Low-pH cement mortar-bentonite perturbations in a small-scale pilot laboratory experiment

This article has been published in a revised form in Clay Minerals [http://doi.org/10.1180/clm.2018.16]. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative worksA novel method to perform small-scale laboratory experiments that reproduce concrete–bentonite and concrete–groundwater interactions has been developed. Such interfaces will prevail in engineered barrier systems used for isolation of nuclear waste. With the goal of optimizing the experimental method, this work has analysed the geochemical interaction of distilled water, low-pH cement mortar and FEBEX-bentonite for 75 days. Limited but evident reactivity between the materials was observed, mainly decalcification in cement mortar, carbonation at the interface with bentonite and Mg enrichment in bentonite. These results are consistent with the state-of-the-art literature and were used to validate this small-scale pilot laboratory experiment to establish the basis for further studies comparing the behaviour of different buffer and cement materialsThe research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Training 305 Programme of the EURATOM (H2020-NFRP-2014/2015) under grant agreement n° 662147 (CEBAMA

Sensor Networks and derived products at Biscay AGL observatory. State of the art operational oceanography at IEO

Since 1991, shelf and slope waters of the Southern Bay of Biscay are regularly sampled in a monthly hydrographical section north of Santander, and on June 2007, an ocean meteorological buoy was moored at the end of Santander Section (www. boya_agl.st.ieo.es). Both are part of IEOOS (IEO Observing System). Biscay AGL is one observatory for the EU FixO3 project. Many sensor networks have been deployed to monitor marine environment, and more will follow in the future. Due to the large number of sensor technologies, integrating diverse sensors into observation systems is not straightforward. By defining standardized service interfaces (like those based on OGC standards) it is possible to enable access to sensor networks and archived sensor data that can be discovered and accessed using standard protocols and application programming interfaces, therefore complying with the requirements of the INSPIRE directive. Future developments include the deployment of a full sensor network as well as adding new devices to the Biscay AGL tool in order to achieve a deeper knowledge of the ocean. Biscay AGL is more than the combination of the AGL Buoy and the hydrographical samplings. This observatory produces not only time series of several parameters at different time resolutions but also derived products, both in real and in delayed time. Derived products from this buoy include annual cycles as well as anomalies of physical and biogeochemical magnitudes like air-sea heat fluxes, salinity and water temperatures, sub inertial currents, surface chlorophyll. Different products are derived from in-situ measurements at the AGL buoy like estimates of the mixed layer depth, wind and currents roses and wave intensity diagrams

Research and operational products from the combination of a monthly hydrographic station and an oceanic buoy: The Biscay AGL fixed-point water column observatory.

Long term time series are an important tool for increasing the knowledge of ocean processes as well as for studying water masses variability in different time scales and changes and tendencies in marine ecosystems. Time series has been classically obtained by oceanographic ships that regularly cover standard sections and stations. From 1991, shelf and slope waters of the Southern Bay of Biscay are regularly sampled in a monthly hydrographic line north of Santander to a depth of 1000 m in early stages and for the whole water column down to 2580 m in recent times. Nearby, in June 2007, the IEO deployed an oceanic-meteorological buoy (AGL Buoy, 43º 50.67’N; 3º 46.20’W, and 40 km offshore, www.boya-agl.st.ieo.es). The long-term hydrographical record have allowed to define the seasonality, trends, and interannual variability at all levels, including the mixing layer and the main water masses North Atlantic Central Water and Mediterranean Water. The relation of these changes with high frequency surface conditions has been examined using the AGL buoy data from 2007 as well as satellite and reanalysis data. On that context and using that combination of sources, some products and quality controlled series of high interest and utility for scientific purposes have been developed and are offered hourly in the web page. Main products obtained are: SST and SSS anomalies, wave significant height character with respect to monthly average, and currents with respect to seasonal averages. Ocean-atmosphere heat fluxes (latent and sensible) are computed from the buoy atmospheric and oceanic measurements. Estimations of the mixed layer depth and bulk series at different water levels are provided in a monthly basis. Quality controlled series are provided for sea surface salinity, oxygen and chlorophyll data. Some sensors are particularly affected by biofouling, and monthly visits to the buoy permit to follow these sensors behaviour. Chlorophyll-fluorescence sensor is the main concern, but Dissolved Oxygen sensor is also problematic. Periods of realistic smooth variations present strong offset that is corrected based on the Winkler analysis of water samples. The incorporation of these observatories on larger scale research programs, as done in 2003 in the framework of the VACLAN and COVACLAN projects, is important in order to provide them with a larger spatial dimension and maximize its utility for process-oriented studies. In 2003, the Santander section was extended 90 miles offshore in the framework of a large-scale hydrographic and circulation monitoring program. Partnerships in a large EU project as FixO3 has provided tools for coordination, homogenization and data validation as well as improve the use of chemical-biological data.0,000

