Coupling hydro-geo-chemical and isotopic approaches to assess the main factors controlling karst development in a fissure-dominated carbonate aquifer system (s-Spain)

Sierra Tejeda, Almijara and Albuñuelas mountains comprise a large outcrop (750 km² ca) of Triassic marbles in between of Málaga and Granada provinces in S Spain. They constitute a large entity carbonate aquifer system providing strategic groundwater resources for drinking water supply in sparse urban settlements and crops irrigation. The present research aims to refine the current hydrogeological knowledge of large-scale fissure-dominated carbonate aquifers regarding flow mechanisms and geochemical processes defining observed groundwater quality. To this, a two-year monitoring program of aquifer dynamics have been conducted in three selected discharge points (Fájara, Cijancos and Maro springs) showing characteristic spring responses. A combined approach based on the analysis of spring discharge and time series of selected hydrochemical and isotopic tracers (Na+, Ca+2, Mg+2, TA, TOC, Cl-, SO4-2 and δ13CTDIC) and on the geochemical calculations from the chemical signature of spring waters have been followed. The results indicate that the more bicarbonate enriched waters and the lowest hydrochemical variability of Cijancos spring, practically in all analyzed solutes, denotes a fissure type dominant flow system, while the larger variations in meteoric/soil tracers (Cl- and TOC) observed in Fajara spring chemograph as consequence of rainfall inputs characterize a karst drainage from a better hierarchized fracture-enlarged flow system. Maro spring waters are rich in Na+, Ca+2, Cl- and SO4-2, have higher δ13CTDIC amplitude and the temporal variations of major ions display marked dilutions after rainfall events followed by rapid recoveries of pre-event concentrations, evidence a complex flow system and variable groundwater source contribution. The chemical reactions deduced from the molar ratios of spring water chemistry are commonly CO2 dissolution and calcite dissolution, but also salt evapoconcentration in soil layer and gypsum dissolution in the case of Maro spring.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Utilitzador del simulador Phreeqc per la distribució de contaminants en aigües

En un principi vam començar a fer aquest projecte amb la idea de posar en funcionament el programa Phreeqc i elaborar-ne un manual d’un programa anomenat Phreeqc. El Phreeqc és un programa informàtic que permet realitzar simulacions de la distribució dels contaminants i les diferents espècies químiques en aigües naturals i contaminades a través d’unes paraules clau distribuïdes en quatre barres d’eines (depenent de la seva funció). Aquest programa ja té un manual bastant extens (més de 300 pàgines, annex I); la nostra idea era copsar-ne les idees més importants, i, a partir del manual ja elaborat, els exemples que dóna el programa i observant i utilitzant el programa amb els nostres propis exemples elaborar-ne un de molt més reduït amb els aspectes més bàsics i necessaris per poder dur a terme les simulacions

Estudi sobre la concordança de resultats entre diferents mètodes clínics per a la determinació subjectiva de vergències fusionals en VP

OBJECTIU: El principal objectiu és realitzar un estudi sobre la concordança de resultats entre diferents mètodes de mesura per a la determinació de les reserves horitzontals en visió propera. MÈTODE: Vam avaluar una mostra de 53 subjectes, estudiants de la Facultat d’Òptica i Optometria de Terrassa, mitjançant tres mètodes de mesura de les reserves horitzontals en visió propera, comparant els resultats obtinguts entre tots els mètodes. Els mètodes utilitzats van ser: Von Graeffe amb el foròpter amb el test d’una línia de lletres i amb el test d’una lletra, la barra de prismes amb el test d’una lletra i la flexibilitat de vergències amb el test d’una columna de lletres. RESULTATS: S’ha vist que en variar el test, els rangs de vergències fusionals són majors quan s’utilitza una columna de lletres, trobant els valors de la diferència de les reserves de base nasal en un rang d’entre 7,85Δ i -4,78Δ, i les reserves de base temporal en un rang gran d’entre 11,59Δ i -4,68Δ. També s’ha trobat que quan variem l’instrument, els valors són majors quan s’utilitza la barra de prismes. Trobant diferencies estadístiques considerables perquè p és inferior a 0,05 en tos els casos, sent majors per les bases temporals podent arribar fins a -4,54Δ ±6,34Δ. I s’ha pogut observar que en comparar els nostres valors, de les reserves fusionals i de la flexibilitat de vergència, amb els valors d’altres autors trobem diferències estadístiques significatives de fins a 6Δ i 6cpm respectivament. CONCLUSIONS: Arribem a la conclusió que no es pot utilitzar de manera indiferent ambdós optotips i ambdós instruments ja que es podria arribar a conclusions diferents alterant el diagnòstic del pacient. I no trobem cap justificació de perquè els valors de les reserves fusionals i els valors de la flexibilitat de vergència no conclouen amb els nostres valors trobats

