95 research outputs found

    Cooling Strategies for Greenhouses in Summer: Control of Fogging by Pulse Width Modulation

    Get PDF
    The possibilities for improving the control of greenhouse fogging systems, were studied by comparing several combinations of ventilation cooling techniques, shade screening and low-pressure fogging. The study was divided into three parts: experiments, modelling and simulations. In the first part of the paper, ten combinations of five cooling techniques were tested during the summers of 2002 and 2003 in a 132m2 greenhouse with a steel structure and a single-layer methacrylate cover located in Madrid, Spain. An analysis of variance of the climatic parameters was carried out to determine which combinations produced significant differences in inside temperature or relative humidity. Comparing the values for the inside to outside temperature difference, the combination of a shade screen and above-screen fogging achieved a difference in temperature almost the same as that for under-screen fogging, but the relative humidity was significantly lower. In the second part of the study a dynamic model was developed (2002) and validated (2003). The mean absolute error obtained for inside temperature was similar in the fit and the validation and it was less than 1.5 1C in both cases. The model was used to simulate the inside air temperature for a fog system working without shading, and above and under a shade screen. Control algorithms were developed for reducing system water consumption. In the three cases a simple on/off control with a fixed fogging cycle was compared with a pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy, in which the duration of the fogging pulse was increased as a function of inside temperature. The strategies with PWM applied to the fog system were able to reduce water consumption by 8–15% with respect to the strategies with a fixed fogging cycle

    Quantifying the Impact on Stormwater Management of an Innovative Ceramic Permeable Pavement Solution

    Full text link
    [EN] Stormwater management in cities has traditionally been based on centralized systems, evacuating runoff as quickly as possible through drainage networks that collect and convey the runoff to the final point of treatment or the receiving water body. In recent years, a different approach focused on the use of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) represents a paradigm shift, promoting a decentralized management as close to the runoff source as possible. Among these techniques, permeable pavements represent an effective solution for reducing runoff and providing pollutant treatment. This contribution describes the results obtained from an innovative ceramic permeable pavement developed as part of the LIFE CERSUDS project in the city of Benicassim (Spain). This pavement, composed by modules built from ceramic tiles in stock, allows water infiltration, runoff treatment and water reuse as part of a SUDS built in 2018 and monitored from September 2018 to September 2019. The purpose of the research was to demonstrate the hydraulic performance of the proposed solution through monitoring of runoff quantity and quality variables. Monitoring data analysis have shown positive results, reducing peak runoff rates and the volume of water which is conducted downstream. From the hydrological point of view, the system capacity shown a 100% runoff management for events up to 15-25 mm of precipitation. This is a very significant threshold since these values represent, respectively, the 81% and 91% percentiles for the study area. System performance was confirmed in terms of runoff management and water infiltration. This demonstration case study represents a reference example of urban retrofitting actions which integrate social, economic and environmental aspects.This research was developed within the LIFE CERSUDS project and was financed by the LIFE Programme 2014-2020 of the European Union for the Environment and Climate Action [Reference LIFE15 CCA/ES/000091] with the collaboration of the Generalitat Valenciana through IVACE.Castillo-Rodríguez, JT.; Andrés Doménech, I.; Martín Monerris, M.; Escuder Bueno, I.; Perales-Momparler, S.; Mira-Peidro, J. (2021). Quantifying the Impact on Stormwater Management of an Innovative Ceramic Permeable Pavement Solution. Water Resources Management. 35(4):1251-1271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-021-02778-7S1251127135

