Coupling Spatial And Time Scales In The Hydrological Modelling Of Mediterranean Regions: WiMMed

Mediterranean catchments usually exhibit strong gradients of both weather variables at different time scales and soil uses, which add complexity to their hydrological modelling, especially in mountainous areas. WiMMed (Water integrated Management model for Mediterranean regions) model was designed to include such variability of scales in an operational suite capable of connecting GIS-based representations of the catchment (soil characteristics and uses, vegetation cover and snow dynamics) with advanced algorithms for simulating the energy and water balance on a physical basis. Widely used throughout the South of Spain, WiMMed efficiently represents the spatial patterns of precipitation, temperature, solar radiation, and evapotranspiration on an hourly basis, the daily evolution of the vegetation cover fraction, and the observed soil use changes over the study period, by means of specific interpolation algorithms and the inclusion of data derived from remote sensing. These high resolution data input to the physical equations of the energy and water balance performed on three series control volumes: canopy, snowpack, and soil, allow for the distributed characterization of water dynamics. Rainfall excess and infiltration and groundwater fluxes are routed towards selected control points along the fluvial network, where the corresponding baseflow, subsurface flow and direct runoff hydrographs that can be routed downstream by means of hydraulic or hydrological equations. WiMMed’s physical basis together with its high resolution multiscale scheme provides managers with an advanced support tool for flood/drought studies, natural regime restitution, short to long term water resource planning, evaluation of changes of soil use, etcetera. This work shows WiMMed capabilities from its use in selected watersheds throughout Andalusia (Spain) performed on the available free-distributed users’ interface designed for technicians and turnkey applications, some of which have been selected as examples

Ethnic differences in the adaptation rate of HIV gp120 from a vaccine trial

Differences in HIV-1 gp120 sequence variation were examined in North American volunteers who became infected during a phase III vaccine trial using the rgp120 vaccine. Molecular adaptation of the virus in vaccine and placebo recipients from different ethnic subgroups was compared by estimating the d(N)/d(S )ratios in viruses sampled from each individual using three different methods. ANOVA analyses detected significant differences in d(N)/d(S )ratios among races (P < 0.02). gp120 sequences from the black individuals showed higher mean d(N)/d(S )ratios for all estimators (1.24–1.45) than in other races (0.66–1.35), and several pairwise comparisons involving blacks remained significant (P < 0.05) after correction for multiple tests. In addition, black-placebo individuals showed significantly (P < 0.02) higher mean d(N)/d(S )ratios (1.3–1.66) than placebo individuals from the other races (0.65–1.56). These results suggest intrinsic differences among races in immune response and highlight the need for including multiple ethnicities in the design of future HIV-1 vaccine studies and trials

Formas cuspidales de playas y procesos de la zona de rompientes interna: ¿crecimiento o destrucción? Aplicación a la playa de Trafalgar (Cádiz, España)

Large beach cusps (LBC, wavelength of ~ 30 m) are intertidal features that can alternately exist in the swash and in the inner surf zone due to tidal sea level changes. They have a larger cross-shore extent (up to 50 m) than traditional cusps. This extent has been explained by a shift of the swash zone during falling tide. The cusps immerse at rising tide and previous studies indicate that surf zone processes are exclusively destructive. Here, the behaviour of large beach cusps in the inner surf zone is investigated by using a 2DH morphological numerical model applied to Trafalgar Beach (Cádiz, Spain). The model results indicate that the inner surf zone processes do not always destroy the cusps but can in fact reinforce them by considering neither the swash processes nor the tidal changes. More generally, in conditions favouring the presence of the LBC the surf zone of a beach can be unstable, leading to the formation of transverse/oblique sand bars that can have characteristics similar to the LBC. Thus, in principle, the LBC could emerge not only due to swash zone morphodynamics but also due to surf zone morphodynamics or a combination of both.Las formas cuspidales de grandes dimensiones (LBC, longitudes de onda ~30 m) constituyen un sistema morfológico rítmico a lo largo de la playa que tiene una parte que se encuentra alternativamente en la zona de swash (flujo/reflujo) y en la zona de rompientes interna debido a los cambios del nivel del mar. Tienen una distancia de penetración de hasta 50 m, superior por tanto a la de las cúspides ordinarias. Esta elongación parece debido a la traslación de la zona de swash durante la marea descendente. En marea ascendente estas estructuras están sumergidas y los estudios previos consideran que los procesos de la zona de rompientes las destruyen. En este trabajo se analiza el comportamiento de estas formas en la zona de rompientes de la playa de Trafalgar (Cádiz) usando un modelo numérico morfológico 2DH. Los resultados muestran que, sin considerar ni los procesos de swash ni el cambio de marea, los procesos de la zona de rompientes no necesariamente destruyen LBC, sino que pueden reforzarlas. De forma más general, en condiciones favorables a la presencia de LBC, se pueden formar barras de arena con características similares a LBC debido a procesos de auto-organización en la zona de rompientes.The work of R. Garnier was supported by the University of Nottingham and is part of the Spanish Government project under contract CTM2006-08875. The Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (Project BORRASCAS CTM2005-06583) and the Junta de Andalucía (Projects P05-RNM-968 and P06-RNM-1573) funded part of this research

