Author
Miguel Á. Rodríguez
Other affiliations: Complutense University of Madrid, Spanish National Research Council, University of Almería ...read more
Bio: Miguel Á. Rodríguez is an academic researcher from University of Alcalá. The author has contributed to research in topics: Species richness & Biodiversity. The author has an hindex of 45, co-authored 124 publications receiving 6401 citations. Previous affiliations of Miguel Á. Rodríguez include Complutense University of Madrid & Spanish National Research Council.
Papers published on a yearly basis
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TL;DR: It is shown here that genetic modification of switchgrass can produce phenotypically normal plants that have reduced thermal-chemical, enzymatic, and microbial recalcitrance, which has the potential to lower processing costs for biomass fermentation-derived fuels and chemicals significantly.
Abstract: Switchgrass is a leading dedicated bioenergy feedstock in the United States because it is a native, high-yielding, perennial prairie grass with a broad cultivation range and low agronomic input requirements Biomass conversion research has developed processes for production of ethanol and other biofuels, but they remain costly primarily because of the intrinsic recalcitrance of biomass We show here that genetic modification of switchgrass can produce phenotypically normal plants that have reduced thermal-chemical (≤180 °C), enzymatic, and microbial recalcitrance Down-regulation of the switchgrass caffeic acid O-methyltransferase gene decreases lignin content modestly, reduces the syringyl:guaiacyl lignin monomer ratio, improves forage quality, and, most importantly, increases the ethanol yield by up to 38% using conventional biomass fermentation processes The down-regulated lines require less severe pretreatment and 300–400% lower cellulase dosages for equivalent product yields using simultaneous saccharification and fermentation with yeast Furthermore, fermentation of diluted acid-pretreated transgenic switchgrass using Clostridium thermocellum with no added enzymes showed better product yields than obtained with unmodified switchgrass Therefore, this apparent reduction in the recalcitrance of transgenic switchgrass has the potential to lower processing costs for biomass fermentation-derived fuels and chemicals significantly Alternatively, such modified transgenic switchgrass lines should yield significantly more fermentation chemicals per hectare under identical process conditions
617 citations
Universidade Federal de Goiás1, Longwood University2, University of Connecticut3, University of Seville4, University of Alcalá5, Spanish National Research Council6, University of Basel7, National Scientific and Technical Research Council8, University of Mainz9, University of the Azores10, Autonomous University of Madrid11, Stellenbosch University12, University of Salamanca13, University of Nottingham14, University of California, Santa Barbara15, Imperial College London16, Earlham College17, University of Ottawa18, Natural History Museum19, Illinois State Museum20, University of Copenhagen21, University of Tennessee22, University of Bergen23, University of California, Irvine24
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the relationship between environmental predictors and the geographical distribution of species richness, body size, range size and abundance in 97 multi-factorial data sets and concluded that the ecological importance of regression coefficients cannot be evaluated with confidence irrespective of whether spatially explicit or non-spatial modeling is used.
Abstract: A major focus of geographical ecology and macroecology is to understand the causes of spatially structured ecological patterns. However, achieving this understanding can be complicated when using multiple regression, because the relative importance of explanatory variables, as measured by regression coefficients, can shift depending on whether spatially explicit or non-spatial modeling is used. However, the extent to which coefficients may shift and why shifts occur are unclear. Here, we analyze the relationship between environmental predictors and the geographical distribution of species richness, body size, range size and abundance in 97 multi-factorial data sets. Our goal was to compare standardized partial regression coefficients of non-spatial ordinary least squares regressions (i.e. models fitted using ordinary least squares without taking autocorrelation into account; "OLS models" hereafter) and eight spatial methods to evaluate the frequency of coefficient shifts and identify characteristics of data that might predict when shifts are likely. We generated three metrics of coefficient shifts and eight characteristics of the data sets as predictors of shifts. Typical of ecological data, spatial autocorrelation in the residuals of OLS models was found in most data sets. The spatial models varied in the extent to which they minimized residual spatial autocorrelation. Patterns of coefficient shifts also varied among methods and datasets, although the magnitudes of shifts tended to be small in all cases. We were unable to identify strong predictors of shifts, including the levels of autocorrelation in either explanatory variables or model residuals. Thus, changes in coefficients between spatial and non-spatial methods depend on the method used and are largely idiosyncratic, making it difficult to predict when or why shifts occur. We conclude that the ecological importance of regression coefficients cannot be evaluated with confidence irrespective of whether spatially explicit modelling is used or not. Researchers may have little choice but to be more explicit about the uncertainty of models and more cautious in their interpretation.
265 citations
TL;DR: The authors compared specific acceptance-based strategies and cognitive-controlbased strategies for coping with experimentally induced pain and found that ACT participants showed significantly higher tolerance to pain and lower believability of experienced pain compared to the CONT condition.
233 citations
Goethe University Frankfurt1, University of Debrecen2, University of Bologna3, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven4, University of Padua5, University of Turin6, Autonomous University of Barcelona7, Royal Free Hospital8, Université libre de Bruxelles9, University of Alcalá10, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón11, University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik12, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich13, Medical University of Vienna14, University of Cambridge15, Wittenberg University16, Leipzig University17, RWTH Aachen University18, Leiden University Medical Center19, Medical University of Graz20, Innsbruck Medical University21, University of Lugano22, Aarhus University Hospital23, Université Paris-Saclay24, Marmara University25, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust26, University of Paris27, Ghent University Hospital28, Hannover Medical School29, University Hospital Bonn30, University of Münster31, University of Basel32, University of Birmingham33, Derriford Hospital34, University of Copenhagen35
TL;DR: Acute decompensation without ACLF is a heterogeneous condition with three different clinical courses and two major pathophysiological mechanisms: systemic inflammation and portal hypertension.
