Secondary minerals of soil systems and aluminium concentration in river waters of Galicia

[Resumen] A partir del análisis de la composición de los r10s de Galicia en otoño, (per10do de máXima concentración) se discute la existencia de una fase mineral que controle la concentración de Al soluble. Tras desechar la influencia de sulfatos o fosfatos de Al se concluye que este efecto lo realizan compuestos de tipo microgibbsita. La interpretación de los resultados, mediante diagramas de equilibrio, permite concluir que en los sistemas de edafogénesis y alteración de Galicia hay dos etapas de desarrollo. Una, incipiente, con gibbisita como mineral más estable y presencia de formas de bajo grado de orden que explican la frecuencia con que se presentan las propiedades ándicas en suelos sobre diferentes materiales y la abundancia de halloysita. Otra, de mayor evoluci6n, con caolinita como único mineral estable, desaparición del carácter ándico y presencia de propi'edades fe" álicas. Estas conclusiones están de acuerdo con la mineralogía y propiedades de los suelos y alteraciones de Galicia. Desde el punto de vista ambiental, se concluye que en los ríos de Galicia (al menos en los de mayor caudal) la concentración de Al no parece presentar problemas para los peces y otros organismos acuáticos ni se encuentra en niveles que puedan hacerla nociva para el consumo humano. Tampoco hay efectos reconocibles de la influencia de aportes acidificantes de lluvias ácidas ni de los procedentes de aguas de mina ácidas.[Abstract] Analysis of the composition of rivers in Galicia in the period of greatest concentration (autumn) is used to discuss the existence of a mineral phase which controls the concentration of soluble Al. Having dismissed the influence of Al sulphates or phosphates, this role is deduced to be occupied by a microgibbsite. The interpretation of the results, using equilibrium diagrams, is that in the systems of edaphogenesis and alteration of Galicia there are two s~eps of development. One is incipient, with gibbsite as the most stable mineral; this presence of forms of a low degree of order explain both the frequency with which andic properties are observed in soils on various materials and the abundance of haHoysite. The second is more evolved, with kaolinite as the only stable mineral; the andic character disappears and ferralic properties emerge. These conclusions are in keeping with the mineralogy and properties of the soils and alterations of Galicia. Considering the environmental impact in the rivers of Galicia panicularly those of greater flow), the concentration of Al is not damaging to fish or other aquatic organisms, nor do these levels make the water noxious for human consumption. no effects can be attributed to the influence of acidfying inputs from acid rainfaH, or those from acid mine waters

Pleba\'nski-Demia\'nski-like solutions in metric-affine gravity

We consider a (non--Riemannian) metric--affine gravity theory, in particular its nonmetricity--torsion sector ``isomorphic'' to the Einstein--Maxwell theory. We map certain Einstein--Maxwell electrovacuum solutions to it, namely the Pleba\'nski--Demia\'nski class of Petrov type D metrics.Comment: 12 pages of a LaTeX-fil

Volume elements of spacetime and a quartet of scalar fields

Starting with a `bare' 4-dimensional differential manifold as a model of spacetime, we discuss the options one has for defining a volume element which can be used for physical theories. We show that one has to prescribe a scalar density \sigma. Whereas conventionally \sqrt{|\det g_{ij}|} is used for that purpose, with g_{ij} as the components of the metric, we point out other possibilities, namely \sigma as a `dilaton' field or as a derived quantity from either a linear connection or a quartet of scalar fields, as suggested by Guendelman and Kaganovich.Comment: 7 pages RevTEX, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Empleo de materiales secundarios como materia prima de nuevos tipos de cementos

