In vivo cranial bone strain and bite force in the agamid lizard Uromastyx geyri

In vivo bone strain data are the most direct evidence of deformation and strain regimes in the vertebrate cranium during feeding and can provide important insights into skull morphology. Strain data have been collected during feeding across a wide range of mammals; in contrast, in vivo cranial bone strain data have been collected from few sauropsid taxa. Here we present bone strain data recorded from the jugal of the herbivorous agamid lizard Uromastyx geyri along with simultaneously recorded bite force. Principal and shear strain magnitudes in Uromastyx geyri were lower than cranial bone strains recorded in Alligator mississippiensis, but higher than those reported from herbivorous mammals. Our results suggest that variations in principal strain orientations in the facial skeleton are largely due to differences in feeding behavior and bite location, whereas food type has little impact on strain orientations. Furthermore, mean principal strain orientations differ between male and female Uromastyx during feeding, potentially because of sexual dimorphism in skull morphology

Enhancement of photoacoustic detection of inhomogeneities in polymers

We report a series of experiments on laser pulsed photoacoustic excitationin turbid polymer samples addressed to evaluate the sound speed in the samples and the presence of inhomogeneities in the bulk. We describe a system which allows the direct measurement of the speed of the detected waves by engraving the surface of the piece under study with a fiduciary pattern of black lines. We also describe how this pattern helps to enhance the sensitivity for the detection of an inhomogeneity in the bulk. These two facts are useful for studies in soft matter systems including, perhaps, biological samples. We have performed an experimental analysis on Grilon(R) samples in different situations and we show the limitations of the method.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Estructura, fábrica magnética y emplazamiento de los granitos de Brealito y La Paya, basamento del valle Calchaquí, Salta, Argentina

Los granitoides de Brealito y La Paya son plutones de formas elípticas alargadas en dirección N-S emplazados respectivamente en las Formaciones Puncoviscana y La Paya. El estudio de la estructura interna de los plutones se ha abordado aplicando la anisotropía de la susceptibilidad magnética (ASM). El plutón de La Paya presenta un carácter paramagnético (K entre 1,9 y 6,7 x10- 5 SI) con una fábrica magnética controlada por la biotita, en cambio el plutón de Brealito muestra un carácter mixto (K entre 22 y 466 x10- 5 SI) con algunas estaciones en las que la contribución ferromagnética (originada por magnetita) es dominante. Las anisotropías totales medidas son coherentes con el carácter magmático de las muestras analizadas. Ambos plutones presentan semejanzas desde el punto de vista estructural. Son cuerpos de forma lenticular, concordantes con el encajante y buzando hacia el Oeste. La lineación magnética presenta buzamientos suaves en dirección N-S.The Brealito and La Paya granitoids are elliptical-shaped plutons with N-S elongation. They intrude into the Puncoviscana and La Paya Formations, respectively. The internal structure of these plutons has been studied by using field structures and applying the Anisotropy of the Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS). The magnetic fabric of the La Paya pluton reflects the orientation of biotite, the main paramagnetic mineral in this granite (K between 1.9 and 6.7 x10-5SI). Instead, the magnetic behavior of the Brealito granite is more complex since not only paramagnetic minerals, but also the ferromagnetic contribution (K between 22 and 466 x10-5SI) of magnetite crystals strongly control the magnetic fabric of some samples. Total anisotropy values of the magnetic fabrics are coherent with the magmatic nature of the analized samples. From the structural point of view, both plutons display similarities. These granites are lozenge-shaped bodies concordant with the host rocks. Their planar fabrics are mainly NS-trending and West dipping, and magnetic lineations plunge at low angles along the N-S direction

Effects of past climate variability on fire and vegetation in the cerrãdo savanna of the Huanchaca Mesetta, NE Bolivia