228 citations
Leipzig University1, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg2, Universidade Positivo3, University of Vigo4, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária5, ETH Zurich6, Moscow State University7, University of Freiburg8, University of Jena9, University of Catania10, Wageningen University and Research Centre11, Free University of Berlin12, Senckenberg Museum13, Colorado State University14, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization15, University of Nairobi16, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation17, National Scientific and Technical Research Council18, Brandenburg University of Technology19, Cornell University20, University College Dublin21, United States Forest Service22, University of Toronto23, Aberystwyth University24, State University of New York at Cortland25, National University of Luján26, University of Trier27, University of the Philippines Mindanao28, Razi University29, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek30, Kyushu University31, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency32, Aarhus University33, Northern Kentucky University34, Lincoln University (Missouri)35, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad36, Fukushima University37, Matej Bel University38, Lancaster University39, Université d'Abobo-Adjamé40, Tarbiat Modares University41, Pachhunga University College42, University of São Paulo43, University of Hawaii at Hilo44, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources45, Oklahoma State University–Stillwater46, Forest Research Institute47, University of Extremadura48, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven49, Research Institute for Nature and Forest50, Natural Resources Institute Finland51, University of Alcalá52, King Abdulaziz University53, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology54, University of Minnesota55, Federal University of Maranhão56, Jagiellonian University57, Technical University of Berlin58, University of Wisconsin-Madison59, Leibniz Association60, Braunschweig University of Technology61, University of Innsbruck62, Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics63, Russian Academy of Sciences64, Khalsa College, Amritsar65, University of La Laguna66, Kōchi University67, Universidad Pública de Navarra68, McGill University69, The Nature Conservancy70, University of Giessen71, Henan University72, University of Saint Mary73
TL;DR: It was found that local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, displaying patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms, which suggest that climate change may have serious implications for earthworm communities and for the functions they provide.
Abstract: Soil organisms, including earthworms, are a key component of terrestrial ecosystems. However, little is known about their diversity, their distribution, and the threats affecting them. We compiled a global dataset of sampled earthworm communities from 6928 sites in 57 countries as a basis for predicting patterns in earthworm diversity, abundance, and biomass. We found that local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, displaying patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms. However, high species dissimilarity across tropical locations may cause diversity across the entirety of the tropics to be higher than elsewhere. Climate variables were found to be more important in shaping earthworm communities than soil properties or habitat cover. These findings suggest that climate change may have serious implications for earthworm communities and for the functions they provide.
223 citations
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TL;DR: Preface to the Princeton Landmarks in Biology Edition vii Preface xi Symbols used xiii 1.
Abstract: Preface to the Princeton Landmarks in Biology Edition vii Preface xi Symbols Used xiii 1. The Importance of Islands 3 2. Area and Number of Speicies 8 3. Further Explanations of the Area-Diversity Pattern 19 4. The Strategy of Colonization 68 5. Invasibility and the Variable Niche 94 6. Stepping Stones and Biotic Exchange 123 7. Evolutionary Changes Following Colonization 145 8. Prospect 181 Glossary 185 References 193 Index 201
14,171 citations
TL;DR: A diagnostic fingerprint of temporal and spatial ‘sign-switching’ responses uniquely predicted by twentieth century climate trends is defined and generates ‘very high confidence’ (as laid down by the IPCC) that climate change is already affecting living systems.
Abstract: Causal attribution of recent biological trends to climate change is complicated because non-climatic influences dominate local, short-term biological changes. Any underlying signal from climate change is likely to be revealed by analyses that seek systematic trends across diverse species and geographic regions; however, debates within the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reveal several definitions of a 'systematic trend'. Here, we explore these differences, apply diverse analyses to more than 1,700 species, and show that recent biological trends match climate change predictions. Global meta-analyses documented significant range shifts averaging 6.1 km per decade towards the poles (or metres per decade upward), and significant mean advancement of spring events by 2.3 days per decade. We define a diagnostic fingerprint of temporal and spatial 'sign-switching' responses uniquely predicted by twentieth century climate trends. Among appropriate long-term/large-scale/multi-species data sets, this diagnostic fingerprint was found for 279 species. This suite of analyses generates 'very high confidence' (as laid down by the IPCC) that climate change is already affecting living systems.
9,761 citations
TL;DR: Range-restricted species, particularly polar and mountaintop species, show severe range contractions and have been the first groups in which entire species have gone extinct due to recent climate change.
Abstract: Ecological changes in the phenology and distribution of plants and animals are occurring in all well-studied marine, freshwater, and terrestrial groups These observed changes are heavily biased in the directions predicted from global warming and have been linked to local or regional climate change through correlations between climate and biological variation, field and laboratory experiments, and physiological research Range-restricted species, particularly polar and mountaintop species, show severe range contractions and have been the first groups in which entire species have gone extinct due to recent climate change Tropical coral reefs and amphibians have been most negatively affected Predator-prey and plant-insect interactions have been disrupted when interacting species have responded differently to warming Evolutionary adaptations to warmer conditions have occurred in the interiors of species’ ranges, and resource use and dispersal have evolved rapidly at expanding range margins Observed genetic shifts modulate local effects of climate change, but there is little evidence that they will mitigate negative effects at the species level
7,657 citations
6,278 citations
TL;DR: There are not enough well-controlled studies to conclude that ACT is generally more effective than other active treatments across the range of problems examined, but so far the data are promising.
4,777 citations