The present paper is a comparative study of some characteristics of new belite cements obtained from two kind of wastes, which were used as secondary raw materials: fly ash (FA), of low CaO content, from coal combustion, and ash from incineration of municipal solid waste (MSWIA). Cements were synthesised in a range of temperature between 700°C and 900°C from MSWIA and FA, which were previously activated by hydrothermal treatment at 200°C The evolution of cemented phases with the heating temperature was followed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results were compared with those obtained from heating the starting FA and MSWIA without the previous hydrothermal treatment. The degree of hydration was quantitatively evaluated by the combined water content, determined from thermogravimetric analyses, during a period of 28 days or 200 days from mixing depending of hydration kinetics of each cement.Este trabajo es un estudio comparativo de algunas de las características de nuevos cementos belíticos, obtenidos a partir de dos tipos de residuos, como materia prima secundaria: cenizas volantes (CV) de bajo contenido en cal, procedentes de la combustión del carbón y cenizas procedentes de la incineración de residuos sólidos urbanos (CIRSU). Los cementos fueron sintetizados en un rango de temperaturas comprendido entre 700°C y 900°C después de un tratamiento hidrotermal de la CV y CIRSU a 200°C La evolución de las fases cementicias, con la temperatura de calentamiento, fue estudiada por difracción de rayos X (DRX). Los resultados fueron comparados con aquellos obtenidos, directamente, por calentamiento de los residuos, sin un tratamiento hidrotermal previo de los mismos. El grado de hidratación fue cuantitativamente evaluado, por medio del análisis termogravimétrico, a partir del agua combinada de los cementos hidratados durante un período de 28 días o 200 días, dependiendo de la cinética de hidratación de cada cemento

Gaia Data Release 3: Mapping the asymmetric disc of the Milky Way

Context. With the most recent Gaia data release, the number of sources with complete 6D phase space information (position and velocity) has increased to well over 33 million stars, while stellar astrophysical parameters are provided for more than 470 million sources, and more than 11 million variable stars are identified. Aims. Using the astrophysical parameters and variability classifications provided in Gaia DR3, we selected various stellar populations to explore and identify non-axisymmetric features in the disc of the Milky Way in configuration and velocity space. Methods. Using more about 580 000 sources identified as hot OB stars, together with 988 known open clusters younger than 100 Myr, we mapped the spiral structure associated with star formation 4−5 kpc from the Sun. We selected over 2800 Classical Cepheids younger than 200 Myr that show spiral features extending as far as 10 kpc from the Sun in the outer disc. We also identified more than 8.7 million sources on the red giant branch (RGB), of which 5.7 million have line-of-sight velocities. This later sample allows the velocity field of the Milky Way to be mapped as far as 8 kpc from the Sun, including the inner disc. Results. The spiral structure revealed by the young populations is consistent with recent results using Gaia EDR3 astrometry and source lists based on near-infrared photometry, showing the Local (Orion) Arm to be at least 8 kpc long, and an outer arm consistent with what is seen in HI surveys, which seems to be a continuation of the Perseus arm into the third quadrant. The subset of RGB stars with velocities clearly reveals the large-scale kinematic signature of the bar in the inner disc, as well as evidence of streaming motions in the outer disc that might be associated with spiral arms or bar resonances. A local comparison of the velocity field of the OB stars reveals similarities and differences with the RGB sample. Conclusions. This cursory study of Gaia DR3 data shows there is a rich bounty of kinematic information to be explored more deeply, which will undoubtedly lead us to a clearer understanding of the dynamical nature of the non-axisymmetric structures of the Milky Way

Recubrimientos no cristalinos en rocas graníticas de Galicia: propiedades e hipótesis sobre su origen

