Neither so low nor so short! Wages and heights in eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries colonial Hispanic America

Based on substantial empirical work, our paper contributes to the ongoing debate on the historical causes of contemporary Latin America problems of development (slow growth and high inequality). It shows solid quantitative evidence on wages and heights for Bourbon Hispanic America that, in our opinion, challenges mainstream assumptions about the –allegedly negative- effects of Spanish colonialism on the welfare of common people. Purchasing capacity of miners and labourers in terms of grain and, especially, of meat was generally equal to -or higher than- that in most parts of Europe and Asia. Heights of some 5000 recruits in the colonial army and militias show a significant inter-regional variance. In South-eastern New Spain they turn out to be slightly below Western standards whereas in Northern Mexico and Venezuela (Maracaibo) they are comparable to those of Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. Thus, wages of ordinary Hispanic Americans in eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were not low by international standards. Neither were their physical statures always shorter than the European norm in the middle of the eighteenth century. Our results might carry other far-reaching implications. On the one hand, an increasing and influent scholarship characterizes colonial Hispanic America as an extreme case of economy based on extractive institutions and inequality [Engerman and Sokoloff (1994, 2002, 2005); Acemoglu, Johnson and Robinson (2002)]. Was it really the case? Our response is somewhat sceptical. On the other hand, calculating ratios of heights and real wages to GDP per capita estimates [Maddison (2009)] for 1820 converts Hispanic America into a clear outlier within a wide sample of countries. This finding suggests that available estimations on Bourbon Hispanic America GDP per capita should be revised upwards.Heights, Welfare, Colonialism, Development, Latin America.

High granularity calorimetry for future high precision physics in the context of the e+e− International Linear Collider and prospect of the ZH hadronic channel

Tesis Doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Física Teórica. Fecha de Lectura: 13-03-202