Cerrãdo savannas have the greatest fire activity of all major global land-cover types and play a significant role in the global carbon cycle. During the 21st century, temperatures are projected to increase by ∼ 3 ◦C coupled with a precipitation decrease of ∼ 20 %. Although these conditions could potentially intensify drought stress, it is unknown how that might alter vegetation composition and fire regimes. To assess how Neotropical savannas responded to past climate changes, a 14 500-year, high-resolution, sedimentary record from Huanchaca Mesetta, a palm swamp located in the cerrãdo savanna in northeastern Bolivia, was analyzed with phytoliths, stable isotopes, and charcoal. A nonanalogue, cold-adapted vegetation community dominated the Lateglacial–early Holocene period (14 500–9000 cal yr BP, which included trees and C3 Pooideae and C4 Panicoideae grasses. The Lateglacial vegetation was fire-sensitive and fire activity during this period was low, likely responding to fuel availability and limitation. Although similar vegetation characterized the early Holocene, the warming conditions associated with the onset of the Holocene led to an initial increase in fire activity. Huanchaca Mesetta became increasingly firedependent during the middle Holocene with the expansion of C4 fire-adapted grasses. However, as warm, dry conditions, characterized by increased length and severity of the dry season, continued, fuel availability decreased. The establishment of the modern palm swamp vegetation occurred at 5000 cal yr BP. Edaphic factors are the first-order control on vegetation on the rocky quartzite mesetta. Where soils are sufficiently thick, climate is the second-order control of vegetation on the mesetta. The presence of the modern palm swamp is attributed to two factors: (1) increased precipitation that increased water table levels and (2) decreased frequency and duration of surazos (cold wind incursions from Patagonia) leading to increased temperature minima. Natural (soil, climate, fire) drivers rather than anthropogenic drivers control the vegetation and fire activity at Huanchaca Mesetta. Thus the cerrãdo savanna ecosystem of the Huanchaca Plateau has exhibited ecosystem resilience to major climatic changes in both temperature and precipitation since the Lateglacial period

Experimental Test of a Two-dimensional Approximation for Dielectric Microcavities

Open dielectric resonators of different shapes are widely used for the manufacture of microlasers. A precise determination of their resonance frequencies and widths is crucial for their design. Most microlasers have a flat cylindrical geometry, and a two-dimensional approximation, the so-called method of the effective index of refraction, is commonly employed for numerical calculations. Our aim has been an experimental test of the precision and applicability of a model based on this approximation. We performed very thorough and accurate measurements of the resonance frequencies and widths of two passive circular dielectric microwave resonators and found significant deviations from the model predictions. From this we conclude that the model generally fails in the quantitative description of three-dimensional dielectric resonators.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figure

El origen de la televisión deportiva de pago en España: el caso de la lógica programática de Canal plus (1990-2005)

El modelo de programación deportiva televisiva de pago cumple 30 años en España. Canal Plus fue el primer ejemplo de una oferta basada en la “exclusividad” e introdujo en España algunos aspectos básicos de la lógica programática deportiva que actualmente marcan el complejo y heterogéneo mercado audiovisual. El objetivo de este artículo es profundizar en el caso de Canal Plus España como primer modelo de televisión de pago, y concretar en la lógica programática deportiva que desarrolló, explicar qué estrategias utilizó para atraer nuevos suscriptores, qué contenidos deportivos y tipo de programas, y cuál fue su tratamiento formal diferenciador para generar una nueva experiencia televisiva para el espectador. De esta forma, se podrá observar el grado de originalidad de la oferta deportiva de Canal Plus, el papel real de estrategias programáticas consolidadas, y la influencia de los contenidos deportivos en el futuro desarrollo de la televisión de pago en España. Canal Plus was the first subscription channel in Spain and it was introduced 30 years ago. Its programming model was a great example of using Sports as an exclusive content and the importance of Sports Broadcasting Rights in Pay TV policies. The main goal of this article is to describe the case of Canal Plus as the first Pay TV business model, detail its programming strategy to attract more subscribers and explain its main sports contents, forms and visual treatment in order to create an immersive experience for the viewer. Thus, this article will analyze the level of originality of Canal Plus’ sports content, the role of traditional TV programming strategies, and the influence of sports broadcasting on Pay TV development in Spain

Meio de cultura para o enraizamento in vitro de Heliconia chartacea var. Sexy Pink.

