Hydrological control of large hurricane-induced lahars: evidence from rainfall-runoff modeling, seismic and video monitoring

Abstract. The Volcán de Colima, one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico, is commonly affected by tropical rains related to hurricanes that form over the Pacific Ocean. In 2011, 2013 and 2015 hurricanes Jova, Manuel and Patricia, respectively, triggered tropical storms that deposited up to 400 mm of rain in 36 h, with maximum intensities of 50 mm h −1. The effects were devastating, with the formation of multiple lahars along La Lumbre and Montegrande ravines, which are the most active channels in sediment delivery on the south-southwest flank of the volcano. Deep erosion along the river channels and several marginal landslides were observed, and the arrival of block-rich flow fronts resulted in damages to bridges and paved roads in the distal reaches of the ravines. The temporal sequence of these flow events is reconstructed and analyzed using monitoring data (including video images, seismic records and rainfall data) with respect to the rainfall characteristics and the hydrologic response of the watersheds based on rainfall-runoff numerical simulation. For the studied events, lahars occurred 5–6 h after the onset of rainfall, lasted several hours and were characterized by several pulses with block-rich fronts and a maximum flow discharge of 900 m3 s −1. Rainfall-runoff simulations were performer using the SCS-curve number and the Green–Ampt infiltration models, providing a similar result in the detection of simulated maximum watershed peaks discharge. Results show different behavior for the arrival times of the first lahar pulses that correlate with the simulated catchment's peak discharge for La Lumbre ravine and with the peaks in rainfall intensity for Montegrande ravine. This different behavior is related to the area and shape of the two watersheds. Nevertheless, in all analyzed cases, the largest lahar pulse always corresponds with the last one and correlates with the simulated maximum peak discharge of these catchments. Data presented here show that flow pulses within a lahar are not randomly distributed in time, and they can be correlated with rainfall peak intensity and/or watershed discharge, depending on the watershed area and shape. This outcome has important implications for hazard assessment during extreme hydro-meteorological events, as it could help in providing real-time alerts. A theoretical rainfall distribution curve was designed for Volcán de Colima based on the rainfall and time distribution of hurricanes Manuel and Patricia. This can be used to run simulations using weather forecasts prior to the actual event, in order to estimate the arrival time of main lahar pulses, usually characterized by block-rich fronts, which are responsible for most of the damage to infrastructure and loss of goods and lives

Two-Particle Interference with Double Twin-Atom Beams

We demonstrate a source for correlated pairs of atoms characterized by two opposite momenta and two spatial modes forming a Bell state only involving external degrees of freedom. We characterize the state of the emitted atom beams by observing strong number squeezing up to -10 dB in the correlated two-particle modes of emission. We furthermore demonstrate genuine two-particle interference in the normalized second-order correlation function $g^{(2)}$ relative to the emitted atoms.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Mechanisms of Degradation and Identification of Connectivity and Erosion Hotspots

The context of processes and characteristics of soil erosion and land degradation in Mediterranean lands is outlined. The concept of connectivity is explained. The remainder of the chapter demonstrates development of methods of mapping, analysis and modelling of connectivity to produce a spatial framework for development of strategies of use of vegetation to reduce soil erosion and land degradation. The approach is applied in a range of typical land use types and at a hierarchy of scale from land unit to catchment. Patterns of connectivity and factors influencing the location and intensity of processes are identified, including the influence of topography, structures such as agricultural terraces and check dams, and past land uses. Functioning of connectivity pathways in various rainstorms is assessed. Modes of terrace construction and extent of maintenance, as well as presence of tracks and steep gradients are found to be of importance. A method of connectivity modelling that incorporates effects of structure and vegetation was developed and has been widely applied subsequently

Spectrally-engineered photonic molecules as optical sensors with enhanced sensitivity: a proposal and numerical analysis

