Factors Influencing the Retreat of the Coastline

One of the main problems of coastlines around the world is their erosion. There are many studies that have tried to link coastal erosion with different parameters such as: maritime climate, sediment transport, sea level rise etc. However, it is unclear to what extent these factors influence coastal erosion. For example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted an increase in sea level at a much faster rate than that experienced in the first part of this century, reaching 1 m of elevation in some areas. Another factor to consider is the lack of sediment supply, since currently the contribution of new sediments from rivers or ravines is interrupted by anthropic activities carried out in their basins (dams, channelling, etc.). The big storms, increasingly frequent due to climate change, also should be considered, since they produce an off-shore sediments transport, so that these cross the depth of clo- sure, causing nonreturn of the sediment to the beach. Also, the sediment undergoes a process of wear due to various reasons such as the dissolution of the carbonate fraction and/or breakage and separation of the components of the particles. All these elements, to a greater or lesser extent, lead to the retreat of the coastline. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyse the different factors causing the retreat of the coastline, in order to determine the degree of involvement of each of them and, therefore, be able to pose different proposals to reduce the consequences of coastal erosion.This research has been partially funded by Universidad de Alicante through the project ‘Estudio sobre el perfil de equilibrio y la profundidad de cierre en playas de arena’ (YGRE15-02)

Alicante Beach-City Sustainable Development

Our research is focused on the city of Alicante (Spain). In concrete, the sunken area studied is placed at the south of Alicante Port, being the point of entry from the airport to the city. There are two important reasons that have generated that depressed area. Firstly, the development of the city has led to a change in the use of the soil, and secondly, the extension of Alicante Port. This area used to be a metallurgical industrial zone, but during the last 40 years, it has overcome an urban growth. The European Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), the most modern Film Studio in Europe ‘Ciudad de la luz’, a desalination plant and residential complexes and offices have settled down there. Unfortunately, all this development has occurred without taking into account the coastal needs. Regarding to that, several elements that contribute to the deterioration of the area can be found along the coast, that is the mouth of a rift called ‘Barranco de las Ovejas’ at north, the ‘Agua Amarga’ rift at south and the desalination sewage pipe. Besides, there is a merchandise train line adjoining the Maritime-Terrestrial Public Domain that provides service to the port, but hinders the way for pedestrians going to the beach

The effects of the anthropic actions on the sandy beaches of Guardamar del Segura, Spain

There are many activities and uses in the coastal environment, which has historically attracted the humans. This attraction has led to many anthropic actions that have generated imbalances, more important as the human pressure increases. This research focuses on the effects of these pressures along of 11 km of the coastline of Guardamar del Segura, a high-value environmental area where is the Segura River mouth and one of the last dune systems of the southeast of Spain. The historic evolution of the shoreline position has been analysed using 60 years of aerial images from 1950s to 2014, the seabed depth changes, the maritime climate, the distribution of the sediment grain size and the anthropic actions such as urban development or the channelling of the river. All data were integrated and processed using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The results show that the lack of sediment supply by Segura River and the cut-off in the longshore transport due to the breakwaters and others anthropic actions has led into an increase in the beaches erosion rates, with a loss of > 3.2 million m3 of sand in the last 58 years (≈ 55,200 m3/year). The conclusions of this research could be useful to the coastal managers at the moment of making the decisions of action and/or conservation on a coastal system to achieve positive results in the medium and long term.This research has been partially funded by Universidad de Alicante through the project “Estudio sobre el perfil de equilibrio y la profundidad de cierre en playas de arena” (GRE15-02)

Realistic deployment of hybrid wireless sensor networks based on ZigBee and LoRa for search and rescue applications

Search and Rescue operations in emergency response to natural or human catastrophes have the main objective of locating and rescuing potential victims as fast as possible, thus quick response and accurate actions are mandatory. While standard communications may be affected, a Wireless Sensor Network can be deployed to support the rescue team. This kind of network allows data acquisition close to events and enables persistence over time, among other advantages. However, enhancements must be made to improve the adaptation to this kind of scenario. This work presents two Hybrid Wireless Sensor Networks, based on ZigBee and LoRa, developed to address some of the challenges that Search and Rescue operations pose to the use of Wireless Sensor Networks, and tested in realistic scenarios in cooperation with first responders. Likewise, several software developments that increase the performance of the networks are described. Finally, the conclusions presented, and the lessons learnt are supported by a high amount of data, gathered in realistic exercises in cooperation with civilian and military first responders.Spanish Project RTI2018-093421-B-I0