A Heliconia chartacea var. Sexy Pink é uma planta ornamental tropical de grande interesse na floricultura brasileira, cuja micropropagação permite a obtenção de mudas em larga escala em espaço e tempo reduzidos. Com o objetivo de determinar a composição do meio de cultura para o enraizamento in vitro da H. chartacea var. Sexy Pink, brotações com 3–5 cm de altura foram cultivados em meio de cultura Murashige e Skoog(1962)com metade da concentração salina original (MS/2) suplementado com diferentes concentrações de sacarose (0; 15; 30; 45 e 60 g L-1). A ausência de uma fonte de açúcar não inibiu a formação de raízes, porém estas foram poucas e muito finas(0,6 raízes/planta). Quando a concentração de sacarose utilizada foi de 15 a 60 g L-1, a produção da biomassa da raiz foi maior, aumentando a possibilidade de sobrevivência na fase de aclimatizaçãocommédiasde2,7 raízes/planta(15 g L-1), 3,4 raízes/planta(30g L-1), 4 raízes/planta (45 g L-1), e a 60 g L-1(3,5 raízes/planta), porém as concentrações de 45 e 60 g L-1de sacarose apresentaram redução na massa seca das raízes(0,20 e 0,21 g/planta respectivamente), pois favoreceu a formação de raízes mais grossas e quebradiças, devido ao maior acúmulo de água nos tecidos. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas no número médio de raízes emitidas por explante nas diferentes concentrações de sacarose a exceção do tratamento controle, porém comparando-se o peso seco das raízes, pode-se afirmar que a adição de sacarose na concentração de 30 g L-1no meio MS/2, foi a que apresentou maior incremento de massa seca da raiz (0,23g/planta) comparado ao tratamento controle (0,38 g/planta). A concentração de 30 g L-1também conferiu um melhor desenvolvimento do sistema radicular com uma média de comprimento da maior raiz de 91 mm, a partir desta concentração, no entanto, houve a redução no comprimento, apresentando média de 82 mm a 45 g L-1e 72 mm a 60 g L-1 próxima a obtida a 15 g L-1(67 mm). Conclui-se que a adição de sacarose na concentração de 30 g L-1no meio MS/2foi a que apresentou maior incremento de massa, demonstrando ser esta concentração mais adequada para o enraizamento da Heliconia chartacea var. Sexy Pink nas condições testadas

Ice Age megafauna rock art in the Colombian Amazon?

Megafauna paintings have accompanied the earliest archaeological contexts across the continents, revealing a fundamental inter-relationship between early humans and megafauna during the global human expansion as unfamiliar landscapes were humanized and identities built into new territories. However, the identification of extinct megafauna from rock art is controversial. Here, we examine potential megafauna depictions in the rock art of Serranía de la Lindosa, Colombian Amazon, that includes a giant sloth, a gomphothere, a camelid, horses and three-toed ungulates with trunks. We argue that they are Ice Age rock art based on the (i) naturalistic appearance and diagnostic morphological features of the animal images, (ii) late Pleistocene archaeological dates from La Lindosa confirming the contemporaneity of humans and megafauna, (iii) recovery of ochre pigments in late Pleistocene archaeological strata, (iv) the presence of most megafauna identified in the region during the late Pleistocene as attested by archaeological and palaeontological records, and (v) widespread depiction of extinct megafauna in rock art across the Americas. Our findings contribute to the emerging picture of considerable geographical and stylistic variation of geometric and figurative rock art from early human occupations across South America. Lastly, we discuss the implications of our findings for understanding the early human history of tropical South America. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Tropical forests in the deep human past’.1. Introduction 2. Early rock art in the Americas, study region and brief archaeological background 3. The La Lindosa rock art 4. The megafauna paintings (a) Giant ground sloth (Megatheriidae) (b) Proboscidean (Gomphotheriidae) (c) Horse (Equidae) (d) Camelid (Camelidae) (e) Macraucheniid (Macraucheniidae) 5. Concluding remark

