High-J v=0 SiS Maser Emission in IRC+10216: A New Case of Infrared Overlaps

We report on the first detection of maser emission in the J=11-10, J=14-13 and J=15-14 transitions of the v=0 vibrational state of SiS toward the C-rich star IRC+10216. These masers seem to be produced in the very inhomogeneous region between the star and the inner dust formation zone, placed at 5-7 R*, with expansion velocities below 10 km/s. We interpret the pumping mechanism as due to overlaps between v=1-0 ro-vibrational lines of SiS and mid-IR lines of C2H2, HCN and their 13C isotopologues. The large number of overlaps found suggests the existence of strong masers for high-J v=0 and v=1 SiS transitions, located in the submillimeter range. In addition, it could be possible to find several rotational lines of the SiS isotopologues displaying maser emission.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, published in the ApJ Letter

Detection of Non-Technical Losses in Smart Distribution Networks: a Review

With the advent of smart grids, distribution utilities have initiated a large deployment of smart meters on the premises of the consumers. The enormous amount of data obtained from the consumers and communicated to the utility give new perspectives and possibilities for various analytics-based applications. In this paper the current smart metering-based energy-theft detection schemes are reviewed and discussed according to two main distinctive categories: A) system statebased, and B) arti cial intelligence-based.Comisión Europea FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IT

Autonomous on-board data processing and instrument calibration software for the SO/PHI

The extension of on-board data processing capabilities is an attractive option to reduce telemetry for scientific instruments on deep space missions. The challenges that this presents, however, require a comprehensive software system, which operates on the limited resources a data processing unit in space allows. We implemented such a system for the Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI) on-board the Solar Orbiter (SO) spacecraft. It ensures autonomous operation to handle long command-response times, easy changing of the processes after new lessons have been learned and meticulous book-keeping of all operations to ensure scientific accuracy. This contribution presents the requirements and main aspects of the software implementation, followed by an example of a task implemented in the software frame, and results from running it on SO/PHI. The presented example shows that the different parts of the software framework work well together, and that the system processes data as we expect. The flexibility of the framework makes it possible to use it as a baseline for future applications with similar needs and limitations as SO/PHI.Comment: Conference: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentatio, Software and Cyberinfrastructure for Astronomy

Diseño de mobiliario urbano para rehabilitación de espacios

La propuesta de trabajo parte de una de las líneas estratégicas del Vicerrectorado de Smart Campus (VSC) de la Universidad de Málaga (UMA), concretamente dentro de la línea “Naturaleza y medioambiente” con el proyecto denominado “Islas y Sendas Verdes” (ISV). El principal objetivo del proyecto es, a partir de un equipo multidisciplinar, desarrollar un espacio de ocio, esparcimiento, descanso, estudio al aire libre, sensorizado y sostenible, que cumpla los requisitos de los usuarios, haciendo que es-tas zonas tengan mayor vida social. La propuesta del presente trabajo es la creación de un diseño de mobiliario urbano que será ubicado en la zona exterior de la ESTI de Informática y la ETSI de Telecomunicación de la UMA. La metodología seguirá las fases del diseño y desarrollo de productos, comenzando con el estudio de mercado y la competencia, establecimiento de los requisitos del cliente y del producto, desarrollo y discusión de la idea y, por último, la propuesta definitiva a través del diseño técnico o de detalle donde el producto queda complemente definido en cuanto a forma, funcionalidad, materiales y resistencia mecánica. El resultado del proyecto muestra el desarrollado de un prototipo virtual que cumple con las especificaciones establecidas, obteniendo el primer premio del I Concurso de Islas y Sendas Verdes.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Effects of regulating the European Internal Market on the integration of variable renewable energy

ABSTRACT: The new proposal for regulating the European Internal Market for Electricity (EIME) can motivate the harmonization of the various National markets. The process of harmonizing the day-ahead markets (DAMs) is at an advanced stage, with an efficiency in the use of interconnectors of 86%. However, the harmonization of both intraday (IDMs) and balancing markets (BMs) is still in its infancy, with an efficiency in the use of interconnectors of 50 and 19%, respectively. The new proposal brings new targets to DAMs, and European countries should make efforts to comply with them. The same is true for IDMs and BMs, but involving more ambitious targets, requiring higher efforts to be accomplished. Both the analysis of the various National markets (according to their compliance with the new proposal for regulating the EIME) and the advantages of the new proposal for key market participants (particularly, consumers, variable renewable generation, and conventional generation) are presented. The analysis indicates that the proposal contributes to a potential increase of the general welfare of market participants. However, some aspects of the proposal can negatively affect the revenue obtained from the National markets, notably for variable renewable generation and conventional generation. This article is categorized under: Wind Power > Systems and Infrastructure Energy Policy and Planning > Economics and Policy Energy Systems Analysis > Economics and Policy Energy and Development > Economics and Policyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Effect of Prescription Drugs and Alcohol Consumption on Intimate Partner Violence Victim Blaming

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a public health problem with harsh consequences for women’s well-being. Social attitudes towards victims of IPV have a big impact on the perpetuation of this phenomenon. Moreover, specific problems such as the abuse of alcohol and drugs by IPV victims could have an effect on blame attributions towards them. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the external perception (Study 1) and self-perception (Study 2) of blame were influenced by the victims’ use and abuse of alcohol or by the victims’ use of psychotropic prescription drugs. Results of the first study (N = 136 participants) showed a significantly higher blame attribution towards female victims with alcohol abuse compared to those without it. No significant differences were found on blame attributed to those with psychotropic prescription drugs abuse and the control group. Results of the second study (N = 195 female victims of interpersonal violence) showed that alcohol consumption is associated with higher self-blame and self-blame cognitions among IPV victims. However, results did not show significant differences on self-blame associated to the victims’ use of psychotropic prescription drugs. Our findings indicate that alcohol consumption, but not prescription drugs use, plays a relevant role in the attribution of blame by general population and self-blame by victims of IPV