Meteomap: Generation Of Meteorological Variables For Distributed Physically-Based Hydrological Modeling

Distributed energy and water balance models require time-series surfaces of the meteorological variables involved in hydrological processes. Most of the hydrological GIS-based models apply simple interpolation techniques to extrapolate the point scale values registered at weather stations at a watershed scale. In mountainous areas, where the monitoring network ineffectively covers the complex terrain heterogeneity, simple geostatistical methods for spatial interpolation are not always representative enough, and algorithms that explicitly or implicitly account for the features creating strong local gradients in the meteorological variables must be applied. Originally developed as a meteorological pre-processing tool for a complete hydrological model (WiMMed), MeteoMap has become an independent software. The individual interpolation algorithms used to approximate the spatial distribution of each meteorological variable were carefully selected taking into account both, the specific variable being mapped, and the common lack of input data from Mediterranean mountainous areas. They include corrections with height for both rainfall and temperature (Herrero et al., 2007), and topographic corrections for solar radiation (Aguilar et al., 2010). MeteoMap is a GIS-based freeware upon registration. Input data include weather station records and topographic data and the output consists of tables and maps of the meteorological variables at hourly, daily, predefined rainfall event duration or annual scales. It offers its own pre and post-processing tools, including video outlook, map printing and the possibility of exporting the maps to images or ASCII ArcGIS formats. This study presents the friendly user interface of the software and shows some case studies with applications to hydrological modeling

Frontshear and backshear instabilities of the mean longshore current

An analytical model based on Bowen and Holman [1989] is used to prove the existence of instabilities due to the presence of a second extremum of the background vorticity at the front side of the longshore current. The growth rate of the so-called frontshear waves depends primarily upon the frontshear but also upon the backshear and the maximum and the width of the current. Depending on the values of these parameters, either the frontshear or the backshear instabilities may dominate. Both types of waves have a cross-shore extension of the order of the width of the current, but the frontshear modes are localized closer to the coast than are the backshear modes. Moreover, under certain conditions both unstable waves have similar growth rates with close wave numbers and angular frequencies, leading to the possibility of having modulated shear waves in the alongshore direction. Numerical analysis performed on realistic current profiles confirm the behavior anticipated by the analytical model. The theory has been applied to a current profile fitted to data measured during the 1980 Nearshore Sediment Transport Studies experiment at Leadbetter Beach that has an extremum of background vorticity at the front side of the current. In this case and in agreement with field observations, the model predicts instability, whereas the theory based only on backshear instability fai led to do so

Stochastic Assessment Of Environmental Flows In Semiarid Environments

The regimen of environmental flows (EF) must be included as terms of environmental demand in the management of water resources. Even though there are numerous methods for the computation of EF, the criteria applied at different steps in the calculation process are quite subjective whereas the results are fixed values that must be meet by water planners. This study presents a friendly-user tool for the assessment of the probability of compliance of a certain EF scenario with the natural regimen in a semiarid area in southern Spain. 250 replications of a 25-yr period of different hydrological variables (rainfall, minimum and maximum flows, ...) were obtained at the study site from the combination of Monte Carlo technique and local hydrological relationships. Several assumptions are made such as the independence of annual rainfall from year to year and the variability of occurrence of the meteorological agents, mainly precipitation as the main source of uncertainty. Inputs to the tool are easily selected from a first menu and comprise measured rainfall data, EF values and the hydrological relationships for at least a 20-yr period. The outputs are the probabilities of compliance of the different components of the EF for the study period. From this, local optimization can be applied to establish EF components with a certain level of compliance in the study period. Different options for graphic output and analysis of results are included in terms of graphs and tables in several formats. This methodology turned out to be a useful tool for the implementation of an uncertainty analysis within the scope of environmental flows in water management and allowed the simulation of the impacts of several water resource development scenarios in the study site

Aquaculture as a circular bio-economy model with Galicia as a study case: How to transform waste into revalorized by-products

