A standardised method for measuring in situ denitrification in shallow aquifers: numerical validation and measurements in riparian wetlands

A tracer test to examine in situ denitrification in shallow groundwater by a piezometer with a packer system used bromide as a tracer of dilution and acetylene (10%) to block the denitrification process at the nitrous oxide stage. During the test, dissolved oxygen, nitrate (NO3-), bromide (Br-), nitrous oxide (N2O) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were measured. To calibrate the experimental method, comparison with numerical simulations of the groundwater transfer were carried out, taking into account the environmental characteristics. The method was tested by measurements undertaken in different environmental conditions (geology, land use and hydrology) in two riparian wetlands. Denitrification rates measured by this method ranged from 5.7 10-6 g N-NO3-L-1 h-1 to 1.97 10-3 g N-NO3-L-1 h-1 The method is applicable in shallow aquifers with a permeability from 10-2 to 10-4m s-1

A note on the predictions of models with modular flavor symmetries

Models with modular flavor symmetries have been thought to be highly predictive. We point out that these predictions are subject to corrections from non–holomorphic terms in the Lagrangean. Specifically, in the models discussed in the literature, the Kähler potential is not fixed by the symmetries, for instance. The most general Kähler potential consistent with the symmetries of the model contains additional terms with additional parameters, which reduce the predictive power of these constructions. We also comment on potential ways of how one may conceivably retain the predictivity

Employment dynamics during economic recoveries

Employment turnover was significantly lower following the Great Recession than following the previous two recessions.Employment

Starting a business during a recovery: this time, it's different

Business cycles ; Economic conditions

Bounds on quark mass matrices elements due to measured properties of the mixing matrix and present values of the quark masses

We obtain constraints on possible structures of mass matrices in the quark sector by using as experimental restrictions the determined values of the quark masses at the $M_Z$ energy scale, the magnitudes of the quark mixing matrix elements $V_{\rm ud}$, $V_{\rm us}$, $V_{\rm cd}$, and $V_{\rm cs}$, and the Jarlskog invariant $J(V)$. Different cases of specific mass matrices are examined in detail. The quality of the fits for the Fritzsch and Stech type mass matrices is about the same with $\chi^2/{\rm dof}=4.23/3=1.41$ and $\chi^2/{\rm dof}=9.10/4=2.28$, respectively. The fit for a simple generalization (one extra parameter) of the Fritzsch type matrices, in the physical basis, is much better with $\chi^2/{\rm dof}=1.89/4=0.47$. For comparison we also include the results using the quark masses at the 2 GeV energy scale. The fits obtained at this energy scale are similar to that at $M_Z$ energy scale, implying that our results are unaffected by the evolution of the quark masses from 2 to 91 GeV.Comment: Evolution effects include

Compositional analysis of InAs-GaAs-GaSb heterostructures by low-loss electron energy loss spectroscopy

As an alternative to Core-Loss Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy, Low-Loss EELS is suitable for compositional analysis of complex heterostructures, such as the InAs-GaAs-GaSb system, since in this energy range the edges corresponding to these elements are better defined than in Core-Loss. Furthermore, the analysis of the bulk plasmon peak, which is present in this energy range, also provides information about the composition. In this work, compositional information in an InAs-GaAs-GaSb heterostructure has been obtained from Low-Loss EEL spectra

Nitrogen dynamics in the shallow groundwater of a riparian wetland zone of the Garonne, SW France: nitrate inputs, bacterial densities, organic matter supply and denitrification measurements

This study highlights the role of interactions between surface and sub-surface water of the riparian zone of a large river (the Garonne, SW France). Information is given about the role of surface water in supplying Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC ) to the riparian zone for nitrate removal processes. The densities of bacteria (up to 3.3106 cell m L-1) in groundwater are strongly conditioned by the water moving during flood events. Total bacterial densities in groundwater were related to surface water bacterial densities. In sediment, total bacteria are attached mainly to fine particles (90 % in the fraction < 1 mm). Spatial variations in organic carbon and nitrate content in groundwater at the site studied are correlated with exchanges between the groundwater and the river, from the upstream to the downstream part of the meander. Total bacterial densities, nitrate and decressing organic carbon concentrations follow the same pattern. These results suggest that, in this kind of riparian wetland, nitrate from alluvial groundwater influenced by agricultural practices may be denitrified by bacteria in the presence of organic carbon from river surface water