Techno-economic analysis of energy efficiency measures in a pulp mill converted to an ethanol production plant

A conceptual ethanol production plant, based on conversion of a kraft pulp mill, has been studied. The process uses softwood as raw material, alkaline pre-treatment combined with delignification, and biochemical conversion of sugars to ethanol (i.e. hydrolysis and fermentation). The plant has been analysed by pinch methods in order to find steam-saving possibilities. It is shown in the study that a large amount of steam surplus can be found if energy efficiency measures are implemented. In order to study the possible effect on the profitability of the plant when introducing steam-saving measures, the process has been analysed from a techno-economic point of view. It is shown that implementing energy efficiency measures could have a substantial effect on profitability if the by-product (in this case lignin biofuel or power) is high-valued. It is also shown that lignin as by-product might be more profitable than power, mainly because the demand for CO2 in lignin extraction might be supplied by CO2 produced in fermentation of sugars to ethanol. If investments are made to convert a pulp mill to ethanol production, energy efficiency measures should be included in the discussion since they might play an important role in minimising ethanol production cost

Aportacions a la flora exòtica catalana, III

New records of 6 synanthropic species in Catalonia (N. E. Spain) are reported. Their geographical origin, ecology, distribution in Catalonia and the ways of their introduction are also given for some of the species

The Nature and Methodological Implications of the Cognitive Representation of Products

A general relationship is proposed wherein more abstract attributes are likely to resemble continuous dimensions while more concrete attributes are likely to resemble dichotomous features. While some methodologies assume dimensional representations, others assume feature-based representations. This suggests that dimensional methods may better capture abstract product representations while feature-based methods may better capture concrete representations. The results of two studies that support both the general relationship and its methodological implications are reported

Preliminary study of the impact of Guadalhorce river mouth channeling (Málaga, Spain) on groundwater and related wetlands

Se trata de resultados preliminares que se están obteniendo en el Bajo Guadalhorce, en el marco de la tesis doctoral del primer firmanteIn riverine areas, many anthropogenic actions (modification of natural water courses, burying or channeling works, etc.) have been commonly applied worldwide to prevent floods in rivers, having negative environmental impacts on their dependent ecosystems. In the Guadalhorce River mouth (Málaga, Southern Spain), channeling works -including the splitting of the main channel into two branches before arriving to the sea- were conducted to reduce the flood risk in the surrounding urbanized areas near to the Mediterranean coast. In the framework of the monitoring program of the Guadalhorce Delta Wetlands, located between the branches of the ending river stretch, measurements of electrical conductivity in wetland water and groundwater table were performed, as well as the sampling of both water types. The results show a progressive increasing in the mineralization of wetland water, reaching values 50 times higher than the original ones. In the underlying aquifers, the mineralization of groundwater is generally less variable and lower than the recorded in the eighties and nineties, when a salt intrusion episode occurred. Before the river channel modification, the water flow from the aquifer to the wetlands and toward the river in its mouth was deduced. Today, the wetlands recharge locally the Quaternary aquifer and, consequently, induce the groundwater flow towards the both branches of the river and Mediterranean Sea. The variation of the morphodynamics in the Guadalhorce River mouth and the associated changes in land use have caused significant impacts on ground and surface water and their dependent wetlands.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Companies that do better by their customers also do better in the stock market

Many firms don't understand the value of satisfied customers or don't collect their data correctly, write Claes Fornell, Forrest Morgeson and Tomas Hul