Radiological impact of cement, concrete and admixtures in Spain

It has been analyzed samples of portland cement (PC) with and without admixtures, samples of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) with different content of Al2O3 and specimens of concrete made with PC and CAC using High Resolution Gamma Spectrometry. The activity concentration index (I) is much less than 0.5 mSv y-1 for all the concrete specimens according to the Radiation protection document 112 of the European Commission. The PC without admixtures (CEM I 52,5 R) and the PC with addition of limestone (CEM II/BL 32,5 N) also have an I value much lower than 0.5 and the PC with the addition of fly ash and blast furnace slag (CEM IV/B (V) 32,5 N and III/A 42.5 N/SR) have an I value close to 0.6. The I value of the CAC used in the manufacture of structural precast concrete is of the order of 1 mSv y-1. Some of the CAC used in refractory concrete reaches a value close to 2 mSv y-1.

The syntheses and characterization of nickel complexes; investigation of Ni(dppp)2 and [NiX(dppp)n]x, potentially catalytically active nickel(0)/(I) species for cross-coupling reactions

This thesis describes an investigation in which we compare Ni(0), Ni(I) and Ni(II) complexes containing 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) as a phosphine ligand for their abilities to effect three types of cross-coupling reactions: Buchwald-Hartwig Amination, Heck-Mizoroki, and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions with different types of substrates. The Ni(0) complex Ni(dppp)2 is known and we have synthesized it via a new procedure involving zinc reduction of the known NiCl2(dppp) in the presence of an excess of dppp. The Ni(0) complex was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Since Ni(I) complexes of dppp seem unknown, we have synthesized what at this stage appear to be NiXdpppn/[NiX(dppp)n]x (X = Cl, Br, I; n = 1,2, x = 1, 2) by comproportionation of molar equivalents of Ni(dppp)2 and NiX2dppp, X= Cl, Br, I.

Letters of Queen Henrietta Maria, including her private correspondence with Charles the First.

Mode of access: Internet.

Lives of celebrated women:

Added t.p., engr.

The letters of Queen Victoria, a selection from Her Majesty's correspondence between the years 1837 and 1861,

I. 1837-1843.--II. 1844-1853.--III. 1854-1861.

The history of the kingdom of Scotland, from Fergus the first king, to the commencement of the union of the two kingdoms of Scotland and England, in the sixth year of the reign of Our late Sovereign Queen Anne, anno 1707 ... To which is added, an account of the rebellion in Scotland in the year 1715 ... As also a description of the kingdom of Scotland ...

Bound in old calf, rebacked.

Letters and poems of Queen Elisabeth (Carmen Sylva)

"Poems ('Vers libre') by Carmen Sylva": vol. II, p. 175-222.

Upper Devonian biostratigraphy of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, southwest Spain Part One: Miospores

The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), which forms part of the Variscan orogenic massif, is renowned for the magnitude and extent of its massive sulfide mineralization. The stratigraphic record of the IPB consists of Upper Palaeozoic sedimentary and igneous rocks. In ascending order, these comprise the thick Phyllite-Quartzite Group attributed to the Middle and Upper Devonian and characterized by shales and quartzites with conglomeratic and carbonate intercalations towards the top; the appreciably thinner Volcano-Sedimentary Complex, a heterogeneous uppermost Devonian-Mississippian unit embodying diverse volcanic, subvolcanic, and sedimentary rocks that host the massive sulfide deposits; and the shaly and sandy, turbiditic Culm Group (Carboniferous). This entire succession was folded and faulted during the Asturian phase of the Variscan Orogeny that gave rise to a thin-skinned type structure. The present study constitutes a detailed blostratigraphic investigation of palynologically productive samples representative of the Phyllite-Quartzite Group and the basal (anoxic) portion of the Volcano-Sedimentary Complex. These were collected from surface and mine exposures variously located in the Spanish part of the IPB; out of 282 samples processed, 117 proved to be productive palynologically. The aim of this project is to provide comprehensive palynostratigraphic data applicable to precise dating and correlation of the IPB's stratigraphic succession (i.e., of the two sampled lithostratigraphic units), which has hitherto been investigated biostratigraphically on a relatively localized basis. The results are incorporated in two successive parts. The first of these, i. e., the present paper, focuses on the systematic analysis of the terrestrial (miospore) component of the palynological assemblages. The second part, devoted to the marine, organic-walled microphytoplankton (acritarchs and prasinophytes), will evaluate the stratigraphic significance of the IPB palynofloras and their application to elucidating the geological history of the region. In the systematic-descriptive section, which occupies the bulk of this paper, 55 species of trilete miospores are described and are allocated among 34 genera, two of which (Cristicavatispora and Epigruspora) are newly instituted herein. The majority of the species are either positively identifiable or closely affiliable with previously named species. The nine newly established species are as follows: Camptozonotriletes confertus, Indotriradites diversispinosus, Cristicavatispora dispersa (type species), Epigruspora regularis (type species), Ancyrospora? implicata, Endosporites tuberosus, Rugospora explicata, Spelaeotriletes plicatus, and Teichertospora iberica.

