Time scales for conservative and non-conservative radionuclide transport in the English Channel

A numerical model that simulates the dispersion of radionuclides in the English Channel has been applied to study the dispersion of conservative and non-conservative radionuclides released from La Hague nuclear fuel reprocessing plant. The model is based upon previous work and now is able to simulate dispersion over long time scales (decades), explicitly including transport by instantaneous tidal currents and variable wind conditions. Wind conditions are obtained from meteorological statistics using a stochastic method. Outputs from the model are treated using time-series analysis techniques. These techniques allow the determination of characteristic times of the system, transport velocities and dispersion factors. This information may be very useful to support the decision-making process after an emergency situation. Thus, we are proposing that time-series analysis can be integrated with numerical modelling for helping decision-making in response to an accident. The model is first validated through its application to actual releases of 99-Tc and 125-Sb, and characteristic times for several radionuclides (a conservative one, 137-Cs and 239,240-Pu) are given next. Characteristic transport velocities and dispersion factors have been calculated as well

Characteristic times in the English Channel from numerical modelling: supporting decision-making

A numerical model that simulates the dispersion of radionuclides in the English Channel has been applied to study the dispersion of conservative and non-conservative radionuclides released from the La Hague nuclear fuel reprocessing plant. The model is based upon previous work and now is able to simulate dispersion over long timescales (decades), explicitly including transport by instantaneous tidal currents and variable wind conditions. Wind conditions are obtained from meteorological statistics using a stochastic method. Outputs from the model are treated using time-series analysis techniques. These techniques allow the determination of characteristic times of the system, transport velocities and dispersion factors. This information may be very useful to support the decision-making process after an emergency situation. Thus, we are proposing that time-series analysis can be integrated with numerical modelling for helping decision-making in response to an accident. The model is first validated through its application to actual releases of 99Tc and 125Sb, comparing measured and computed concentrations, and characteristic times for three radionuclides are given next: a perfectly conservative one, a very reactive one (239,240Pu) and 137Cs, which has an intermediate behaviour. Characteristic transport velocities and dispersion factors have been calculated as well. Model results are supported by experimental evidenc

Clinical Evaluation of Exercise-Induced Physiological Changes in Military Working Dogs (MWDs) Resulting from the Use or Non-Use of Cooling Vests during Training in Moderately Hot Environments

Nose work with military working dogs (MWDs) in warmer-than-usual areas has led us to look for new tools to reduce both heat stress and the risk of heat stroke. One of the different strategies to manage heat stress is the use of cooling vests, such as those used in humans. The aim was to assess three cooling conditions (using two different cooling vests during exercise and the non-use of such garments) by measuring core body temperature, systemic blood pressure and pulse rate before and after the exercise (moment: four measurement times) in military dogs of the I Military Police Battalion (in Valencia, Spain). All dogs were evaluated under all three conditions during the three days of the study. Significant differences were observed between condition, moment, and the interaction of these two factors, in relation to core body temperature and pulse rate. Therefore, the use of an evaporative cooling vest may further be useful as a routine thermal control and conditioning measure in MWDs

El Placer de las buenas citas

Ya Salomón dijo “No hay nada nuevo bajo el sol”. Quizá no haya ideas nuevas, pero hay gente privilegiada que ha sido capaz de expresarlas de una forma que las hace resonar y que incita reflexionar y profundizar sobre ellas. Hemos escogido, seleccionado y organizado un conjunto de excelentes citas para reflexionar sobre la esencia de la educación.SUMMARY: Solomon said “There is nothing new under the sun.” There might not be new ideas, but some people have the ability to express them in such a manner that they resound within us and incite us to reflect on them. We have collected, selected, and organized a set of excellent quotations that we hope will allow us to consider carefully about the essence of education.Peer Reviewe

A spiking neural network for real-time Spanish vowel phonemes recognition

This paper explores neuromorphic approach capabilities applied to real-time speech processing. A spiking recognition neural network composed of three types of neurons is proposed. These neurons are based on an integrative and fire model and are capable of recognizing auditory frequency patterns, such as vowel phonemes; words are recognized as sequences of vowel phonemes. For demonstrating real-time operation, a complete spiking recognition neural network has been described in VHDL for detecting certain Spanish words, and it has been tested in a FPGA platform. This is a stand-alone and fully hardware system that allows to embed it in a mobile system. To stimulate the network, a spiking digital-filter-based cochlea has been implemented in VHDL. In the implementation, an Address Event Representation (AER) is used for transmitting information between neurons.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2012-37868-C04-02/0

A simple negative interaction in the positive transcriptional feedback of a single gene is sufficient to produce reliable oscillations

Negative and positive transcriptional feedback loops are present in natural and synthetic genetic oscillators. A single gene with negative transcriptional feedback needs a time delay and sufficiently strong nonlinearity in the transmission of the feedback signal in order to produce biochemical rhythms. A single gene with only positive transcriptional feedback does not produce oscillations. Here, we demonstrate that this single-gene network in conjunction with a simple negative interaction can also easily produce rhythms. We examine a model comprised of two well-differentiated parts. The first is a positive feedback created by a protein that binds to the promoter of its own gene and activates the transcription. The second is a negative interaction in which a repressor molecule prevents this protein from binding to its promoter. A stochastic study shows that the system is robust to noise. A deterministic study identifies that the dynamics of the oscillator are mainly driven by two types of biomolecules: the protein, and the complex formed by the repressor and this protein. The main conclusion of this paper is that a simple and usual negative interaction, such as degradation, sequestration or inhibition, acting on the positive transcriptional feedback of a single gene is a sufficient condition to produce reliable oscillations. One gene is enough and the positive transcriptional feedback signal does not need to activate a second repressor gene. This means that at the genetic level an explicit negative feedback loop is not necessary. The model needs neither cooperative binding reactions nor the formation of protein multimers. Therefore, our findings could help to clarify the design principles of cellular clocks and constitute a new efficient tool for engineering synthetic genetic oscillators.Comment: 25 pages, 12 figures, 3 table