We report a theoretical study of clusters of evanescently-coupled 2D whispering-gallery (WG) mode optical micro-cavities (termed "photonic molecules") as chemosensing and biosensing platforms. Photonic molecules (PMs) supporting modes with narrow linewidths, wide mode spacing, and greatly enhanced sensitivity to the changes in the dielectric constant of their environment and to the presence of individual sub-wavelength sized nanoparticles in the PM evanescent-field region are numerically designed. This type of optical biosensor can be fabricated in a variety of material platforms and integrated on a single chip that makes it a promising candidate for a small and robust lab-on-a-chip device. Possible applications of the developed methodology and the designed PM structures to the near-field microscopy, single nano-emitter microcavity lasing, and cavity-controlled single-molecule fluorescence enhancement are also discussed.Comment: 14 pages with 9 figures (to appear in JOSA B 2006

Imaging of the Inner Zone of Blast Furnaces Using MuonRadiography: The BLEMAB Project

The aim of the BLEMAB project (BLast furnace stack density Estimation through online Muons ABsorption measurements) is the application of muon radiography techniques, to image a blast furnace’s inner zone. In particular, the goal of the study is to characterize the geometry and size of the so-called “cohesive zone”, i.e., the spatial region where the slowly downward-moving material begins to soften and melt, which plays such an important role in the performance of the blast furnace itself. Thanks to the high penetration power of natural cosmic-ray muon radiation, muon transmission radiography could be an appropriate non invasive methodology for the imaging of large high-density structures such as a blast furnace, whose linear dimensions can be up to a few tens of meters. A state-of-the-art muon tracking system is currently in development and will be installed at a blast furnace on the ArcelorMittal site in Bremen (Germany), where it will collect data for a period of various months. In this paper, the status of the project and the expectations based on preliminary simulations are presented and briefly discussed

The BLEMAB European project: Muon radiography as an imaging tool in the industrial field

The European project called BLEMAB (BLast furnace stack density Estimation through on-line Muons ABsorption measurements), provides for the application of the muon radiography technique in the industrial environment. The project represents a non-invasive way of monitoring a blast furnace and in particular aims to study the geometric and density development of the so-called “cohesive zone”, which is important for the performance of the blast furnace itself. The installation of the detectors is expected in 2022 at the ArcelorMittal site in Bremen (Germany). This paper describes the status of the project, the experimental setup and the first results obtained with preliminary simulations. © 2022 Societa Italiana di Fisica. All rights reserved

Smart Contracts in Insurance: A Law and Futurology Perspective

Smart contracts are innovative contracts that differ from traditional ones in that they are self-executing, as they entail the possibility of representing contract terms in programming code that gets automatically executed on a blockchain or other distributed ledgers. Following the latest developments in blockchain technology, smart contracts have been the focus of growing attention and are currently among the major innovations that are taking place in financial services. This paper investigates the scope for their application in insurance both in the near and longer term, exploring the legal challenges that they pose. The analysis shows that in the near term smart contracts will be mainly exploited to automate underwriting, claims handling and payouts. It considers how the automation of these processes will operate at law and emphasises the impact that smart contracts can have especially on the reduction of transaction costs and on the very essence of the insurance contract—the insurer's promise to pay. Building on current technological developments, the paper then turns to role that smart contracts can play in insurance in the longer term, advancing the prospect of the automation of the entire insurance contract. In particular, it argues that the interaction between smart contracts and artificial intelligence and machine learning can challenge traditional frameworks of thought such as incomplete contracting and, in the farther-distant future, will culminate in contracts that will both self-interpret and self-enforce their terms—what can be called the true smart contracts. The analysis identifies and addresses the main legal issues that can arise in this context, exploring how to strike a balance between the goal of fostering innovation and the need to ensure policyholder and investor protection

Zinc uptake promotes myoblast differentiation via Zip7 transporter and activation of Akt signalling transduction pathway