    High-pressure structural phase transitions in CuWO4

    Get PDF
    We study the effects of pressure on the structural, vibrational, and magnetic behavior of cuproscheelite. We performed powder x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy experiments up to 27 GPa as well as ab initio total-energy and lattice-dynamics calculations. Experiments provide evidence that a structural phase transition takes place at 10 GPa from the low-pressure triclinic phase (P-1) to a monoclinic wolframite-type structure (P2/c). Calculations confirmed this finding and indicate that the phase transformation involves a change in the magnetic order. In addition, the equation of state for the triclinic phase is determined: V0 = 132.8(2) A3, B0 = 139 (6) GPa and = 4. Furthermore, experiments under different stress conditions show that non-hydrostatic stresses induce a second phase transition at 17 GPa and reduce the compressibility of CuWO4, B0 = 171(6) GPa. The pressure dependence of all Raman modes of the triclinic and high-pressure phases is also reported and discussed.Comment: 33 pages, 9 figures, 5 table

    Shaping public Opinion for confrontation : catalan independence claims as represented in spanish, catalan, valencian, and basque editorials

    Get PDF
    Editorials represent a newspaper's principal means of ideological positioning and serve to identify the attitude of each newspaper and its readership to some of the main actors in any given conflict, especially those that are political in nature. Catalonia's independence movement has experienced a surge in recent years. The turning point came in July 2010, after Spain's constitutional court ruled against some aspects of Catalonia's Statute of Autonomy (the legislation regulating the relationship between the Catalan autonomous community and the Spanish state). The ruling annulled some of the articles of the statute. The demonstration in support of Catalan independence that took place on September 11, 2012, was considered the most important among several mass rallies held for this purpose over successive years on Catalonia's National Day. This article presents the results of a qualitative and quantitative analysis of editorial articles published around these two key dates, with the goal of studying each newspaper's treatment of political actors and their degree of identification with these actors. Their use of arguments aimed at persuading readers and legitimizing a given position during the specified time periods in 2010 and 2012 will also be studied. The study focuses on the editorial articles published by several newspapers in four distinct regional contexts: Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country, as well as the whole of Spain. The analyzed articles were published a few days before and after July 10, 2010, and September 11, 2012

    A quantitative flood risk analysis methodology for urban areas with integration of social research data