Modelling the spatio-temporal evolution of H-3 in the waters of the River Tagus

Measurements of tritium specific activity levels and of temperatures in waters of the Torrejo´neTagus reservoir (Spain) showed that their radioactive characteristics were basically influenced by the radioactive liquid effluent from the Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant. This enters the Torrejo´neTagus reservoir via the Arrocampo cooling reservoir, which exchanges water with the first. We studied the temporal and spatial (in two dimensions) evolution of the mentioned parameters for years 1997 and 1998. The tritium levels were found to be significantly correlated with temperature. Two numerical models were constructed for a quantitative study of the tritium levels along Torrejo´n reservoir: a 1D model was used for the dispersion of tritium along the whole length of the reservoir, and a 2D depth-averaged model was used for a detailed study of the area where tritium is released into the reservoir. Both models solve the hydrodynamic equa tions, to obtain the currents induced by the exchanges of water between the reservoirs in the River Tagus and Arrocampo, and the advection/diffusion equation to calculate the dispersion of tritium. In general, the model results were in agreement with the experimental observationsJunta de Extremadura 2PR02A02

Surface Electromyography of the Longissimus and Gluteus Medius Muscles in Greyhounds Walking and Trotting on Ground Flat, Up, and Downhill

In the field of canine rehabilitation, knowledge of muscle function in the therapeutic exercises prescribed is needed by physical therapists and veterinary surgeons. To gain insight into the function of longissimus dorsi (LD) and gluteus medius (GM) muscles in dogs, five Greyhounds performing leash walking and trotting on the ground flat, up (+7%), and downhill (−7%) were studied by surface electromyography, and the mean and maximum activity was compared. For the same incline, the surface electromyography (sEMG) of LD was higher (p < 0.05) at the trot than at the walk. In LD muscle, trotting uphill showed significantly higher maximum activity than any other exercise. A change of +7% incline or −7% decline affected (increased or decreased, respectively) the mean sEMG of the LD and GM muscles of dogs walking or trotting on the ground. When combined, the influence of gait and incline on electromyographic activity was analyzed, and walking at certain inclines showed no difference with trotting at certain inclines. Walking and trotting up and downhill added separate therapeutic value to flat motion. The results of the present study might contribute to a better understanding of the function of LD and GM muscles in dogs, this being especially useful for the field of canine rehabilitation

La vivienda contemporánea frente al marco normativo actual : crítica y propuestas en cuestiones de diseño de vivienda

Los cambios sociales, políticos y económicos de las últimas décadas, han dado lugar a distintos tipos de habitantes. Estos cambios han traído consigo nuevos tipos de familias, relaciones familiares y formas de habitar, naciendo así una necesidad de transformación de la vivienda actual, pues esta ha quedado obsoleta en diversos aspectos. Los arquitectos somos conscientes de estos hechos, y estamos en disposición de dar respuesta a estas nuevas inquietudes espacialmente mediante la vivienda contemporánea, solución directa al problema. Sin embargo, su desarrollo se ve entorpecido por una normativa obsoleta, anclada en el pasado, que se rige por aspectos mayoritariamente cuantitativos, ignorando otras variables igual o más importantes inscritas en las distintas maneras de vivir de las personas que habitan las viviendas. Esto genera grandes carencias en ellas, convirtiéndolas en elementos rígidos e inflexibles, incapaces de contener las formas de habitar dela contemporaneidad. Sin duda, es necesario un cambio, por lo que esta investigación tendrá como objetivo: Conseguir solventar la problemática existente a la hora de generar la tipología de vivienda contemporánea en el marco normativo actual que rige la vivienda de protección oficial en España. Esto se llevará a cabo mediante la identificación de las características de esta tipología innovadora con el fin de encontrar lastrabas normativas que dificultan su desarrollo en el ámbito nacional. Finalmente se propondrá una mejora de los criterios de diseño de vivienda, para que la arquitectura siga evolucionando junto con la sociedad.The social, political and economic changes of recent decades, have given rise to different types of inhabitants. These changes have brought with it new types of families, family relationships and ways ofliving, thus becoming a need for transformation of the current housing, as it has become obsolete in several respects. Architects are aware of these facts, and we are in a position to answer these new concerns spatially through the contemporary housing, a direct solution to the problem. However, its development is hampered by outdated regulations, anchored in the past, which is governed by mostly quantitative aspects, ignoring other equal or more important variables inscribed in the different ways of living of the people who inhabit the dwellings. This creates great deficiencies in the current housing, turning them into rigid and inflexible elements, unable to contain the ways of inhabiting contemporary life. No doubt, a change is necessary, so this research will aim to: To solve the existing problem of generating the contemporary housing typology within the current regulatory framework that governs the public housing in Spain. This will be done by identifying the characteristics of this innovative typology in order to find the regulatory hurdles that hinder their development in the national sphere. Finally, an improvement of the housing design criteria will be proposed, so the architecture continues to evolve along with society.Universidad de Sevilla. Grado en Fundamentos de la Arquitectur