Optimizing recovery protocols for replicated database systems

En la actualidad, el uso de tecnologías de informacíon y sistemas de cómputo tienen una gran influencia en la vida diaria. Dentro de los sistemas informáticos actualmente en uso, son de gran relevancia los sistemas distribuidos por la capacidad que pueden tener para escalar, proporcionar soporte para la tolerancia a fallos y mejorar el desempeño de aplicaciones y proporcionar alta disponibilidad. Los sistemas replicados son un caso especial de los sistemas distribuidos. Esta tesis está centrada en el área de las bases de datos replicadas debido al uso extendido que en el presente se hace de ellas, requiriendo características como: bajos tiempos de respuesta, alto rendimiento en los procesos, balanceo de carga entre las replicas, consistencia e integridad de datos y tolerancia a fallos. En este contexto, el desarrollo de aplicaciones utilizando bases de datos replicadas presenta dificultades que pueden verse atenuadas mediante el uso de servicios de soporte a mas bajo nivel tales como servicios de comunicacion y pertenencia. El uso de los servicios proporcionados por los sistemas de comunicación de grupos permiten ocultar los detalles de las comunicaciones y facilitan el diseño de protocolos de replicación y recuperación. En esta tesis, se presenta un estudio de las alternativas y estrategias empleadas en los protocolos de replicación y recuperación en las bases de datos replicadas. También se revisan diferentes conceptos sobre los sistemas de comunicación de grupos y sincronia virtual. Se caracterizan y clasifican diferentes tipos de protocolos de replicación con respecto a la interacción o soporte que pudieran dar a la recuperación, sin embargo el enfoque se dirige a los protocolos basados en sistemas de comunicación de grupos. Debido a que los sistemas comerciales actuales permiten a los programadores y administradores de sistemas de bases de datos renunciar en alguna medida a la consistencia con la finalidad de aumentar el rendimiento, es importante determinar el nivel de consistencia necesario. En el caso de las bases de datos replicadas la consistencia está muy relacionada con el nivel de aislamiento establecido entre las transacciones. Una de las propuestas centrales de esta tesis es un protocolo de recuperación para un protocolo de replicación basado en certificación. Los protocolos de replicación de base de datos basados en certificación proveen buenas bases para el desarrollo de sus respectivos protocolos de recuperación cuando se utiliza el nivel de aislamiento snapshot. Para tal nivel de aislamiento no se requiere que los readsets sean transferidos entre las réplicas ni revisados en la fase de cetificación y ya que estos protocolos mantienen un histórico de la lista de writesets que es utilizada para certificar las transacciones, este histórico provee la información necesaria para transferir el estado perdido por la réplica en recuperación. Se hace un estudio del rendimiento del protocolo de recuperación básico y de la versión optimizada en la que se compacta la información a transferir. Se presentan los resultados obtenidos en las pruebas de la implementación del protocolo de recuperación en el middleware de soporte. La segunda propuesta esta basada en aplicar el principio de compactación de la informacion de recuperación en un protocolo de recuperación para los protocolos de replicación basados en votación débil. El objetivo es minimizar el tiempo necesario para transfeir y aplicar la información perdida por la réplica en recuperación obteniendo con esto un protocolo de recuperación mas eficiente. Se ha verificado el buen desempeño de este algoritmo a través de una simulación. Para efectuar la simulación se ha hecho uso del entorno de simulación Omnet++. En los resultados de los experimentos puede apreciarse que este protocolo de recuperación tiene buenos resultados en múltiples escenarios. Finalmente, se presenta la verificación de la corrección de ambos algoritmos de recuperación en el Capítulo 5.Nowadays, information technology and computing systems have a great relevance on our lives. Among current computer systems, distributed systems are one of the most important because of their scalability, fault tolerance, performance improvements and high availability. Replicated systems are a specific case of distributed system. This Ph.D. thesis is centered in the replicated database field due to their extended usage, requiring among other properties: low response times, high throughput, load balancing among replicas, data consistency, data integrity and fault tolerance. In this scope, the development of applications that use replicated databases raises some problems that can be reduced using other fault-tolerant building blocks, as group communication and membership services. Thus, the usage of the services provided by group communication systems (GCS) hides several communication details, simplifying the design of replication and recovery protocols. This Ph.D. thesis surveys the alternatives and strategies being used in the replication and recovery protocols for database replication systems. It also summarizes different concepts about group communication systems and virtual synchrony. As a result, the thesis provides a classification of database replication protocols according to their support to (and interaction with) recovery protocols, always assuming that both kinds of protocol rely on a GCS. Since current commercial DBMSs allow that programmers and database administrators sacrifice consistency with the aim of improving performance, it is important to select the appropriate level of consistency. Regarding (replicated) databases, consistency is strongly related to the isolation levels being assigned to transactions. One of the main proposals of this thesis is a recovery protocol for a replication protocol based on certification. Certification-based database replication protocols provide a good basis for the development of their recovery strategies when a snapshot isolation level is assumed. In that level readsets are not needed in the validation step. As a result, they do not need to be transmitted to other replicas. Additionally, these protocols hold a writeset list that is used in the certification/validation step. That list maintains the set of writesets needed by the recovery protocol. This thesis evaluates the performance of a recovery protocol based on the writeset list tranfer (basic protocol) and of an optimized version that compacts the information to be transferred. The second proposal applies the compaction principle to a recovery protocol designed for weak-voting replication protocols. Its aim is to minimize the time needed for transferring and applying the writesets lost by the recovering replica, obtaining in this way an efficient recovery. The performance of this recovery algorithm has been checked implementing a simulator. To this end, the Omnet++ simulating framework has been used. The simulation results confirm that this recovery protocol provides good results in multiple scenarios. Finally, the correction of both recovery protocols is also justified and presented in Chapter 5.García Muñoz, LH. (2013). Optimizing recovery protocols for replicated database systems [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/31632TESI

Wealth inequality in pre-industrial England: a long-term view (late thirteenth to sixteenth centuries)