EFHB is a novel cytosolic Ca²+ sensor that modulates STIM1-SARAF interaction

FUNDAMENTOS/OBJETIVOS: STIM1 y Orai1 son los componentes clave de la entrada de Ca2+ en la tienda (SOCE). Entre las proteínas que participan en la regulación de la SOCE, la SARAF previene la activación espontánea de la SOCE y modula la función de STIM1. MÉTODOS: Se estimó la movilización de Ca2+ citosólico en células cargadas de fura-2 usando un microscopio invertido de epifluorescencia. La interacción de STIM1 con Orai1, EFHB (miembro de la familia B del dominio de la mano EF, también conocido como CFAP21) y SARAF se detectó mediante inmunoprecipitación seguida de Western blotting utilizando anticuerpos específicos. La participación de EFHB en la translocación de NFAT al núcleo se detectó mediante microscopía confocal. RESULTADOS: Aquí reportamos la identificación del EFHB como un nuevo regulador SOCE. El EFHB interactúa con el STIM1 al agotarse el almacenamiento y se disocia a través de un mecanismo dependiente de Ca2+-. El silenciamiento mediado por el ARNi así como los estudios de sobreexpresión revelaron que el EFHB juega un papel relevante en la interacción de STIM1 y Orai1 al agotarse las reservas, la activación de la translocación de SOCE y NFAT del citosol al núcleo. El silenciamiento de la expresión de la EFHB suprimió la disociación de la SARAF de la STIM1, lo que indica que la EFHB podría desempeñar un papel importante en la interacción dinámica entre ambas proteínas, lo que es pertinente para la activación de los canales de Orai1 al agotarse el almacenamiento de Ca2+ y su posterior modulación mediante la inactivación lenta dependiente del Ca2+. CONCLUSIÓN: Nuestros resultados indican que el EFHB es un nuevo regulador SOCE que modula la interacción STIM1-SARAF.BACKGROUND/AIMS: STIM1 and Orai1 are the key components of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Among the proteins involved in the regulation of SOCE, SARAF prevents spontaneous activation of SOCE and modulates STIM1 function. METHODS: Cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization was estimated in fura-2-loaded cells using an epifluorescence inverted microscope. STIM1 interaction with Orai1, EFHB (EF-hand domain family member B, also known as CFAP21) and SARAF was detected by immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting using specific antibodies. The involvement of EFHB in the translocation of NFAT to the nucleus was detected by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Here, we report the identification of EFHB as a new SOCE regulator. EFHB interacts with STIM1 upon store depletion and dissociates through a Ca2+- dependent mechanism. RNAi-mediated silencing as well as overexpression studies revealed that EFHB plays a relevant role in the interaction of STIM1 and Orai1 upon store depletion, the activation of SOCE and NFAT translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus. Silencing EFHB expression abolished the dissociation of SARAF from STIM1, which indicates that EFHB might play an important role in the dynamic interaction between both proteins, which is relevant for the activation of Orai1 channels upon Ca2+ store depletion and their subsequent modulation via slow Ca2+-dependent inactivation. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that EFHB is a new SOCE regulator that modulates STIM1-SARAF interaction.• Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Contrato Juan de la Cierva IJCI-2015-25665, para Isaac Jardín Polo • Junta de Extremadura y Fondos FEDER. Contrato IB16046, para José Javier López Barba • Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Subvención BFU2016-74932-C2-1-P, para Letizia Albarrán Alonso • Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Subvenciones Subvenciones BFU2013-45564-C2-1-P/2-P y BFU2016-74932-C2-1-P/2-P • Junta de Extremadura y Fondos FEDER. Subvenciones IB16046 y GR18061peerReviewe

