Intense storms in the Mediterranean: a first description from the ERA-40 perspective

International audienceThe study of the Mediterranean cyclones from a climatological point of view has been one of the objectives of the first phase of WMO WWRP MEDEX (MEDiterranean EXperiment) project. It has been revealing itself like a good procedure for extracting conclusions about their characteristics and behaviour. The implementation on ECMWF ERA-40 reanalysis of the method for detecting and tracking the cyclones developed at the Centro Meteorológico Territorial (CMT) in Illes Balears of the Instituto Nacional de Meteorología (INM, Spain) has allowed the selection of the most intense storms occurred for the last 45 years. This selection has been based on the value of the cyclones' circulation. The areas of maximum intensification for those cyclones have been obtained and the existence of preferential zones of intensification has been verified. Finally a first sight of those cases has allowed to initiate the check up of the ability of the ERA-40 re-analyses for reproducing these intense Mediterranean storms

Heavy rain events in the Western Mediterranean: an atmospheric pattern classification

International audienceHeavy rain is one of the most important high-impact weather phenomena that occasionally affect Mediterranean areas. The aim of this study is to achieve a classification of atmospheric patterns related to heavy rain events in both French and Spanish Mediterranean regions. The classification is made on some atmospheric fields (geopotential at 1000 hPa and at 500 hPa and temperature at 850 hPa) of HIRLAM-INM-0.5° operational analysis, for heavy rain events included in the High Impact Weather MEDEX database. It covers a period of roughly 7 and a half years, from January 1997 to May 2004. A Principal Components Analysis was conducted to reduce the number of variables. After that, by means of a Cluster Analysis, the heavy rain events are classified into 8 atmospheric patterns. The results show a good relationship between regions affected by heavy rain and atmospheric patterns, in the sense that the same atmospheric patterns usually produce heavy rain in different regions, and heavy rain in different regions is usually due to specific atmospheric patterns

High impact weather and cyclones simultaneity in Catalonia

International audienceThe Western Mediterranean in general and Catalonia in particular are usually affected by high impact weather (HIW) events, mainly heavy rain (HR) and strong wind (SW). The improvement in the understanding and the accurate forecast of such events are major concerns for the meteorologists of the region. In the present study, HR and SW events in Catalonia are cross-referenced with an objective cyclone database for a 9-year period (from June 1995 to May 2004). Results show that in most of the HR events a cyclone is located close to Catalonia, in such a way that the feeding of a moist flow to the affected region was favoured. These cyclones can be either shallow and weak or deep and intense. A simultaneous cyclone also appears to be connected with many SW events. However, other SW events seem to be related to meso-scale circulations and, as a result, not always well captured in the cyclone database. Finally, coincident HR and SW events are analysed. In almost all of such events a deep cyclone is located in the vicinity of Catalonia

Airborne non-contact and contact broadband ultrasounds for frequency attenuation profile estimation of cementitious materials

[EN] In this paper, the study of frequency-dependent ultrasonic attenuation in strongly heterogeneous cementitious materials is addressed. To accurately determine the attenuation over a wide frequency range, it is necessary to have suitable excitation techniques. We have analysed two kinds of ultrasound techniques: contact ultrasound and airborne non-contact ultrasound. The mathematical formulation for frequency-dependent attenuation has been established and it has been revealed that each technique may achieve similar results but requires specific different calibration processes. In particular, the airborne non-contact technique suffers high attenuation due to energy losses at the air-material interfaces. Thus, its bandwidth is limited to low frequencies but it does not require physical contact between transducer and specimen. In contrast, the classical contact technique can manage higher frequencies but the measurement depends on the pressure between the transducer and the specimen. Cement specimens have been tested with both techniques and frequency attenuation dependence has been estimated. Similar results were achieved at overlapping bandwidth and it has been demonstrated that the airborne non-contact ultrasound technique could be a viable alternative to the classical contact technique.The authors acknowledge the support from University College Cork (Ireland), Universidad Politecnica de Valencia and the Spanish Administration under grant BIA2014-55311-C2-2-P and Salvador Madariaga's Programme (PR2016-00344/PR2017-00658).Gosálbez Castillo, J.; Wright, W.; Jiang, W.; Carrión García, A.; Genovés, V.; Bosch Roig, I. (2018). Airborne non-contact and contact broadband ultrasounds for frequency attenuation profile estimation of cementitious materials. Ultrasonics. 88:148-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultras.2018.03.011S1481568