[Resumen] La caracterización de nuevos recubrimientos de bajo grado de orden en macizos graníticos de Galicia y el estudio de algunas propiedades de éstos y de otros previamente descritos, confirma la hipótesis de la existencia de una serie continua de materiales cuya composición varía entre la de fosfatos de aluminio (variscita, evansita),aluminosilicatos poco ordenados (alofanos geológicos, haloisita) e hidróxidos de aluminio (gel de alúmina hidratado,gibbsita). Del análisis de sus características y de algunas de sus propiedades como superficie específica, reacción frente a los ani ones fluoruro y fosfato, solubilidad en diferentes extractantes, punto cero de carga,etc., se establecen y discuten diversas hipótesis sobre su origen. Se discuten además relaciones de equilibrio o en el sistema Si02-A1203-P20~,confrontándolas con los datos de aguas de escorrentla y solución del suelo.[Abstract] The characterization of low order coatings that appear on granitic rocks of Galicia and the study of some of their properties confirm the existence of a continuous series between Al-phosphates (variscite,evan site),aluminium silicates (allophane,halloysite) ano Al-hydroxides (criptogibbsite,gibbsite).Several hypothe sis about their origin are discussed on the basis OT properties like specific surface, reaction with fluoride and phosphate, pze, solubility in different extracttants, etc . Finally, the theoretical equilibrium relations in the system A1203-Si02-P205 are confronted with the composition of dralnage waters and soil solutio

Composite absorbing potentials

The multiple scattering interferences due to the addition of several contiguous potential units are used to construct composite absorbing potentials that absorb at an arbitrary set of incident momenta or for a broad momentum interval.Comment: 9 pages, Revtex, 2 postscript figures. Accepted in Phys. Rev. Let

Semen quality of rasa aragonesa rams carrying the fecxr allele of the BMP15 gene

The FecXR mutation is a variant of the ovine gene BMP15 in the Rasa Aragonesa breed. Information on the physiological importance of carrying the FecX polymorphism in rams is limited. The aim of this study was to compare semen quality, testicle characteristics, and fertility rate of rams that carry the FecXR allele. Rams (n = 15) were either FecXR allele carriers (n = 10) or non-carriers, wild type (++) (n = 5). FecXR rams exhibited higher mass motility (p < 0.05), proportion of rapid sperm (p < 0.05), and a lower proportion of slow sperm (p < 0.0001) than did ++ rams. The presence of the FecXR allele was not associated with mean scrotal circumference or testicular length and diameter, although season had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on these traits. Genotype (p < 0.05) and season (p < 0.01) had a significant effect on mean fertility rate, FecXR rams had a higher proportion of pregnant ewes than did ++ rams (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the FecXR allele produced high-quality semen throughout the year, and corresponded with an improvement in some sperm parameters, particularly, mass motility and the proportion of rapid sperm

Gaia Data Release 3: A golden sample of astrophysical parameters

Context.Gaia Data Release 3 (DR3) provides a wealth of new data products for the astronomical community to exploit, including astrophysical parameters for half a billion stars. In this work, we demonstrate the high quality of these data products and illustrate their use in different astrophysical contexts. Aims. We produce homogeneous samples of stars with high-quality astrophysical parameters by exploiting Gaia DR3, while focusing on many regimes across the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram; spectral types OBA, FGKM, and ultracool dwarfs (UCDs). We also focus on specific subsamples of particular interest to the community: solar analogues, carbon stars, and the Gaia spectrophotometric standard stars (SPSS). Methods. We query the astrophysical parameter tables along with other tables in Gaia DR3 to derive the samples of the stars of interest. We validate our results using the Gaia catalogue itself and by comparison with external data. Results. We produced six homogeneous samples of stars with high-quality astrophysical parameters across the HR diagram for the community to exploit. We first focus on three samples that span a large parameter space: young massive disc stars (OBA; about 3 Million), FGKM spectral type stars (about 3 Million), and UCDs (about 20 000). We provide these sources along with additional information (either a flag or complementary parameters) as tables that are made available in the Gaia archive. We also identify 15 740 bone fide carbon stars and 5863 solar analogues, and provide the first homogeneous set of stellar parameters of the SPSS sample. We demonstrate some applications of these samples in different astrophysical contexts. We use a subset of the OBA sample to illustrate its usefulness in analysing the Milky Way rotation curve. We then use the properties of the FGKM stars to analyse known exoplanet systems. We also analyse the ages of some unseen UCD-companions to the FGKM stars. We additionally predict the colours of the Sun in various passbands (Gaia, 2MASS, WISE) using the solar-analogue sample. Conclusions.Gaia DR3 contains a wealth of new high-quality astrophysical parameters for the community to exploit