[EN] Myogenic regeneration occurs through a chain of events beginning with the output of satellite cells from quiescent state, formation of competent myoblasts and later fusion and differentiation into myofibres. Traditionally, growth factors are used to stimulate muscle regeneration but this involves serious off-target effects, including alterations in cell homeostasis and cancer. In this work, we have studied the use of zinc to trigger myogenic differentiation. We show that zinc promotes myoblast proliferation, differentiation and maturation of myofibres. We demonstrate that this process occurs through the PI3K/Akt pathway, via zinc stimulation of transporter Zip7. Depletion of zinc transporter Zip7 by RNA interference shows reduction of both PI3K/Akt signalling and a significant reduction of multinucleated myofibres and myotubes development. Moreover, we show that mature myofibres, obtained through stimulation with high concentrations of zinc, accumulate zinc and so we hypothesise their function as zinc reservoirs into the cell.P.R. and R.S. acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) (MAT2015-69315-C3-1-R). P.R. acknowledges the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). CIBER-BBN is an initiative funded by the VI National R&D&I Plan 2008-2011, Iniciativa Ingenio 2010, Consolider Program, CIBER Actions and financed by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III with assistance from the European Regional Development Fund. R.S. acknowledges the support from the Spanish MECD through the PRX16/00208 grant. MSS acknowledges support from the European Research Council (ERC - HealInSynergy 306990) and the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC - EP/P001114/1)Mnatsakanyan, H.; Sabater I Serra, R.; Rico Tortosa, PM.; Salmerón Sánchez, M. (2018). Zinc uptake promotes myoblast differentiation via Zip7 transporter and activation of Akt signalling transduction pathway. Scientific Reports. 8:1-14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32067-0S1148Frontera, W. R. & Ochala, J. Skeletal muscle: a brief review of structure and function. Calcif. Tissue Int. 96, 183–195 (2015).Wolfe, R. R., Frontera, W. R. & Ochala, J. The underappreciated role of muscle in health and disease. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 84, 475–82 (2006).Sciorati, C., Rigamonti, E., Manfredi, A. A. & Rovere-Querini, P. Cell death, clearance and immunity in the skeletal muscle. Cell Death Differ. 23, 927–937 (2016).Wang, Y. X. & Rudnicki, M. A. Satellite cells, the engines of muscle repair. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 13, 127–133 (2011).Yin, H., Price, F. & Rudnicki, M. A. Satellite cells and the muscle stem cell niche. Physiol. Rev. 93, 23–67 (2013).Dhawan, J. & Rando, T. A. Stem cells in postnatal myogenesis: Molecular mechanisms of satellite cell quiescence, activation and replenishment. Trends Cell Biol. 15, 666–673 (2005).Yun, K. & Wold, B. Skeletal muscle determination and differentiation: Story of a core regulatory network and its context. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 8, 877–889 (1996).Gharaibeh, B. et al. Biological approaches to improve skeletal muscle healing after injury and disease. Birth Defects Res. Part C Embryo Today Rev. 96, 82–94 (2012).Schiaffino, S. & Mammucari, C. Regulation of skeletal muscle growth by the IGF1-Akt/PKB pathway: insights from genetic models. Skelet. Muscle 1, 4 (2011).Sandri, M. Signaling in muscle atrophy and hypertrophy. Physiology (Bethesda). 23, 160–70 (2008).Karalaki, M., Fili, S., Philippou, A. & Koutsilieris, M. Muscle regeneration: cellular and molecular events. In Vivo 23, 779–96 (2009).Fujio, Y. et al. Cell cycle withdrawal promotes myogenic induction of Akt, a positive modulator of myocyte survival. Mol. Cell. Biol. 19, 5073–82 (1999).Wilson, E. M. & Rotwein, P. Control of MyoD function during initiation of muscle differentiation by an autocrine signaling pathway activated by insulin-like growth factor-II. J. Biol. Chem. 281, 29962–29971 (2006).Sun, L., Liu, L., Yang, X. & Wu, Z. Akt binds prohibitin 2 and relieves its repression of MyoD and muscle differentiation. J. Cell Sci. 117, 3021–3029 (2004).Milner, D. & Cameron, J. Muscle repair and regeneration: stem cells, scaffolds, and the contributions of skeletal muscle to amphibian limb regeneration. Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 367, 133–159 (2013).Liu, C. et al. PI3K/Akt signaling transduction pathway is involved in rat vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by apelin-13. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin 42, 396–402 (2010).Eriksson, M., Taskinen, M. & Leppä, S. Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase-Dependent Activation of c-Jun and c-Fos is required for Neuronal differentiation but not for Growth and Stress Reposne in PC12 cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 207, 12–22 (2006).Arsic, N. et al. Vascular endothelial growth factor stimulates skeletal muscle regeneration in Vivo. Mol. Ther. 10, 844–854 (2004).Borselli, C. et al. Functional muscle regeneration with combined delivery of angiogenesis and myogenesis factors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 107, 3287–3292 (2010).Hanft, J. R. et al. Phase I trial on the safety of topical rhVEGF on chronic neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers. J. Wound Care 17(30–2), 34–7 (2008).Simón-Yarza, T. et al. Vascular endothelial growth factor-delivery systems for cardiac repair: An overview. Theranostics 2, 541–552 (2012).Briquez, P. S., Hubbell, J. A. & Martino, M. M. Extracellular Matrix-Inspired Growth Factor Delivery Systems for Skin Wound Healing. Adv. Wound Care 4, 479–489 (2015).Barthel, A., Ostrakhovitch, E. A., Walter, P. L., Kampkötter, A. & Klotz, L. O. Stimulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling by copper and zinc ions: Mechanisms and consequences. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 463, 175–182 (2007).Ostrakhovitch, E. A., Lordnejad, M. R., Schliess, F., Sies, H. & Klotz, L.-O. Copper ions strongly activate the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt pathway independent of the generation of reactive oxygen species. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 397, 232–239 (2002).Kaur, K., Gupta, R., Saraf, S. A. & Saraf, S. K. Zinc: The metal of life. Compr. Rev. Food Sci. Food Saf. 13, 358–376 (2014).Coleman, J. E. Zinc proteins: enzymes, storage proteins, transcription factors, and replication proteins. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 61, 897–946 (1992).Fukada, T. & Kambe, T. Molecular and genetic features of zinc transporters in physiology and pathogenesis. Metallomics 3, 662–674 (2011).Murakami, M. & Hirano, T. Intracellular zinc homeostasis and zinc signaling. Cancer Sci. 99, 1515–1522 (2008).Hogstrand, C., Kille, P., Nicholson, R. I. & Taylor, K. M. Zinc transporters and cancer: a potential role for ZIP7 as a hub for tyrosine kinase activation. Trends Mol. Med. 15, 101–111 (2009).Kolenko, V., Teper, E., Kutikov, A. & Uzzo, R. Zinc and zinc transporters in prostate carcinogenesis. Nat. Rev. Urol. 10, 219–26 (2013).Myers, S. A., Nield, A., Chew, G. S. & Myers, M. A. The zinc transporter, Slc39a7 (Zip7) is implicated in glycaemic control in skeletal muscle cells. Plos One 8 (2013).Kambe, T., Tsuji, T., Hashimoto, A. & Itsumura, N. The Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Roles of Zinc Transporters in Zinc Homeostasis and Metabolism. Physiol. Rev. 95, 749–784 (2015).Jinno, N., Nagata, M. & Takahashi, T. Marginal zinc deficiency negatively affects recovery from muscle injury in mice. Biol. Trace Elem. Res. 158, 65–72 (2014).Taylor, K. M., Hiscox, S., Nicholson, R. I., Hogstrand, C. & Kille, P. Protein Kinase CK2 Triggers Cytosolic Zinc Signaling Pathways by Phosphorylation of Zinc Channel ZIP7. Sci. Signal. 5, ra11–ra11 (2012).Yamasaki, S. et al. Zinc is a novel intracellular second messenger. J. Cell Biol. 177, 637–45 (2007).Sumitani, S., Goya, K., Testa, J. R., Kouhara, H. & Kasayama, S. Akt1 and Akt2 differently regulate muscle creatine kinase and myogenin gene transcription in insulin-induced differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Endocrinology 143, 820–828 (2002).Ohashi, K. et al. Zinc promotes proliferation and activation of myogenic cells via the PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling cascade. Exp. Cell Res. 333, 228–237 (2015).Chesters, J. K. In Zinc in human biology 53, 109–118 (1989).Burattini, S. et al. C2C12 murine myoblasts as a model of skeletal muscle development: Morpho-functional characterization. Eur. J. Histochem. 