Analytical approach to chiral symmetry breaking in Minkowsky space

The mass gap equation for spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking is studied directly in Minkowsky space. In hadronic physics, spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking is crucial to generate a constituent mass for the quarks, and to produce the Partially Conserved Axial Current theorems, including a small mass for the pion. Here a class of finite kernels is used, expanded in Yukawa interactions. The Schwinger-Dyson equation is solved with an analytical approach. This improves the state of the art of solving the mass gap equation, which is usually solved with the equal-time approximation or with the Euclidean approximation. The mapping from the Euclidean space to the Minkowsky space is also illustrated.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

A possible Cepheid-like luminosity estimator for the long gamma-ray bursts

We present a possible Cepheid-like luminosity estimator for the long gamma-ray bursts based on the variability of their light curves. To construct the luminosity estimator, we use CGRO/BATSE data for 13 bursts, Wind/Konus data for five bursts, Ulysses/GRB data for one burst, and NEAR/XGRS data for one burst. Spectroscopic redshifts, peak fluxes, and high-resolution light curves are available for 11 of these bursts; partial information is available for the remaining nine bursts. We find that the isotropic equivalent peak luminosities L of these bursts positively correlate with a rigorously constructed measure V of the variability of their light curves. We fit to these data a model that accommodates both intrinsic scatter (statistical variance) and extrinsic scatter (sample variance). We find that L ∼ V3.3+1.1-09. If one excludes GRB 980425 from the fit, on the grounds that its association with SN 1998bw at a redshift of z = 0.0085 is not secure, the luminosity estimator spans ≈2.5 orders of magnitude in L, and the slope of the correlation between L and V is positive with a probability of 1 - (1.4 × 10-4) (3.8 σ). Although GRB 980425 is excluded from this fit, its L and V values are consistent with the fitted model, which suggests that GRB 980425 may well be associated with SN 1998bw and that GRB 980425 and the cosmological bursts may share a common physical origin. If one includes GRB 980425 in the fit, the luminosity estimator spans ≈6.3 orders of magnitude in L, and the slope of the correlation is positive with a probability of 1 - (9.3 × 10-7) (4.9 σ). In either case, the luminosity estimator yields best-estimate luminosities that are accurate to a factor of ≈4, or best-estimate luminosity distances that are accurate to a factor of ≈2. Regardless of whether GRB 980425 should be included in the fit, its light curve is unique in that it is much less variable than the other ≈17 light curves of bursts in our sample for which the signal-to-noise ratio is reasonably good

VFISV: Very Fast Inversion of the Stokes Vector for the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager

In this paper we describe in detail the implementation and main properties of a new inversion code for the polarized radiative transfer equation (VFISV: Very Fast inversion of the Stokes vector). VFISV will routinely analyze pipeline data from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on-board of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). It will provide full-disk maps (4096$\times$4096 pixels) of the magnetic field vector on the Solar Photosphere every 10 minutes. For this reason VFISV is optimized to achieve an inversion speed that will allow it to invert 16 million pixels every 10 minutes with a modest number (approx. 50) of CPUs. Here we focus on describing a number of important details, simplifications and tweaks that have allowed us to significantly speed up the inversion process. We also give details on tests performed with data from the spectropolarimeter on-board of the Hinode spacecraft.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures (2 color). Submitted for publication to Solar Physic

New developments on Biscay-AGL Observatory. From derived products to sensor networks.