This article provides an overview of wealth inequality in England from the late thirteenth to the seventeenth century, based on a novel database of distributions of taxable household wealth across nineteen counties plus London. To account for high thresholds of fiscal exemption, a new method is introduced to reconstruct complete distributions from left-censored observations. First we analyze inequality at the county level, finding an impressive stability across time in the relative position of the English counties, perturbed only by the tendency of the South and South-East to become relatively more inegalitarian. Then we produce an aggregate distribution representative of England as a whole, and we detect an overall tendency for inequality to grow from medieval to early modern times due largely to North-South divergence in average household wealth. We discuss our results in the light of the recent literature on historical inequality

Alternativa metodológica para la enseñanza-aprendizaje de la proyección con inclinación al frente con agarre a ambas piernas en la Lucha Libre Femenina

The following research is based on a methodological alternative for the teachinglearning process of the projection with forward inclination with grip on both legs. It helps to perfect the process of teaching in struggle, by exercises as close as possible to the gestures of the competition. In this research techniques and methods were used such as document review, bibliographic analysis, surveys and interviews, among others, which allowed to define the way to be followed. These exercises will improve space-time perception, self-confidence in athletes, among other determining qualities for the development of a combat.La siguiente investigación, está sustentada en una alternativa metodológica para el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la proyección con inclinación al frente con agarre a ambas piernas. La misma contribuye a perfeccionar el proceso de enseñanza en la Lucha, mediante ejercicios lo más cercanos posible a los gestos de la competencia. En esta investigación se emplearon técnicas y métodos como revisión de documentos, análisis bibliográficos, encuestas y entrevistas, entre otros, los cuales permitieron definir el camino a seguir. Dichos ejercicios mejorarán, la percepción espacio tiempo, la auto confianza en las atletas, entre otras cualidades determinantes para el desarrollo de un combate

Motor coordination and academic performance in primary school students

Objective: There is interest in studying the relationship between cognition and motor skills for decades. However, there are few studies that provide scientific evidence on the relationship between motor coordination and academic performance. Therefore, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 163 Spanish schoolchildren aged 6-9 years. Motor coordination was measured with the GRAMI-2 Test. Academic performance was obtained through the average grades of the subjects of language, mathematics, natural science, social science, English and artistic. The variables were calculated: motor coordination index and overall academic performance. The results obtained showed that schoolchildren with a better motor coordination index had higher marks in language, mathematics, natural science and English (p between <.01 and <.05). Dividing the sample according to the global academic performance, those with a good academic performance showed a better coordination performance in lateral jumps (p = .021) and a better motor coordination index (p = .008). These results indicate the existence of a positive relationship between motor coordination and academic performance, which may be this bidirectional link. This study could have practical implications to be taken into account by physical education teachers, such as, the increase in opportunities for physical activity during school and after school hours through the development of programs based on coordinative exercise, and especially oriented towards those less competent at the motor level

Development of a time projection chamber based on Micromegas technology for CAST(CERN Axion Solar Telescope)

Este trabajo de fin de master describe el proceso de diseño y puesta en marcha de una TPC (Time Projection Chamber), utilizando la tecnología Micromegas, para el experimento de búsqueda de axiones CAST (CERN Axion Solar Telescope) situado en el CERN. El trabajo se divide en dos partes. La primera de ellas es un trabajo bibliográfico y teórico que hace una pequeña introducción al llamado problema CP fuerte de partículas y a la aparición del axión como partícula que resuelve este problema. Se describen sus propiedades y cómo esta partícula encaja dentro de las teorías evolutivas del universo. Se hace también un pequeño recorrido por los experimentos de búsqueda de axiones más importantes, entre los que se encuentran el experimento CAST, motivo de este trabajo. La segunda parte del trabajo se centra en el experimento CAST: en describir sus componentes, su principio de funcionamiento y las motivaciones que llevan a desarrollar el experimento. Finalmente se describe el proceso de diseño y montaje de un detector de rayos-X para este experimento, aplicando técnicas de bajo fondo adquiridas por el equipo de CAST durante sus más de 10 años de experiencia, entre el que se encuentra el Grupo de Investigación de Física Nuclear y Astropartículas (GIFNA) de la Universidad de Zaragoza

