First fossil record of the oribatid family Liacaridae (Acariformes: Gustavioidea) from the lower Albian amber-bearing site of Ariño (eastern Spain)

We describe the first beetle mite (Oribatida) found in the lower Albian (Lower Cretaceous) amber-bearing site of Ariño, located in the Teruel Province (eastern Iberian Peninsula). It represents the first fossil record of the family Liacaridae (Acariformes: Oribatida: Gustavioidea). A new species, Liacarus (Procorynetes) shtanchaevae Arillo and Subías sp. nov., is described and compared with the living species of the subgenus Liacarus (Procorynetes). Notes on its biogeography and palaeobiology are provided. It corresponds to the first Cretaceous record of an extant oribatid subgenus and bears witness to the wide range of distribution that the ancient representatives of the subgenus may have had. Most of the oribatid species from Cretaceous ambers belong to living genera, which reflects the high degree of morphological stasis, or bradytely, over the evolutionary history of oribatid mites since the Early Cretaceous

First fossil record of the oribatid family Liacaridae (Acariformes: Gustavioidea) from the lower Albian amber-bearing site of Ariño (eastern Spain)

We describe the first beetle mite (Oribatida) found in the lower Albian (Lower Cretaceous) amber-bearing site of Ariño, located in the Teruel Province (eastern Iberian Peninsula). It represents the first fossil record of the family Liacaridae (Acariformes: Oribatida: Gustavioidea). A new species, Liacarus (Procorynetes) shtanchaevae Arillo and Subías sp. nov., is described and compared with the living species of the subgenus Liacarus (Procorynetes). Notes on its biogeography and palaeobiology are provided. It corresponds to the first Cretaceous record of an extant oribatid subgenus and bears witness to the wide range of distribution that the ancient representatives of the subgenus may have had. Most of the oribatid species from Cretaceous ambers belong to living genera, which reflects the high degree of morphological stasis, or bradytely, over the evolutionary history of oribatid mites since the Early Cretaceous

Perception advances in outdoor vehicle detection for automatic cruise control

This paper describes a vehicle detection system based on support vector machine (SVM) and monocular vision. The final goal is to provide vehicle-to-vehicle time gap for automatic cruise control (ACC) applications in the framework of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). The challenge is to use a single camera as input, in order to achieve a low cost final system that meets the requirements needed to undertake serial production in automotive industry. The basic feature of the detected objects are first located in the image using vision and then combined with a SVMbased classifier. An intelligent learning approach is proposed in order to better deal with objects variability, illumination conditions, partial occlusions and rotations. A large database containing thousands of object examples extracted from real road scenes has been created for learning purposes. The classifier is trained using SVM in order to be able to classify vehicles, including trucks. In addition, the vehicle detection system described in this paper provides early detection of passing cars and assigns lane to target vehicles. In the paper, we present and discuss the results achieved up to date in real traffic conditions.Ministerio de Educación y Cienci

The early Miocene lake of Foieta la Sarra-A in eastern Iberian Peninsula and its relevance for the reconstruction of the Ribesalbes-Alcora Basin palaeoecology

The Ribesalbes-Alcora Basin (Castelló Province, Spain) contains two lower Miocene units that are rich in fossils. The Unit B contains oil-shale and laminated bituminous dolomicrite related to a palaeolake, whereas the Unit C is composed of sandstone and mudstone beds from distal deltaic and shallow lacustrine environments. The La Rinconada and San Chils localities from the Unit B have yielded a fossil assemblage of plants, molluscs, arthropods, and vertebrates, while the localities from the Unit C in the Campisano ravine (Araia/Mas d'Antolino outcrop) are rich in mammalian record. Here we study a new palaeolake deposit of laminated lacustrine limestone beds in the Unit C named Foieta la Sarra-A. This new locality has provided an assemblage of charophytes, terrestrial plants, molluscs, arthropods, and teleosteans. The latter represent the only known fish record from the Ribesalbes-Alcora Basin to date. Although the specimens are generally poorly preserved, the presence of soft-body preservation due to the action of microbial mats at the lake bottom allows considering the Foieta la Sarra-A locality as a Konservat-Lagerstätte. The Foieta la Sarra-A palaeolake had a different water chemistry compared to that represented in the Unit B. Its depth was about a few metres and the water level suffered periodic fluctuations. This new locality sheds light on the palaeoenvironmental dynamics of the Ribesalbes-Alcora Basin during the early Miocene and provides a new approach to the palaeoecological reconstruction of the basin

