Distribution and origin of natural gas leakage in the Colorado Basin, offshore Argentina Margin, South America : seismic interpretation and 3D basin modelling

The detailed analysis of a dense 2D seismic reflection dataset and data from 8 exploration wells, allowed us to identify, map out and characterize possible indications of past and present-day hydrocarbon leakage (i.e. gas chimneys, gas pockets, and seafloor mounds and pockmarks) on the continental shelf and slope of the Colorado Basin, offshore Argentina, where Permian, Jurassic and Early Cretaceous source rocks are potentially present and may be currently mature. Identified gas leakage features, developed both in the syn-rift and post-rift successions, were also analysed in relation to the structural the stratigraphic elements of the basin. A family of seabed pockmarks, located close to an array of submarine channels, was identified on the distal slope of the basin. These pockmarks are overlying a series of sub-vertical to vertical seismic chimneys in the subsurface. A calibrated basin-wide 3D petroleum system model comprising generation and migration of hydrocarbons was carried out and compared with the observations from the seismic analysis. Preliminary results from this model indicate that although synrift and early Cretaceous source rock (SR) intervals may be depleted in the central areas of the basin, an active kitchen from the Aptian SR may be present below the slope areas. Hydrocarbon migration pathways predicted by the 3D model (Hybrid method) coincide with the interpreted seismic chimneys underlying the observed seabed slope pockmarks. Hence, our results indicate that thermogenic gas may be currently generated in the distal slope of the basin from mature early post-rift source rocks within the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) sequences and migrates vertically, due to seal failure, through the stratigraphic column. This migrating thermogenic gas is feeding the seafloor pockmarks identified in the distal slope of the basin, although up-dip lateral migration along stratigraphic layers to the more proximal slope areas cannot be ruled out. The present work represents the first published study integrating detailed seismic analysis and 3D basin modelling linking observed gas-leakage indicators and associated seepage pathways, to their relative abundance, distribution and feeding systems offshore Argentina's continental margin

Influence of Tillage and Liming on N2O emission from a rainfed crop

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the main greenhouse gas (GHG) produced by agricultural soils due to microbial processes. The application of N fertilizers is associated with an increase of N2O losses. However, it is possible to mitigate these emissions by the introduction of adequate management practices (Snyder et al., 2009). Soil conservation practices (i.e.no tillage, NT) have recently become widespread because they promote several positive effects (increases in soil organic carbonand soil fertility, reduction of soil erosion, etc). In terms of GHG emissions, there is no consensus in the literature on the effects of tillage on N2O. Several studies found that NT can produce greater (Baggs et al., 2003), lower (Malhi et al., 2006) or similar (Grandey et al., 2006) N2O emissions compared to traditional tillage (TT). This large uncertainty is associated with the duration of tillage practices and climatic variability. Liming is widely use to solve problems of soil acidity (Al toxicity, yield penalties, etc). Several studies show a decrease in N2O emissions with liming (Barton et al., 2013) whereas no significant effects or increases were observed in others (Galbally et al., 2010). The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of tillage (NT vs TT) and liming application or not of Ca-amendment) on N2O emissions from an acid soil during a rainfed crop

Biorefinery of biomass of agro-Industrial banana waste to obtain high-value biopolymers

On a worldwide scale, food demand is increasing as a consequence of global population growth. This makes companies push their food supply chains’ limits with a consequent increase in generation of large amounts of untreated waste that are considered of no value to them. Biorefinery technologies offer a suitable alternative for obtaining high-value products by using unconventional raw materials, such as agro-industrial waste. Currently, most biorefineries aim to take advantage of specific residues (by either chemical, biotechnological, or physical treatments) provided by agro-industry in order to develop high-value products for either in-house use or for sale purposes. This article reviews the currently explored possibilities to apply biorefinery-known processes to banana agro-industrial waste in order to generate high-value products out of this residual biomass source. Firstly, the Central and Latin American context regarding biomass and banana residues is presented, followed by advantages of using banana residues as raw materials for the production of distinct biofuels, nanocellulose fibers, different bioplastics, and other high-value products Lastly, additional uses of banana biomass residues are presented, including energy generation and water treatmen

Elastin-like recombinamers with acquired functionalities for gene-delivery applications

Producción CientíficaIn this work, well-defined elastin-like recombinamers (ELRs) were studied as a choice to the existing nonviral vectors due to their biocompatibility and ease of scale-up. Functional motifs, namely penetratin and LAEL fusogenic peptides were incorporated into a basic ELR sequence, and imidazole groups were subsequently covalently bound obtaining ELRs with new functionalities. Stable polyplexes composed of plasmid DNA and ELRs were formed. A particle size around 200 nm and a zeta potential up to nearly +24 mV made them suitable for gene delivery purposes. Additionally, viability and transfection assays with C6 rat glioma cell line showed an increase in the cellular uptake and transfection levels for the construction containing the LAEL motif. This study highlights the importance of controlling the polymer functionality using recombinant techniques and establishes the utility of ELRs as biocompatible nonviral systems for gene-therapy applications.ERDF Funding from the EU and MINECO; contract grant number: MAT2010-15982FCCI Subprogram: Modality ACI-COLABORA Spain-India 2010-2012; contract grant numbers: MAT2010-15310, PRIPIBAR- 2011-1403, MAT2012-38043, and MAT2013-41723-RJCyL; contract grant numbers: VA049A11, VA152A12, and VA155A12CIBER-BBN, JCyL, and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III under the “Network Center of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapy of Castilla and Leon” and DST (Indo-Spanish), (New Delhi

