Reconciling the conservation of endangered species with economically important anthropogenic activities: interactions between cork exploitation and the cinereous vulture in Spain

Limitation of disturbing activities around the breeding areas of protected species is not always possible, if these activities are economically important and have, in addition, positive effects on protecting the habitats of those protected species. Searching for optimal solutions making commercial exploitation of natural resources compatible with biodiversity conservation is thus of concern to managers and policy makers. This is the case of the cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus, breeding primarily in cork-oak woodland, and cork exploitation, a traditional socio-economic activity carried out in several Mediterranean countries, and critical for the maintenance of this important habitat. We studied the effects of this anthropogenic activity on the behaviour and breeding success of breeding cinereous vultures in Spain. For the adults, the probability of nest abandonment was dependent on the distance of workers from the nest and the level of noise; activities within 500m from the nest were likely to cause abandonment of the nest by adults, if the level of noise was intermediate or loud. Neither the size of the working group nor the use of machines per se, had any effect on the probability of nest abandonment. Pairs in an area of the colony exposed to intrusive anthropogenic activity had 20% lower breeding success than those in the same colony that were not exposed to these disturbances. If the application of buffer zones of 500m is not possible (as is likely given the economic losses involved), several alternatives are recommended based on our results to minimize the impact of these activities, in particular to diminish the noise level of cork extraction activities. Observational studies like this help understanding the magnitude of the problem and finding alternative solutions for harmonizing conservation and economic development.This study was carried out within the framework of the monitoring programme of the LIFE 03/NAT/E/0050 project ‘Conservation of the Spanish imperial eagle, cinereous vulture and black stork’, implemented by the Fundacion CBD-Habitat in conjunction with the autonomous communities of Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura and Madrid and the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Medio Rural y Marino.Peer Reviewe

Effect of Methodological and Ecological Approaches on Heterogeneity of Nest-Site Selection of a Long-Lived Vulture

The application of scientific-based conservation measures requires that sampling methodologies in studies modelling similar ecological aspects produce comparable results making easier their interpretation. We aimed to show how the choice of different methodological and ecological approaches can affect conclusions in nest-site selection studies along different Palearctic meta-populations of an indicator species. First, a multivariate analysis of the variables affecting nest-site selection in a breeding colony of cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) in central Spain was performed. Then, a meta-analysis was applied to establish how methodological and habitat-type factors determine differences and similarities in the results obtained by previous studies that have modelled the forest breeding habitat of the species. Our results revealed patterns in nesting-habitat modelling by the cinereous vulture throughout its whole range: steep and south-facing slopes, great cover of large trees and distance to human activities were generally selected. The ratio and situation of the studied plots (nests/random), the use of plots vs. polygons as sampling units and the number of years of data set determined the variability explained by the model. Moreover, a greater size of the breeding colony implied that ecological and geomorphological variables at landscape level were more influential. Additionally, human activities affected in greater proportion to colonies situated in Mediterranean forests. For the first time, a meta-analysis regarding the factors determining nest-site selection heterogeneity for a single species at broad scale was achieved. It is essential to homogenize and coordinate experimental design in modelling the selection of species' ecological requirements in order to avoid that differences in results among studies would be due to methodological heterogeneity. This would optimize best conservation and management practices for habitats and species in a global context

A damage classification approach for structural health monitoring using machine learning

Inspection strategies with guided wave-based approaches give to structural health monitoring (SHM) applications several advantages, among them, the possibility of the use of real data from the structure which enables continuous monitoring and online damage identification. These kinds of inspection strategies are based on the fact that these waves can propagate over relatively long distances and are able to interact sensitively with and uniquely with different types of defects. The principal goal for SHM is oriented to the development of efficient methodologies to process these data and provide results associated with the different levels of the damage identification process. As a contribution, this work presents a damage detection and classification methodology which includes the use of data collected from a structure under different structural states by means of a piezoelectric sensor network taking advantage of the use of guided waves, hierarchical nonlinear principal component analysis (h-NLPCA), and machine learning. The methodology is evaluated and tested in two structures: (i) a carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) sandwich structure with some damages on the multilayered composite sandwich structure and (ii) a CFRP composite plate. Damages in the structures were intentionally produced to simulate different damage mechanisms, that is, delamination and cracking of the skin.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Merging person-specific bio-markers for predicting oral cancer recurrence through an ontology

One of the major problems related to cancer treatment is its recurrence. Without knowing in advance how likely the cancer will relapse, clinical practice usually recommends adjuvant treatments that have strong side effects. A way to optimize treatments is to predict the recurrence probability by analyzing a set of bio-markers. The NeoMark European project has identified a set of preliminary bio-markers for the case of oral cancer by collecting a large series of data from genomic, imaging, and clinical evidence. This heterogeneous set of data needs a proper representation in order to be stored, computed, and communicated efficiently. Ontologies are often considered the proper mean to integrate biomedical data, for their high level of formality and for the need of interoperable, universally accepted models. This paper presents the NeoMark system and how an ontology has been designed to integrate all its heterogeneous data. The system has been validated in a pilot in which data will populate the ontology and will be made public for further research

Changes of the Neutron Flux of the Nuclear Reactor Triga Mark III Since the Conversion from High to Low 235U Enrichment

The neutron flux of the Triga Mark III research reactor was studied using nuclear track detectors. The facility of the National Institute for Nuclear Research (ININ), operates with a new core load of 85 LEU 30/20 (Low Enriched Uranium) fuel elements. The reactor provides a neutron flux around 2 × 1012 n cm-2s-1 at the irradiation channel. In this channel, CR-39 (allyl diglycol policarbonate) Landauer® detectors were exposed to neutrons; the detectors were covered with a 3 mm acrylic sheet for (n, p) reaction. Results show a linear response between the reactor power in the range 0.1 - 7 kW, and the average nuclear track density with data reproducibility and relatively low uncertainty (±5%). The method is a simple technique, fast and reliable procedure to monitor the research reactor operating power levels

Proyecto de electrificación rural vereda Bella Ena, Pivijay Magdalena

Ingeniería EléctricaThe lack of electricity for a zone or population can be a determinant factor in the quality of life with which they count its inhabitants, for these places where the farming industry this seeking to arise is done necessary to include this resource to support the plans of improvement and development that the governmental entities propose. They based on said need should develop studies that tend the benefit of the community and the extension in the national territory of the advantages that can obtain the populations if include the home public utilities. The following project contains results and memories of mechanical and electric calculations, based on the analysis for the rural electrification of the path Bella Ena located in the municipality of Pivijay in the department of the Magdalena; the path conformed by peasants belonging to a cooperative one multiactiva of palmicultores counts on a high potential one for the sowing of palm, said potential is seen affected by the lack of electric power among others. This project is focused to carry out the pertinent studies that permit to the community mentioned to include the electric power, for the residential use and industrial farming and in this manner to improve or quality of life. As it contribute on the part of the investigators the attainment of the cartographic, technical, and theoretical bases for the construction of the networks of average tension can be concluded, budgets of design, information of labor and materials required. And of general form to reflect on the need to motivate to future generations for they be interested in developing projects and studies that benefit the communities that fight besides leaving the problems that current mind lives the country.La carencia de electricidad para una zona o población puede ser un factor determinante en la calidad de vida con que cuentan sus habitantes, para estos lugares en donde la agro industria está buscando surgir se hace necesario contar con este recurso para apoyar los planes de mejoramiento y desarrollo que los entes gubernamentales propongan. Basados en dicha necesidad se deben desarrollar estudios que tiendan al beneficio de la comunidad y la extensión en el territorio nacional de las ventajas que pueden conseguir las poblaciones si cuentan con los servicios públicos domiciliarios. El siguiente proyecto contiene resultados y memorias de cálculos eléctricos y mecánicos, basados en el análisis para la electrificación rural de la vereda Bella Ena localizada en el municipio de Pivijay en el departamento del Magdalena; la vereda conformada por campesinos pertenecientes a una cooperativa multiactiva de palmicultores cuenta con un alto potencial para la siembra de palma, dicho potencial se ve afectada por la falta de energía eléctrica entre otros. Este proyecto está enfocado a realizar los estudios pertinentes que le permita a la comunidad mencionada contar con la energía eléctrica, para el uso residencial y agro industrial y de esta manera mejorar su calidad de vida. Como aporte por parte de los investigadores se puede concluir la consecución de las bases teóricas, técnicas y cartográficas para la construcción de las redes de media tensión, presupuestos de diseño, información de mano de obra y materiales requeridos. Y de forma general reflexionar sobre la necesidad de motivar a generaciones futuras para se interesen en desarrollar proyectos y estudios que beneficien las comunidades que luchan por sobre salir de la problemática que actual mente vive el país

Principal component analysis and self-organizing maps for damage detection and classification under temperature variations

The use of statistical techniques for data driven has proven very useful in multivariable analysis as a pattern recognition approach. Among their multiple advantages such as data reduction, multivariable analysis and the definition of statistical models built with data from experimental trials, they provide robustness and allow avoiding the need of the development of physical models which sometimes are difficult for modelling especially when the system is complex. In this paper, a methodology based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is developed and used for building statistical baseline models comprising the dynamics from the monitored healthystructureunderdifferenttemperatureconditions.Inasecondstep, fortesting the proposed methodology, data from the structure at different structural states and under different temperature conditions are projected into the baseline models in order to obtain statistical measures (Scores and Q-index) which are included as feature vectors in a Self-Organizing Map for the damage detection and classification tasks. The methodology is evaluated using ultrasonic signals collected from an aluminium plate and a stiffened composite panel. Results show that all the simulated states are successfully classified no matter what the kind of damage or the temperature is present in both structures.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Meka Box

El trabajo presentado a continuación busca dar validez a un mecanismo poco explotado en el rubro de productos físicos que es la; suscripción; Siendo más específicos con la idea de negocio, Meka Box busca distribuir diversos accesorios de; moda; dentro de un box por el pago de una cuota fija mensual. Nosotros no buscamos simplemente vender una pulsera o un collar, queremos ofrecer una experiencia completa a cada; mujer; que adquiera nuestro producto. Para lograrlo, hacemos un estudio y análisis completo del mercado de la moda para mantenernos actualizados. Así mismo, toamos sus; preferencias; parar armarles un paquete que se acople totalmente a sus necesidades. Nosotros contamos con cuatro versiones de nuestros boxes: Fancy, Romantic, Urban y Random. Cada uno se alinea perfectamente a los gustos de nuestras usuarias. Por ello, tomando las novedades de la industria y los propios gustos de nuestras suscritoras, aramos un box que incluya una grata; sorpresa. De esta forma, generar un vínculo directo con ellas y seguir brindándoles los mejores accesorios cada temporada. Esta idea no termina en un concepto, sino será plasmada en números, dando validez a la rentabilidad de esta innovadora versión de negocio: Meka Box.The next presented job looks for the validation of a new way to work in the industry of solids products, which is the; subscription; In other to be more specific with the business idea; Meka Box wants to distribute various; fashion; accessories in a box with a unique and permanent payment every month. We just don’t want to sell earrings or necklets; we want to bring a whole experience to each; woman; who purchases our product. To make this possible, we analyze and evaluate the fashion industry to keep us fresh with new ideas. Also, we pay attention to our costumer´s; preferences; with that information we make a box that accommodate to their own necessities. We have four different version of boxes, they are: Fancy, Romantic, Urban and Random. Each of those matches perfectly with our client´s likes. Therefore, taking the information from the fashion world and the preferences from our costumers we create a box that includes a great; surprise. In this way we build up a strong bond with them and keep on bringing the best accessories every season. This idea doesn’t end in just a concept but will be reflected in numbers; giving validity to this creative business idea: Meka Box.Trabajo de investigació

Applications of non-intrusive methods to study the sand cat: a field study in the Sahara Desert

Surveys based on indirect signs and camera trapping are two non-invasive methods extensively used for monitoring elusive mammals. Both approaches can be useful to obtain key information on wildlife in remote areas, since they may allow for the logistically viable design of optimal field frameworks. The sand cat (Felis margarita) is a feline that inhabits the Sahara Desert, the Arabian Peninsula, and western Asian deserts. Its basic ecology is poorly known and the status and impacts of threats are difficult to assess. Some local population declines have been detected, and more research is needed. Based on field surveys carried out in the Atlantic Sahara, we have evaluated the applications of both methods to study this species. Our results show that (a) camera trapping provided reliable data on several key aspects of its ecology, (b) walking surveys to collect feces for molecular data failed completely, and (c) for footprints, identification problems and the marked effects of the absence of optimal substrates and the prevalence of wind are relevant handicaps. Beyond this evaluation, we provide for the first time some key aspects of the ecology of sand cats in the Sahara Desert, including habitat selection, density, diel activity, and predator–prey relationships.Funding for open access publishing: Universidad de Granada/CBUA. This study was partially supported by Fundación Barcelona Zoo (PRIC Project 2017 grant)