Dynamic interaction of SARAF with STIM1 and orai1 to modulate store-operated calcium entry

El flujo de Ca2+ por almacenado por canales de Ca2+ es un mecanismo importante para la homeostasis intracelular de Ca2+ y la función celular. Aquí presentamos la evidencia de la interacción dinámica entre el factor regulador asociado SOCE (SARAF), STIM1 y Orai1. La expresión atenuada SARAF y la interacción SOCE STIM1-Orai1 en células expresan endógenamente a STIM1 y Orai1 mientras RNAi está condicionada por silenciamiento de SARAF induciendo efectos opuestos. SARAF menoscaba la asociación entre Orai1 y la activación de Orai1 del pequeño fragmento de STIM1 expresada en la STIM1-L115-401NG deficiente de células. En tratamiento de la celda con agonistas o thapsigargin fisiológico resulta en asociación directa de SARAF con Orai1. La interacción de ESTIMI1 independiente de SARAF con Orai1 conduce a la activación de este canal. Las células expresan endógenamente STIM1 y el agotamiento del almacenado de Orai1, Ca2+ conduce a la disociación de SARAF de STIM1 a los 30 segundos después del tratamiento con thapsigargin, paralelo al aumento de SARAF en la interacción con Orai1, seguido por reinteracción con STIM1 y la disociación desde Orai1. La expresión de SARAF y Orai1 o la supresión de diversos N-terminal de mutantes de Orai1 no altera la interacción de SARAF-Orai1; sin embargo, la expresión de eliminación de C-terminal y los mutantes de Orai1 bloquean la C-terminal de Orai1 y menoscaban la interacción con SARAF. Estas observaciones sugieren que SARAF ejerce un papel positivo inicial en la activación de SOCE seguida por la facilitación del SCDI de Orai1.Ca2+ influx by store-operated Ca2+ channels is a major mechanism for intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and cellular function. Here we present evidence for the dynamic interaction between the SOCE associated regulatory factor (SARAF), STIM1 and Orai1. SARAF overexpression attenuated SOCE and the STIM1-Orai1 interaction in cells endogenously expressing STIM1 and Orai1 while RNAi-mediated SARAF silencing induced opposite effects. SARAF impaired the association between Orai1 and the Orai1-activating small fragment of STIM1 co-expressed in the STIM1-deficient NG115-401L cells. Cell treatment with thapsigargin or physiological agonists results in direct association of SARAF with Orai1. STIM1-independent interaction of SARAF with Orai1 leads to activation of this channel. In cells endogenously expressing STIM1 and Orai1, Ca2+ store depletion leads to dissociation of SARAF withSTIM1 approximately 30s after treatment with thapsigargin, which paralleled the increase in SARAFOrai1 interaction, followed by reinteraction with STIM1 and dissociation from Orai1. Co-expression of SARAF and either Orai1 or various N-terminal deletion Orai1 mutants did not alter SARAF-Orai1 interaction; however, expression of C-terminal deletion Orai1 mutants or blockade of the C-terminus of Orai1 impair the interaction with SARAF. These observations suggest that SARAF exerts an initial positive role in the activation of SOCE followed by the facilitation of SCDI of Orai1.• Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Becas BFU2013-45564-C2-1-P, BFU2013-45564-C2-2-P, BFU2011-24365 and RD12-0043-0016 (RETICEF) • Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Programa Juan de la Cierva para José Javier López Barba • Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Beca BES-2011-043356 para Letizia Albarrán Alonso • Junta de Extremadura y Fondos FEDERpeerReviewe

IGF1R acts as a cancer-promoting factor in the tumor microenvironment facilitating lung metastasis implantation and progression