Costumisme i autoctonisme en la literatura valenciana (1837-1937)

En el present treball s'intenta ordenar tot el panorama de la literatura valenciana, tant en castellà com en valencià, durant el període comprés entre els anys 1837 i 1937, tot atenent de forma especial a la literatura que presenta com a temàtica comuna el reflex dels usos i costums populars, així com la poetització i simbolització estètica del paisatge del País Valencià

Impact of a multifaceted intervention to improve the clinical management of osteoporosis. The ESOSVAL-F study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A study to evaluate the impact of a combined intervention (in-class and on-line training courses, a practicum and economic incentives) to improve anti-osteoporosis treatment and to improve recordkeeping for specific information about osteoporosis.</p> <p>Methods/design</p> <p>A before/after study with a non-equivalent control group to evaluate the impact of the interventions associated with participation in the ESOSVAL-R cohort study (intervention group) compared to a group receiving no intervention (control group). The units of analysis are medical practices identified by a Healthcare Position Code (HPC) referring to a specific medical position in primary care general medicine in a Healthcare Department of the Region of Valencia, Spain. The subjects of the study are the 400 participating "practices" (population assigned to health care professionals, doctors and/or nurses) selected by the Healthcare Departments of the Valencia Healthcare Agency for participation as associate researchers in the ESOSVAL-R study (intervention group), compared to 400 participating "practices" assigned to primary care professionals NOT selected for participation as associate researchers in the ESOSVAL-R study, who are selected on the basis of their working in the same Healthcare Centers as the practices receiving the interventions (control group). The study's primary endpoint is the appropriateness of treatment according by the Spanish National Health System guide (2010) and the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF, 2008) and International Osteoporosis Foundation guidance (IOF, 2008).</p> <p>The study will also evaluate a series of secondary and tertiary endpoints. The former are the suitability of treatment and evaluation of the risk of fracture; and the latter are the volume of information registered in the electronic clinical records, and the evaluation of risks and the suitability of treatment.</p

Ultrasonic signal modality: A novel approach for concrete damage evaluation

[EN] In this paper, a new approach for characterizing material damage, using ultrasonic waves, is proposed. Two concrete series with two types of cement with different C3A content and similar mechanical properties were subjected to external sulphate attack (ESA) and evaluated using a novel Recurrence Plot Quantification Analysis (RQA) method. This brand new technique was compared with several methods, such as mechanical tests (compressive and flexural strength determination), dynamic test (dynamic modulus) measurements, and traditional ultrasonic measurements (propagation velocity and ultrasonic wave attenuation). In these experiments, RQA showed a high sensitivity to damage in spoiled series, improving the reliability of damage detection with ultrasonics in non-homogeneous materials compared to other non-destructive techniques. Interesting advantages of this new non-destructive technique are: a) the RQA parameter is normalized (range of 0 to 1); b) a calibration process is not required; c) the values of its standard deviation show the dispersion of the damage. It can contribute greatly to the diagnosis of the degree of damage to a material, when combined with other traditional measures such as the attenuation of the material.This work was supported by the Spanish Government under grants TEC2011-23403, BIA2014-55311-C2-1-P and BIA2014-55311-C2-2-P. This work is protected by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO) under reference P201630212.Carrión García, A.; Genovés, V.; Gosálbez Castillo, J.; Miralles Ricós, R.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ. (2017). Ultrasonic signal modality: A novel approach for concrete damage evaluation. Cement and Concrete Research. 101:25-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.08.011S253210

Development and Long-Term Follow-Up of an Experimental Model of Myocardial Infarction in Rabbits

