periurban residential estates in Spain
    (2021-09) Muñoz Hernández, Clara; Risueño Iranzo, José; Pérez Cutillas, Pedro; Bernal Gambín, Luis Jesús; Ortiz Sánchez, Juana; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Sánchez-López, P.F.; Martínez Carrasco-Pleite, Carlos; Del Río Alonso, Laura; De la Rúa Tarín, Pilar; García Martínez, Juan Diego; Murcia, Laura; Collantes Alcaraz, Francisco; Spitzova, T.; Elshanat, S.; Berriatua Fernández de Larrea, Eduardo; Goyena Salgado, Elena; Gonzálvez Juan, Moisés; Sanidad Animal
    Green periurban residential areas in Mediterranean countries have flourished in the last decades and become foci for leishmaniasis. To remedy the absence of information on vector ecology in these environments, we examined phlebotomine sand fly distribution in 29 sites in Murcia City over a 3-year period, including the plots of 20 detached houses and nine non-urbanized sites nearby. We collected 5,066 specimens from five species using "sticky" interception and light attraction traps. The relative frequency of the main Leishmania infantum vector Phlebotomus perniciosus in these traps was 32% and 63%, respectively. Sand fly density was widely variable spatially and temporally and greatest in non-urbanized sites, particularly in caves and abandoned buildings close to domestic animal holdings. Phlebotomus perniciosus density in house plots was positively correlated with those in non-urbanized sites, greatest in larger properties with extensive vegetation and non-permanently lived, but not associated to dog presence or a history of canine leishmaniasis. Within house plots, sand fly density was highest in traps closest to walls. Furthermore, the study provides a guideline for insect density assessment and reporting and is envisioned as a building block towards the development of a pan-European database for robust investigation of environmental determinants of sand fly distribution.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Density, refractive index and volumetric properties of water-ionic liquid binary systems with imidazolium-based cations and tetrafluoroborate, triflate and octylsulphate anions at T=293 to 343 K and p=0.1 MPa
    (ACS Publications, 2019) Carissimi, Guzman; Montalbán, Mercedes G.; Díaz Baños, F. Guillermo; Víllora Cano, Gloria; Química Física
    The density and refractive index of ionic liquids (ILs) + water binary mixtures were determined as a function of temperature (from 293.15 to 343.15 K) at atmospheric pressure over the whole composition range in which the mixtures were miscible. To carry out a systematic study, all the ILs selected are imidazolium-based ILs with a different number of carbons in the alkyl chain of the cation and also different anions (tetrafluoroborate, triflate and octylsulphate). Specifically, the studied ILs were 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [emim][BF4], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [bmim][BF4], 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [hmim][BF4], 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [omim][BF4], 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium triflate [emim][TfO], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium triflate [bmim][TfO] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium octylsulphate [bmim][OcSO4]. The excess molar volumes and the deviation in the molar refraction of the binary mixtures were calculated for a better understanding of the interactions that take place between the components and successfully correlated by the Redlich-Kister empirical correlations. Bahe-Varela model, which has a more physical meaning, was also used to successfully correlate the excess molar volume values. Volumetric properties, such as apparent molar volumes, partial molar volumes, isobaric thermal expansion coefficients, partial molar volumes at infinite dilution and excess partial molar volumes at infinite dilution were also calculated in order to obtain information about the influence of composition and temperature on the thermodynamic behavior of the selected ILs and water in the mixture. The results are discussed in order to understand the formation of hydrogen bonds between components of the mixture and the possible packing effects that take place in the mixing process. Density and refractive index experimental data were correlated by the Lorentz-Lorenz, Wiener, Dale-Gladstone and Eykman equations to determine the relationship between both parameters, and a good agreement between the experimental and calculated refractive index values was obtained.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Description and comparative study of physico-chemical parameters of the teleost fish skin mucus.
