Reliability-based dynamical design of a singular structure for use in High Energy Physics experiments

[EN] The present work presents a comprehensive design and dynamic calculation of singular metallic structures, part of the Neutrino Experiment NEXT. The experiment uses an electroluminescent TPC chamber, a high-pressure 136Xe gas vessel enclosing the detector. A lead-block "castle'' or containing box shields this vessel against external g-rays from all directions; in spite of its heavy weight, the castle must be regularly open for the detector maintenance. Since the structures will be constructed at a middle-level seismic localization (Laboratorio Subterraneo Canfranc, Spain), the earthquake hazard must be taken into account. Vessel and castle are supported by a rigid frame, which must satisfy two requirements: (i) the Spanish seismic standard, (ii) for equipment protection, the detector maximum horizontal acceleration must be < 1 [m/s(2)]. This frame rests on special base isolators to decrease horizontal accelerations in case of an earthquake. Three dynamical calculations are conducted: (i) a response spectrum analysis to comply with the standard, (ii) five time-history analyses to calculate tolerances and, (iii) a reliability-based approach using 1000 timehistory responses to ensure satisfaction of the operating requirements. The final outcome is the design of a singular structure optimized for the NEXT experiment with a probability of failure against any standard earthquake of only 0.125%. (C) 2017 Politechnika Wroclawska. Published by Elsevier Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.This research was supported by the grants CSD2008-00037 Canfranc Underground Physics.Palma, R.; Torrent, J.; Pérez-Aparicio, JL.; Ripoll, L. (2018). Reliability-based dynamical design of a singular structure for use in High Energy Physics experiments. Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering. 18(1):256-266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acme.2017.07.00325626618

Advances in the subseasonal prediction of extreme events: relevant case studies across the globe

Extreme weather events have devastating impacts on human health, economic activities, ecosystems, and infrastructure. It is therefore crucial to anticipate extremes and their impacts to allow for preparedness and emergency measures. There is indeed potential for probabilistic subseasonal prediction on time scales of several weeks for many extreme events. Here we provide an overview of subseasonal predictability for case studies of some of the most prominent extreme events across the globe using the ECMWF S2S prediction system: heatwaves, cold spells, heavy precipitation events, and tropical and extratropical cyclones. The considered heatwaves exhibit predictability on time scales of 3–4 weeks, while this time scale is 2–3 weeks for cold spells. Precipitation extremes are the least predictable among the considered case studies. ­Tropical cyclones, on the other hand, can exhibit probabilistic predictability on time scales of up to 3 weeks, which in the presented cases was aided by remote precursors such as the Madden–Julian oscillation. For extratropical cyclones, lead times are found to be shorter. These case studies clearly illustrate the potential for event-dependent advance warnings for a wide range of extreme events. The subseasonal predictability of extreme events demonstrated here allows for an extension of warning horizons, provides advance information to impact modelers, and informs communities and stakeholders affected by the impacts of extreme weather events.Peer Reviewed"Article signat per 40 autors/es: Daniela I. V. Domeisen, Christopher J. White, Hilla Afargan-Gerstman, Ángel G. Muñoz, Matthew A. Janiga, Frédéric Vitart, C. Ole Wulff, Salomé Antoine, Constantin Ardilouze, Lauriane Batté, Hannah C. Bloomfield, David J. Brayshaw, Suzana J. Camargo, Andrew Charlton-Pérez, Dan Collins, Tim Cowan, Maria del Mar Chaves, Laura Ferranti, Rosario Gómez, Paula L. M. González, Carmen González Romero, Johnna M. Infanti, Stelios Karozis, Hera Kim, Erik W. Kolstad, Emerson LaJoie, Llorenç Lledó, Linus Magnusson, Piero Malguzzi, Andrea Manrique-Suñén, Daniele Mastrangelo, Stefano Materia, Hanoi Medina, Lluís Palma, Luis E. Pineda, Athanasios Sfetsos, Seok-Woo Son, Albert Soret, Sarah Strazzo, and Di Tian"Postprint (published version

Cartografía de zonas inundables y análisis de riesgo en Cataluña (Plan Inuncat)

