Evaluación de simulaciones de la precipitación en clima presente usando el modelo WRF en la Península Ibérica

En este estudio se ha llevado a cabo un conjunto de simulaciones de alta resolución espacio-temporal para un periodo de 31 años haciendo uso del modelo regional Weather Reserch and Forecasting (WRF) con el fin de evaluar la capacidad del modelo para simular la variabilidad de las precipitaciones en la Península Ibérica. Las simulaciones se realizaron usando como condiciones iniciales y de contorno los datos de reanálisis de ERA-Interim, como “condiciones de contorno perfectas”, y las salidas globales del modelo CMIP5 CESM corregidas en sesgo, sobre un dominio centrado en la PI anidado en el dominio EURO-CORDEX. La evaluación se basó en la comparación de las salidas del modelo con los datos observacionales Spain02 para las precipitaciones en España y PT02 para Portugal, a diferentes escalas temporales con el objetivo de poder averiguar si las simulaciones regionalizadas son capaces de capturar tanto los valores medios como los eventos extremos. Los resultados indican que aunque existen ciertos errores substanciales, WRF es capaz de capturar los principales patrones espaciales de la precipitación en la PI, resultando una herramienta útil a la hora de realizar simulaciones regionales para zonas con una topografía compleja como es la Península Ibérica.A set of 31-yr high-resolution simulations has been carried out with the regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in order to evaluate its capability to simulate precipitation variability in the Iberian Peninsula. The WRF model was forced by the ERA-Interim data as “perfect boundary conditions”, and the global bias-corrected climate model outputs from CMIP5 CESM model, over a domain encompassing the IP and nested in the coarser EURO-CORDEX domain. Evaluation was based on comparison at different time scales in order to assess the model ability to capture long-term mean precipitation values and high-order statistics (extreme events). For this end, we used two different observational gridded datasets: the Spain02 data for Spanish precipitation and the PT02 data for Portugal. Although considerable errors are still observed, results show that WRF is able to capture the main spatial precipitation patterns in IP. Therefore, we can say that WRF provides useful information at regional scale, with significant improvement in complex terrain areas such as Iberian Peninsula.Este estudio está financiado por los proyectos P11-RNM-7941 (Junta de Andalucía-Spain) y CGL2013-48539-R (MINECO-Spain, FEDER)

Variabilidad estacional de los caudales en Ecuador en el periodo 1964-2014

El objetivo principal de este estudio es analizar las tendencias en el caudal de los ríos de Ecuador. Para este fin, se han utilizado los datos de caudal de la red de estaciones hidrológicas, proporcionados por el Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Ecuador (IHNAMI), distribuidas en el territorio ecuatoriano y situadas estratégicamente en las cuencas de los principales ríos. Se seleccionó un número de 26 estaciones con disponibilidad de datos diarios sin discontinuidad durante el período de 51 años (1964-2014). Mediante el test de Man-Kendall y pendiente de Sen, se han evaluado las tendencias del caudal a escala mensual. Por último, se analiza la relación entre la variabilidad del caudal y el ENSO, fuente principal de variabilidad climática en la región.The main objective of this study is to analyze trends in the streamflow of the rivers of Ecuador. For this end, we use the streamflow data from the network of hydrological stations, provided by the Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Ecuador (IHNAMI), distributed over the Ecuadorian territory and strategically located in the watersheds of its main rivers. A number of 26 stations with a continuous period of daily data during 51 years period (1964-2014) was selected. Trends of the streamflow rates have been evaluated at monthly time scales using Man-Kendall test and Sens slope. Finally, we analyze the relationship between the streamflow variability and the ENSO, which is the major climate variability source in the region.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por los proyectos P11-RNM-7941 (Junta de Andalucía-España) and CGL2013-48539-R (MINECO-España, FEDER)

Coupling study of the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model with Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to simulate the streamflow in the Guadalquivir Basin

Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model is a large-scale hydrologic model. Land surface is modeled as a grid of large and uniform cells with sub-grid heterogeneity (e.g. land cover), while water influx is local, only depending from the interaction between grid cell and local atmosphere environment. Water streamflow is obtained separately from the land surface simulation, using the Routing Model. The goal of this work consists into set an optimal hydrological and climate model to study the evolution of the streamflow of Guadalquivir Basin, with different future land use, land cover and climate scenarios, implemented with the regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. In this work we present some results concerning the calibration of the most relevant parameters of VIC model, comparing the streamflow simulations obtained from the observational climate data SPAIN02 and WRF outputs databases, with the use of observational reservoirs and gauging stations daily streamflow time series, obtained from CEDEX database, in the time period 1988-1997.El modelo Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) es un modelo hidrológico de gran escala. La superficie terrestre es modelada considerando una gran rejilla de celdas uniformes que presentan heterogeneidad a escala de sub-rejilla (esto es, cubierta superficial), mientras que el flujo de agua es local, únicamente dependiente de la interacción entre celdas y el medio ambiente local. El caudal de agua se obtiene separadamente a partir de la simulación de la superficie terrestre usando el denominado modelo Routing. El objetivo de este trabajo consiste en calibrar un modelo hidrológico y climático de forma óptima con el fin de estudiar la evolución del caudal en la Cuenca del Guadalquivir, con diferentes posibles usos del suelo futuros, cobertura superficial y escenarios climáticos, implementado con el modelo regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF). En este trabajo se presentan resultados relativos a la calibración de los parámetros más relevantes del modelo VIC, comparando las simulaciones de caudal obtenidas por el mismo a partir de los datos climáticos observacionales de SPAIN02 y de las salidas del modelo WRF, con los datos de caudal diario observacionales del CEDEX, para el periodo 1988-1997.This work has been financed by the projects P11-RNM-7941 (Junta de Andalucía-Spain) and CGL2013-48539-R (MINECO-Spain, FEDER)

