Application of an ultra-wide band sensor-free wireless network for ground monitoring

Ground displacement monitoring is one of the most important aspects of early warning systems and risk management strategies when addressing phenomena such as landslides or subsidence. Several types of instrumentation already exist, but those able to provide real-time warnings on multiple time series are typically based on expensive technology, highlighting the need to develop a low-cost, easy to install system suitable for emergency monitoring. Therefore, a wireless network based on ultra-wideband impulse radiofrequency technology has been realized. The novelty of this network consists of its ability to measure the distance between nodes using the same signals used for transmission without the need for an actual measurement sensor. The system was tested by monitoring a mudflow in Central Italy and revealed its suitability as an early warning tool. More research on the integration of future low-cost hardware and and eventual industrialization would provide further improvement to this promising technology.Published1-142V. Struttura e sistema di alimentazione dei vulcani4V. Processi pre-eruttiviJCR Journa

Sedimentología y Estratigrafía aplicadas a la Paleohidrología de crecidas fluviales

© DE LOS AUTORES © INSTITUTO DE GEOCIENCIAS, IGEO (CSIC-UCM) Reservados todos los derechos. Ni la totalidad ni parte de este libro puede reproducirse, almacenarse o transmitirse en materia alguna por ningún medio sin permiso por escrito del Instituto de Geociencias IGEO (CSIC-UCM).Comisión EuropeaMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Morphodynamics of an ephemeral gravel-bed stream combining Mobile Laser Scanner, hydraulic simulations and geomorphological indicators

In this study we document the role of moderate and small floods as effective agents for sediment transport and bedform change on Mediterranean ephemeral streams, with a study case in Rambla de la Viuda (Eastern Spain). Rambla de la Viuda is a gravel bed stream impacted by intense mining. The last significant variation in the river’s bedform morphology took place in March and May 2013, during two rainfall events (daily accumulated rain of 70 and 40 mm) that produced flow discharge peaks of 45 and 25 m3s–1 respectively. As a consequence of the flows, two new lateral gravel bars with a total volume of 2,323 m3 were deposited on the area under study. The characterization of the flows was made by using Mobile Laser Scanner, RTK-GPS and Photographs surveys in addition to gravel size measurements prior and after each discharge. The integration of these techniques was used to trace the major fluvial geomorphic processes and thus implement a two-dimensional model that explains them. Change detection and grain size distribution pointed out the high availability of material (especially with sizes of 32 – 45 mm), the absence of a well-developed bed armoured layer, and provide information about hydraulic conditions that limited sediment transport during these events.Financial support is given by projects CGL2011-29176 and CGL2014-58127-C3-1-R (Spanish “Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad”).Peer reviewe

Modeling the inorganic bromine partitioning in the tropical tropopause layer over the eastern and western Pacific Ocean

The stratospheric inorganic bromine (Br) burden arising from the degradation of brominated very short-lived organic substances (VSL) and its partitioning between reactive and reservoir species is needed for a comprehensive assessment of the ozone depletion potential of brominated trace gases. Here we present modeled inorganic bromine abundances over the Pacific tropical tropopause based on aircraft observations of VSL from two campaigns of the Airborne Tropical TRopopause EXperiment (ATTREX 2013, carried out over the eastern Pacific, and ATTREX 2014, carried out over the western Pacific) and chemistry-climate simulations (along ATTREX flight tracks) using the specific meteorology prevailing. Using the Community Atmosphere Model with Chemistry (CAM-Chem) we model that BrO and Br are the daytime dominant species. Integrated across all ATTREX flights, BrO represents ~43 and 48% of daytime Br abundance at 17 km over the western and eastern Pacific, respectively. The results also show zones where Br/BrO > 1 depending on the solar zenith angle (SZA), ozone concentration, and temperature. On the other hand, BrCl and BrONO were found to be the dominant nighttime species with ~61 and 56 % of abundance at 17 km over the western and eastern Pacific, respectively. The western-to-eastern differences in the partitioning of inorganic bromine are explained by different abundances of ozone (O), nitrogen dioxide (NO), total inorganic chlorine (Cl), and the efficiency of heterogeneous reactions of bromine reservoirs (mostly BrONO and HBr) occurring on ice crystals.Peer Reviewe

Modeling the inorganic bromine partitioning in the tropical tropopause layer over the eastern and western Pacific Ocean

The stratospheric inorganic bromine (Bry) burden arising from the degradation of brominated very short-lived organic substances (VSLorg) and its partitioning between reactive and reservoir species is needed for a comprehensive assessment of the ozone depletion potential of brominated trace gases. Here we present modeled inorganic bromine abundances over the Pacific tropical tropopause based on aircraft observations of VSLorg from two campaigns of the Airborne Tropical TRopopause EXperiment (ATTREX 2013, carried out over the eastern Pacific, and ATTREX 2014, carried out over the western Pacific) and chemistry-climate simulations (along ATTREX flight tracks) using the specific meteorology prevailing. Using the Community Atmosphere Model with Chemistry (CAM-Chem) we model that BrO and Br are the daytime dominant species. Integrated across all ATTREX flights, BrO represents ∼ 43 and 48 % of daytime Bry abundance at 17 km over the western and eastern Pacific, respectively. The results also show zones where Br / BrO > 1 depending on the solar zenith angle (SZA), ozone concentration, and temperature. On the other hand, BrCl and BrONO2 were found to be the dominant nighttime species with ∼  61 and 56 % of abundance at 17 km over the western and eastern Pacific, respectively. The western-to-eastern differences in the partitioning of inorganic bromine are explained by different abundances of ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), total inorganic chlorine (Cly), and the efficiency of heterogeneous reactions of bromine reservoirs (mostly BrONO2 and HBr) occurring on ice crystals

The dynamic DNA methylomes of double-stranded DNA viruses associated with human cancer

The natural history of cancers associated with virus exposure is intriguing, since only a minority of human tissues infected with these viruses inevitably progress to cancer. However, the molecular reasons why the infection is controlled or instead progresses to subsequent stages of tumorigenesis are largely unknown. In this article, we provide the first complete DNA methylomes of double-stranded DNA viruses associated with human cancer that might provide important clues to help us understand the described process. Using bisulfite genomic sequencing of multiple clones, we have obtained the DNA methylation status of every CpG dinucleotide in the genome of the Human Papilloma Viruses 16 and 18 and Human Hepatitis B Virus, and in all the transcription start sites of the Epstein-Barr Virus. These viruses are associated with infectious diseases (such as hepatitis B and infectious mononucleosis) and the development of human tumors (cervical, hepatic, and nasopharyngeal cancers, and lymphoma), and are responsible for 1 million deaths worldwide every year. The DNA methylomes presented provide evidence of the dynamic nature of the epigenome in contrast to the genome. We observed that the DNA methylome of these viruses evolves from an unmethylated to a highly methylated genome in association with the progression of the disease, from asymptomatic healthy carriers, through chronically infected tissues and pre-malignant lesions, to the full-blown invasive tumor. The observed DNA methylation changes have a major functional impact on the biological behavior of the viruses