An Integrated Approach to Flood Risk Management: A Case Study of Navaluenga (Central Spain)

Flood risk management decisions require the rational assessment of mitigation strategies. This is a complex decision-making process involving many uncertainties. This paper presents a case study where a cost-benefit based methodology is used to define the best intervention measures for flood-risk mitigation in central Spain. Based on different flood hazard scenarios, several structural measures considered by the local Basin Water Authority and others defined by engineering criteria were checked for operability. Non-systematic data derived from dendrogeomorphological analysis of riparian trees were included in the flood frequency analysis. Flood damage was assessed by means of depth-damage functions, and flooded urban areas were obtained by applying a hydraulic model. The best defense strategies were obtained by a cost-benefit procedure, where uncertainties derived from each analytical process were incorporated based on a stochastic approach to estimate expected economic losses. The results showed that large structural solutions are not economically viable when compared with other smaller structural measures, presumably because of the pre-established location of dams in the upper part of the basin which do not laminate the flow generated by the surrounding catchment to Navalueng

Designed binary mixtures for subcritical organic Rankine cycles based on multiobjective optimization

The use of binary zeotropic mixtures as working fluids applied to Organic Rankine Cycles (ORCs) is investigated in this paper. In total, six (6) hydrocarbons and (2) hydrofluorocarbons are considered, leading to twenty-eight (28) possible binary combinations. The mixtures were tested with a basic Rankine cycle while using the heat source temperature as independent variable, which assumed six different values, ranging from 80 °C to 180 °C, in steps of 20 °C. The simulations aimed to identify the ideal mixtures that maximized the net power and exergetic efficiency, and minimized the heat exchanger’s global conductance for a given temperature of the heat source. The optimization process relied on a genetic algorithm and the selection of the best mixtures, on a non-dominated sorting method (NDS), which returned Pareto fronts gathering the best solutions. While no one specific ideal mixture was identified, the results showed that the range of the so-called ideal mixtures narrows as the heat source temperature increases, with mixtures including fluids like R245fa and pentane being good options, whereas at low temperature, a larger number of fluid mixtures perform well. Finally, a scale analysis is proposed and shows that the maximal net power varies linearly with a Number of Transfer Units (NTU) factor while its slope depends on the heat source temperature. The latter analysis is compared with the results obtained with the Pareto front and NDS, showing that both sets of results agree well while correlated by a single constant for the entire temperature range covered in the present study

An analog integrated circuit design laboratory

We present the structure of an analog integrated circuit design laboratory to instruct at both, senior undergraduate and entry graduate levels. The teaching material includes: a laboratory manual with analog circuit design theory, pre-laboratory exercises and circuit design specifications; a reference web page with step by step instructions and examples; the use of mathematical tools for automation and analysis; and state of the art CAD design tools in use by industry. Upon completion of the course, the students have skills for an entry level analog designer position

IKKβ kinase promotes stemness, migration, and invasion in KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma cells

KRAS oncogenic mutations are widespread in lung cancer and, because direct targeting of KRAS has proven to be challenging, KRAS-driven cancers lack effective therapies. One alternative strategy for developing KRAS targeted therapies is to identify downstream targets involved in promoting important malignant features, such as the acquisition of a cancer stem-like and metastatic phenotype. Based on previous studies showing that KRAS activates nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) through inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase β (IKKβ) to promote lung tumourigenesis, we hypothesized that inhibition of IKKβ would reduce stemness, migration and invasion of KRAS-mutant human lung cancer cells. We show that KRAS-driven lung tumoursphere-derived cells exhibit stemness features and increased IKKβ kinase activity. IKKβ targeting by different approaches reduces the expression of stemness-associated genes, tumoursphere formation, and self-renewal, and preferentially impairs the proliferation of KRAS-driven lung tumoursphere-derived cells. Moreover, we show that IKKβ targeting reduces tumour cell migration and invasion, potentially by regulating both expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2). In conclusion, our results indicate that IKKβ is an important mediator of KRAS-induced stemness and invasive features in lung cancer, and, therefore, might constitute a promising strategy to lower recurrence rates, reduce metastatic dissemination, and improve survival of lung cancer patients with KRAS-driven disease

Levels and patterns of objectively assessed physical activity and compliance with different public health guidelines in university students

ArticleBackground Physical activity (PA) is associated with health enhancement. The aim of this study was to assess: 1) levels and patterns of PA in university students by using accelerometers; and 2) the percentage of fulfilment of PA recommendations for adults, according to different public health guidelines. Methods Observational cross-sectional study (Cuenca’s Adults Study) involving 296 (206 women) healthy Spanish university students aged 18–25 years old. Participants wore the ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer for seven consecutive days. Total PA, steps and time spent in sedentary time, light, moderate, vigorous, and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was assessed, and the prevalence of sufficient PA was calculated according to various public health guidelines. Results No sex differences in total PA were found. University students were more sedentary during weekend days than weekdays (p<0.05). Only 30.3% of participants accumulated 30 min/day at least five days a week of MVPA. A total of 5.4% of students met the recommendation of 150 min/week of MVPA or 75 min/week of vigorous PA, in PA bouts of at least 10 min. using the same definition, but on five or more days a week, only 0.5% students were found to meet the recommendation. In addition, only 0.5% of students met the recommendation of 30 min/day of MVPA, at least five days a week and in bouts of at least 10 min. Finally, 28.1% of the students met the recommendation of 10,000 steps/day. Conclusions Our study shows a high incidence of sedentary time in university students. The number of students meeting PA recommendations significantly differed depending on the recommendation proposed. Specific strategies to promote PA in this population are necessary as well as an agreement as to which PA guidelines should be used.Fundación para la Investigación SanitariaMinistry of Health and Consumer AffairsInstituto de Salud Carlos IIIRed de Investigación en Actividades Preventivas y de Promoción de Salu