    Get PDF
    Risk analysis has become a top priority for authorities and stakeholders in many European countries, with the aim of reducing flooding risk, considering the population’s needs and improving risk awareness. Within this context, two methodological pieces have been developed in the period 2009–2011 within the SUFRI project (Sustainable Strategies of Urban Flood Risk Management with non-structural measures to cope with the residual risk, 2nd ERA-Net CRUE Funding Initiative). First, the “SUFRI Methodology for pluvial and river flooding risk assessment in urban areas to inform decision-making” provides a comprehensive and quantitative tool for flood risk analysis. Second, the “Methodology for investigation of risk awareness of the population concerned” presents the basis to estimate current risk from a social perspective and identify tendencies in the way floods are understood by citizens. Outcomes of both methods are integrated in this paper with the aim of informing decision making on non-structural protection measures. The results of two case studies are shown to illustrate practical applications of this developed approach. The main advantage of applying the methodology herein presented consists in providing a quantitative estimation of flooding risk before and after investing in non-structural risk mitigation measures. It can be of great interest for decision makers as it provides rational and solid information.The work described in this paper was supported by the 2nd ERA-Net CRUE Funding Initiative, particularly funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management of Austria (Department 19B of the Government of Styria, Torrent and Avalanche control).Escuder Bueno, I.; Castillo Rodríguez, JT.; Zechner, S.; Jöbstl, C.; Perales Momparler, S.; Petaccia, G. (2012). A quantitative flood risk analysis methodology for urban areas with integration of social research data. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. 12(9):2843-2863. doi:10.5194/nhess-12-2843-2012S28432863129AEMS: Commonwealth of Australia, Flood Warning, Manual 21, Australian Emergency Manuals Series, ISBN 978-1-921152-17-7, 2009.Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD): Incorporated Guidelines on Risk Assessment, October 2003.Ayyub, B. M.: Elicitation of expert opinions for uncertainty and risks, CRC Press, 2001.Baana, P. J. and Klijna, F.: Flood risk perception and implications for flood risk management in the Netherlands, Int. J. River Basin Manage., 2, 113–122, 2004.Bowles, D. S.: ALARP Evaluation-Using Cost Effectiveness and Disproportionality to Justify Risk Reduction, Australian National Commission on Large Dams (ANCOLD) – Bulletin, 127, 89–106, August 2004.Conselleria d'Obres Públiques, Urbanisme i Territori (COPUT): Plan de Acción Territorial de Carácter Sectorial sobre Prevención de Riesgo de Inundación en la Comunidad Valenciana (PATRICOVA), 2002 (in Spanish).CRUE Research Funding Initiative: Synthesis Report No I-2009, Addressing the key findings of research, Risk Assessment and Risk Management: Effectiveness and Efficiency of Non-structural Flood Risk Management Measures, Project Contract No: ERAC-CT-2004-515742, 2009.Cunge, J. A., Holly, F. M., and Vervey, A.: Practical aspects of Computational River Hydraulics, Pitman Publ. Inc, London, 1990.Dawson, W. R.: Generic depth-damage relationships for residential structures with basements, Economic Guidance Memorandum (EGM) 04-01, USACE, 2003.DHS: Estimating Economic Consequences for Dam Failure Scenarios, Dams Sector, US Department of Homeland Security, September 2011, 2011a.DHS: Estimating Loss of Life for Dam Failure Scenarios, Dams Sector, US Department of Homeland Security, September 2011, 2011b.Douben, K. J.: Characteristics of river floods and flooding: a global overview, 1985–2003, Irrigation Drainage, 55, S9–S21, 2006.EC: Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks, 2007.EC: Directive 2008/114/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 December 2008 on the identification and designation of European critical infrastructures and the assessment of the need to improve their protection, 2008.Escuder-Bueno, I., Morales-Torres, A., and Perales-Momparler, S.: Urban Flood Risk Characterization as a tool for planning and managing. Workshop Alexandria, March 2010: Exploration of Tolerable Risk Guidelines for Levee Systems, Washington DC (USA), available at: www.ipresas.upv.es, www.sufri.tugraz.at, 2010.Escuder-Bueno, I., Castillo-Rodríguez, J. T., Perales-Momparler, S., and Morales-Torres, A.: SUFRI methodology for pluvial and river flooding risk assessment in urban areas to inform decision-making, SUFRI project, WP3, final report, July 2011, available at: www.sufri.tugraz.at, 