High temporal resolution refractivity retrieval from radar phase measurements

Knowledge of the spatial and temporal variability of near-surface water vapor is of great importance to successfully model reliable radio communications systems and forecast atmospheric phenomena such as convective initiation and boundary layer processes. However, most current methods to measure atmospheric moisture variations hardly provide the temporal and spatial resolutions required for detection of such atmospheric processes. Recently, considering the high correlation between refractivity variations and water vapor pressure variations at warm temperatures, and the good temporal and spatial resolution that weather radars provide, the measurement of the refractivity with radar became of interest. Firstly, it was proposed to estimate refractivity variations from radar phase measurements of ground-based stationary targets returns. For that, it was considered that the backscattering from ground targets is stationary and the vertical gradient of the refractivity could be neglected. Initial experiments showed good results over flat terrain when the radar and target heights are similar. However, the need to consider the non-zero vertical gradient of the refractivity over hilly terrain is clear. Up to date, the methods proposed consider previous estimation of the refractivity gradient in order to correct the measured phases before the refractivity estimation. In this paper, joint estimation of the refractivity variations at the radar height and the refractivity vertical gradient variations using scan-to-scan phase measurement variations is proposed. To reduce the noisiness of the estimates, a least squares method is used. Importantly, to apply this algorithm, it is not necessary to modify the radar scanning mode. For the purpose of this study, radar data obtained during the Refractivity Experiment for H2O Research and Collaborative Operational Technology Transfer (REFRACTT_2006), held in northeastern Colorado (USA), are used. The refractivity estimates obtained show a good performance of the algorithm proposed compared to the refractivity derived from two automatic weather stations located close to the radar, demonstrating the possibility of radar based refractivity estimation in hilly terrain and non-homogeneous atmosphere with high spatial resolution.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad | Ref. TEC2014-55735-C3-3-RXunta de Galicia | Ref. GRC2015/01

Refractivity observations from radar phase measurements: the 22 may 2002 dryline case during IHOP project

The dryline, often associated with the development of severe storms in the Southern Great Plains of the United States of America, is a boundary layer phenomenon that occurs when a warm and moist air mass from the Gulf of Mexico meets a hot and dry air mass from the southwest desert area. An accurate knowledge of the water vapor spatio-temporal variability in the lower part of the atmosphere is crucial for a better understanding of the evolution of the dryline. The tropospheric refractivity, directly related to water vapor content, is a proxy for the water vapor content of the troposphere. It has already been demonstrated that the refractivity and the refractivity vertical gradient can be jointly estimated from radar phase measurements. In fact, it has been shown that using kriging interpolation techniques, accurate refractivity maps within the coverage area of the radar can be obtained with high temporal resolution. In this paper, a detailed analysis of the time series of radar-based refractivity maps obtained during a dryline that occurred on the afternoon of 22 May 2002 during the International H2O Project (IHOP_2002) is presented. Comparisons between the time series of radar refractivity maps, obtained with the NCAR S-Pol radar, and the refractivity measurements derived from automatic ground-based weather stations and the AERI instrument, placed at different locations within the coverage area of the NCAR S-Pol radar, demonstrate the accuracy of radar refractivity estimates even for highly variable conditions, both in time and space, in the troposphere. Correlation coefficients higher than 0.95 are obtained in all weather station locations. Regarding the RMSE, errors less than 6 N-units are obtained for all cases, being even as low as 2.92 N-units at some locations.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. TED2021-130056B-I0

Refractivity and refractivity gradient estimation from radar phase data: a least squares based approach

Tropospheric refractivity, related to temperature, pressure, and humidity, is an interesting parameter for weather analysis, prediction, and study of climate trends. It has been shown to be useful for the detection and forecast of convective events. It has already been demonstrated that tropospheric refractivity can be estimated from radar phase measurements. In this article, a nonlinear least squares based approach for the estimation of the tropospheric refractivity that simultaneously provides the estimates of the refractivity vertical gradient is presented. A significant improvement of the presented technique is that it allows estimation of the refractivity over any terrain orography, flat, or hilly. Furthermore, the method developed can be implemented on klystron as well as on magnetron-based radars. Results for both radar types, at S- and C-bands, located over flat and hilly terrain show the potential of the method.European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency | Ref. Life16 Env/ES/000559Xunta de Galicia | Ref. GRC2019/02

Chromatic Emotions: Analysis of color perception based on emotions and its relationship with consumption of fashion