Los incendios forestales en España ante al cambio climático

1. Resultados clave 1. Los incendios resultan de interacciones entre el clima y otros motores socioeconómicos que afectan al territorio. Todos cuentan, y todos han de ser tenidos en consideración al evaluar el futuro riesgo de incendio. 2. Los incendios se reparten por todo el territorio. Gestionar y conservar los ecosistemas terrestres españoles no puede ignorar el papel del fuego. La gestión debe ir más allá que la mera prevención, e integrar el conocimiento de la ecología de los ecosistemas en relación con el fuego. 3. El clima futuro y otros cambios socioeconómicos y globales ocasionarán situaciones extremadamente adversas, que se extenderán por más zonas del país de manera simultánea y con mayor frecuencia. 4. La planificación futura del riesgo no puede hacerse usando solo el pasado. Hasta mediados de este siglo, el cambio climático esperable es poco variable, con lo que las proyecciones futuras pueden usarse como marco de cálculo del peligro futuro. 5. Hay que gestionar el territorio con objetivos diferenciados de los bienes y servicios que se pretenden proteger, incluyendo la disminución de la peligrosidad del territorio, así como de las pérdidas y costes, al tiempo que se mantiene o aumenta la prestación de los servicios y su resiliencia. 6. El fuego puede tener cabida en una planificación por objetivos, aunque solo sea para reducir gastos, pues no será posible detener todos los incendios en los plazos establecidos en los programas de gestión y lucha contra el fuego. 7. Los incendios no se distribuyen homogéneamente, sino que hay zonas particularmente peligrosas. Hay que planificar minimizando el riego a la población, con especial consideración a la interfaz urbano-forestal. 8. Anticiparse al riesgo y a los impactos requiere conocer las vulnerabilidades y muchas de éstas están muy ligadas a la recurrencia de incendios. Se necesitan bases de incendios espacialmente explícitas para poder anticiparse a los impactos más indeseados

A fast model to resolve the velocity-space of fast-ion losses detected in ASDEX Upgrade and MAST Upgrade

A forward model to resolve the fast-ion loss velocity-space on a fast-ion loss detector (FILD) probe head (FILDSIM) has been extended, making it possible to perform real-time analysis of the FILD data ("real-time FILDSIM"). Parametric pre-processing with FILDSIM enables real-time mapping of the raw FILD measurements to the velocity-space of the fast-ion distribution reaching the FILD probe, which depends on the local magnetic field at the probe head. Such parametric pre-processing facilitates the study of fast-ion losses in stages of the discharge other than the flat-top, such as the ramp-up phase when changes in the local magnetic field at the probe head cannot be neglected. Real-time FILDSIM has been applied to the existing and newly installed FILDs in ASDEX Upgrade and will be used for the forthcoming FILD in MAST-Upgrade. Due to the larger size of the MAST-U FILD probe, the approximation used in FILDSIM of a uniform magnetic field in the FILD region has been generalised to the case of a non-uniform field, with gyro-orbits calculated numerically in this field.Universidad de Sevilla PP2016-7145Comunidad Europea de Energía Atómica (EURATOM) 633305

Los Poyos del Molinillo (Frigiliana): new site of the Bronze Age in the East Axarquía (Málaga, Andalucía)

En este trabajo damos a conocer un nuevo yacimiento descubierto recientemente en el municipio de Frigiliana. La delimitación del área denominada Los Poyos del Molinillo permitió definir la existencia de un poblado y una covacha con restos de una inhumación. El estudio de los materiales arqueológicos, que incluye cerámica, piezas metálicas o elementos de molturación, o la datación AMS obtenida, permiten adscribir el yacimiento a la Edad del Bronce y ampliar el conocimiento de esta etapa en la Axarquía oriental (Málaga, Andalucía).In this work we present a new site recently discovered in the Frigiliana municipality (Málaga). The spatial delimitation of the so called Los Poyos del Molinillo area let us define a Bronze age settlement and an inhumation burial cave. The archaeological record includes ceramic, metallic items or grinding elements, all of them belonging to the Bronze Age, as well as an AMS Radiocarbon data. This site extends the knowledge about this period in the Eastern Axarquía (Málaga, Andalucía)

Tools to quantify environmental impact and their application to teaching: projects City-zen and HEREVEA

This article presents several strategies to teach university students and professionals in the sector how to reduce the environmental impact of our cities. Firstly, the European City- zen project is summarized and its application to the city of Seville, more specifically to Tirode Linea, a working class neighbourhood, is described; the viability and functionality of the neighbourhood are analyzed and improvements are proposed so that it can become an area that attains zero emissions. Secondly, the HEREVEA project is presented, which developed software for the feasibility analysis and proposals to improve neighbourhoods. Its usefulness is discussed in a case study carried out in the same neighbourhood. Finally, the experience of how to transmit all this knowledge through university teaching is presented