Biscay-AGL Observatory. Since 1991, shelf and slope waters of the Southern Bay of Biscay are regularly sampled in a monthly hydrographical section north of Santander to a maximum depth of 2500m, as part of the IEO Radiales program. On June 2007, an ocean-meteorological buoy (AGL) was moored at the end of Santander standard section, 22nm north at 2850m depth, to complete the ocean information with the ocean-atmosphere interaction. All of them are part of IEO Observing System (1). The integrated system of AGL and its nearest hydrographic station (2600m depth) is named Biscay-AGL observatory. It is also one station for the EU FixO3 project. Joint resources and systematic analysis lead to a powerful tool, which is much more than the combination of the AGL buoy and the hydrographical samplings. Data Access. All AGL buoy collected data are added to the local database sited at IEO-Santander in real-time and, after rutinary automatised quality controls, they are immediately available through its dedicated webpage (www.boya_agl.st.ieo.es). Monthly CTDO2 data from the hydrographic section are lab-calibrated in order to obtain acurated values of salinity, dissolved oxygen and density, and added to the long-term time series. Biscay-AGL data are quality controlled, flagged and formatted according internationally agreed standards (2, 3) and routinely sent to the IEO Datacenter. This added-value controlled data are incorporated to the IEO permanent archive and made freely available through the SeaDataNet infrastructure for data access and discovery. Derived products. Data acquired by Biscay-AGL may be displayed as timeseries as usual, but end-users are benefited by derived products which provide direct information. A recently developed software tool produces not only timeseries of several parameters at different time resolutions but also derived products, both real and delayed time. Derived products from this buoy include, but not only, annual cycles as well as anomalous values, air-sea heat fluxes, salinity and water temperature anomalies, subinertial currents series, chlorophyll surface series, estimations of the mixed layer depth and wind and currents roses. Sensor Web Enablement (SWE). Sensor Web infrastructures are setup to access real-time data observed by sensors. This system has been implemented in AGL buoy sensors in order to simplify the retrieved events and alerts triggered through sensors. All those functionalities of the Sensor Web are provided in an interoperable way, following the standards stablished by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). By defining standardized service interfaces, these services hides the heterogeneity of the sensor network, its communication details, enabling the access to archived sensor data that can be discovered and accessed using standard protocols and application programming interfaces

Microbiota composition and intestinal integrity remain unaltered after the inclusion of hydrolysed Nannochloropsis gaditana in Sparus aurata diet

The use of lysed microalgae in the diet of carnivorous fish can increase the bioavailability of proteins and bioactive compounds, such as unsaturated fatty acids or vitamins in the digestive tract. These are essential molecules for the proper physiological development of fish in aquaculture. However, some antinutritional components and other undesirable molecules can be released from an excess of microalgae supplied, compromising the integrity of the intestine. The inclusion of small amounts of hydrolized microalgae in the fish diet can be a good strategy to avoid negative effects, improving the availability of beneficial compounds. Nannochloropsis gaditana is an interesting microalgae as it contains nutraceuticals. Previous studies reported beneficial effects after its inclusion in the diet of Sparus aurata, a widely cultured species in Europe and in all Mediterranean countries. However, administration of raw microalgae can produce intestinal inflammation, increased intestinal permeability, bacterial translocation and disturbance of digestion and absorption processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the intestinal microbiota and barrier stability of S. aurata fed with low inclusion (5%) hydrolysed N. gaditana. Intestinal microbiota was analyzed using Illumina MiSeq technology and libraries were constructed using variable regions V3-V4 of 16S rDNA molecules. Analysis were based in the identification, quantification and comparison of sequences. The predictive intestinal microbial functionality was analyzed with PICRUSt software. The results determined that the intestinal microbiota bacterial composition and the predictive intestinal microbiota functionality did not change statistically after the inclusion of N. gaditana on the diet. The study of gene expression showed that genes involved in intestinal permeability and integrity were not altered in fish treated with the experimental diet. The potential functionality and bacterial taxonomic composition of the intestinal microbiota, and the expression of integrity and permeability genes in the intestine of the carnivorous fish S. aurata were not affected by the inclusion of hydrolysed 5% N. gaditana microalgae

The Spanish Institute of Oceanography Observing System around N and NW Iberia

In the late 80's, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) began some ambitious programs of monitoring around the Iberian Peninsula. The coastal observing system core structure was the Radiales program, a series of transects nearby most coastal IEO laboratories where a minimum set of hydrographical, chemical and biological parameters is sampled monthly. The sections are designed to be completed in one-day journeys so the system is supported by quite small vessels, mainly covering the continental shelf with the noteworthy exception of the Santander Section, where the proximity of the shelf-break allows sampling deep waters monthly. During the last 20 years the program has supported many specific scientific research projects and has created a detailed description of seasonal to interannual variability in the coastal ecosystem that serves as a baseline to explore long-term changes or trends...Versión de auto

Había una vez un lugar donde aprendimos a escuchar : The Other Front line_voces por la justicia social

Un seminario en el marco académico de un Máster de Salud Pública es un contexto idóneo para escuchar las voces y narrativas de personas que se encuentran en situación de vulnerabilidad. Facilitar este espacio permitió reflexionar sobre el papel de las narrativas en primera persona como parte fundamental en la elaboración de respuestas desde la Salud Pública y las claves sobre las que incorporar las vivencias en la formulación de estrategias de Promoción de Salud y Salud Comunitaria. El eje vertebral del seminario fue el proyecto The Other Front Line_ voces globales por la justicia social, iniciativa de carácter de Investigación-Acción-Participación de ámbito internacional, surgida en el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19 para amplificar las voces de las poblaciones más vulneradas y olvidadas por las respuestas gubernamentales