48, 223–233 (2004).Mnatsakanyan, H. et al. Controlled Assembly of Fibronectin Nanofibrils Triggered by Random Copolymer Chemistry. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 7, 18125–18135 (2015).Jeong, J. & Eide, D. J. The SLC39 family of zinc transporters. Molecular Aspects of Medicine 34, 612–619 (2013).Huang, L., Kirschke, C. P., Zhang, Y. & Yan, Y. Y. The ZIP7 gene (Slc39a7) encodes a zinc transporter involved in zinc homeostasis of the Golgi apparatus. J. Biol. Chem. 280, 15456–15463 (2005).Vallee, B. L. & Falchuk, K. H. The biochemical basis of zinc physiology. Physiological reviews 73 (1993).Ganju, N. & Eastman, A. Zinc inhibits Bax and Bak activation and cytochrome c release induced by chemical inducers of apoptosis but not by death-receptor-initiated pathways. Cell Death Differ. 10, 652–61 (2003).Chai, F., Truong-Tran, A. Q., Ho, L. H. & Zalewski, P. D. Regulation of caspase activation and apoptosis by cellular zinc fluxes and zinc deprivation: A review. Immunol. Cell Biol. 77, 272–278 (1999).Smith, P. J., Wiltshire, M., Furon, E., Beattie, J. H. & Errington, R. J. Impact of overexpression of metallothionein-1 on cell cycle progression and zinc toxicity. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 295, C1399–C1408 (2008).Bozym, R. A. et al. Free zinc ions outside a narrow concentration range are toxic to a variety of cells in vitro. Exp. Biol. Med. (Maywood). 235, 741–50 (2010).Plum, L. M., Rink, L. & Hajo, H. The essential toxin: Impact of zinc on human health. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 7, 1342–1365 (2010).Chen, C.-J. & Liao, S.-L. Zinc toxicity on neonatal cortical neurons: involvement of glutathione chelation. J. Neurochem. 85, 443–453 (2003).Chassot, A. A. et al. Confluence-induced cell cycle exit involves pre-mitotic CDK inhibition by p27Kip1 and cyclin D1 downregulation. Cell Cycle 7, 2038–2046 (2008).Spencer, S. L. et al. XThe proliferation-quiescence decision is controlled by a bifurcation in CDK2 activity at mitotic exit. Cell 155, 369–383 (2013).Walsh, K. & Perlman, H. Cell cycle exit upon myogenic differentiation. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 7, 597–602 (1997).Puri, P. L. & Sartorelli, V. Regulation of muscle regulatory factors by DNA-binding, interacting proteins, and post-transcriptional modifications. Journal of Cellular Physiology 185, 155–173 (2000).Zammit, P. S., Partridge, T. A. & Yablonka-Reuveni, Z. The skeletal muscle satellite cell: the stem cell that came in from the cold. J Histochem Cytochem 54, 1177–1191 (2006).McCord, M. C. & Aizenman, E. The role of intracellular zinc release in aging, oxidative stress, and Alzheimer’s disease. Front. Aging Neurosci. 6, 1–16 (2014).Dirksen, R. T. Sarcoplasmic reticulum–mitochondrial through-space coupling in skeletal muscle. This paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled 14th International Biochemistry of Exercise Conference – Muscles as Molecular and Metabolic. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 34, 389–395 (2009).Groth, C., Sasamura, T., Khanna, M. R., Whitley, M. & Fortini, M. E. Protein trafficking abnormalities in Drosophila tissues with impaired activity of the ZIP7 zinc transporter Catsup. Development 140, 3018–3027 (2013).Ellis, C. D. et al. Zinc and the Msc2 zinc transporter protein are required for endoplasmic reticulum function. J. Cell Biol. 166, 325–335 (2004).Koch, U., Lehal, R. & Radtke, F. Stem cells living with a Notch. Development 140, 689–704 (2013).Gardner, S., Anguiano, M. & Rotwein, P. Defining Akt actions in muscle differentiation. Am. J. Physiol. Physiol. 303, C1292–C1300 (2012).Knight, J. D. & Kothary, R. The myogenic kinome: protein kinases critical to mammalian skeletal myogenesis. Skelet. Muscle 1, 29 (2011).Roth, S. M. Genetic aspects of skeletal muscle strength and mass with relevance to sarcopenia. Bonekey Rep. 1, 1–7 (2012).Mebratu, Y. & Tesfaigzi, Y. How ERK1/2 Activation Controls Cell Proliferation and Cell Death Is Subcellular Localization the Answer? Cell Cycle 8, 1168–1175 (2009)

