Application of principal components analysis to the study of salinization on the Castellon Plain (Spain)

The high salinization in some sectors of the Castellón Plain aquifer (Spain), has been erroneusly attributed to seawater intrusion, because of the high and increasing contents of chloride ions. However, recent studies of this aquifer have shown that the chemical characteristics of groundwaters are the result of three different components: intruding seawater, freshwater from rainfall infiltration and saline water with a characteristic sulphate-calcium-magnesium facies, derived from bordering aquifers. The division into sectors according to hydrochemical features, in addition to the inclusion as variables of both certain minor ions and the ionic deviations of the theoretical mixing of freshwater and seawater,h ave provided a clear characterization of the sahnization processesa ffecting the aquifer. The present study showst he application of statisticalm ethodst o the characterization of the salinizationp rocessesin the coastal aquifer of the Castellon Plain. The application of these statistical methods (cluster analysis and principal components analysis) has lead to the corroboration of the hypotheses developed from the previous hydrochemical study. Inclusion of specific variables (certain minor ions and ionic-h) into the PCA enhances a definition of the degree of the salinitation processes

The influence of nitrate leaching through unsaturated soil on groundwater pollution in an agricultural area of the Basque country: a case study

The average nitrate concentration in the groundwater of the Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country) quaternary aquifer rose from 50 mg NO3−/l during 1986 to over 200 mg/l in 1995, which represents an increase of some 20 mg NO3−/l per year. From 1995 to 2002, the nitrate concentration of the groundwater slightly decreased. Nitrategroundwaterpollution during the period 1986–1993 was the result of the abusive use of fertilizers and of the modification in the recharge patterns of the aquifer from surface water sources. From 1993 onwards, apart from a possible rationalization in fertilizer use, the change in the origin of water for irrigation and wetland restoration (water is taken now from artificial pools outside the quaternary aquifer) must be explained in order to account for the observed decrease in nitrate concentration in the groundwater. The water of the aquifer and of the unsaturated zone were studied in two experimental plots (one of them cultivated and the other uncultivated) for 18 months (January 1993–June 1994), during the period of maximum contamination, to evaluate the effect of fertilizers on soil water and on the water in the saturated zone. The soil water was sampled using soil lysimeters at various depths. The volumetric water content of the soil was measured at the same depths using time domain reflectrometry (TDR) probes. Samples of groundwater were taken from a network of wells on the aquifer scale, two located close to the two experimental plots. The temporal evolution of nitrate concentrations in soil solutions depends on the addition of fertilizers and on soilnitrateleaching by rain. During episodes of intense rain (>50 mm in a day), the groundwater deposits are recharged with water coming from the leaching of interstitial soil solutions, causing an increase in the groundwaternitrate concentrations. The mass of nitrate leached from the cultivated zone is five times higher than that of the nitrate leached from the uncultivated zone (1147 kg NO3−/ha in the cultivated sector as against 211 kg NO3−/ha in the uncultivated sector), although part of the nitrate leached into the soil had been previously deposited by the rise of the water table. If we consider that the level of groundwater input is similar in both plots, we may conclude that 964 kg NO3−/ha circulated towards the groundwater in the cultivated zone during the period under study, representing 87% of the nitrate applied to the soil in the form of fertilizer during that period

A methodology to analyse and assess pumping management strategies in coastal aquifers to avoid degradation due to seawater intrusion problems

In this paper we will focus on an interesting and complex problem, the analysis of coastal aquifer management alternatives in aquifers affected by seawater intrusion problems. A systhematic method based on an approximation of the safe yield concept for coastal aquifers and a simple model approach to the problem is proposed to help in the decision making process. It is based on the assessment of an index, that we have called the Pumping Reduction to Achieve a Natural Good Status (PRANGS), which we have defined as the minimum reduction in pumped abstractions necessary to maintain seawater intrusion below the value estimated for the natural regime under different climate conditions: humid (PRANGSh), intermediate (PRANGSi) and dry years (PRANGSd). It requires to solve an optimization problem (for each of the climate conditions: humid, intermediate and dry years), whose objective function is to minimize the reduction in pumping whilst ensuring intrusion does not exceed the natural regime ones. A simulation model that provides a valid approximation of seawater intrusion is needed. The methodology was applied to a well-known Spanish Mediterranean aquifer, the Oropesa-Torreblanca Plain aquifer. The optimization problem was solved using an iterative process from a constant density flow simulation model of the aquifer, assuming a direct relationship between piezometric drawdown and seawater intrusion