La globalización del mercado actual exige que los productos sean novedosos, comerciales, funcionales y altamente llamativos, para despertar así en el consumidor la atención suficiente y lograr que se dé el momento de la compra, con la previa identificación de su necesidad y la aceptación del producto. Caracterizar al consumidor es complejo, y deben ser analizados diferentes aspectos como el color y las emociones. En este trabajo se estableció, la relación que existe entre la emoción, el color y el objeto moda, identificando las variables que motivan al consumidor en el momento de su compra. Para ello se aplicó una encuesta sobre una población universitaria en Colombia y, adicionalmente, mediante la base de datos DEAP perteneciente a 4 universidades de Europa (Queen Mary University de Londres, University of Twente de Holanda, University of Geneva y al EPFL de Suiza), que relaciona emociones y vídeos en una población universitaria de Europa, se hizo un análisis del color en la ambientación de estos y se demostró la influencia del color utilizando el gráfico de Geneve. Los resultados obtenidos demostraron una fuerte influencia del color en la actitud de consumo y del color sobre las emociones, aunque no se logró concluir que las emociones afecten el momento de adquisición por parte del consumidor.The globalization of the marketplace, requires that products areinnovative, commercial, functional and highly striking, to wake up as well in the consumer, the sufficient attention and achieve that you give the time of the purchase, with prior identification of your need and the acceptance of the product. Characterize the consumer is complex and different aspects like color and emotions must be analyzed. In this work is established, the relationship between emotion, color and fashion object, identifying variables that motivate the consumer at the time of your purchase. So a survey was applied on a university population in Colombia and Additionally, through database belonging DEAP 4 universities in Europe (Queen Mary University of London, University of Twente, Netherlands, University of Geneva and at the EPFL in Switzerland), that related emotions and videos in a university population of Europe, made an analysis of the color in the background of these and showed the influence of the color using the graph of Genève. The results obtained showed, a strong influence of the color in the attitudeof consumption and the color on the emotions, although it was notpossible to conclude that emotions affect the time of purchase by the consumer

Patrones electroforéticos en geles bidimensionales de la proteina faseolina en distintas variedades de Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Comunicaciones a congreso

The Minor Allele of rs7574865 in the STAT4 Gene Is Associated with Increased mRNA and Protein Expression

We studied 201 patients (80% female; median age, 54 years; median disease duration, 5.4 months) from PEARL study. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and therapeutic data were collected at each visit. IL-6 serum levels were measured by enzyme immune assay. The rs7574865 was genotyped using TaqMan probes. The expression levels of STAT4 mRNA were determined at 182 visits from 69 patients using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. STAT4 protein was assessed by western blot in 62 samples from 34 patients. To determine the effect of different variables on the expression of STAT4 mRNA and protein, we performed multivariate longitudinal analyses using generalized linear models.This work was supported by grants awarded to IGA from the RETICS Program (RD08/0075/0004 and RD12/0009/0017 [RIER]) and FIS Program (PI11/0551) and to JM from RETICS Program (RD08/0075/0011 and RD12/0009/0004 [RIER]) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (www.isciii.es). Measurement of IL-6 levels described in this article was supported by different research grants from Roche to IGA. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewe

Radar-based refractivity maps using geostatistical interpolation

Tropospheric refractivity, which is closely related to temperature, pressure, and relative humidity, is a valuable parameter for weather forecasting and climate analysis. It has already been demonstrated that refractivity estimates can be derived using the phase measurements corresponding to radar signals backscattered from stationary targets over any terrain orography, with high temporal resolution. However, the random distribution of stationary targets affects the spatial resolution provided by the computed refractivity estimates. It is of interest to obtain reliable radar-based refractivity maps to assist final users with data interpretation and analysis, so the use of a suitable geostatistical interpolation technique to obtain refractivity maps is studied in this letter. Refractivity estimates obtained from C-band radar data gathered during 2019 by the United Kingdom’s national weather service (Met Office) are used to evaluate the accuracy of the method by comparing the results to ground-based weather stations and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF’s) ERA5 reanalysis dataset.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. TED2021- 130056B-I0

Complications of transvaginal radiofrequency ablation of fibroids: A 5-year experience

Introduction: Transvaginal radiofrequency ablation is a relatively noninvasive approach for the treatment of fibroids in patients who do not wish to undergo conventional surgery. Information on potential complications of this novel technique is very scarce. Methods: Retrospective, descriptive, epidemiological study of 115 patients who underwent transvaginal radiofrequency ablation of fibroids and for whom complications were recorded. Results: We performed 115 transvaginal radiofrequency ablation procedures, we recorded a total of 11 complications (9.6%; 95% CI, 3.8-14.8). Of these, 8 (7.0%) were classified as Clavien-Dindo type I, 1 (0.9%,) as type II, and 2 (1.7%) as type IIIb (severe). No other complications were recorded in a year follow-up. Conclusion: Transvaginal radiofrequency ablation is a treatment option that malees it possible to treat fibroids that are difficult to manage using other techniques. Few associated complications have been described, and most of them are mild