[EN] A chronic model of acute myocardial infarction was developed to study the mechanisms involved in adverse postinfarction ventricular remodeling. In an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the left circumflex coronary artery of New Zealand White rabbits (n = 9) was occluded by ligature for 1 h, followed by reperfusion. A specific care protocol was applied before, during, and after the intervention, and the results were compared with those of a sham operated group (n = 7). After 5 weeks, programmed stimulation and high-resolution mapping were performed on isolated and perfused hearts using the Langendorff technique. The infarct size determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride inside of the area at risk (thioflavin-S) was then determined. The area at risk was similar in both groups (54.33% (experimental infarct group) vs. 58.59% (sham group), ns). The infarct size was 73.16% as a percentage of the risk area. The experimental infarct group had a higher inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias (100% vs. 43% in the sham group, p = 0.009). A reproducible chronic experimental model of myocardial infarction is presented in which the extent and characteristics of the lesions enable the study of the vulnerability to develop ventricular arrhythmias because of the remodeling process that occurs during cardiac tissue repair.This research was funded by Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2018/078), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CB16/11/00486; PI15/01408; PIE15/0001 3and PI18/01620) to F.J.C.Genovés, P.; Arias-Mutis, ÓJ.; Parra, G.; Such-Miquel, L.; Zarzoso, M.; Del Canto, I.; Soler, C.... (2020). Development and Long-Term Follow-Up of an Experimental Model of Myocardial Infarction in Rabbits. Animals. 10(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani1009157610

Adherence to and appropriateness of anti-osteoporotic treatments in patients aged 50 and over in the Valencia Region (Spain). The ESOSVAL-AD Study

<p>Summary</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A study to evaluate the adherence to and appropriateness of anti-osteoporotic treatments in a cohort of men and women aged 50 and over participating in the ESOSVAL-R study.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p><it>Design</it>: An observational, longitudinal, prospective cohort study; Study subjects: Men and women aged 50 and over living in the Valencia Region (Spain) who initiated treatment between June 15, 2009, and June 15, 2011, in primary healthcare centers with electronic medical records; <it>Data sources</it>: The main data source will be electronic medical records. <it>Measurement of results: </it>Degree of compliance with and persistence of anti-osteoporotic treatments, and the proportion of patients with appropriate anti-osteoporotic treatment in accordance with the most relevant and high impact recommendations with clearly defined treatment algorithms in Spain (the Spanish National Health System guide (2010), the General Practitioners' Society (2007) and the General Directorate for Pharmacy and Medical Products of Madrid (2007)), and with the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF, 2010), and the International Osteoporosis Foundation guidelines (IOF, 2008); <it>Analysis</it>: 1.) Descriptive analysis of patients undergoing treatment and the treatments prescribed; 2.) Descriptive analysis of compliance with and persistence of anti-osteoporotic treatments; 3.) Analysis of factors associated with compliance with and persistence of treatments by Cox proportional hazard regression models, 4.) Descriptive analysis of appropriateness of treatment; 5.) Analysis of factors associated with the appropriateness of treatment by multilevel models (4 levels: patient, doctor, Basic Healthcare Zone/Primary Healthcare Center, and Health Area variables).</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>ESOSVAL-AD will provide information regarding adherence to osteoporosis treatments and the factors associated with a higher or lower adherence (including the appropriateness of the treatment) in the Spanish context. A better understanding of this phenomenon and the interventions needed to address it would contribute to the increased effectiveness of therapeutic measures, a reduction in morbidity and mortality, and a corresponding reduction in healthcare costs.</p

Multimodal analysis of GRC ageing process using Nonlinear Impact Resonance acoustic Spectroscopy

Glass fibre Reinforced Cement (GRC) is a composite material composed of Portland cement mortar with low w/c (water/cement) ratio and high proportion of glass fibres. This material suffers from the ageing process by losing its strength with time because of its exposure to severe weather conditions. Ageing process damages the fibre surface and decreases the mechanical properties of the structural components made of this material. It reduces the elastic modulus and toughness of GRC. Fracture toughness is traditionally measured by four point bending tests. In a previous study by the authors it was observed that ageing related deterioration or damage of GRC could be monitored by Non Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques such as Non-linear Impact Resonance Acoustic Spectroscopy (NIRAS) and other ultrasonic techniques. The scope of this paper is to corroborate previous investigations and offer early damage detection capability by generating more experimental data points by optimizing location of the point of strike and thus generating more resonance vibration modes in NIRAS tests.The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion MICINN, Spain, and FEDER funding (Ondacem Project: BIA 2010-19933).Genovés Gómez, V.; Riestra García-San Miguel, C.; Borrachero Rosado, MV.; Eiras Fernández, JN.; Kundu, T.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ. (2015). Multimodal analysis of GRC ageing process using Nonlinear Impact Resonance acoustic Spectroscopy. Composites Part B: Engineering. 76:105-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2015.02.020S1051117