Modelos de asentamiento en Medio Piura

Centrado en la cadena de doce asentamientos dispersos y de pequeña escala que se encuentran al norte de la ciudad de Piura, Perú. Proyecto realizado en colaboración con la Universidad de Piura. El proyecto trata de mejorar la calidad de vida se sus pobladores evitando riesgos e introduciendo nuevas infraestructuras, dotaciones y centros económicos. Gran preocupación por las conexiones entre los asentamientos y con las ciudades próximas, así como planteamiento de un sistema de infraestructuras de agua y recogida de residuos. Por último, se ejemplifica un modelo de centralidades económicas materializado en dos asentamientos concreto

Effects of different amendments (organic matter and hydrogel) on the actual evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of turf grass under field conditions

The irrigation schedule in arid areas has to be efficient in order to reduce losses due to evaporation and deep infiltration. Irrigation optimization poses the need to establish with precision the value of actual evapotranspiration (ETa), and the crop coefficient (Kc). The water soil availability can be increased using hydrogel and organic matter amendments, and their effects could vary ETa and Kc. The aim of this study was to determine the ETa, and Kc of an experimental site with lysimeters on the Spanish Mediterranean coast cropped with a turf grass variety, Agrostis stolonifera ‐L‐93, under field conditions, and amended with hydrogel and organic matter. Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) was determined from meteorological data (FAO‐Penman‐Monteith equation). ETa was calculated from the water balance, and Kc was obtained by dividing ETa by ET0. Kc was calculated and compared on a yearly, monthly and daily basis. In summer, the differences between amendments become manifest:Unamended lysimeter (100% sand) had Kc values (0.92‐1.16), similar to organic matter amended lysimeter (0.99‐1.17). Maximum and minimum Kc values for the hydrogel amended lysimeters (1.04‐1.52) were higher than those from the other because of the ability of this compound to retain water, which facilitated evapotranspiration. Finally, hydrogel helped to maintain the turf grass quality

A Standardized Index for Assessing Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers: The SITE Index

A large number of coastal aquifers worldwide are impacted by seawater intrusion. A major aim of European Directives 2000/60/EC and 2006/118/EC is to achieve good ecological status in groundwater bodies, including coastal aquifers. To this goal, information is needed about the current state of, and changes over time in, individual aquifers. This information can be obtained by applying methods that determine the status of aquifers in an uncomplicated manner. Methods for this type of assessment must comply with three essential criteria. First, calculation of the index must be straightforward and should be based on easy-to-obtain or commonly available data. Next, the index should be able to highlight important characteristics in understandable terms. Finally, the results should be objective and should be expressed in such a way that different time periods and different aquifers can be compared. In this paper we describe the development of a method to characterize seawater intrusion that meets these criteria and is based on four basic parameters: surface area, intensity, temporality, and evolution. Each parameter is determined by specific calculations derived from the groundwater chloride concentrations. Results are specified as a numerical index and an alphanumeric code. This index, known as SITE, has been applied to four Mediterranean coastal aquifers. The standardized results allowed us to discriminate between, and objectively compare the status of these groundwater bodies. Further, this index will make it possible to prioritize management actions and evaluate the effectiveness of these actions over time

