Posibilidades lignitíferas de la cuenca Neógena de Ademuz (Fosa de Teruel)

La cuenca Terciaria de Ademuz es una cuenca intramontañosa-finialpídica colmatada por sedimentos del Mioceno-Plioceno. Se han distinguido cinco unidades litoestratigráficas en los sedimentos terciarios, de las cuales la Unidad Blanca Inferior presenta cierto interés en cuanto a posibilidades lignitíferas. Corresponde esta Unidad a un ambiente lacustre, en el que se depositan dos tipos de facies: Una travertínica, indicadora de un medio palustre muy somero, con abundante vegetación y condiciones oxidantes, y otra de ambiente tipo charca, que corresponde a un medio con lámina de agua escasa, pero mayor que en el caso anterior, con aguas tranquilas y condiciones reductoras, que son las idóneas para la acumulación de restos vegetales y formación de carbón. Las facies de último tipo predominan en dos zonas telmáticas, situadas al abrigo de islas interiores o en zonas marginales, en ambos casos protegidas de los aportes terrígenos, pero fuera de la zona de deposición de sedimentos exclusivamente lacustres, que se corresponden con las zonas de mayor cantidad de indicios de lignito

Probing quantum gravity using photons from a flare of the active galactic nucleus Markarian 501 observed by the MAGIC telescope

We analyze the timing of photons observed by the MAGIC telescope during a flare of the active galactic nucleus Mkn 501 for a possible correlation with energy, as suggested by some models of quantum gravity (QG), which predict a vacuum refractive index \simeq 1 + (E/M_{QGn})^n, n = 1,2. Parametrizing the delay between gamma-rays of different energies as \Delta t =\pm\tau_l E or \Delta t =\pm\tau_q E^2, we find \tau_l=(0.030\pm0.012) s/GeV at the 2.5-sigma level, and \tau_q=(3.71\pm2.57)x10^{-6} s/GeV^2, respectively. We use these results to establish lower limits M_{QG1} > 0.21x10^{18} GeV and M_{QG2} > 0.26x10^{11} GeV at the 95% C.L. Monte Carlo studies confirm the MAGIC sensitivity to propagation effects at these levels. Thermal plasma effects in the source are negligible, but we cannot exclude the importance of some other source effect.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, Phys. Lett. B, reflects published versio

The Theory of Brown Dwarfs and Extrasolar Giant Planets

Straddling the traditional realms of the planets and the stars, objects below the edge of the main sequence have such unique properties, and are being discovered in such quantities, that one can rightly claim that a new field at the interface of planetary science and and astronomy is being born. In this review, we explore the essential elements of the theory of brown dwarfs and giant planets, as well as of the new spectroscopic classes L and T. To this end, we describe their evolution, spectra, atmospheric compositions, chemistry, physics, and nuclear phases and explain the basic systematics of substellar-mass objects across three orders of magnitude in both mass and age and a factor of 30 in effective temperature. Moreover, we discuss the distinctive features of those extrasolar giant planets that are irradiated by a central primary, in particular their reflection spectra, albedos, and transits. Aspects of the latest theory of Jupiter and Saturn are also presented. Throughout, we highlight the effects of condensates, clouds, molecular abundances, and molecular/atomic opacities in brown dwarf and giant planet atmospheres and summarize the resulting spectral diagnostics. Where possible, the theory is put in its current observational context.Comment: 67 pages (including 36 figures), RMP RevTeX LaTeX, accepted for publication in the Reviews of Modern Physics. 30 figures are color. Most of the figures are in GIF format to reduce the overall size. The full version with figures can also be found at: http://jupiter.as.arizona.edu/~burrows/papers/rm

The EU Geocapacity Project—Saline aquifers storage capacity in Group South countries

AbstractThe EU Geocapacity Project aims to obtain an estimation of the potential capacity of CO2 storage in deep saline aquifers, depleted hydrocarbon fields and coal beds in Europe. Prior to this project, the availability of data to calculate the storage capacity differed very much in each country. Some of them have already provided estimations for CO2 storage capacities in the framework of previous projects (e.g. GESTCO (FP5) and CASTOR (FP6)), while other countries have not been evaluated at all. Therefore, an important part of the work performed in the frame of the GeoCapacity project has been to homogenise estimation methodologies and reliability of data. Emphasis has been placed on the study of saline aquifers, as this type of geological formation, was until now, the less studied and most poorly understood compared to the depleted oil and gas fields. The work activities were organized in geographical groups to make them easier to manage.The Group South is composed of four Mediterranean countries: Spain, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia plus Bosnia–Herzegovina. Specific methodologies were adopted in order to achieve different goals: •Creation of maps of regional storage potential•Collection of geological information of storage sites•Estimation of storage capacities•Elaboration of databases to be inserted into GIS•Detailed analysis of case studies and scenarios for economic evaluation•Integration of the storage capacity data with emission sources and pipeline infrastructure Each of the countries belonging to Group South worked and continue to work in order to achieve such goals, despite of their different geological settings. The initial phase of such analyses included mapping of regional aquifers and locations of possible storages and seals described using data from hydrocarbon or water exploration, represented by borehole data and seismic surveys. Later on, structures contained in these aquifers were studied and CO2 storage capacity estimated with a higher precision. The two most promising or best defined structures in every country have been selected for a more detailed study.As a result of this project, it can be observed that CCS can play an important role in Mediterranean countries, as part of their strategy to mitigate GHG emission. Storage efficiency factor determination is the key issue, and also further exploration for new data

Reversed halo sign as initial manifestation of interstitial pneumonitis associated with Sjögren’s syndrome

Introduction: Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune multisystemic disease. Respiratory manifestations of SS are polymorphic and vary in severity. Among the possible manifestations, organizing pneumonia (OP) is a rare entity. Reversed halo sign (RHS) is an unusual radiological finding classically related to OP but it is also reported in other forms of interstitial pneumonitis (IP). Case presentation: We report a case of a 65-year-old woman with dyspnoea and persistent-cough of 2-month duration. She presented with RHS as an initial manifestation of IP related to SS. Chest radiography and computer tomography showed multiple well defined lesions with a central ground glass area and peripheral rim of consolidation. No pathological lymph nodes were found. After investigations, the associated diagnosis of SS was confirmed. The patient started steroids (0.5 mg/kg/day) and after 10 weeks of steroid tapering a significant clinical improvement was observed, with radiological resolution of lung lesions. We make some general considerations about differential diagnosis, conditions related to RHS and different patterns of lung involvement in SS. A report of the literature emphasizes this case as an exceptional way of presentation. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge this is the second reported OP case associated with SS manifesting as RHS. RSH as an expression of IP related to SS is exceptional, either in the pattern of OP or non-specific IP