Large-scale and long-term coupled thermo-hydro-mechanic experiments with bentonite: the FEBEX mock-up test.

El artículo presenta, de manera resumida y no exhaustiva, el experimento de gran escala y larga duración realizado en el marco de los proyectos FEBEX y FEBEXII. Se diseñó un ensayo termo hidro-mecánico en maqueta para mejorar el conocimiento de los procesos termo-hidro-mecánicos (THM) acoplados que se producen en el sistema de barreras de ingeniería prevista en el concepto de referencia para un Almacenamiento Geológico Profundo en granito. El ensayo se realiza bajo condiciones controladas.Más de 500 sensores miden las variables termo-hidro-mecánicas más importantes en la barrera de bentonita, mientras los sistemas de adquisición y control gestionan y supervisan el ensayo y registran los datos generados. Los sensores se han elegido para soportar las duras condiciones ambientales impuestas (tensiones mecánicas, temperatura, salinidad y humedad elevadas).Tras más de ocho años y medio, el ensayo se ha convertido en una importante fuente de datos, tanto por el número de procesos involucrados como por la duración del experimento, incluyendo algunas aspectos cualitativos que parecen indicar implicaciones importantes de los aspectos térmicos sobre los procesos de transporte

Bathyal megabenthic assemblages in the SE Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean Sea)

The Iberian SE is an interesting transition and connectivity zone between the Alboran Sea and the Algerian-Balearic basin. It hosts important deep water fisheries targeting mostly red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus). The area comprises a complex system of tectonic canyons (Mazarron Escarpment), seamounts, knolls and hills (Palos, Planazo, Plis-Plas), and pockmark fields (Acosta et al., 2013). Few studies have been conducted on the bathyal megabenthos, unlike in the neighbouring Chella Bank (De la Torriente et al. 2018) and Balearic Islands (Massuti et al. 2022). The LIFE IP Intemares project is filling this gap

Bathyal megabenthic assemblages in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean)

The SE Iberian sector represents an interesting transition and connectivity zone between the Alboran Sea and the Algerian Balearic basin, and the area comprises a system of tectonic canyons (Mazarron Escarpment), seamounts and pockmarks fields. Despite this, relatively few studies have been conducted on the bathyal zone. During the LIFE IP Intemares A2.2-Mu0820 survey, the continental slope was observed by ROV Liropus-2000, between 183 and 1735m depth following bathymetric mapping using a multibeam echosounder. A combination of multivariate analysis of still imagery and video groundtruthing have been able to discriminate some megabenthic assemblages. On hard bottoms of the upper bathyal horizon: i) Neopycnodonte cochear-Mergelia truncata facies, 193-244m depth; ii) Ellisella flagellum facies, 2441-320m; iii) Antipathes dichotoma facies, 259-270m. Middle horizon: i) Demospongiae facies (Pachastrella, Phakellia, Aaptos…), 241-494m; ii) gorgonian assemblage (Callogorgia, Paramuricea, Placogorgia), 294-624m; iii) Leptometra phalangium facies 293-611m; iv) cold-water corals (Desmophyllum, Madrepora), 516-607m; Antipatharia facies (Antipathella, Leiopathes, Parantipathes), 519-624m. Lower bathyal horizon:; Dicopia antirrhinum facies, 645-1167m. On soft bottoms (mud, sandy-mud) of the upper bathyal horizon: i) Ceriantharia facies, 213-219m depth. Middle horizon: i) Pennatulacea facies (Funiculina, Kophobelemnon, Pteroeides…), 219-541m; ii) Thenea muricata facies, 418-814m; iii) Isidella elongata facies, 462-681m. Lower horizon: i) Pelosina fields, 235-1321m. The results reveals that the bathyal zone of the SE Iberian Peninsula is topographically complex and harbours diverse benthic assemblages, some of which fall within the category of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems; and some species are listed in annex II of the RAC/SPA list of endangered or threatened species