Estudio de la eficacia de la aplicación de hidrofugantes para impedir la entrada de agua de lluvia en muros de ladrillo de tejar por albardillas y remates

In the historic buildings built with face brick tile it is very common to have copings and cornices of soldier or header course, made with the same brick as the facade and these bricks are usually more deteriorated than the rest of the facade. The cause of the deterioration is the action of the water combined with dirt, vegetation, and other moisture-related causes. One of the possible systems to conserve and protect these elements is by projecting a water repellent. This article will present the results of tests conducted on laboratory specimens formed by low brick walls with and without the application of a waterproofing treatment, finished off at the top part by a sloping course also of brick.En los edificios históricos construidos con ladrillos de tejar es muy frecuente que los muros y las cornisas estén rematados con el mismo ladrillo, sentado a soga o a tizón, con el que está ejecutada la fachada y que estos ladrillos estén más deteriorados que el resto. La causa del deterioro es la acción del agua combinada con la suciedad, la vegetación y otras lesiones relacionadas con la humedad. Uno de los posibles sistemas para conservar y proteger estos elementos es proyectar un hidrofugante. En este artículo se van a exponer los resultados de los ensayos realizados en laboratorio a probetas formadas por muretes de ladrillos, rematados en la parte superior por una albardilla formada por una hilada inclinada, también de ladrillo, con la aplicación de un tratamiento hidrofugante o sin él

Refractive results after topography-guided anterior lamellar keratoplasty with excimer laser in keratoconus grade III

Objetivo: determinar los resultados refractivos y funcionales en operados de queratoplastia lamelar anterior superficial asistida con láser excimer topográfico en queratocono grado III. Materiales y métodos: estudio experimental, abierto, no controlado, longitudinal  y prospectivo, en 35 ojos de 31 pacientes con edad promedio de 35,3 años, seguimiento entre 12 y 51 meses, operados en la Clínica Internacional de Retinosis Pigmentaria “Camilo Cienfuegos”, entre enero de 2006 y diciembre del 2010. Resultados: la agudeza visual sin corrección mejoró de 0,04 a 0,39 y la agudeza visual con corrección de 0,28 a 0,78; el equivalente esférico se redujo de -13,02 a -1,69; la esfera y el cilindro disminuyeron de -10,13D ± 4,73 a -0,44D ± 3,22 y de -5,67D ± 2,32 a -2,52D ± 1,38, respectivamente. La queratometría disminuyó de 56,8D y 51,53D a 45,02 y 42,02 en el posoperatorio. La densidad celular preoperatoria fue de 2313,81 cel/mm2 ± 322,10; varió a 2170 cel/mm2 ± 294,92 en el posoperatorio. El lecho residual estromal fue de 153,22 μ. Discusión: en correlación con la literatura, el queratocono se presenta en la adolescencia y la juventud y conduce al trasplante de córnea con más frecuencia en estas etapas de la vida. La queratometría promedio posoperatoria fue inferior a la reportada por otros investigadores que realizaron estudios con semejante técnica quirúrgica. Conclusiones: la queratoplastia lamelar anterior superficial con láser excimer, puede ser considerada como indicación primaria de tratamiento en el queratocono grado III (MÉD.UIS. 2012;25(3):195-202)Objective: determine refractive and functional results in patients with keratoconus grade III underwent to topography-guided anterior lamellar keratoplasty assisted with excimer laser. Materials and Methods: uncontrolled experimental study, longitudinal and prospective, in 35 eyes of 31 patients with an average age of 35.3 years old, followed between 12 and 51 moths; operated at “Camilo Cienfuegos” International Center of Retinitis Pigmentosa, between January 2006 and December 2010. Results: the uncorrected visual acuity improved from 0.04 to 0.39 and the best corrected visual acuity improved from 0.28 to 0.78; the spherical equivalent was reduced from -13.02 to -1.69D. The sphere and cylinder decreased from -10.13D ± 4.73 to -0.44D ± 3.22 and from -5.67D ± 2.32 to -2.52 ±1.38, respectively. The average of the keratometry decreased from 56.8D and 51.53D to 45.02 and 42.02 in the post-surgery. The cellular density pre-surgery changed from 2313.81 cel/mm2 ± 322.10 to 2170 cel/mm2 ± 294.92 in postoperative. The residual stromal bed was 153.22 μ. Discussion: in correlation with the literature, the keratoconus appears in the adolescence and youth, leading to the corneal transplantation more often in these life stages. The average postsurgical keratometry was inferior to the reported by others investigators who practiced procedures with similar surgical technique. Conclusions: superficial anterior lamellar keratoplasty, assisted with excimer laser, can be considered as primary indication of treatment in keratoconus grade III (MÉD.UIS. 2012;25(3):195-202). &nbsp

Effects of Milled Maize Stalks on the Productive Response of Grazing Dairy Cows.

The productive response of grazing dairy cows was evaluated, using milled corn stalks in the diet. The study was developed in two different settings, in Ecuador (Costa and Sierra regions). On the coast farm (29.1 ha), cows grazed on Bermuda grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) and Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) with several types of legumes (Lysicarpus, Centrosema, Desmodium, Galactia), supplemented with corn stalks cv. INIAP 125. The animals received 0.46 kg beginning at 3 kg, and milled maize stalks in 30 and 28-day periods, respectively (M-30 and M-28), and control without stalks for 36 days (M-0). The farm in the other region (14.2 ha) had 23 cows grazing on Kikuyo grass (P. clandestinum) and ryegrass-white clover (L. perenne and whole maize stalks and T. (60-70% ripe grain), at a rate of 18 kg green/cow/day for 48 days; and balanced supplement, at a rate of 0.5 kg/ milk liter, after the fourth kilogram, along with minerals. In both cases the forage had effects (P < 0.05) on cow response. In the Sierra area, the increase was 1.68 kg/cow, and in the coast, it was 1.1 and 2.5 kg/cow). Maize stalks served as a nutritional complement for poorly consumed grass areas in both regions; milk production/animal was increased, and the costs were reduced

El papel de los estudios bioarqueológicos en las interpretaciones sobre las comunidades neolíticas del noreste peninsular

Resumen del trabajo presentado al VI Congreso del Neolítico en la Península Ibérica: "Los cambios económicos y sus implicaciones sociales durante el Neolítico de la Península Ibérica", celebrado en Granada del 22 al 26 de junio de 2016.-- et al.El marco del proyecto I+D: “Aproximación a las primeras comunidades neolíticas del NE peninsular a través de sus prácticas funerarias” (2011-2015), y su continuidad para los próximos cuatro años al haber sido renovado, tiene por objetivo conocer cada día más y mejor las comunidades de agricultores y pastores que entre finales del V e inicios del IV milenio cal BC ocuparon y enterraron a sus muertos en el noreste de la Península Ibérica. El contexto de estudio es excepcional, puesto que aquellas comunidades inhumaron sistemáticamente a sus congéneres en tumbas habitualmente individuales y ocasionalmente junto a otro individuo. En esta presentación no sólo queremos mostrar los nuevos análisis y metodologías que estamos aplicando al estudio de los restos humanos, sino también el modelo de trabajo que hemos seguido. A este respecto, tres aspectos son fundamentales: 1) las dataciones absolutas son el eje que vertebra los posteriores análisis; 2) la colaboración con los distintos investigadores/as y laboratorios debe ser estrecha (no es cuestión de solicitar los resultados de un análisis a un laboratorio sino trabajar con las personas que manipulan las muestras y conocen los pros y contras de cada una de las técnicas empleadas) y 3) los estudios y análisis a realizar confluyen para responder a las hipótesis planteadas. A este respecto, en el proyecto hemos tenido la fortuna de poder colaborar con numerosos investigadores/as cuya especialidad versa alrededor de los restos funerarios y que firman la presente comunicación: análisis isotópicos, Adn, tafonomía funeraria, estudios de stress muscular y análisis de morfología dental.Peer Reviewe