Extracción con líquidos presurizados para la obtención de fracciones antioxidantes y anti-inflamatorias a partir de la microalga Isochrysis galbana

Trabajo presentado a las I Jornadas Científicas del CIAL celebradas el 5 de junio de 2014 en Madrid.Las microalgas son consideradas como una fuente innovadora para el desarrollo de nuevos productos alimentarios y farmacéuticos debido a su alto contenido en moléculas de alto interés biológico, como ácidos grasos, carotenoides, vitaminas, esteroles, polisacáridos y compuestos fenólicos. Este contenido en moléculas bioactivas se ha relacionado con efectos funcionales beneficiosos para la salud, como consecuencia, por ejemplo, de su efecto antioxidante y anti-inflamatorio. En los últimos años se han empleado nuevos métodos de extracción para la obtención de dichos compuestos de interés mediante tecnologías medioambientalmente limpias, entre las que cabe destacar la extracción con líquidos presurizados (PLE). En este trabajo se ha llevado a cabo la extracción de la fracción fenólica de la microalga Isochrysis galbana mediante PLE. Para obtener un extracto de alto contenido en compuestos fenólicos, se realizó un diseño experimental (3^2) estudiando el efecto de la temperatura y el porcentaje de etanol en el disolvente, factores influyentes en el proceso de extracción PLE. Las variables respuesta fueron rendimiento de extracción (%), contenido de fenoles totales y actividad antioxidante. Por último, se llevo a cabo la extracción PLE con las condiciones optimizadas marcadas por el diseño experimental para la obtención de un extracto rico en compuestos fenólicos. Los extractos obtenidos se caracterizaron funcionalmente en términos de actividad anitioxidante y actividad anti-inflamatoria.M.H. agradece al MICINN su contrato de investigación “Ramón y Cajal”. I.L-E. agradece al CSIC por su contrato JAE-DOC. Los autores agradecen la financiación del proyecto “MIRACLES - Multi-product Integrated bioRefinery of Algae: from Carbon dioxide and Light Energy to high-value Specialties (KBBE-613588)”.Peer reviewe

Performance of Chlorella Vulgaris Exposed to Heavy Metal Mixtures: Linking Measured Endpoints and Mechanisms

Microalgae growth inhibition assays are candidates for referent ecotoxicology as a fundamental part of the strategy to reduce the use of fish and other animal models in aquatic toxicology. In the present work, the performance of Chlorella vulgaris exposed to heavy metals following standardized growth and photosynthesis inhibition assays was assessed in two different scenarios: (1) dilutions of single heavy metals and (2) an artificial mixture of heavy metals at similar levels as those found in natural rivers. Chemical speciation of heavy metals was estimated with Visual MINTEQ software; free heavy metal ion concentrations were used as input data, together with microalgae growth and photosynthesis inhibition, to compare different effects and explain possible toxicity mechanisms. The final goal was to assess the suitability of the ecotoxicological test based on the growth and photosynthesis inhibition of microalgae cultures, supported by mathematic models for regulatory and decision-making purposes. The C. vulgaris algae growth inhibition test was more sensitive for As, Zn, and Pb exposure whereas the photosynthesis inhibition test was more sensitive for Cu and Ni exposure. The effects on growth and photosynthesis were not related. C. vulgaris evidenced the formation of mucilaginous aggregations at lower copper concentrations. We found that the toxicity of a given heavy metal is not only determined by its chemical speciation; other chemical compounds (as nutrient loads) and biological interactions play an important role in the final toxicity. Predictive mixture effect models tend to overestimate the effects of metal mixtures in C. vulgaris for both growth and photosynthesis inhibition tests. Growth and photosynthesis inhibition tests give complementary information, and both are a fast, cheap, and sensitive alternative to animal testing. More research is needed to solve the challenge of complex pollutant mixtures as they are present in natural environments, where microalgae-based assays can be suitable monitoring tools for pollution management and regulatory purposes. Keywords: PAM; heavy metal mixtures; metals speciation; microalgae; toxicity

The Servet 3.0 benchmark suite: characterization of network performance degradation

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Computers & Electrical Engineering. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compeleceng.2013.08.012.[Abstract] Servet is a suite of benchmarks focused on extracting a set of parameters with high influence on the overall performance of multicore clusters. These parameters can be used to optimize the performance of parallel applications by adapting part of their behavior to the characteristics of the machine. Up to now the tool considered network bandwidth as constant and independent of the communication pattern. Nevertheless, the inter-node communication bandwidth decreases on modern large supercomputers depending on the number of cores per node that simultaneously access the network and on the distance between the communicating nodes. This paper describes two new benchmarks that improve Servet by characterizing the network performance degradation depending on these factors. This work also shows the experimental results of these benchmarks on a Cray XE6 supercomputer and some examples of how real parallel codes can be optimized by using the information about network degradation.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación; TIN2010-16735Ministerio de Educación; AP2008-01578Ministerio de Educación; AP2010-4348European Commision; HPC-Europa2 Programme; 22839