Regional drought variability assessment over Spain using WRF model

This study assesses the ability of the Weather Research & Forecasting (WRF) model to reproduce dry and wet periods in a complex terrain region such as Spain. For this end, we have computed two different drought indices: the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), which is able to identify the drought patterns in a context of global warming. For comparative purposes, we also computed the drought indices using two different data sources as observational data: the monthly rainfall from MOPREDAS and the (maximum and minimum) monthly temperature from MOTEDAS gridded datasets. ERA-Interim data were also used to calculate the drought indices in order to determinate the improvement obtained using dynamical downscaling regarding to the driving data. Results show that WRF provides an improvement over ERA-Interim in term of droughts simulations, presenting higher temporal correlations with respect to observational data. This fact suggests that WRF outputs may be more suitable than larger-scale fields from General Circulation Models (GCMs) to perform future projections of droughts events.Este estudio evalúa la habilidad del modelo Weather Research & Forecasting (WRF) para reproducir periodos húmedos y secos en terrenos geográficamente complejos como España. Con este objetivo se han calculado dos índices de sequía diferentes: el Índice Estandarizado de Precipitación (SPI) y el Índice Estandarizado de Precipitación Evapotranspiración (SPEI), capaz de identificar patrones de sequía en el contexto de calentamiento global. Con propósitos comparativos, se calcularon también los índices de sequía usando dos bases de datos diferentes como datos observacionales: las precipitaciones mensuales de los datos en rejilla de MOPREDAS y las temperaturas (máximas y mínimas) mensuales de MOTEDAS. Los resultados muestran que las salidas del modelo WRF suponen una mejora con respecto a los datos de ERA-Interim en cuanto a las simulaciones de sequías presentando mayores coeficientes de correlación temporal con los datos observacionales. Este hecho sugiere que las salidas de WRF pueden ser más idóneas que los datos de Modelos Climáticos Globales (GCMs) a la hora de realizar proyecciones futuras para episodios de sequía.This work has been financed by the projects P11-RNM-7941 (Junta de Andalucía-Spain) and CGL2013-48539-R (MINECO-Spain, FEDER)

Changes in hypothalamic expression of the Lin28/let-7 system and related MicroRNAs during postnatal maturation and after experimental manipulations of puberty

[Abstract] Lin28 and Lin28b are related RNA-binding proteins that inhibit the maturation of miRNAs of the let-7 family and participate in the control of cellular stemness and early embryonic development. Considerable interest has arisen recently concerning other physiological roles of the Lin28/let-7 axis, including its potential involvement in the control of puberty, as suggested by genome-wide association studies and functional genomics. We report herein the expression profiles of Lin28 and let-7 members in the rat hypothalamus during postnatal maturation and in selected models of altered puberty. The expression patterns of c-Myc (upstream positive regulator of Lin28), mir-145 (negative regulator of c-Myc), and mir-132 and mir-9 (putative miRNA repressors of Lin28, predicted by bioinformatic algorithms) were also explored. In male and female rats, Lin28, Lin28b, and c-Myc mRNAs displayed very high hypothalamic expression during the neonatal period, markedly decreased during the infantile-to-juvenile transition and reached minimal levels before/around puberty. A similar puberty-related decline was observed for Lin28b in monkey hypothalamus but not in the rat cortex, suggesting species conservation and tissue specificity. Conversely, let-7a, let-7b, mir-132, and mir-145, but not mir-9, showed opposite expression profiles. Perturbation of brain sex differentiation and puberty, by neonatal treatment with estrogen or androgen, altered the expression ratios of Lin28/let-7 at the time of puberty. Changes in the c-Myc/Lin28b/let-7 pathway were also detected in models of delayed puberty linked to early photoperiod manipulation and, to a lesser extent, postnatal underfeeding or chronic subnutrition. Altogether, our data are the first to document dramatic changes in the expression of the Lin28/let-7 axis in the rat hypothalamus during the postnatal maturation and after different manipulations that disturb puberty, thus suggesting the potential involvement of developmental changes in hypothalamic Lin28/let-7 expression in the mechanisms permitting/leading to puberty onset.Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad; BFU 2008-00984Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad; BFU 2011-25021Junta de Andalucía; P08-CVI-03788United States. National Institutes of Health HD025123-ARRAUnited States. National Science Foundation; IOS1121691Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI10/00088Xunta de Galicia; IN845B-2010/187Xunta de Galicia; 10CSA916014P