Given the long-term ineffectiveness of current therapies and late-stage diagnoses, lung cancer is a leading cause of malignant diseases. Tumor progression is influenced by cancer cell interactions with the tumor microenvironment (TME). Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) was reported to affect the TME; however, the role of IGF1R in lung TME has not been investigated. First, we assessed IGF1R genomic alterations and expression in NSCLC patient tissue samples, as well as IGF1R serum levels. Next, we performed tumor heterotopic transplantation and pulmonary metastases in IGF1R-deficient mice using melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. Herein we report increased amplification and mRNA expression, as well as increased protein expression (IGF1R/p-IGF1R) and IGF1R levels in tumor samples and serum from NSCLC patients, respectively. Moreover, IGF1R deficiency in mice reduced tumor growth, proliferation, inflammation and vascularization, and increased apoptosis after tumor heterotopic transplantation. Following induction of lung metastasis, IGF1R-deficient lungs also demonstrated a reduced tumor burden, and decreased expression of tumor progression markers, p-IGF1R and p-ERK1/2. Additionally, IGF1R-deficient lungs showed increased apoptosis and diminished proliferation, vascularization, EMT and fibrosis, along with attenuated inflammation and immunosuppression. Accordingly, IGF1R deficiency decreased expression of p-IGF1R in blood vessels, fibroblasts, tumor-associated macrophages and FOXP3(+) tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Our results demonstrate that IGF1R promotes metastatic tumor initiation and progression in lung TME. Furthermore, our research indicates that IGF1R could be a potential biomarker for early prediction of drug response and clinical evolution in NSCLC patients

Preliminary Design for Wave Run-Up in Offshore Wind Farms: Comparison between Theoretical Models and Physical Model Tests

Estimation of wave run-up has been of increasing concern for offshore wind structures and a critical aspect for designers. The highly nonlinear phenomenon makes the study difficult. That is the reason for the very few design rules and experimental data available to estimate it. Actual wave run-up is greater than commonly predicted. The goal of this research is to benchmark the theoretical formulations with the results of the physical model tests performed by Deltares in the field of crest elevation, run-up, forces and pressures. The laboratory reproduced in a wave tank (75 m length; 8.7 m width; 1 m depth; and a 1:60 scale, with Froude similarity) an offshore power converter platform located at intermediate water depths (25–43.80 m) in the Southern North Sea, designed by the Norwegian company Aibel. The purpose of this research is to offer a preliminary design guide for wave run–up using theoretical expressions both for cylinders and gravity based structures (GBS), leaning on the cited laboratory tests to validate the results obtained by such theoretical models.This research was funded by La Caixa PhD Program Fellowship

Estudio de seguimiento del Grado en Ingeniería Civil

El objetivo de esta red de investigación se encuentra basado en el análisis de los resultados obtenidos en el Curso Académico 2014-15, correspondientes a las asignaturas de primer, segundo, tercer y cuarto curso del Grado de Ingeniería Civil, de forma que se pueda proceder a la mejora de los procedimientos de trabajo del profesorado implicado en el desarrollo de las asignaturas de los cursos indicados, dentro del marco creado por la implantación del EEES. Para ello se han analizado las metodologías empleadas en las distintas asignaturas analizadas, los calendarios y plazos asignados a cada una de ellas, los procedimientos de evaluación y los resultados de los mismos. Al mismo tiempo, se ha creado una comisión cuyo objetivo es el de analizar las necesidades de conocimiento de las distintas asignaturas, adecuando el contenido de las ofertadas en los primeros cursos a las exigencias de los posteriores, y ofreciendo de esta forma al alumno una formación homogénea a lo largo Grado de Ingeniería Civil

Qué necesitan los estudiantes de Periodismo para su inserción laboral. Análisis de la demanda del mercado laboral de las empresas de comunicación.

PIMCD nº 176, realizado por el grupo Research and Learning of Media and Communications Management. Investigación y Enseñanza de la Gestión de los Medios y la Comunicación (MediaCom UCM) www.ccinf.es/mediacom/Primera fase de trabajo para fijar descriptores que identifiquen comportamientos formativos de entrada en el mercado laboral. En esta fase se han encontrado 442 oferentes de contratos en prácticas para estudiantes de Periodismo. Los datos obtenidos se articulan de acuerdo a dos subsecciones: sectores empresariales y empresas; a su vez, cada subsector, atendiendo al índice de recepción de alumnos y la descripción cualitativa de los puestos.Depto. de Periodismo y Comunicación GlobalFac. de Ciencias de la InformaciónFALSEsubmitte