    (SAGE Publications, 2015-07-01) Guardiola Abellán, Francisco Antonio; Cuartero, María; Collado-González, Mar; Arizcún, Marta; Díaz Baños, F. Guillermo; Meseguer, José; Esteban Abad, María de los Ángeles; Biología Celular e Histología
    The study of mucosal surfaces, and in particular the fish skin and its secreted mucus, has been of great interest recently among immunologists. Measurement of the viscosity and other physico-chemical parameters (protein concentration, pH, conductivity, redox potential, osmolality and density) of the skin mucus can help to understand its biological functions. We have used five marine species of teleost: gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa L.), common dentex (Dentex dentex L.) and dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus L.), all of them with commercial interest in the aquaculture of the Mediterranean area. Mucus showed a direct shear- and temperature-dependent viscosity, with a non-Newtonian behavior, which differed however between two groups: one with higher viscosity (D. labrax, U. cirrosa, D. dentex) and the other with lower viscosity (S. aurata, E. marginatus). In addition, there was a clear interrelation between density and osmolality, as well as between density and temperature. Taking into account that high values of viscosity should improve the barrier effect against pathogens but low values of viscosity are needed for good locomotion characteristics, our results may help elucidate the relationship between physico-chemical and biological parameters of skin mucus, and disease susceptibility.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Harmonization of the use of hunting statistics for wild boar density estimation in different study areas: report based on comparison of case studies in different wild boar populations representative of the different management and habitat conditions across Europe.
    (Wiley, 2019-08-29) ENETWILD-consortium; Vicente, Joaquín; Palencia, Pablo; Plhal, Radim; Blanco Aguiar, José Antonio; Laguna, Eduardo; Soriguer, Ramón; Fernández López, Javier; Podgórski, Tomasz; Petrović, Karolina; Apollonio, Marco; Scandura, Massimo; Ferroglio, Ezio; Zanet, Stefania; Brivio, Fracesca; Keuling, Oliver; Smith, Graham C.; Guibert, Miguel; Villanua, Diego; Rosell, Carme; Colomer, Joana; Armenteros, Jose Ángel; González Quirós, Pablo; Hernández Palacios, Orencio; Ferreres, Javier; Torres, José Antonio; Pareja, Pablo; Martínez-Carrasco Pleite, Carlos; Fafián, José Antonio; Escribano, Fernando; Esteve, Carles; Acevedo Lavandera, Pelayo; Sanidad Animal; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Veterinaria
    Hunting statistics can be suitable to determine wild boar density estimates if a calibration with an accepted rigorous method is performed. Here, densities calculated from drive counts during collective drive hunting activities are compared against density values calculated by camera trapping using the random encounter method. For this purpose, we selected 10 study sites in Spain, from North to South representing a diversity of habitats, management and hunting traditions without artificial feeding, plus one study site in Czech Republic where artificial feeding was practiced. Density values estimated from both drive counts and camera trapping were strongly positively correlated (R2=0.84 and 0.87 for linear and non-linear models, respectively) and showed a good agreement. Drive counts data might be therefore used as a density estimate to calibrate models for estimating density in large areas and potentially, to compare densities among areas. For these purposes, there is still the need to harmonise hunting data collection across Europe to make them usable at a large scale. Our results need to be confirmed across a wider number of European populations to provide valid geographical wild boar density predictions across Europe.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Quantification of eosinophils in the lower gastrointestinal tract of adults: a review of surgical specimens with normal histology from the Free State province, South Africa
    (Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2024) Duncan, Jane; Joubert, Gina; Goedhals, Jacqueline
    Aim. Eosinophils are normal residents of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). They are noted in small numbers with significant variation between anatomic locations. An idiopathic increase of eosinophils is known as eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID). EGIDs are a heterologous group of disorders that produce a range of enteric and colonic syndromes. Their incidence has been increasing worldwide. Our study aimed to quantify eosinophils in each segment of the GIT in surgical specimens with normal histology to facilitate the histological diagnosis of EGID. Similarly, we aimed to describe the effect of race and gender on gastrointestinal eosinophil numbers. Methods. A retrospective, quantitative comparative study was performed. We assessed 360 surgical specimens with normal histology from the lower gastrointestinal tract of African and Caucasian adults from the Free State Province, South Africa. The number of eosinophils per mm2 was counted. Results. Overall, comparable eosinophil values were noted for both males and females, and African and Caucasian South Africans. However, Caucasians recorded a higher concentration of eosinophils in the appendix and the left colon. Eosinophils were most numerous in the lamina propria, with only small numbers present in the epithelium. Our results show that the South African population has similar eosinophil distribution trends to international studies. However, South Africans had far fewer eosinophils than Japanese and North American adults in each segment. Conclusions. Specific eosinophil reference ranges were formulated to quantify reference ranges of eosinophils in the lower GIT, allowing for the accurate diagnosis of EGIDs in our population in future