2011a.Escuder-Bueno, I., Castillo-Rodríguez, J. T., Perales-Momparler, S., and Morales-Torres, A.: A complete and quantitative tool for flood risk analysis in urban areas: river and pluvial flooding, Proceedings UFRIM Conference, Graz (Austria), September 2011, 2011b.Gómez, M. and Russo, B.: Criterios de riesgo asociados a escorrentía urbana, Jornadas de Ingeniería del Agua, 2009 (in Spanish).Graham, W. J.: A procedure for estimating loss of life caused by dam failure, DSO-99-06, US Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, 1999.Grossmann, G. and Seiser, T.: Final Report – Survey about risk awareness – SUFRI project, 2011 (unpublished report).IEC/FDIS 31010, ISO International Standard: Risk management – Risk assessment techniques, IEC/FDIS 31010:2009 (E), 2009.International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD): Risk Assessment in Dam Safety Management: A Reconnaissance of Benefits, Methods and Current Applications, Bulletin130, 2005.Jöbstl, C., Zechner, S., Knoblauch, H., Pohl, R., Bornschein, A., Natale, L., Petaccia, G., Escuder-Bueno, I., Castillo-Rodríguez, J. T., Perales-Momparler, S., Morales-Torres, A., Bateman, A., Medina, V., Díaz, A., Grossmann, G., Kulmhofer, A., and Seiser, T.: SUFRI – Sustainable Strategies of Urban Flood Risk Management with non-structural measures to cope with the residual risk, Final Report, Graz 2011, available at: www.sufri.tugraz.at, 2011.Jonkman, S. N.: Global Perspectives on Loss of Human Life Caused by Floods, Nat. Hazards, 34, 151–175, 2003.Messner, F., Penning-Rowsell, E., Green, C., Meyer, V., Tunstall, S., and van der Veen, A.: FLOODSITE Evaluating flood damages: guidance and recommendations on principles and methods, Report T09-06-01, January 2007.Munger, D. F., Bowles, D. S., Boyer, D. B., Davis, D. W., Margo, D. A., Moser, D. A., Regan, P. J., and Snorteland, N.: Interim tolerable risk guidelines for US Army Corps of Engineers dams. In USSD Workshop on the future of dam safety decision making: combining standards and risk, April 2009.Nanía, L.: Métodos de transformación lluvía-escorrentía y de propagación de caudales, Hidrología superficial y subterránea, Universidad de Granada, 2002 (in Spanish).Parker, D., Tunstall, S., and Wilson, T.: Socio-economic benefits of flood forecasting and warning, Flood Hazard Research Centre, Middlesex University, Queensway, Enfield, EN3 4SF, London, UK, 2005.Penning-Rowsell, E., Floyd, D., Ramsbottom, P., and Surendran, S.: Estimating injury and loss of life in floods: A deterministic framework, Nat. Hazards, 36, 43–64, 2005.Reiter, P.: RESCDAM – Loss of life caused by dam failure, the RESCDAM LOL method and its application to Kyrkosjarvi dam in Seinajoki, Water Consulting Ltd., 2001.Roos, M.: Flood management practice in northern California, Irrigation Drainage, 55, 93–99, 2006.Samuels, P., Klijn, F., and Dijkman J.: An analysis of the current practice of policies on river flood risk management in different countries, Irrigation Drainage, 55, 141–150, 2006.Sayers, P. B., Hall, J. W., and Meadowcroft, I. C.: Towards risk-based flood hazard management in the UK, Proceedings of ICE-Civil Engineering 150 May 2002, 36–42, Paper 12803, 2002.Scawthorn, C., Flores, P.; Blais, N., Seligson, H., Tate, E., Chang, S., Mifflin, E., Thomas, W., Murphy, J., Jones, C., and Lawrence, M.: HAZUS-MH flood loss estimation methodology, II: Damage and Loss Assessment, Nat. Hazards Rev., 7, 72–81, 2006.Schanze, J., Hutter, G., Olfert, A., Penning-Rowsell, E.C., Parker, D., Harries, T., Werritty, A., Nachtnebel, H., Holzmann, H., Neuhold, C., Meyer, V., Kuhlicke, C., Schildt, A., Jessel, B., and Königer, P.: FLOOD-ERA Joint Report, CRUE Research Report No I-1: Systematisation, evaluation and context conditions of structural and non-structural measures for flood risk reduction, Project Contract No: ERAC-CT-2004-515742, 2008.Serrano-Lombillo, A., Escuder-Bueno, I., de Membrillera-Ortuño, M. G., and Altarejos-García, L.: iPresas – Software for risk analysis, 23rd International Congress on Large Dams, Brasilia, 2009.Simonovic, S. P.: Social criteria for evaluation of flood control measures – Winnipeg case study, Urban Water, 1, 167–175, 1999.Témez, J. R.: Extended and Improved Rational method, Highways Administration of Spain, XXIV Congress Madrid Edition, 1991 (in Spanish).US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR): Risk Based Profiling System, Technical Service Center, 2001.Vrijling, J. K.: Probabilistic design of water defence systems in The Netherlands, Reliab. Eng. Syst. Safe., 74, 337–344, 2001.Zechner, S., Jöbstl, C., and Knoblauch, H.: SUFRI Methodology for investigation of risk awareness of the population concerned, SUFRI project, WP4, final report, December 2011