A new early Pliocene murine rodent from the Iberian Peninsula and its biostratigraphic implications

In the last years, a murine identified as Paraethomys aff. abaigari has been repeatedly recognized in several early Pliocene localities of the Iberian Peninsula. We have revised these occurrences, as well as other samples of similar morphology, and propose that all these records correspond to a new species. We diagnose Paraethomys baeticus sp. nov. based on a large sample from the early Ruscinian site of Baza-1 (Guadix-Baza Basin, Spain). It is a medium-sized representative of the genus, with relatively well-developed longitudinal connections both in upper and lower molars, but incomplete stephanodonty. M1 displays high tubercles t6-t9 and low t4-t8 connections. M1 and, to a lesser extent, M2 have posterior spurs on t1 and t3. The t9 and t12 are absent in M2. In m1, a round islet of enamel between the anteroconid and the protoconid-metaconid is regularly observed, as well as a general lack of medial anteroconid, moderate labial cingulum with large posterior accessory cuspid, and longitudinal spur. The new species differs from other European representatives of the genus Paraethomys mainly in its size, which is intermediate between that of the small-sized Paraethomys meini and the large-sized Paraethomys abaigari. In addition, both the size and relative width are smaller than those of Paraethomys jaegeri. The frequency of posterior spurs on t1 and t3 of M1 and M2 is higher than that of P. meini and lower than that of P. jaegeri. The new species here described represents a key biochronological and biostratigraphic marker, since it is restricted to levels of late early Ruscinian age. Thus, this species is useful for establishing divisions within the early Ruscinian, and becomes a characteristic taxon for the early Pliocene in the terrestrial record of the Iberian Peninsula. Magnetobiostratigraphic correlations suggest a chronological range for P. baeticus sp. nov. between ca. 4.6 and 4.3 Ma.Fil: Piñero García, Pedro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Zoología de Vertebrados. Sección de Mastozoología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Verzi, Diego Hector. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Zoología de Vertebrados. Sección de Mastozoología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentin

Bifurcation diagram and stability for a one-parameter family of planar vector fields

We consider the 1-parameter family of planar quintic systems, $\dot x= y^3-x^3$, $\dot y= -x+my^5$, introduced by A. Bacciotti in 1985. It is known that it has at most one limit cycle and that it can exist only when the parameter $m$ is in $(0.36,0.6)$. In this paper, using the Bendixon-Dulac theorem, we give a new unified proof of all the previous results, we shrink this to $(0.547,0.6)$, and we prove the hyperbolicity of the limit cycle. We also consider the question of the existence of polycycles. The main interest and difficulty for studying this family is that it is not a semi-complete family of rotated vector fields. When the system has a limit cycle, we also determine explicit lower bounds of the basin of attraction of the origin. Finally we answer an open question about the change of stability of the origin for an extension of the above systems.Comment: 27 pages, 11 figure

Nitrogen dioxide gas levels in TBM tunnel construction with diesel locomotives based on directive 2017/164/EU

Directive 2017/164/EU proposed a drastic reduction of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, thereby fortifying the health protection framework within the mining industry. Despite the commendable record of non-road emissions standards (Stage IV and V) in continuing to reduce NOx emissions, concerns remain about compliance with the directive’s strict limits, particularly in demanding tunnels and mining fields. To illustrate this problem, this study undertakes a comprehensive assessment of the practical feasibility surrounding the implementation of these proposed limits in a 6.2 internal diameter tunnel-boring machine (TBM) tunnel constructed with Stage III emission locomotives. The results cast light upon the formidable challenges entailed in achieving strict compliance with the envisioned limits, with a substantial number of measurements notably surpassing these thresholds, primarily concerning NO2 emissions from Stage III engines. To address these challenges, this study highlights the key role of moving to Stage IV-V locomotives or introducing electric locomotives to effectively reduce NOx emissions, ensure compliance with the directive, and avoid delays in tunnel construction.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::8 - Treball Decent i Creixement EconòmicPostprint (published version