A Recurrent Neural Network for Wastewater Treatment Plant Effuents' Prediction

[Abstract] Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) are industries devoted to process water coming from cities' sewer systems and to reduce their contamination. High-pollutant products are generated in the pollutant reduction processes. For this reason, certain limits are established and violations of them are translated into high economic punishments and environmental problems. In this paper data driven methods are performed to monitor the WWTP behaviour. The aim is to predict its effluent concentrations in order to reduce possible violations and their derived costs. To do so, an alarm generation system based on the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) is proposed. The proposed system shows a good prediction accuracy (errors around 5%) and a reduced miss-detection probability (30%).[Resumen] Las Plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales (PTAR) son industrias dedicadas a procesar el agua que proviene de los sistemas de alcantarillado de las ciudades y reducir su contaminación. Los productos de alta contaminación se generan en los procesos de reducción de contaminantes. Por esta razón, se establecen ciertos límites y sus violaciones se traducen en castigos económicos elevados y problemas ambientales. En este documento, se realizan métodos controlados por datos para monitorizar el comportamiento de la EDAR. El objetivo es predecir sus concentraciones de efluentes para reducir las posibles violaciones y sus costos derivados. Para ello, se propone un sistema de generación de alarmas basado en la aplicación de Redes Neuronales Artificiales (ANN). El sistema propuesto muestra una buena precisión de predicción (errores en torno al 5%) y una probabilidad de detección errónea reducida (30%).Ministerio de Economía y Empresa; DPI2016-77271-

Breastfeeding and Immunohistochemical Expression of ki-67, p53 and BCL2 in Infiltrating Lobular Breast Carcinoma

Background/Aim: Invasive lobular breast carcinoma is the second most common type of breast cancer after invasive ductal carcinoma. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 180,000 women in the United States find out they have invasive breast cancer each year. Personal history of breast cancer and certain changes in the breast are correlated with an increased breast cancer risk. The aim of this work was to analyze breastfeeding in patients with infil- trating lobular breast carcinoma, in relation with: 1) clinicopathological parameters, 2) hor- monal receptors and 3) tissue-based tumor markers. Materials and Methods: The study included 80 women with ILC, 46 of which had breastfeed their children. Analyzed parameters were: age, tumor size, axillary lymph node (N), distant metastasis (M), histologi- cal grade (HG), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR), Ki-67, p53 and BCL2. Results : ILC of non-lactating women showed a larger (p = 0.009), lymph node involvement (p = 0.051) and distant metastasis (p = 0.060). They were also more proliferative tumors mea- sured by Ki-67 (p = 0.053). Breastfeeding history did not influence the subsequent behavior of the tumor regardless of histological subtype. Conclusion: Lactation seems to influence the biological characteristics of ILC defining a subgroup with more tumor size, axillary lymph node involvement, distant metastasis and higher prolifera- tion measured by ki-67 expression

Global Assessment of Seawater Intrusion Problems (Status and Vulnerability)

In this research paper we propose a novel method to perform an integrated analysis of the status and vulnerability of coastal aquifers to seawater intrusion (SWI). The method is based on a conceptual approach of intrusion that allows to summarised results in a visual way at different spatial scales, moving from steady pictures (corresponding to instantaneous or mean values in a period) including maps and 2D conceptual crosssections and temporal series of lumped indices. Our aim is to help in the identification of coastal groundwater bodies at risk of not achieving good chemical status according to the Water Framework Directive. The indices are obtained from available information about aquifer geometry and historical monitoring data (chloride concentration and hydraulic head data). This method may be applied even in cases where a reduced number of data are available. It does not require complex modelling and has been implemented in a GIS tool that encourages its use in other cases. Analysis of the evolution of historical time series of these indices can be used to assess resilience and trends with respect to SWI problems. This method can be also useful to compare intrusion problems in different aquifers and temporal periods

Pesticide residues and transformation products in groundwater from a Spanish agricultural region on the Mediterranean Coast

An overview is given on the presence and changes over time of pesticide residues in groundwater from the Valencia region, one of the most important citrus cultivation sites of southern Europe. A multiresidue LC-MS/MS method was applied for the screening of around 50 pesticides in 75 water samples collected during 2000. The herbicides simazine, terbuthylazine, bromacil, terbumeton, and diuron were the most frequently detected compounds. On the basis of compounds detected in these samples, another method that focused on 30 herbicides and relevant transformation products (TPs) was developed and applied to around 80 water samples collected during 2003. Simazine was the most frequently found compound followed by several triazine metabolites. Data for this paper show the vulnerability of groundwater in this area to herbicide applications and illustrate the importance of including pesticide TPs in environmental monitoring programmes, as four out of the five compounds most frequently detected were pesticide TP