Background: World-wide aquaculture represents a very important sector capable of supplying huge amounts of animal protein. However its relevance has proportionally augmented its waste generation. In Europe, the geographical constitution of Galicia has prompted the instauration of many aquaculture-based systems along its coasts. Indeed aquaculture means a very relevant industry in Galicia, together with animal farming, agriculture and biotechnology. Scope and approach: Over the last decade Europe legislation encourages the proper management of wastes (mostly reutilization and reducing strategies) and the sustainable use of natural resources. The application of circular bio-economy (reuse of wastes) represents a feasible model to protect human and animal health and the environment. To achieve a more efficient production system that complies with European regulations, aquaculture wastes and sub-products need to be re-utilised to increase their throughput. This approach will positively impact on their economical yield while reducing their generation and thus protecting health and environment. Key findings and conclusions: Different applications have been considered for re-using aquaculture wastes and sub-products. One of the most efficient approaches is the establishment of models that allow the metabolic waste reduction, as the integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. For derived aquaculture sub-products, the most efficient process is recovering important biomolecules such as proteins (collagen, gelatine), polysaccharides (chitosan), lipids (omega 3) or pigments (astaxanthin or beta-carotene). Biomolecules can further be applied for human and animal consumption, food industry, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals. Due to the importance of this productive system in Galicia it is critical its update to include aquaculture into circular bio-economy.The research leading to these results received institutional and financial support from: Programa de Cooperaci´on Interreg V-A España—Portugal (POCTEP) 2014–2020 (projects Ref.: 0181_NANOEATERS_01_E and Ref: 0377_IBERPHENOL_6_E); Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness through the project AGL2015–67039–C3–1–R; MICINN supporting the Ram´on&Cajal grant for M.A. Prieto (RYC-2017-22891); Xunta de Galicia and University of Vigo for supporting the post-doctoral grant of María Fraga Corral (ED481B-2019/096) and the pre-doctoral grants of Antía Gonz´alez Pereira (ED481A-2019/0228) and P. García-Oliveira (ED481A-2019/ 295); Xunta de Galicia through the program EXCELENCIA-ED431F 2020/12 and the project ED431B 2019/24; Ibero-American Program on Science and Technology (CYTED - AQUA-CIBUS, P317RT0003); Axudas Conecta Peme (Xunta de Galicia) supporting the IN852A 2018/ 58 NeuroFood Project; AlgaMar (www.algamar.com); EcoChestnut Project (Erasmus+ KA202); Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (JU) under grant agreement No 888003 UP4HEALTH Project (H2020-BBIJTI- 2019), the JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and the Bio Based Industries Consortium. Funding for open access charge: Universidade de Vigo/ CISUG.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Weather Generator Tool For The Assessment Of Water Resource Planning In Mediterranean Watersheds

Water resource planning requires the forecasting of precipitation at different time scales that are dependent on the planning horizon for decision making. In Mediterranean areas, the uncertainty associated to precipitation occurrence and amount is very much linked to alternate sequences of highly variable dry and wet pluriannual cycles, and the torrential character of some of the rainfall events within the wet season. Moreover, most of the precipitation is associated to cyclonic fronts passing over the region, and their interaction with the regional and local topography. This work presents a Weather Generator (WG) tool to simulate annual sequences of rainfall events in Mediterranean watersheds based on Monte Carlo simulation and Bayesian techniques. Ground measurements of precipitations and synoptic maps are used to define cyclonic-front rainfall events in terms of duration and rainfall amount on a local (basin) basis. The resulting event series are statistically studied to develop empirical probability functions for every step in the Bayesian hierarchy ranging from annual precipitation and number of events to every event occurrence and its amount and duration, to build N equally-probable samples of V years of precipitation in a given watershed, each year consisting of M precipitation events of given duration/amount at the watershed scale, distributed within each year. The Weather Generator was applied to the Guadalfeo River Basin (Southern Spain), a 1360-km2 coastal mountainous watershed with altitudes ranging from 3200 to 0 m.a.s.l. . The synthetic samples of V years obtained through the WG tool are used in this work to assess the current variability of climate in this area, the uncertainty of water resource availability in a 30-yr time horizon, and the uncertainty of extreme flood events in the main course of the river. These application examples are representative of the potential uses of the tool

PDS5 proteins are required for proper cohesin dynamics and participate in replication fork protection.

Cohesin is a chromatin-bound complex that mediates sister chromatid cohesion and facilitates long-range interactions through DNA looping. How the transcription and replication machineries deal with the presence of cohesin on chromatin remains unclear. The dynamic association of cohesin with chromatin depends on WAPL cohesin release factor (WAPL) and on PDS5 cohesin-associated factor (PDS5), which exists in two versions in vertebrate cells, PDS5A and PDS5B. Using genetic deletion in mouse embryo fibroblasts and a combination of CRISPR-mediated gene editing and RNAi-mediated gene silencing in human cells, here we analyzed the consequences of PDS5 depletion for DNA replication. We found that either PDS5A or PDS5B is sufficient for proper cohesin dynamics and that their simultaneous removal increases cohesin's residence time on chromatin and slows down DNA replication. A similar phenotype was observed in WAPL-depleted cells. Cohesin down-regulation restored normal replication fork rates in PDS5-deficient cells, suggesting that chromatin-bound cohesin hinders the advance of the replisome. We further show that PDS5 proteins are required to recruit WRN helicase-interacting protein 1 (WRNIP1), RAD51 recombinase (RAD51), and BRCA2 DNA repair associated (BRCA2) to stalled forks and that in their absence, nascent DNA strands at unprotected forks are degraded by MRE11 homolog double-strand break repair nuclease (MRE11). These findings indicate that PDS5 proteins participate in replication fork protection and also provide insights into how cohesin and its regulators contribute to the response to replication stress, a common feature of cancer cells.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and FEDER Grants BFU2013-48481-R and BFU2016-79841-R (to A. L.) and BFU2016-80402-R (to J. M.) and by FPI "Severo Ochoa" fellowships (to C. M. and M. R.-T.). This work was also supported by funding from Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (to M. R.-T.). The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article.S