    High-pressure phase transitions and compressibility of wolframite-type tungstates

    Get PDF
    This paper reports an investigation on the phase diagram and compressibility of wolframite-type tungstates by means of x-ray powder diffraction and absorption in a diamond-anvil cell and ab initio calculations. X-ray diffraction experiments show that monoclinic wolframite-type MgWO4 suffers at least two phase transitions, the first one being to a triclinic polymorph with a structure similar to that of CuWO4 and FeMoO4-II. The onset of each transition is detected at 17.1 and 31 GPa. In ZnWO4 the onset of the monoclinic-triclinic transition has been also found at 16.7 GPa. This transition does not involve any change in the atomic coordination as confirmed by x-ray absorption measurements. These findings are supported by density-functional theory calculations, which predict the occurrence of additional transitions upon further compression. Calculations have been also performed for wolframite-type MnWO4, which is found to have an antiferromagnetic configuration. In addition, our study reveals details of the local-atomic compression in MgWO4 and ZnWO4. In particular, below the transition pressure the ZnO6 and equivalent polyhedra tend to become more regular, whereas, the WO6 octahedra remain almost unchanged. Fitting the pressure-volume data we obtained the equation of state for the low-pressure phase of MgWO4 and ZnWO4. These and previous results on MnWO4 and CdWO4 are compared with the calculations. The compressibility of wolframite-type tungstates is also systematically discussed. Finally Raman spectroscopy measurements and lattice dynamics calculations are presented for MgWO4

    Reproductive traits of the round sardinella in the Canary Islands (Spain, NW Africa)

    Get PDF
    The present study aims to investigate the reproductive biology of the small pelagic Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847 in the Canary Islands, to enable its reliable assessment and advise on appropriate management measures for a fishing resource showing a declining trend in landings. Reproductive biology and sexual patterns of round sardinella were examined from monthly random samples of commercial catches landed by the artisanal purse-seine fleet. The landings' length frequencies, ranging between 9–32 cm (based on the total lengths, TL), were recorded from 2013–2019. The overall mean value of TL was 20.9 cm, with annual mean values between 20–22 cm, except in 2016 (TL = 19 cm). The overall sex ratio M:F was 1:0.92, with males significantly predominant. Sex ratios fluctuated as a function of size and month: females were more abundant in the larger length classes, as well as before and after spawning, whereas males were more abundant in the smaller length classes and during spawning. Based on gonad maturity stages and gonadosomatic index, round sardinella spawns during almost all the year, with a peak in January–February and a resting period during October–November. The length at first maturity was estimated at TL of 18.2 cm, notably smaller than the value obtained for the NW African coastal waters where the demographic structure in round sardinellas' landings is totally different.Versión del edito

    OGG1 inhibition triggers synthetic lethality and enhances the effect of PARP inhibitor olaparib in BRCA1-deficient TNBC cells

    Get PDF
    Background: PARP1 plays a critical role in the base excision repair (BER) pathway, and PARP1 inhibition leads to specific cell death, through a synthetic lethal interaction, in the context of BRCA1/2 deficiency. To date, up to five different PARP inhibitors (PARPi), have been approved, nevertheless, the acquisition of resistance to PARPi is common and there is increasing interest in enhancing responses and expand their use to other tumour types. Methods: We hypothesized that other BER members could be additional synthetic lethal partners with mutated BRCA genes. To test this, we decided to evaluate the glycosylase OGG1 as a potential candidate, by treating BRCA1 proficient and deficient breast cancer cells with PARPi olaparib and the OGG1 inhibitor TH5478. Results: Knocking out BRCA1 in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines causes hypersensitivity to the OGG1 inhibitor TH5487. Besides, TH5487 enhances the sensitivity to the PARP inhibitor olaparib, especially in the context of BRCA1 deficiency, reflecting an additive interaction. Discussion: These results provide the first evidence that OGG1 inhibition is a promising new synthetic lethality strategy in BRCA1-deficient cells, and could lead to a new framework for the treatment of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer
    corecore