Ponencia presentada en: V Congreso Internacional de la Asociación Española de Climatología celebrado en Zaragoza del 18 al 21 de septiembre de 2006.[ES]Se expone el contenido y la metodología empleada en la elaboración del Plan de Emergencias por inundaciones de Cataluña (INUNCAT). El Plan comprende el sistema de alerta, la organización y los procedimientos de actuación en el caso de inundaciones extraordinarias, de los servicios de la Generalitat de Catalunya, de las otras administraciones y de las entidades públicas. La asignación del nivel de riesgo requiere del análisis de la peligrosidad para diferentes períodos de retorno, del análisis de la vulnerabilidad de los elementos expuestos, así como de la zonificación del territorio y la localización de los puntos conflictivos.[EN]The special plan of floods emergencies of Catalonia (INUNCAT) must face as main objective the flood emergencies in the territorial Catalonia (DGESC). Thus, the warning system, the organization and the procedures of performance in case of flood are defined. All its previous quantification and location of the fundamental aspects for the risk analysis, between which they emphasize the hazard analysis and the establishment of the recurrence times, the vulnerability, the zonation and the location of conflicting points

The EFF-1A Cytoplasmic Domain Influences Hypodermal Cell Fusions in C. elegans But Is Not Dependent on 14-3-3 Proteins.

BACKGROUND: Regulatory and biophysical mechanisms of cell-cell fusion are largely unknown despite the fundamental requirement for fused cells in eukaryotic development. Only two cellular fusogens that are not of clear recent viral origin have been identified to date, both in nematodes. One of these, EFF-1, is necessary for most cell fusions in Caenorhabditis elegans. Unregulated EFF-1 expression causes lethality due to ectopic fusion between cells not developmentally programmed to fuse, highlighting the necessity of tight fusogen regulation for proper development. Identifying factors that regulate EFF-1 and its paralog AFF-1 could lead to discovery of molecular mechanisms that control cell fusion upstream of the action of a membrane fusogen. Bioinformatic analysis of the EFF-1A isoform\u27s predicted cytoplasmic domain (endodomain) previously revealed two motifs that have high probabilities of interacting with 14-3-3 proteins when phosphorylated. Mutation of predicted phosphorylation sites within these motifs caused measurable loss of eff-1 gene function in cell fusion in vivo. Moreover, a human 14-3-3 isoform bound to EFF-1::GFP in vitro. We hypothesized that the two 14-3-3 proteins in C. elegans, PAR-5 and FTT-2, may regulate either localization or fusion-inducing activity of EFF-1. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Timing of fusion events was slightly but significantly delayed in animals unable to produce full-length EFF-1A. Yet, mutagenesis and live imaging showed that phosphoserines in putative 14-3-3 binding sites are not essential for EFF-1::GFP accumulation at the membrane contact between fusion partner cells. Moreover, although the EFF-1A endodomain was required for normal rates of eff-1-dependent epidermal cell fusions, reduced levels of FTT-2 and PAR-5 did not visibly affect the function of wild-type EFF-1 in the hypodermis. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Deletion of the EFF-1A endodomain noticeably affects the timing of hypodermal cell fusions in vivo. However, prohibiting phosphorylation of candidate 14-3-3-binding sites does not impact localization of the fusogen. Hypodermal membrane fusion activity persists when 14-3-3 expression levels are reduced

Advances in the subseasonal prediction of extreme events: relevant case studies across the globe

Extreme weather events have devastating impacts on human health, economic activities, ecosysytems, and infrastructure. It is therefore crucial to anticipate extremes and their impacts to allow for preparedness and emergency measures. There is indeed potential for probabilistic subseasonal prediction on timescales of several weeks for many extreme events. Here we provide an overview of subseasonal predictability for case studies of some of the most prominent extreme events across the globe using the ECMWF S2S prediction system: heatwaves, cold spells, heavy precipitation events, and tropical and extratropical cyclones. The considered heatwaves exhibit predictability on timescales of 3-4 weeks, while this timescale is 2-3 weeks for cold spells. Precipitation extremes are the least predictable among the considered case studies. Tropical cyclones, on the other hand, can exhibit probabilistic predictability on timescales of up to 3 weeks, which in the presented cases was aided by remote precursors such as the Madden-Julian Oscillation. For extratropical cyclones, lead times are found to be shorter. These case studies clearly illustrate the potential for event - dependent advance warnings for a wide range of extreme events. The subseasonal predictability of extreme events demonstrated here allows for an extension of warning horizons, provides advance information to impact modelers, and informs communities and stakeholders affected by the impacts of extreme weather events