Hydrological control of large hurricane-induced lahars: evidence from rainfall-runoff modeling, seismic and video monitoring

The Volcán de Colima, one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico, is commonly affected by tropical rains related to hurricanes that form over the Pacific Ocean. In 2011, 2013 and 2015 hurricanes Jova, Manuel and Patricia, respectively, triggered tropical storms that deposited up to 400 mm of rain in 36 h, with maximum intensities of 50 mm h −1. The effects were devastating, with the formation of multiple lahars along La Lumbre and Montegrande ravines, which are the most active channels in sediment delivery on the south-southwest flank of the volcano. Deep erosion along the river channels and several marginal landslides were observed, and the arrival of block-rich flow fronts resulted in damages to bridges and paved roads in the distal reaches of the ravines. The temporal sequence of these flow events is reconstructed and analyzed using monitoring data (including video images, seismic records and rainfall data) with respect to the rainfall characteristics and the hydrologic response of the watersheds based on rainfall-runoff numerical simulation. For the studied events, lahars occurred 5–6 h after the onset of rainfall, lasted several hours and were characterized by several pulses with block-rich fronts and a maximum flow discharge of 900 m3 s −1. Rainfall-runoff simulations were performer using the SCS-curve number and the Green–Ampt infiltration models, providing a similar result in the detection of simulated maximum watershed peaks discharge. Results show different behavior for the arrival times of the first lahar pulses that correlate with the simulated catchment's peak discharge for La Lumbre ravine and with the peaks in rainfall intensity for Montegrande ravine. This different behavior is related to the area and shape of the two watersheds. Nevertheless, in all analyzed cases, the largest lahar pulse always corresponds with the last one and correlates with the simulated maximum peak discharge of these catchments. Data presented here show that flow pulses within a lahar are not randomly distributed in time, and they can be correlated with rainfall peak intensity and/or watershed discharge, depending on the watershed area and shape. This outcome has important implications for hazard assessment during extreme hydro-meteorological events, as it could help in providing real-time alerts. A theoretical rainfall distribution curve was designed for Volcán de Colima based on the rainfall and time distribution of hurricanes Manuel and Patricia. This can be used to run simulations using weather forecasts prior to the actual event, in order to estimate the arrival time of main lahar pulses, usually characterized by block-rich fronts, which are responsible for most of the damage to infrastructure and loss of goods and lives