Hazardous geomorphic processes in the extratropical Andes with a focus on glacial lake outburst floods

This study examines hazardous processes and events originating from glacier and permafrost areas in the extratropical Andes (Andes of Chile and Argentina) in order to document their frequency, magnitude, dynamics and their geomorphic and societal impacts. Ice-avalanches and rock-falls from permafrost areas, lahars from ice-capped volcanoes and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) have occurred in the extratropical Andes causing ~200 human deaths in the Twentieth Century. However, data about these events is scarce and has not been studied systematically. Thus, a better knowledge of glacier and permafrost hazards in the extratropical Andes is required to better prepare for threats emerging from a rapidly evolving cryosphere. I carried out a regional-scale review of hazardous processes and events originating in glacier and permafrost areas in the extratropical Andes. This review, developed by means of a bibliographic analysis and the interpretation of satellite images, shows that multi-phase mass movements involving glaciers and permafrost and lahars have caused damage to communities in the extratropical Andes. However, it is noted that GLOFs are one the most common and far reaching hazards and that GLOFs in this region include some of the most voluminous GLOFs in historical time on Earth. Furthermore, GLOF hazard is likely to increase in the future in response to glacier retreat and lake development. To gain insight into the dynamics of GLOFs I create a regional-scale inventory of glacier lakes and associated hazards in the Baker Basin, a 20500 km2 glaciated basin in the Chilean Patagonia. I also simulate and reconstruct moraine- and ice- dammed lake failures in the extratropical Andes using numerical and empirical models. More than 100 GLOFs have occurred in the extratropical Andes since the Eighteenth Century and at least 16 moraine-dammed lakes have produced GLOFs. In the extratropical Andes most of the failed moraine-dammed lakes were in contact with retreating glaciers and had moderate (> 8°) to steep (>15°) outlet slopes. Ice-dammed lakes also produced GLOFs in the extratropical Andes, damaging communities and highlighting the need for a better understanding of the GLOF dynamics and hazards. Thus, I reconstruct and model GLOFs that occurred in maritime western Patagonia (Engaño Valley) and the high-arid Andes (Manflas Valley) to characterise the GLOF dynamics in these contrasting environments. Hydraulic modelling and geomorphologic analysis shows that the Engaño River GLOF (46º S) behaved as a Newtonian flow and incorporated tree trunks, from the gently sloping and heavily-forested valley, which increased the GLOF damaging capacity. In contrast, the Manflas GLOF (28º S) descended from a steep valley behaving as a sediment-laden flow, which was capable of moving boulder-size rocks dozens of kilometres from the GLOF source. In both events lack of awareness of the GLOF hazard and a lack of territorial planning accentuated the GLOF damage. These GLOF reconstructions highlight both the difficulties in modelling sediment-laden flows over long distances, and the utility of empirical debris-flow models for regional-scale hazard analysis. This thesis synthesises and increases our knowledge about the distribution, frequency, magnitude and dynamics of hazardous processes that have occurred in glacier and permafrost areas in the extratropical Andes. This knowledge forms a basis for future assessments of glacier and permafrost related hazards in the Chilean and Argentinean Andes and helps inform strategies and policies to face hazardous geomorphologic and hydrological processes emerging from a rapidly evolving cryosphere

Indicadores y metodología de la certificación energética en España

Con el siguiente estudio se pretende analizar diferentes metodologías de la certificación energética en España y varios países de la Unión Europea. En primer lugar, se hace una introducción a la certificación energética, y se repasan las distintas Directivas Europeas que se han desarrollado con el paso de los años en lo referente a la eficiencia y certificación energética de los edificios. A continuación, se comparan las matrices energéticas para la producción de electricidad de los distintos países para los que se realiza el estudio (España, Alemania, Francia, UK, Italia y Portugal). Posteriormente se realiza un análisis de los factores de paso de energía final a energía primaria y de los factores de emisiones de CO2 para los distintos países, centrándonos en la energía eléctrica como la energía final consumida. El siguiente paso es analizar el proceso de certificación energética en los distintos países que se han estudiado, en el que se incluye la metodología, el tipo de certificados, las etiquetas y los indicadores energéticos entre otros aspectos a tener en cuenta. Y por último, se ha realizado una certificación energética de un edificio de Ávila a través del procedimiento simplificado, utilizando el programa CE3X, con el objetivo de poner en práctica los aspectos teóricos desarrollados en el estudio. Palabras clave: Eficiencia energética, certificación, indicadores energéticos, factores de paso de energía primaria, CE3X.Departamento de Ingeniería Energética y FluidomecánicaGrado en Ingeniería Mecánic

