Effects of diurnal temperature range and drought on wheat yield in Spain

This study aims to provide new insight on the wheat yield historical response to climate processes throughout Spain by using statistical methods. Our data includes observed wheat yield, pseudo-observations E-OBS for the period 1979 to 2014, and outputs of general circulation models in phase 5 of the Coupled Models Inter-comparison Project (CMIP5) for the period 1901 to 2099. In investigating the relationship between climate and wheat variability, we have applied the approach known as the partial least-square regression, which captures the relevant climate drivers accounting for variations in wheat yield. We found that drought occurring in autumn and spring and the diurnal range of temperature experienced during the winter are major processes to characterize the wheat yield variability in Spain. These observable climate processes are used for an empirical model that is utilized in assessing the wheat yield trends in Spain under different climate conditions. To isolate the trend within the wheat time series, we implemented the adaptive approach known as Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition. Wheat yields in the twenty-first century are experiencing a downward trend that we claim is a consequence of widespread drought over the Iberian Peninsula and an increase in the diurnal range of temperature. These results are important to inform about the wheat vulnerability in this region to coming changes and to develop adaptation strategies

Anterior-segment optical coherence tomography for the detection and therapeutic monitoring of corneal disorders

Background: Over recent years a revolutionary trend happened on imaging technologies to diagnose and monitor treatment of a varied group of ophthalmic pathologies. Recent reports have analyzed the microstructural changes of various ocular surface and corneal disorders, particularly ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) and keratoconus using anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Aim of this short communication is to elaborate on clinical applications AS-OCT for the detection and therapeutic monitoring of corneal disorders. Methods: We performed an English literature search without a time limit and intending to identify articles related to the AS-OCT applications in the detection and therapeutic monitoring of corneal disorders. The most relevant articles were selected.  practical points of selected papers and advantages and disadvantages of AS-OCT were retrieved from them and summarized. Results:.Many records reported the AS-OCT applications for diagnosing many ocular surface disorders, the microstructural changes of different inflammatory, infectious, degenerative, and dystrophic corneal disorders. Its applications in identifying disease activity and therapeutic monitoring of various corneal pathologies, including stromal edema associated with angle-closure glaucoma, Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, infectious keratitis, and bullous keratopathy, are promising. The percentage of diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of artificial intelligence methodologies applied to AS-OCT imaging analysis today has reached 94% to 100%. Moreover, AS-OCT is very useful for analyzing the extension of scar and leukoma depth for surgical planning of partial or total corneal transplantation. Conclusions: There is a clear prospect for expanding application of corneal OCT imaging technology, a rapid, non-invasive, and now a promising lower-cost device, which is becoming an in-office standard-of-care tool for the assessment of different corneal and ocular surface pathologies. KEYWORDS anterior-segment optical coherence tomography, AS-OCT, ocular surface disorders, corneal disorders, ocular surface squamous neoplasia, OSSN, keratoconu

Mixed-Mode Electro-Optical Operation of Ge2Sb2Te5 Nanoscale Crossbar Devices

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is freely available from Wiley via the DOI in this record.The use of phase-change materials for a range of exciting new optoelectronic applications from artificial retinas to ultrahigh-resolution displays requires a thorough understanding of how these materials perform under a combination of optical and electrical stimuli. This study reports for the first time the complex link between the electronic and optical properties in real-world crossbar nanoscale devices constructed by confining a thin layer of Ge2Sb2Te5 between transparent indium tin oxide electrodes, forming an optical nanocavity. A novel proof-of-concept device that can be operated by a combination of optical and electrical stimuli is presented, leading the way for the development of further applications based on mixed-mode electro-optical operation.CONACYT. Grant Number: 215365. EPSRC. Grant Numbers: EP/J018783/1, EP/M015173/1, EP/M015130/1, EP/J018694/

Least action description of dynamic pairing correlations in the fission of Curium and Californium isotopes based on the Gogny energy density functional

The impact of dynamic pairing correlations and their interplay with Coulomb antipairing effects on the systematic of the spontaneous fission half-lives for the nuclei $^{240-250}$Cm and $^{240-250}$Cf is analyzed, using a hierarchy of approximations based on the parametrization D1M of the Gogny energy density functional (EDF). First, the constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) approximation is used to compute deformed mean-field configurations, zero-point quantum corrections and collective inertias either by using the Slater approximation to Coulomb exchange and neglecting Coulomb antipairing or by fully considering the exchange and pairing channels of the Coulomb interaction. Next, the properties of the {\it{least action}} and {\it{least energy}} fission paths are compared. In the {\it{least action}} case, pairing is identified as the relevant degree of freedom in order to minimize the action entering the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) approximation to the tunneling probability through the fission barrier. Irrespective of the treatment of Coulomb exchange and antipairing, it is shown that the {\it{least action}} path obtained taking into account the pairing degree of freedom leads to stronger pairing correlations that significantly reduce the spontaneous fission half-lives $t_{SF}$ improving thereby the comparison with the experiment by several orders of magnitude. It is also shown that the Coulomb antipairing effect is, to a large extent, washed out by the {\it{least action}} procedure and therefore the $t_{SF}$ values obtained by the two different treatments of the Coulomb exchange and pairing are of similar quality.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure

A virtual object-location task for children: Gender and videogame experience influence navigation; age impacts memory and completion time

The use of virtual reality-based tasks for studying memory has increased considerably. Most of the studies that have looked at child population factors that influence performance on such tasks have been focused on cognitive variables. However, little attention has been paid to the impact of non-cognitive skills. In the present paper, we tested 52 typically-developing children aged 5-12 years in a virtual object-location task. The task assessed their spatial short-term memory for the location of three objects in a virtual city. The virtual task environment was presented using a 3D application consisting of a 120" stereoscopic screen and a gamepad interface. Measures of learning and displacement indicators in the virtual environment, 3D perception, satisfaction, and usability were obtained. We assessed the children's videogame experience, their visuospatial span, their ability to build blocks, and emotional and behavioral outcomes. The results indicate that learning improved with age. Significant effects on the speed of navigation were found favoring boys and those more experienced with videogames. Visuospatial skills correlated mainly with ability to recall object positions, but the correlation was weak. Longer paths were related with higher scores of withdrawal behavior, attention problems, and a lower visuospatial span. Aggressiveness and experience with the device used for interaction were related with faster navigation. However, the correlations indicated only weak associations among these variables