Obesity and asthma: an association modified by age

[Abstract] Background. Some studies indicate some causal relationship between obesity and asthma, while others show inconsistent results. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma according to obesity in children. Methods. A cross-sectional study, following the ISAAC study methodology, was conducted on two randomly selected groups consisting of 6–7 year-old children (n = 7485) and 13–14 year-old adolescents (n = 8496). The asthma symptoms and potential risk factors were determined from the questionnaire. Overweight and obesity were defined based on the body mass index. Multiple logistic regression was used to obtain adjusted prevalence odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals. Results. Obesity was associated with an increase in wheezing ever (OR: 1.35) and exercise-induced asthma (OR: 1.62) in the 6–7 year-old group. No significant relationship was observed in the adolescent population. Conclusion. Obesity was associated with a higher prevalence of asthma in young children, but not in adolescents

Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems found in a bathyal zone off the SE Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean)

The Spanish Intemares LIFE IP project contemplates the creation of Special Areas of Conservation within the Natura 2000 Network. During its August 2019 cruise, a series of towed sledge transects were conducted on two seamounts (“Planazo” and “Plis Plas”) and a muddy field of pockmarks, both located in areas off the SE Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean), between 220 and 694m depth. The prospected area has a significant pressure from bottom trawl (directed towards Aristeus antennatus, Nephrops norvegicus, Plesionika spp.) and, to a smaller extent, of bottom longline fisheries (focused on Merluccius merluccius and Pagellus bogaraveo). Some of the observed bathyal habitats fall into the category of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME), according to FAO (2009, 2016), since they present at least one of the following characteristics: i) uniqueness or rarity; ii) functional significance of habitat; iii) fragility; iv) life history traits of component species that make recovery difficult; and/or v) structural complexity. Among them, “gorgonian gardens” (of Paramuricea hirsuta, Callogorgia verticillata, Bebryce mollis, Swiftia pallida, and Ellisella flagellum) and the yellow tree coral (Dendrophyllia cornigera) highlight rocky bottoms; while on muddy substrates, sea-pen fields (Funiculina quadrangularis and Kophobelemnon stelliferum) and “bamboo coral gardens” (Isidella elongata) do so. These habitats, along with fields of the crinoid Leptometra phalangium, are also considered Essential Habitats for target species of fishing interest. The location, mapping and characterization of these habitats are necessary to establish “no-take” zones within the future management plan for the area studied

Impact of parental smoking on childhood asthma

[Abstract] Objective: To evaluate the exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) of the childhood population in this community and its relationship with asthma symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire on children and adolescents in this community. The symptoms "wheezing ever", "current asthma", "severe asthma", and "exercise-induced asthma" were defined by this questionnaire. Parental smoking was classified into four mutually exclusive categories: 1) no parent smokes; 2) only the mother smokes; 3) only the father smokes; and 4) both parents smoke. The odds ratio of the prevalence of asthma symptoms according to ETS exposure was calculated using logistic regression. Results: A total of 10,314 children and 10,453 adolescents were included. Over 51% of the children and adolescents were exposed to ETS at home. ETS is associated with a higher prevalence of asthma symptoms, particularly if the mother or both parents smoke. Conclusion: The prevalence of ETS is still high in this community, although there has been a decreasing tendency in the last 15 years. ETS is associated with higher prevalence of asthma

Exposure to paracetamol and asthma symptoms

Multicenter study[Abstract] Background: Paracetamol is one of the factors that have been associated with the observed increase in asthma prevalence in the last few years. The influence of environmental or genetic factors in this disease may be different in some countries than in others. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between the paracetamol consumption and asthma prevalence in our community. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on more than 20,000 children and adolescents in Galicia, Spain. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood methodology was used to collect the information on asthma symptoms in children, paracetamol consumption, body mass index (BMI), pets in the home, education level of the mother and parental asthma and smoking habits. The influence of paracetamol consumption on the prevalence of asthma symptoms was calculated using logistic regression, adjusted for the other parameters included in the study. Results: After adjusting for gender, BMI, having a cat or dog, maternal education, parental asthma and smoking, in 6- to 7-year-old children, the consumption of paracetamol during the first year of life is associated with asthma [odds ratio (OR) 2.04 (1.79-2.31) for wheezing at some time]. Paracetamol consumption in the previous year leads to a significant increase in the probability of wheezing at some time [OR 3.32 (2.51-4.41)] in young children and adolescents [OR 2.12 (1.68-2.67)]. Conclusions: Paracetamol consumption is associated with a significant increase in asthma symptoms. The effect is greater the more often the drug is taken