Análisis del movimiento en masa de la Quebrada Blanca: implicancias en la dinámica geomorfológica y criogénica. Cuenca superior del río Elqui

A complex mass movement was studied in the upper Elqui River basin with the aim of identify the triggering factors and interpret they relation with the actual geomorphic, cryogenic and climatic dynamic. Throughout the analysis of satellite images, aerial photos and field work were calculated some geomorphological parameters of this event and was possible estimate the approximate age of this phenomenon. The rotational landslide and associated debris flow was occurred between the years 1987-1988, affected an area of 0.22 km² and mobilized an approximated material volume of 2.4-3.2x106 m³. The run up of deposits between 15 and 50 meters indicates that the debris flow would have reached maximum speeds of 31 m/s in the contact with the rock glaciers of the zone. In this sense is outlined the important role that can play the thaw in snowy years in the genesis or evolution of the mass movements and the utility of the meteorological information, the seismic catalogues and the historical satellital images in geomorphological back analysis. Finally it is outlined the role of rock glaciers as regulatory agents of the debris transport in high mountain areas and the importance of large magnitude and low frequency phenomena, like the mass movement analyzed, in the debris supply of these landforms.    Se estudia un movimiento en masa complejo ocurrido en la cuenca superior del Río Elqui, con el fin de evidenciar los factores desencadenantes e interpretar su relación con la dinámica geomorfológica, criogénica y climática actual. Mediante el análisis de imágenes satelitales, fotografías áreas y trabajo de campo se determinan algunos parámetros morfológicos del evento y se estima de manera aproximada la fecha de origen del fenómeno. El deslizamiento rotacional y el flujo detrítico asociado ocurrieron entre los años 1987-1988, afectaron un área de 0.22 km² y movilizaron un volumen aproximado de materiales de 2.4-3.2x106 m³. La sobreelevación de los depósitos (run up) de entre 15 y 50 metros permite estimar que el flujo detrítico habría alcanzado velocidades máximas de 31 m/s en el contacto con los glaciares rocosos de la zona. Se advierte el importante rol que puede jugar el deshielo en años excepcionalmente nivosos en la génesis o evolución de los movimientos en masa y la utilidad de la información meteorológica, de los catálogos sísmicos y de las imágenes satelitales históricas en el análisis geomorfológico retrospectivo. Se destaca fi nalmente el rol de los glaciares rocosos como agentes reguladores del transporte de detritos en las áreas de alta montaña y la importancia que pueden tener fenómenos de gran magnitud y poca frecuencia, como el movimiento en masa analizado, en el suministro detrítico de estas formas.  

Activation of macrophages by silicones: phenotype and production of oxidant metabolites

BACKGROUND: The effect of silicones on the immune function is not fully characterized. In clinical and experimental studies, immune alterations associated with silicone gel seem to be related to macrophage activation. In this work we examined in vivo, phenotypic and functional changes on peritoneal macrophages early (24 h or 48 h) and late (45 days) after the intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of dimethylpolysiloxane (DMPS) (silicone). We studied the expression of adhesion and co-stimulatory molecules and both the spontaneous and the stimulated production of reactive oxygen intermediates and nitric oxide (NO). RESULTS: The results presented here demonstrate that the fluid compound DMPS induced a persistent cell recruitment at the site of the injection. Besides, cell activation was still evident 45 days after the silicone injection: activated macrophages exhibited an increased expression of adhesion (CD54 and CD44) and co-stimulatory molecules (CD86) and an enhanced production of oxidant metabolites and NO. CONCLUSIONS: Silicones induced a persistent recruitment of leukocytes at the site of the injection and macrophage activation was still evident 45 days after the injection

Ice Dynamics and Morphological Changes During Proglacial Lake Development at Exploradores Glacier, Patagonia

