Wetlands in the south of Cordoba (Spain): conflicts between protected areas and surrounding rural lands

In the countryside of Cordoba, secular and intense agricultural space, certain endorheic wetlands of varied physical characteristics are located. In any case, several common features can be emphasized: landscape quality, ecological relevance (primarily aquatic birds) and the continuous interaction between ecosystems and the surrounding rural lands. This has justified the protection of the most outstanding wetlands, being declared as Nature Reserves. This paper sets out the main keys of the transition from agricultural area to protected area, and the grounds of the protection applied in order to achieve the desirable -and not always easy-compatibility between conservation and the proper deve/opment of traditional agricultural uses

Método de determinación de estado de materiales de cubierta de invernaderos

Número de publicación: ES2376324 A1 (13.03.2012) También publicado como: ES2376324 B2 (29.01.2013 Número de Solicitud: Consulta de Expedientes OEPM (C.E.O.) P200930039(03.04.2009)Método de determinación de estado de materiales de cubierta de invernaderos. Se describe un método que permite realizar una estimación y predicción del estado de un film plástico utilizado como cubierta de invernadero bien para poder así evaluar la necesidad de restitución de las cubiertas o bien como herramienta de diseño previa a la construcción de invernaderos.Universidad de Almerí

El Sistema de Patrimonio Territorial y su significado en el contexto de las nuevas directrices de ordenación del territorio en Andalucía (España)

Comunicación presentada a UGI-2011. Regional Geographic Conference. Santiago de Chile, 2011El Plan de Ordenación del Territorio de Andalucía (POTA) aprobado en 2006 ha venido a impulsar un nuevo modelo con la intención de mejorar la integración económica y la cohesión social. Se pretende, en definitiva, fortalecer la articulación de esta región y, con tal fin, establece diversas estrategias de desarrollo territorial, entre las que ocupa un lugar destacado la creación del denominado “Sistema de Patrimonio Territorial de Andalucía” El SPTA procura una “gestión y ordenación unitaria” de los principales elementos que conforman el patrimonio natural y cultural de la región. Se intenta evitar una gestión del Patrimonio desde planteamientos parciales, considerando los bienes patrimoniales como elementos aislados sin conexión con el territorio y con otros bienes patrimoniales. Pero también existe otro factor que justifica el cambio de paradigma que se pretende con el SPTA: la necesidad de impulsar la puesta en valor de los bienes patrimoniales desde su entendimiento como un recurso que ha de repercutir en el desarrollo local y regional. A la reflexión sobre estas cuestiones se dedica este trabajo

Searching for G: A New evaluation of SPM-LS dimensionality

There has been increased interest in assessing the quality and usefulness of short versions of the Raven’s Progressive Matrices. A recent proposal, composed of the last twelve matrices of the Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM-LS), has been depicted as a valid measure of g. Nonetheless, the results provided in the initial validation questioned the assumption of essential unidimensionality for SPM-LS scores. We tested this hypothesis through two di erent statistical techniques. Firstly, we applied exploratory graph analysis to assess SPM-LS dimensionality. Secondly, exploratory bi-factor modelling was employed to understand the extent that potential specific factors represent significant sources of variance after a general factor has been considered. Results evidenced that if modelled appropriately, SPM-LS scores are essentially unidimensional, and that constitute a reliable measure of g. However, an additional specific factor was systematically identified for the last six items of the test. The implications of such findings for future work on the SPM-LS are discusse

High performance computing for a 3-D optical diffraction tomographic application in fluid velocimetry

Optical Diffraction Tomography has been recently introduced in fluid velocimetry to provide three dimensional information of seeding particle locations. In general, image reconstruction methods at visible wavelengths have to account for diffraction. Linear approximation has been used for three-dimensional image reconstruction, but a non-linear and iterative reconstruction method is required when multiple scattering is not negligible. Non-linear methods require the solution of the Helmholtz equation, computationally highly demanding due to the size of the problem. The present work shows the results of a non-linear method customized for spherical particle location using GPU computing and a made-to-measure storing format

Petrological and geochronological study of the postkinematic pluton of Neira (Lugo, Spain)

[Resumen] El plutón granítico de Neira intruye discordantemente en metasedimentos precámbricos y cámbricos y en granitoides sincinemáticos de dos micas, con posterioridad al desarrollo de las fases deformativas hercínicas principales. En este macizo plutónico se distinguen dos unidades intrusivas principales y el espectro litológico fundamental fluctua entre granodioritas biotíticas y leucogranitos moscovíticos-biotíticos, con predominio de las variedades graníticas (adamellíticas). Estos términos petrol6gicos están relacionados entre sí a través de un proceso evolutivo controlado fundamentalmente por cristalización fraccionada, desempeñando un importante papel los minerales accesorios. La datación de esta unidad plutónica por el procedimiento Rb-Sr en roca total, proporciona una edad de 287 ± 5 Ma, con una relaci6n inicial 87 Sr /86 Sr de 0.7074 ± 0.0004, que corresponde a un episodio intrusivo Estefaniense[Abstract] Neira granitic pluton intrudes in cambrian and precambrian metasediments and in synkinematic two mica granites after the development of the two main hercynian tectonic phases. Two intrusive units are distinguished in this pluton and its petrological composition ranges from biotitic granodiorites to two mica leucogranites, predominating biotitic adamellites. This suite of rocks is related by an evolution process mainly ruled by crystal fractionation. The accesory minerals play an important role in this process. Rb-Sr dating of this plutonic unit gives and age of 287 ± 5 M y and an initial 87 Sr/86 Sr = 0.7074 ± 0.0004