Regulation of intracellular free arachidonic acid in Aplysia nervous system

We have studied the regulation of arachidonic acid (AA) uptake, metabolism, and release in Aplysia nervous system. Following uptake of [ 3 H]AA, the distribution of radioactivity in intracellular and extracellular lipid pools was measured as a function of time in the presence or absence of exogenous AA. The greatest amount of AA was esterified into phosphatidylinositol (relative to pool size). We found that the intracellular free AA pool underwent rapid turnover, and that radioactive free AA and eicosanoids were released at a rapid rate into the extracellular medium, both in the presence and absence of exogenous AA. Most of the released radioactivity originated from phosphatidylinositol.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/48020/1/232_2005_Article_BF01868464.pd

Combination of searches for Higgs boson pairs in pp collisions at \sqrts = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This letter presents a combination of searches for Higgs boson pair production using up to 36.1 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The combination is performed using six analyses searching for Higgs boson pairs decaying into the b (b) over barb (b) over bar, b (b) over barW(+)W(-), b (b) over bar tau(+)tau(-), W+W-W+W-, b (b) over bar gamma gamma and W+W-gamma gamma final states. Results are presented for non-resonant and resonant Higgs boson pair production modes. No statistically significant excess in data above the Standard Model predictions is found. The combined observed (expected) limit at 95% confidence level on the non-resonant Higgs boson pair production cross-section is 6.9 (10) times the predicted Standard Model cross-section. Limits are also set on the ratio (kappa(lambda)) of the Higgs boson self-coupling to its Standard Model value. This ratio is constrained at 95% confidence level in observation (expectation) to -5.0 &lt; kappa(lambda) &lt; 12.0 (-5.8 &lt; kappa(lambda) &lt; 12.0). In addition, limits are set on the production of narrow scalar resonances and spin-2 Kaluza-Klein Randall-Sundrum gravitons. Exclusion regions are also provided in the parameter space of the habemus Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and the Electroweak Singlet Model. For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2019.135103</p

Searches for lepton-flavour-violating decays of the Higgs boson in s=13\sqrt{s}=13 TeV pp\mathit{pp} collisions with the ATLAS detector

This Letter presents direct searches for lepton flavour violation in Higgs boson decays, H → eτ and H → μτ , performed with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The searches are based on a data sample of proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy √s = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb−1. No significant excess is observed above the expected background from Standard Model processes. The observed (median expected) 95% confidence-level upper limits on the leptonflavour-violating branching ratios are 0.47% (0.34+0.13−0.10%) and 0.28% (0.37+0.14−0.10%) for H → eτ and H → μτ , respectively.publishedVersio

Search for flavour-changing neutral currents in processes with one top quark and a photon using 81 fb⁻¹ of pp collisions at \sqrts = 13 TeV with the ATLAS experiment

A search for flavour-changing neutral current (FCNC) events via the coupling of a top quark, a photon, and an up or charm quark is presented using 81 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data taken at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events with a photon, an electron or muon, a b-tagged jet, and missing transverse momentum are selected. A neural network based on kinematic variables differentiates between events from signal and background processes. The data are consistent with the background-only hypothesis, and limits are set on the strength of the tqγ coupling in an effective field theory. These are also interpreted as 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for FCNC tγ production via a left-handed (right-handed) tuγ coupling of 36 fb (78 fb) and on the branching ratio for t→γu of 2.8×10−5 (6.1×10−5). In addition, they are interpreted as 95% CL upper limits on the cross section for FCNC tγ production via a left-handed (right-handed) tcγ coupling of 40 fb (33 fb) and on the branching ratio for t→γc of 22×10−5 (18×10−5). © 2019 The Author(s

Software performance of the ATLAS track reconstruction for LHC run 3

Charged particle reconstruction in the presence of many simultaneous proton–proton (pp) collisions in the LHC is a challenging task for the ATLAS experiment’s reconstruction software due to the combinatorial complexity. This paper describes the major changes made to adapt the software to reconstruct high-activity collisions with an average of 50 or more simultaneous pp interactions per bunch crossing (pileup) promptly using the available computing resources. The performance of the key components of the track reconstruction chain and its dependence on pile-up are evaluated, and the improvement achieved compared to the previous software version is quantified. For events with an average of 60 pp collisions per bunch crossing, the updated track reconstruction is twice as fast as the previous version, without significant reduction in reconstruction efficiency and while reducing the rate of combinatorial fake tracks by more than a factor two