The syntheses and characterization of nickel complexes; investigation of Ni(dppp)2 and [NiX(dppp)n]x, potentially catalytically active nickel(0)/(I) species for cross-coupling reactions

This thesis describes an investigation in which we compare Ni(0), Ni(I) and Ni(II) complexes containing 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) as a phosphine ligand for their abilities to effect three types of cross-coupling reactions: Buchwald-Hartwig Amination, Heck-Mizoroki, and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions with different types of substrates. The Ni(0) complex Ni(dppp)2 is known and we have synthesized it via a new procedure involving zinc reduction of the known NiCl2(dppp) in the presence of an excess of dppp. The Ni(0) complex was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Since Ni(I) complexes of dppp seem unknown, we have synthesized what at this stage appear to be NiXdpppn/[NiX(dppp)n]x (X = Cl, Br, I; n = 1,2, x = 1, 2) by comproportionation of molar equivalents of Ni(dppp)2 and NiX2dppp, X= Cl, Br, I.

Strontium isotopes and sedimentology of a marine Triassic succession (upper Ladinian) of the westernmost Tethys, Spain

Chemical Stratigraphy, or the study of the variation of chemical elements within sedimentary sequences, has gradually become an experienced tool in the research and correlation of global geologic events. In this paper 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios of the Triassic marine carbonates (Muschelkalk facies) of southeast Iberian Ranges, Iberian Peninsula, are presented and the representative Sr-isotopic curve constructed for the upper Ladinian interval. The studied stratigraphic succession is 102 meters thick, continuous, and well preserved. Previous paleontological data from macro and micro, ammonites, bivalves, foraminifera, conodonts and palynological assemblages, suggest a Fassanian-Longobardian age (Late Ladinian). Although diagenetic minerals are present in small amounts, the elemental data content of bulk carbonate samples, especially Sr contents, show a major variation that probably reflects palaeoenvironmental changes. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios curve shows a rise from 0.707649 near the base of the section to 0.707741 and then declines rapidly to 0.707624, with a final values rise up to 0.70787 in the upper part. The data up to meter 80 in the studied succession is broadly concurrent with 87Sr/86Sr ratios of sequences of similar age and complements these data. Moreover, the sequence stratigraphic framework and its key surfaces, which are difficult to be recognised just based in the facies analysis, are characterised by combining variations of the Ca, Mg, Mn, Sr and CaCO3 contents

New contributions to the native and alien flora in riparian habitats of the Cantabrian watershed (Northern Spain)

As a result of a floristic survey carried out in riparian habitats of northern Spain, new chorological data are provided for 9 alien and 6 native plant species. Some species are reported for the first time at regional scale, such as Carex strigosa, Helianthus x laetiflorus and Persicaria pensylvanica in Cantabria. Also noteworthy is the finding of naturalised populations of the North American grass Muhlenbergia schreberi at the Urumea river basin, which represents the second reference for the Iberian Peninsula.

The origins of the Inquisition in Andalusia

Es bien conocido que los primeros tribunales de la nueva Inquisición fueron establecidos por Fernando e Isabel en Andalucía, tanto en Sevilla como en Córdoba. Su introducción fue, por supuesto, el resultado de un claro propósito de lograr la ortodoxia religiosa entre los cristianos de origen judío los llamados «cristianos nuevos» o conversos. Pero el contexto político también influyó en la nueva institución porque contribuyó a asegurar el régimen de Isabel tras la amenaza que había representado su rival Juana “La- Beltraneja” y su marido portugués, al tiempo que podía servir para controlar mejor los conflictos entre «bandos», especialmente en Andalucía. Con todo, no debería pensarse que la Inquisición y sus horrores fueron una cuestión solamente atribuible a España. Por el contrario, tuvo sus precedentes y paralelos en otros países europeos, entre ellos Francia, Italia e Inglaterra.

I still dream of my grandfather's red roses

"I still dream of my grandfather's red roses" is an online audio documentary. Asking people from her community to make a statement beginning with the words "I dream of", Australian documentarist Phoebe Hart curates these fragments and creatively envisages the literal and figurative world of dreams, arresting our collective hopes, desires and fears.

Correlation of plasma IGF-I concentrations and growth rate in aquacultured finfish: a tool for assessing the potential of new diets

A recently developed radioimmunoassay (RIA) for measuring insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) in a variety of fish species was used to investigate the correlation between growth rate and circulating IGF-I concentrations of barramundi (Lates calcarifer), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and Southern Bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii). Plasma IGF-I concentration significantly increased with increasing ration size in barramundi and IGF-I concentration was positively correlated to growth rates obtained in Atlantic salmon (r2=0.67) and barramundi (r2=0.65) when fed a variety of diet formulations. IGF-I was also positively correlated to protein concentration (r2=0.59). This evidence suggested that measuring IGF-I concentration may provide a useful tool for monitoring fish growth rate and also as a method to rapidly assess different aquaculture diets. However, no such correlation was demonstrated in the tuna study probably due to seasonal cooling of sea surface temperature shortly before blood was sampled. Thus, some recommendations for the design and sampling strategy of nutritional trials where IGF-I concentrations are measured are discussed

Crystallization behaviour of polyethylene and i-polybutene-1 blends

The mutual influence of the components on the crystallization behaviour of polyblends, namely, isotactic polybutene-1 (PB) with low-density and high-density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE), has been studied using techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry, infra-red spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, etc. Each component in the blend is observed to crystallize independently. There is phase separation and incompatibility, as shown from tensile properties and scanning electron microscopic observation of the fracture surface of the blend. For HDPE-PE blends (<30% HDPE), unusual form I′ crystals of PB are observed along with the usual form II.