Aprendizaje móvil de inglés mediante juegos de espías en educación secundaria

The introduction of Information and Communication technologies (ICT) has undoubtedly revolutionized the current education system, both by the media and resources used to present and deliver the content, and by the ubiquity in which this process may occur. The use of mobile devices and the application of videogames as tools to promote self-study and autonomous learning and to reinforce teaching practices in different areas and educational levels, facilitate interactive, ubiquitous and individualized learning by allowing each user to work at their own pace. In this context, EU policies have set guidelines for the creation of teaching infrastructures for non-native speakers to overcome the barriers they face daily in the language and cultural learning process. In this sense, this article describes a study conducted on secondary school students in order to gain insights about the suitability of introducing and using videogames in mobile devices for learning languages. Based on the interactive game platform generated under the auspices of the European project ISPY, the results indicate a general improvement in the expectations shown by the population under study about the potential of these devices and resources for language learning before and after our investigation. They show the suitability of videogames as a tool to develop communicative and culture competences in foreign languages.La introducción de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) ha provocado una revolución radical en el sistema educativo actual, tanto en los medios y recursos utilizados para presentar los contenidos, como en la ubicuidad en la que puede enmarcarse dicho aprendizaje. Centrándonos en el uso de dispositivos móviles y la aplicación de videojuegos como herramientas para el aprendizaje autónomo o para afianzar las enseñanzas impartidas en ámbitos y niveles educativos diferentes, la tecnología móvil facilita un aprendizaje interactivo, ubicuo e individualizado, que permite a cada usuario trabajar a su propio ritmo. En este contexto, las políticas europeas han marcado en los últimos años directrices para la creación de infraestructuras docentes destinadas a que los hablantes no nativos superen las barreras que encuentran a diario en el proceso de aprendizaje de lenguas y culturas. El presente artículo describe el estudio realizado con alumnos de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO) con el objetivo de indagar en la idoneidad de utilizar videojuegos en dispositivos móviles para el aprendizaje de idiomas. Basados en la interacción del alumnado sujeto a estudio con la plataforma de juegos interactivos generados a partir del proyecto Europeo ISPY, los resultados indican una mejora generalizada en las expectativas que la población sujeta a estudio manifiesta sobre estos dispositivos y recursos para el aprendizaje de lenguas antes y después de nuestra investigación, constatándose la idoneidad de utilizar material didáctico basado en videojuegos para el aprendizaje de las diferentes competencias comunicativas y la formación cultural implícita

Morphosedimentary and phytogeography reconstruction of the middle section of the river Jarama (Madrid, Spain) during the second half of the Holocene.

[Abstract] Two sites located on the alluvial plain of the Jarama River, near Madrid, Spain, have been studied using geological, palynological and xylological techniques. Uniquely for this region, numerous wood subfossils of Alnus and Ulmus have been found together with an strobile of Pinus halepensis. This has allowed the stablishment of a coherent radiocarbon chronology, which demonstrates that these sedimentary environments began to develop during the mid Holocene. The dated sediments, which also contains appreciable amounts of pollen, have been deposited upon older palaeosols which has in turn developed directly on the geological substrate. Palynological analyses of these levels have provided valuable insights into the floristic composition of the communities associated with the different biotopes present in the area. As a result of these multiproxy analyses an interpretation of Holocene landscape history and vegetation dynamics is presente

Heterogeneous multi-robot system for mapping environmental variables of greenhouses

The productivity of greenhouses highly depends on the environmental conditions of crops, such as temperature and humidity. The control and monitoring might need large sensor networks, and as a consequence, mobile sensory systems might be a more suitable solution. This paper describes the application of a heterogeneous robot team to monitor environmental variables of greenhouses. The multi-robot system includes both ground and aerial vehicles, looking to provide flexibility and improve performance. The multi-robot sensory system measures the temperature, humidity, luminosity and carbon dioxide concentration in the ground and at different heights. Nevertheless, these measurements can be complemented with other ones (e.g., the concentration of various gases or images of crops) without a considerable effort. Additionally, this work addresses some relevant challenges of multi-robot sensory systems, such as the mission planning and task allocation, the guidance, navigation and control of robots in greenhouses and the coordination among ground and aerial vehicles. This work has an eminently practical approach, and therefore, the system has been extensively tested both in simulations and field experiments.The research leading to these results has received funding from the RoboCity2030-III-CM project (Robótica aplicada a la mejora de la calidad de vida de los ciudadanos. fase III; S2013/MIT-2748), funded by Programas de Actividades I+ D en la Comunidad de Madrid and co-funded by Structural Funds of the EU, and from the DPI2014-56985-Rproject (Protección robotizada de infraestructuras críticas) funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Gobierno de España. This work is framed on the SAVIER (Situational Awareness Virtual EnviRonment) Project, which is both supported and funded by Airbus Defence & Space. The experiments were performed in an educational greenhouse of the E.T.S.I.Agrónomos of Technical University of Madrid.Peer Reviewe

Detection of rat brain activation using statistical parametric mapping analysis in FDG-PET studies

[Abstract] AMI International Conference 2003, September 21 - 27, Madrid, Spain: High Resolution Molecular Imaging: from Basic Science to Clinical ApplicationsStatistical parametric mapping (SPM) is an analysis technique long been used in clinical research to detect subtle activity changes in brain; it is an excellent exploratory tool as it does not require a priori assumptions about the expected brain region activations. Research in animal imaging may also take benefit from this technique, if properly adapted to the new scenario. This is the case of brain activation studies in murine models using PET tracers and dedicated imaging devices. This work proposes the use of an SPM methodology adapted to the analysis of 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-D-Glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) scans of rat brains. Advantages over conventional region of interest (ROI) based analysis were assessed in an experiment addressing the detection of brain activation in of rats which underwent three different visual stimulation paradigmsPublicad