Implementation of satellite-based data for improving predictions of arsenic contamination in groundwater in the Red River Delta in Vietnam

Natural arsenic contamination of groundwater aquifers is globally widespread, and particularly poses a problem in regions where groundwater is the main source of drinking and cooking water. Arsenic poisoning can lead to a myriad of serious health effects such as diseases of blood vessels, diabetes and cancers. The aquifers of the Red River Delta in Vietnam are highly contaminated with arsenic and it has been estimated that in this area, around 3 million people are affected by high arsenic concentrations (> 10 \ub5g/L, WHO guideline value; Winkel et al., 2011). Previously, predictions of arsenic contamination in the Red River Delta were established via geospatial modelling using arsenic measurements, as well as surface and 3D-geology. Based on these predictions, probability maps of arsenic at specific depths were created. By comparing these depthresolved probabilities to measured arsenic concentrations, a drawdown of arsenic-enriched waters from Holocene aquifers to previously uncontaminated Pleistocene aquifers was observed. This finding indicated that arsenic contamination has been exacerbated by excessive groundwater pumping rates (Winkel et al., 2011). Furthermore, in a study conducted in the Mekong delta, it was hypothesized that groundwater extraction causes interbedded clays to compact, thereby releasing water containing dissolved arsenic that is subsequently transported to deeper aquifers (Erban et al., 2013). Such human-induced changes cannot be captured by the previous predictive models based on natural predictive parameters mentioned above, leading to erroneous predictions of the arsenic content in areas affected by urbanization, especially in deeper aquifers. To improve predictions in human-affected regions we are using satellite data and remote sensing techniques that enable detection of changes of urban and suburban extents (Nghiem et al., 2009) and vertical build-up (Mathews et al., 2019). Those data and techniques in combination with geochemical and environmental data can help in i) resolving mechanisms behind arsenic mobilization in aquifers due to increased pumping rates and ii) making predictions of arsenic contamination more accurate, especially in areas characterized by increased groundwater pumping

Step-type and step-density influences on CO adsorption probed by reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) using a curved Pt(111) surface

Catalysis and Surface Chemistr

Spin observables in deuteron-proton radiative capture at intermediate energies

A radiative deuteron-proton capture experiment was carried out at KVI using polarized-deuteron beams at incident energies of 55, 66.5, and 90 MeV/nucleon. Vector and tensor-analyzing powers were obtained for a large angular range. The results are interpreted with the help of Faddeev calculations, which are based on modern two- and three-nucleon potentials. Our data are described well by the calculations, and disagree significantly with the observed tensor anomaly at RCNP.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PL

Collective excitations of a two-dimensional interacting Bose gas in anti-trap and linear external potentials

We present a method of finding approximate analytical solutions for the spectra and eigenvectors of collective modes in a two-dimensional system of interacting bosons subjected to a linear external potential or the potential of a special form $u(x,y)=\mu -u \cosh^2 x/l$, where $\mu$ is the chemical potential. The eigenvalue problem is solved analytically for an artificial model allowing the unbounded density of the particles. The spectra of collective modes are calculated numerically for the stripe, the rare density valley and the edge geometry and compared with the analytical results. It is shown that the energies of the modes localized at the rare density region and at the edge are well approximated by the analytical expressions. We discuss Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in the systems under investigations at $T\ne 0$ and find that in case of a finite number of the particles the regime of BEC can be realized, whereas the condensate disappears in the thermodynamic limit.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures include

Outlets of 2D invasion percolation and multiple-armed incipient infinite clusters

We study invasion percolation in two dimensions, focusing on properties of the outlets of the invasion and their relation to critical percolation and to incipient infinite clusters (IIC's). First we compute the exact decay rate of the distribution of both the weight of the kth outlet and the volume of the kth pond. Next we prove bounds for all moments of the distribution of the number of outlets in an annulus. This result leads to almost sure bounds for the number of outlets in a box B(2^n) and for the decay rate of the weight of the kth outlet to p_c. We then prove existence of multiple-armed IIC measures for any number of arms and for any color sequence which is alternating or monochromatic. We use these measures to study the invaded region near outlets and near edges in the invasion backbone far from the origin.Comment: 38 pages, 10 figures, added a thorough sketch of the proof of existence of IIC's with alternating or monochromatic arms (with some generalizations

Velocity and angular distributions of evaporation residues from induced32 reactions

Velocity distributions of mass-resolved evaporation residues from reactions of S32 with C12, Mg24, Al27, Si28, and Ca40 have been measured at bombarding energies of 194, 239, and 278 MeV using time-of-flight techniques. In all cases, the observed shifts in the velocity centroids relative to the values expected for complete fusion are consistent with a previously reported parametrization of a threshold for onset of incomplete fusion. Angular distributions were measured and total cross sections extracted for the Mg32 system at all three energies. A comparison with existing results for Mg32 at lower energies, and with other systems leading to the Ni56 compound nucleus, suggests two different types of compound-nuclear limitations to complete fusion at higher energies

Domestic knowledge, inequalities and differences

Research suggests that domestic knowledge is an expression of gender differences, which is constructed and deployed through unequal social relations, and is able to empower women if it gains collective spaces of expression. The article presents an analysis of parental involvement at school in Spain so as to underpin the former thesis and highlight its connection with the political theory about the "sexual contract"

Conductive films based on composite polymers containing ionic liquids absorbed on crosslinked polymeric ionic-like liquids (SILLPs)

Polymerization of styrenic monomers containing imidazolium subunits in the presence of crosslinking monomers and using ionic liquids (ILs) as porogenic agents provides composite materials with excellent mechanical properties and displaying conductivities that are in the same order of magnitude than those shown by bulk ILs. This approach allows the use of high crosslinking degrees and low IL-loadings without compromising the required properties of the resulting composites. Besides, no appreciable leaching of the bulk IL component is detected.Financial support by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (CTQ2011-28903-C02-01 and SP-ENE-20120718), Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2012/020) and Universitat Jaume I (P11B2013-38) is acknowledged.Altava Benito, B.; Compañ Moreno, V.; Andrio Balado, A.; Del Castillo Davila, LF.; Mollá Romano, S.; Burguete, MI.; García-Verdugo Cepeda, E.... (2015). Conductive films based on composite polymers containing ionic liquids absorbed on crosslinked polymeric ionic-like liquids (SILLPs). Polymer. 72:69-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2015.07.009S69817