Proglacial lakes are ubiquitous features formed during deglaciarization and are currently increasing in number in Patagonia and elsewhere. Proglacial lakes can affect glacier dynamics, catchment hydrology and have the potential to cause glacial lake outburst floods. Therefore, monitoring the onset and development of proglacial lake formation is relevant to understand glacial processes and anticipate glacier response to climate change. In this study, we integrate geomorphological and ice-dynamic information to assess proglacial lake development in Exploradores Glacier, Chilean Patagonia. We monitor recent spatial and temporal changes in the lower trunk of Exploradores Glacier (10 km2) to provide a 20-year observation record by combining eight uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) surveys between 2019 and 2020, with high-medium resolution satellite imagery (Rapid Eye and Landsat) between 2000 and 2018. We use feature tracking techniques, digital surface elevation model analysis and field data to create a multi-temporal scale (inter-annual and seasonal) and a multi-spatial (cm to km) data set. Our analysis shows that surface velocity overall trend has not changed over the last 20 years and that surface velocity near the terminus is significant (>10 m a−1). Moreover, an exceptional advance over moraine deposits was detected. We also found low downwasting rates (<0.5 m a−1) close to the glacier terminus which are attributed to sufficient ice flux and the insulation effect of the debris-covered surface. However, hundreds of supraglacial ponds were observed and are currently coalescing and expanding by ice-cliff backwasting favoring glacier disintegration. Lastly, it was found that calving losses at the east marginal lake equaled ice-flux input into the lake for the UAV monitored period. This study contributes to a better understanding of glacial lake dynamics during proglacial lake development, and our results may help ice modelling efforts to predict glacier response to future climate scenarios

Mejora de índices económicos y gestión de la calidad de una fraccionadora de aceite a través del agregado de TBHQ y la aplicación de BPM

Trabajo final integrador. (Area de Consolidación Gestión de la Producción de Agroalimentos)--UNC- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, 2016.Argentina se caracteriza por una fuerte actividad agrícola como uno de los pilares fundamentales en su economía. El girasol mantuvo vigencia durante mucho tiempo como opción productiva hasta las últimas dos décadas, cuando el cultivo de soja acaparó gran parte de la producción de granos, principalmente en la región pampeana. Existen mejores perspectivas para el mercado de girasol, tanto para grano como para aceite, aumentando la demanda del cultivo a nivel mundial, permitiendo un aumento de la superficie sembrada. En el presente trabajo se analizó el caso de la empresa “Aceitera Barbieri”; la cual cuenta con una planta fraccionadora, ubicada en la provincia de Córdoba. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la propuesta del agregado de valor, mediante la incorporación de un antioxidante sintético (Terbutilhidroquinona), que permitirá mejorar los índices económicos de la empresa. Además se sugiere trabajar sobre los puntos críticos de la línea de producción logrando una mayor calidad del producto y permitir las mejoras en las Buenas Prácticas de Manufacturas optimizando la gestión de calidad. Mediante el análisis económico, se observa que si bien el ingreso bruto es elevado sus gastos totales también lo son, dando como resultado una rentabilidad baja en comparación a otras empresas fraccionadoras de aceite. La disminución de los gastos totales se considera dificultosa, ya que la mayor proporción de los mismos son atribuidos a la obtención del aceite refinado en Bunge San Jerónimo Sud, por esta razón habrá que trabajar sobre el incremento de los ingresos totales. El antioxidante, permite una mayor vida útil del aceite en la freidora logrando de este modo un producto diferenciado, lo que ayudará a ampliar el nicho de mercado, aumentando el número de clientes y permitiendo a la empresa mejorar la rentabilidad, la cual se verá incrementada de 12,67 a 25,41%. La recopilación de información y el relevamiento de datos se realizaron a través de visitas guiadas con los dueños, entrevistas, listas de chequeo, consultas telefónicas y búsqueda bibliográfica

Glacial lakes of the Central and Patagonian Andes

The prevalence and increased frequency of high-magnitude Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the Chilean and Argentinean Andes suggests this region will be prone to similar events in the future as glaciers continue to retreat and thin under a warming climate. Despite this situation, monitoring of glacial lake development in this region has been limited, with past investigations only covering relatively small regions of Patagonia. This study presents new glacial lake inventories for 1986, 2000 and 2016, covering the Central Andes, Northern Patagonia and Southern Patagonia. Our aim was to characterise the physical attributes, spatial distribution and temporal development of glacial lakes in these three sub-regions using Landsat satellite imagery and image datasets available in Google Earth and Bing Maps. Glacial lake water volume was also estimated using an empirical area-volume scaling approach. Results reveal that glacial lakes across the study area have increased in number (43%) and areal extent (7%) between 1986 and 2016. Such changes equate to a glacial lake water volume increase of 65?km3 during the 30-year observation period. However, glacial lake growth and emergence was shown to vary sub-regionally according to localised topography, meteorology, climate change, rate of glacier change and the availability of low gradient ice areas. These and other factors are likely to influence the occurrence of GLOFs in the future. This analysis represents the first large-scale census of glacial lakes in Chile and Argentina and will allow for a better understanding of lake development in this region, as well as, providing a basis for future GLOF risk assessments.authorsversionPeer reviewe

