Nutrient dynamics in Mediterranean temporary streams: A case study in Pardiela catchment (Degebe River, Portugal)

Most of the streams in the Mediterranean region are temporary, following predictable seasonal of flooding and drying, with a transition from lotic conditions to shallow lentic conditions. The goal of our study was to assess the nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in channel-bed processes of temporary streams between floods. Results show that, during winter, temperatures ranged between 9.5 and 11.2 °C and oxygen concentration ranged from 8.0 to 9.5 mg L⁻¹, whereas, during summer, temperatures varied between 21.2 and 26.8 °C and oxygen between 1.2 and 5.3 mg L⁻¹, with oxygen depletion in the pools during the night. The nitrate concentrations were far more abundant during winter (February), while ammonium concentration increased after stream fragmentation into pools (especially in July when oxygen depletion conditions favoured ammonification). Results on sediment profiles showed that the most active sediment layers for NH₄-N are the top 2–3 cm, corresponding to the sediment depositional sites of the stream. Phosphate concentrations had larger variability, yet concentrations decreased from winter to spring and increased again in summer, when the shallow water pools were formed. Sediment profiles at the sediment depositional sites showed that PO₄-P was more dynamic in the first 6 cm.

In Mediterranean temporary streams, nutrient dynamics vary seasonally, as the system transits from lotic conditions to shallow lentic conditions, evidencing the regeneration of nutrients from organic and inorganic matter during the flow cessation period.     

The Population of KPC-Scale Flat-Spectrum Radio Sources

In this paper we present a subsample of 55 flat-spectrum radio sources dominated by (∼ 100 mas) kpc-scale structure, selected from a parent sample of 1665 VLA sources. Most are core-jets and 23 are CSO/MSO candidates. Properties of the subsample are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Non-Linear Gravitational Clustering Using the Zel'dovich Approximation

As an alternative to computationally expensive N-body simulations for gravitional clustering, the Zel'dovich approximation (ZA) was studied in 3D, 2D and 1D. Plots of the density contrast were compared against linear theory and the exact solution. The ZA was found to perform very well in the linear regime, better than linear theory, and to give a good approximation well into the non-linear regime. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Tableau de répartition stratigraphique des Grands Foraminifères caractéristiques du Crétacé moyen de la région Méditerranéenne

Le Groupe de Travail Européen des Grands Foraminifères présente un tableau de répartition stratigraphique de 42 espèces bien définies du Crétacé moyen de la région méditerranéenne. La répartition stratigraphique proposée pour chaque espèce est fondée soit sur des propres observations soit sur des données de la littérature supprimer et est contrôlée par la présence d'Ammonites ou de Foraminifères planctoniques.A summarizing account is presented of the deliberations of the research group for Large Foraminifers of the IGCP Project “Mid-Cretaceous Events”. Large Foraminifers are of incontestable value for dating carbonate platform sequences owing to the absence of many other diagnostic groups of organísms. A table of stratigraphical distributions for 42 species is presented.     

Hydrochemical aspects of the negro river,patagonia, argentina

Water samples collected in the Negro River drainage basin (Patagonia, Argentina) during two different field trips—the first in May 1972 and the second in January 1973—were analysed for the major dissolved inorganic constituents. Q-mode factor analyses demonstrate that two factors account for over 98 per cent of the variance in both sample suites. They represent: a) the direct influence of solution of evaporites and associated carbonate rocks in an arid environment-type; b) the influence of the weathering products of metamorphic, igneous rocks, and varied non-calcareous sediments. R-mode factor analyses of the two sets of data suggest that although the main mechanisms controlling water chemistry were essentially the same, the principal sources of dissolved solids differed significantly in each separate occasion. Further, the major mechanisms controlling its water chemistry are within a wide spectrum of the so-called ‘rock dominance’.     

The Fresnel space imager as a disk evolution watcher

The Fresnel Diffractive Imaging Arrays form high resolution images by diffraction with low radiometric efficiencies. They are extremely good devices to make high resolution imaging and integral field spectroscopy of bright sources. Thirty meter arrays will provide a spatial resolution of 0.8 mas at Lyman-?? that will open a completely new field of research: the study of matter distribution around disks and their gravitational drives. In this contribution, the potentials of the 3.6 m precursors (or probes) for astrophysical disks and jets research, are described. Main emphasis is made on young planetary disks.     

Pre main sequence stars as UV sources for the World Space Observatory-UV mission

Pre-main sequence stars are bright UV (UV) sources compared with their main sequence analogues. The source of this excess is the high energy processes associated with the physics of accretion/outflow during early stellar evolution. In this review, the main sources of UV excess are described as well as the most significant “unknowns” in the field. Special emphasis is made on the results from the last observations carried out with the Hubble Space Telescope and on the relevance of future dedicated monitoring programs with the World Space Observatory-UV.     

Finding the most variable stars in the Orion Belt with the All Sky Automated Survey

We look for high‐amplitude variable young stars in the open clusters and associations of the Orion Belt. We use public data from the ASAS‐3 Photometric V ‐band Catalogue of the All Sky Automated Survey, infrared photometry from the 2MASS and IRAS catalogues, proper motions, and the Aladin sky atlas to obtain a list of the most variable stars in a survey area of side 5° centred on the bright star Alnilam (ε Ori) in the centre of the Orion Belt. We identify 32 highly variable stars, of which 16 had not been reported to vary before. They are mostly variable young stars and candidates (16) and background giants (8), but there are also field cataclysmic variables, contact binaries, and eclipsing binary candidates. Of the young stars, which typically are active Herbig Ae/Be and T Tauri stars with Hα emission and infrared flux excess, we discover four new variables and confirm the variability status of another two. Some of them belong to the well known σ Orionis cluster. Besides, six of the eight giants are new variables, and three are new periodic variables (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)