Human activities, biostratigraphy and past environment revealed by small-mammal associations at the chalcolithic levels of El Portalón de Cueva Mayor (Atapuerca, Spain)

The Chalcolithic levels of El Portalón de Cueva Mayor (Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain) offer a good opportunity to test whether the small-mammal contents of different archaeo-stratigraphical units may be useful to characterize them as independent entities. With that purpose, we studied representative samples of small-mammal remains from the two main contexts identified: the Early Chalcolithic (EC) funerary context and the Late Chalcolithic (LC) habitat/stabling context, with the latter comprising three different archaeological units according to their origin, namely prepared floors, activity floors and stabling surfaces or fumiers. Following the distribution of taxa in their respective contexts, we performed several statistical tests to check for significant discrepancies between archaeological units. The exclusive presence of certain taxa, together with the statistical difference in relative taxonomic ratios, points to the integrity and unpolluted condition of the EC context. The interspersed arrangement of the different LC context’s units made them prone to inter-pollution as they are not statistically different. The unexpected presence of Pliomys lenki and Chionomys nivalis in the prepared floors evidences their Upper Pleistocene allochthonous origin. The EC levels of El Portalón contribute the first Holocene records of nine taxa in the Sierra de Atapuerca. An environment dominated by woodland, shrubland and wet meadows, with moderate presence of grassland, inland wetlands and rocky areas, is inferred from the small-mammal association of the EC levels

Los contenidos deportivos en la programación televisiva española (1993-2010): un análisis desde la perspectiva de los índices de audiencia

La importancia de los contenidos deportivos televisivos en España, fundamentalmente los futbolísticos, ha llamado la atención de los investigadores en los últimos años. Muchos estudios han intentado reflexionar sobre este fenómeno desde diferentes perspectivas: desde el punto de vista de la estrategia programática, la gestión económica de la relación entre televisión y deporte, la lucha por los derechos de retransmisión o la construcción de un mensaje televisivo a través de diferentes técnicas de retransmisión. El objetivo de este artículo es enriquecer el debate en torno a este tema a través de un análisis detallado del rendimiento, en relación a los índices de audiencia, de los contenidos deportivos en la televisión española de cobertura nacional. Para conseguir este propósito, el siguiente texto analiza los datos de audiencia del primer periodo de comercialización de la televisión española (1993-2010), y trata de determinar la verdadera influencia y rasgos más característicos de los contenidos deportivos en relación a esta faceta decisiva del mercado televisivo. Para lograr este propósito, el presente estudio ha analizado 4000 entradas estadísticas, procedentes del Anuario de audiencias de televisión de Sofres/Kantar Media, y ha procedido al cruce y análisis de la información de más de 2300 espacios deportivos. Los resultados del análisis refuerzan el papel de las retransmisiones de fútbol en directo, que representaron más de un 50 % de los programas más exitosos del periodoThe importance of televised sports content in Spain, chiefly football, has led to a growth in research in recent last years. Many studies have addressed this phenomenon from a variety of perspectives, including television-programming strategy, the business management relationship between television and sports, the battle for broadcasting rights or the elaboration of a television message through different broadcasting techniques. This paper seeks to add to the debate on this topic through a detailed analysis of the audience ratings of sports content aired on Spanish television channels with a nationwide coverage. To this end, we analyse the complete audience measurement data from the first period of private commercial television in Spain (1993-2010) in order to determine the most important characteristics of sports content and their true impact on audience ratings. To achieve this aim, we analysed 4,000 statistical entries from Sofres/Kantar Media’s “Anuario de audiencias de television” [Audience Yearbook] and cross referenced and studied information from more than 2,300 sport broadcasts. The results of this research underpin the role of live football broadcasts, which accounted for more than 50% of the most successful television content during that perio