Análisis de discapacidad visual en Buenos Aires, Argentina: La miopía patológica es la principal causa en edad laboral

Este trabajo estudia las causas de la discapacidad visual durante una década en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Se presenta una serie de casos retrospectiva donde se revisó la base de datos de certificados de discapacidad visual emitidos por el Ministerio de Salud de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires entre 2009 y 2017. En Argentina, la discapacidad visual se define como una agudeza visual ≤ 20/200 en el mejor ojo, o un campo visual correspondiente de menos de 20 grados en el ojo menos deteriorado. La base de datos incluyó las siguientes variables: año de emisión, edad, sexo y causa de la discapacidad visual. Entre 2009 y 2017 se certificaron un total de 7656 sujetos con ceguera legal. La edad media de la muestra fue de 57 ± 21 años y el 52.1% fueron mujeres. La distribución por edades mostró que el 62.8% de los certificados fueron dados a pacientes mayores de 50 años y que solo el 6.6% se otorgó a menores de 20 años. Las principales causas de discapacidad visual fueron la degeneración macular asociada a la edad (DMAE) (15.5%), la miopía degenerativa (14.4%), el glaucoma primario de ángulo abierto (11.3%) y la retinopatía diabética (6.6%). En los menores de 50 años, la miopía degenerativa fue la primera causa de discapacidad visual. Resulta interesante que, en Argentina, donde la prevalencia de miopía es baja, la miopía degenerativa sea la principal causa de discapacidad visual en adultos de mediana edad.This study assessed the causes of visual impairment over a decade in Buenos Aires City. This is a retrospective case series where we reviewed the database of visual disability certificates issued by the Buenos Aires City Ministry of Health between 2009 and 2017. In Argentina, visual disability is defined as a visual acuity ≤ 20/200 in the better eye, or a corresponding visual field of less than 20 degrees in the less impaired eye. The database included the following variables: year of issue, age, gender, and cause of visual disability. Between 2009 and 2017 a total of 7656 subjects were certified as legally blind. The mean age of the sample was 57 ± 21 years and 52.1% were females. The emission was near 700 certificates per year. The age distribution showed that 62.8% of certificates were from patients older than 50 years and that only 6.6% were given to subjects under 20. The leading causes of visual disability in Buenos Aires City were age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) with a rate of 15.5%, degenerative myopia (14.4%), primary open-angle glaucoma (11.3%) and diabetic retinopathy (6.6%). In subjects younger than 50, degenerative myopia was the first cause of visual disability. Interestingly in Argentina, where the prevalence of myopia is low, degenerative myopia is found to be the major cause of visual disability in middle-aged adult subjects. Population and clinical methods to avoid this preventable disease should need to be implemented as a matter of urgency.Fil: Franco, Pablo Javier. Hospital Santa Lucía; ArgentinaFil: Suwezda, Alejandro. Fundacion Hospitalaria; ArgentinaFil: Schlottmann, Patricio. Organizacion Medica de Investigacion (omi);Fil: Destefanis, María Pía. Hospital Santa Lucía; ArgentinaFil: Rosenstein, Ruth Estela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Laboratorio de Neuroquímica Retiniana y Oftalmología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Iribarren, Rafael. No especifíca;Fil: Grzybowski, Andrzej. Institute For Research In Ophthalmology; Poloni

Autophagy in inflammation, infection, neurodegeneration and cancer

In its classical form, autophagy is an essential, homeostatic process by which cytoplasmic components are degraded in a double-membrane-bound autophagosome in response to starvation. Paradoxically, although autophagy is primarily a protective process for the cell, it can also play a role in cell death. The roles of autophagy bridge both the innate and adaptive immune systems and autophagic dysfunction is associated with inflammation, infection, neurodegeneration and cancer. In this review, we discuss the contribution of autophagy to inflammatory, infectious and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as cancer.Fil: Arroyo, Daniela Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Gaviglio, Emilia Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Peralta Ramos, Javier María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Bussi, Claudio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez Galan, Maria Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Iribarren, Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentin