MOSAIX: a tool to built large mosaics from GALEX images

Large sky surveys are providing a huge amount of information for studies of the interstellar medium, the galactic structure or the cosmic web. Setting into a common frame information coming from different wavelengths, over large fields of view, is needed for this kind of research. GALEX is the only nearly all-sky survey at ultraviolet wavelengths and contains fundamental information for all types of studies. GALEX field of view is circular embedded in a squared matrix of 3840 x 3840 pixels. This fact makes it hard to get GALEX images properly overlapped with the existing astronomical tools such as Aladin or Montage. We developed our own software for this purpose. In this article, we describe this software and makes it available to the community.Comment: 7 pages, including 8 figures, accepted by Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Variation of the ultraviolet extinction law across the Taurus-Auriga star forming complex. A GALEX based study

The Taurus-Auriga molecular complex (TMC) is the main laboratory for the study of low mass star formation. The density and properties of interstellar dust are expected to vary across the TMC. These variations trace important processes such as dust nucleation or the magnetic field coupling with the cloud. In this article, we show how the combination of near ultraviolet (NUV) and infrared (IR) photometry can be used to derive the strength of the 2175 \AA\ bump and thus any enhancement in the abundance of small dust grains and PAHs in the dust grains size distribution. This technique is applied to the envelope of the TMC, mapped by the GALEX All Sky Survey (AIS). UV and IR photometric data have been retrieved from the GALEX-AIS and the 2MASS catalogues. NUV and K-band star counts have been used to identify the areas in the cloud envelope where the 2175 \AA\ bump is weaker than in the diffuse ISM namely, the low column density extensions of L1495, L1498 and L1524 in Taurus, L1545, L1548, L1519, L1513 in Auriga and L1482-83 in the California region. This finding agrees with previous results on dust evolution derived from Spitzer data and suggests that dust grains begin to decouple from the environmental galactic magnetic field already in the envelope.Comment: Accepted in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

Situación y perspectivas de la truficultura en España

En este trabajo se presenta un panorama de la situación de la truficultura en España, desde sus comienzos en los años 50 a la actualidad, y sus perspectivas de futuro. Se destacan la actividad científica y técnica, desarrolladas en Centros de Investigación y Universidades españolas, en aspectos diversos: micorrización en vivero, certificación de planta micorrizada, ecología de la trufa, recuperación de truferas naturales, cultivo y seguimiento de plantaciones truferas, taxonomía química, control de las especies de trufa, reforestación y selvicultura trufera. Se aprecia un aumento en el apoyo que se le da al sector desde las Administraciones Públicas, tanto desde la perspectiva forestal, la agraria o la, ya indicada, de la investigación. Se aportan datos de produccion, precios, áreas de recogida, mercados, investigación, plantaciones truferas. Se da un breve resumen de las perspectivas del sector trufero en España. SUMMARY The objective of this work is to provide a overview of truffle cultivation in Spain from its beginnings in the 1950s to the present, and its prospects for the future. At the moment, truffle cultivation in Spain is a reality. There is a great deal of activity on the part of farmers as well as on the part of scientific researchers in universities and specialised centres who are investigating a wide range of aspects on the subject: mycorrhization in nurseries, mycorrhized plant certification, ecology, recuperation of wild truffle stands, monitoring of truffle plantations, chemical taxonomy, control of truffle species, and reforestation and truffle cultivation. A growing support for the truffle sector from the Public Administration can be observed, as much from the agrarian and forestry perspective as from the mentioned research perspective. Data on production, prices, collection areas, markets, publications, truffle plantations and research are given. Finally, we give a brief summary of future prospects for the truffle sector in Spain

Presentation and representation of biological phenomena from a vegetable garden

This paper proposes a methodology for science education based on the triad perceive/associate/experience. The analysis performed relied upon Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotics framework. The research was develop at elementary school (nine-yar old students) showing that the described methodology enable them the students to percieve, to set up relationships and to experience the natural phenomena, built up from the experienced sequences

Factores explicativos de la inversión extranjera directa en España (1970- 1992)

El fenómeno conocido como "globalización", con sus manifestaciones en el crecimiento del comercio internacional, la integración de mercados y la creciente importancia de las empresas multinacionales en la estructura productiva, constituye actualmente un referente básico en la práctica totalidad de los estudios económicos. Las exigencias de competitividad y el riesgo de deslocalización que la "globalización" implica se han convertido en elementos omnipresentes en este marco de credente complejidad. Dentro del ámbito concreto de los flujos de inversión transnadonal, el concepto de inversión productiva, reflejado de forma aproximada a través de la inversión extranjera directa, constituye el objeto de numerosos estudios, tanto desde la perspectiva de análisis de sus efectos sobre los países receptores3en términos de empleo, tecnología, saldo exterior etc., como desde una aproximación explicativa de los factores determinantes de la misma. El presente trabajo se enmarca dentro de esta segunda corriente, centrándonos en el análisis econométrico de los factores explicativos, desde una perspectiva macroeconómica, de los flujos de inversión extranjera directa recidos por España en el período 1970-1992. A tal efecto, comenzaremos recogiendo brevemente las principales teorías explicativas de la IED y los contrastes empíricos realizados para el caso español. A continuación, expondremos las características básicas de nuestro modelo y los resultados obtenidos. Por último, comentaremos las líneas principales de extensión del estudio

Smartphones e Recursos Locativos no Brasil: Reações de Usuários

The general objective of this study was to gain detailed information on how Brazilians are using the many features of their smartphones according to their own accounts. Among these features, of particular interest were the ways in which they react to and deal with the novelty presented by location awareness, especially in LBSN applications. A qualitative research guided by the Underlying Discourse Unveiling Method (UDUM) was carried out. Fifteen knowledgeable users of digital technologies aged between 23 and 38 were recruited in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Open-ended-question interviews were conducted with each. Results revealed that location-sharing reinforced their pre-existing fears related to violence and criminality. They knew that criminals may have access to these technologies. Therefore, in order to protect their personal safety most participants avoided location-disclosure. The fears mentioned by them are embedded in the violent context they live in.El objetivo general del estudio fue obtener informaciones detalladas acerca de cómo los brasileños están utilizando los diversos recursos de sus teléfonos inteligentes. Su particular interés era comprender cómo los usuarios reaccionan ante la novedad de la geo-localización presente en las redes sociales locativas (RSL) y como tratan con ella. Se llevó a cabo una investigación con el Método de Explicación del discurso Subyacente (MEDS). Quince usuarios frecuentes de las tecnologías digitales, entre 23 y 38 años, fueron reclutados en Rio de Janeiro y São Paulo. Todos participaron de entrevistas individuales con preguntas abiertas. Los resultados revelaron que la participación de la propia ubicación reforzó los temores en relación a la violencia y criminalidad. Los participantes estaban conscientes de que los criminales pueden tener acceso a estas tecnologías y, para proteger su seguridad, la mayoría evitó revelar su ubicación. Los temores mencionados tienen sus raíces en la realidad violenta en la que viven.Este estudo teve o objetivo geral obter informações detalhadas sobre a maneira como brasileiros estão usando os diversos recursos de seus smartphones. Seu interesse específico foi entender como os usuários reagem à novidade da geolocalização presente em redes sociais locativas (RSLs) e como com ela lidam. Foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa guiada pelo Método de Explicitação do Discurso Subjacente (MEDS). Quinze usuários assíduos de tecnologias digitais, com idades entre 23 e 38 anos, foram recrutados no Rio de Janeiro e em São Paulo. Todos participaram de entrevistas individuais com perguntas abertas. Os resultados revelaram que o compartilhamento da própria localização reforçava medos preexistentes relacionados à violência e à criminalidade. Os participantes sabiam que criminosos podem ter acesso a estas tecnologias e, para proteger sua segurança, a maioria evitava divulgar sua localização. Os medos por eles mencionados têm raízes na realidade violenta em que vivem