Plasma profiles, self-organization and alfven eigenmodes studies using the HIBP diagnostic in the TJ-II stellarator

This paper reports recent experiments in the TJ-II stellarator using a dual Heavy Ion Beam probe diagnostic. The studies were focused on characterizing plasma potential profiles, investigating self-organization mechanisms and Alfven Eigenmodes (AEs). Results showed plasma equipotential measurements consistent with vacuum magnetic surfaces and the presence of zonal flows in the plasma core region. The investigation of Alfven Eigen modes showed their radial localization and poloidal asymmetries in potential and density fluctuations driven by AEs.Повідомляється про нещодавні експерименти на стелараторі TJ-II з використанням подвійної діагностики на пучках важких іонів. Дослідження були зосереджені на характеристиках профілів потенціалу плазми. Досліджено механізми самоорганізації та власних мод Альфвена (AE). Результати показали, що вимірювання еквіпотенціалу плазми відповідають вакуумним магнітним поверхням і наявності зональних потоків в області плазмового ядра. Дослідження власних мод Альфвена показало їх радіальну локалізацію та полоїдальну асиметрію у коливаннях потенціалу та густини, викликаних AE

Heavy ion beam probing – a tool to study geodesic acoustic modes and alfven eigenmodes in the T-10 tokamak and TJ-II stellarator

Heavy ion beam probing (HIBP) is a unique diagnostic for core plasma potential. It operates in the T-10 tokamak and TJ-II flexible heliac. Multi-slits energy analyzers provide simultaneously the data on plasma potential φ (by beam extra energy), plasma density (by beam current) and Bpol (by beam toroidal shift) in 5 poloidally shifted sample volumes. Thus, the poloidal electric field and the electrostatic turbulent particle flux are derived. The fine focused (<1 cm) and intense (100 μA) beams provide the measurements in the wide density interval ne=(0.3...5)×10¹⁹ m⁻³, while the advanced control system for primary and secondary beams provides the measurements in the wide range of the plasma currents in T-10 and magnetic configurations in TJ-II, including Ohmic, ECR and NBI heated plasmas. Low-noise high-gain (10⁷ V/A) preamplifiers with 300 kHz bandwidth and 2 MHz sampling allow us to study quasi-coherent modes like Geodesic Acoustic Modes (GAMs) and Alfvén Eigenmodes (AEs). The spatial location, poloidal rotation velocity and mode numbers for GAMs and AEs were studied in the core plasmas.Зондирование пучком тяжёлых ионов (ЗПТИ) является уникальной диагностикой для исследования потенциала горячей плазмы, она работает на токамаке T-10 и стеллараторе TJ-II. Многощелевые анализаторы позволяют одновременно определять потенциал, плотность и полоидальное магнитное поле в пяти точках измерения в плазме, что позволяет найти полоидальное электрическое поле и турбулентный поток частиц. Хорошо сфокусированные (< 1 см) интенсивные (100 мкА) пучки позволяют вести измерения в широком интервале плотностей n‾e=(0.3...5)×10¹⁹ m⁻³, а система управления первичным и вторичным пучками обеспечивает измерения в пределах изменения параметров T-10 и TJ-II, включая режимы омического, электронно-циклотронного и инжекционного нагревов плазмы. Исследованы геодезические акустические моды и альфвеновские собственные моды частотой до 300 кГц.Зондування пучком важких іонів (ЗПВІ) є унікальна система діагностики для дослідження потенціалу в гарячій плазмі на токамаці Т-10 та стелараторі TJ-II. Аналізатори з багатою кількістю апертур дозволяють одночасно вимірювати потенціал, густину та полоїдальне магнітне поле у п’яти об’ємах плазми, що дозволяє знайти полоїдальне електричне поле та турбулентний потік часток. Гарно сфокусовані (< 1 см) інтенсивні (100 мкА) пучки дозволяють провести вимірювання в широкому інтервалі n‾e=(0.3...5)×10¹⁹ m⁻³ густини, а система керування первинним та вторинним пучками забезпечує вимірювання у межах діапазону зміни параметрів T-10 та TJ-II, які включають у себе режими омічного, електронно-циклотронного та інжекційного нагрівів плазми. Досліджено геодезичні акустичні моди і альфвенівські коливання особистої моди частотою до 300 кГц