Seasonal decline in breeding performance of the Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus

The effects of timing of breeding on reproductive parameters of Kelp Gulls Larus dominicanus were studied in Patagonia, Argentina, during 1998 and 1999. Yearly and spatial variation in the study were assessed by sampling nests during two field seasons and in different areas within the colony, and accounted for variation with respect to breeding synchrony and breeding density. In both years and in three study areas, individuals laying earlier had higher hatching success, a larger number of chicks fledged, heavier chicks at one month and higher breeding success. Significant variation between study areas within the colony and between years was observed only for breeding success and number of chicks fledged. No effects of breeding synchrony on breeding parameters were detected. Timing of breeding, independent of study year and area, had no effect on either clutch size or egg size. Our results document for the first time the seasonal decline in breeding performance in the Kelp Gull, a species widely distributed in the southern hemisphere.Fil: Garcia Borboroglu, Jorge Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Yorio, Pablo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Moreno, Juan. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Potti Sánchez, Jaime. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; Españ

Convenios de prestaciones complementarias CCAF y los efectos tributarios de la circular N° 2.877 de la Superintendencia de Seguridad Social

El propósito de este artículo es efectuar un análisis de los efectos tributarios de la Circular N° 2877 de la Superintendencia de Seguridad Social, que modificó el Régimen de Prestaciones Complementarias administrados por las Cajas de Compensación de Asignación Familiar. Antes de la Circular de la Superintendencia de Seguridad Social, este régimen era utilizado por las compañías para optimizar la carga tributaria de sus empleados, ajustándose a la interpretación dada por el Servicio de Impuestos Internos en diversas Circulares donde las prestaciones complementarias eran asimilables a beneficios previsionales Actualmente, y con la entrada en vigencia de la Circular N° 2877 de la Superintendencia de Seguridad Social, se establecen nuevos requisitos para la utilización de las prestaciones complementarias, haciendo menos atractiva su utilización

Suffering for the Suffering of the Other: A Levinasian Approach to Immigration

Rather than trying to justify pain and suffering in terms of a general theory of necessity in which individual pain becomes intelligible and senseful only in the narrative of the whole, as in Leibniz’ Theodicy, Emmanuel Levinas asserts that suffering is “useless.” Against theodicy, Levinas defends the insurmountable futility and absurdity of pain, a paradigmatic example of which is found in the concentration camps. We must therefore choose, Levinas asserts, either theodicy or ethics. This approach makes the subject very significant, since it encourages activity and responsibility in the face of a possible passivity and indifference towards others. This approach makes the subject very significant, since it encourages activity and responsibility instead of passivity and indifference towards others. In trying to understand how to restore meaning to suffering, Levinas offers a typology of the sources of suffering: sins of commission, sins of omission, and suffering the other’s suffering because of love. In order to illustrate the ethical dynamics of suffering, we analyze the contemporary situation of immigration, rejecting the case for open borders as failing to offer a restitution for the suffering caused. Keywords: Levinas. Theodicy. Ethics. Suffering. Vulnerability. Immigration. DOI: 10.7176/JPCR/49-05 Publication date:June 30th 202

Non-deterministic semantics for quantum states

In this work, we discuss the failure of the principle of truth functionality in the quantum formalism. By exploiting this failure, we import the formalism of N-matrix theory and non-deterministic semantics to the foundations of quantum mechanics. This is done by describing quantum states as particular valuations associated with infinite non-deterministic truth tables. This allows us to introduce a natural interpretation of quantum states in terms of a non-deterministic semantics. We also provide a similar construction for arbitrary probabilistic theories based in orthomodular lattices, allowing to study post-quantum models using logical techniques

Video Tester -- A multiple-metric framework for video quality assessment over IP networks

This paper presents an extensible and reusable framework which addresses the problem of video quality assessment over IP networks. The proposed tool (referred to as Video-Tester) supports raw uncompressed video encoding and decoding. It also includes different video over IP transmission methods (i.e.: RTP over UDP unicast and multicast, as well as RTP over TCP). In addition, it is furnished with a rich set of offline analysis capabilities. Video-Tester analysis includes QoS and bitstream parameters estimation (i.e.: bandwidth, packet inter-arrival time, jitter and loss rate, as well as GOP size and I-frame loss rate). Our design facilitates the integration of virtually any existing video quality metric thanks to the adopted Python-based modular approach. Video-Tester currently provides PSNR, SSIM, ITU-T G.1070 video quality metric, DIV and PSNR-based MOS estimations. In order to promote its use and extension, Video-Tester is open and publicly available.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures. For the Google Code project, see http://video-tester.googlecode.com

Electric linear dichroism transients of bent DNA fragments

We study the effect of translational-rotational hydrodynamic coupling on the transient electric linear dichroism of DNA fragments in aqueous solution. As opposed to previous theoretical works, where analytic solutions valid in the limit of low electric field were reported, we present here a numerical approach which allows to obtain numerical results valid independently from the applied electric field strength. Numerical procedures here used are an extension to the transient-state of those developed in a previous work for the study of the problem in the steady-state. The molecular orientational processes induced by an electric field is characterized with statistical arguments solving the Fokker- Planck equation by means of the finite difference method to know the orientational distribution function of molecules.Fil: Umazano, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisica; ArgentinaFil: Bertolotto, Jorge Alberto. Universidad Nacional de la Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisica; Argentin

El éxito de las casas comerciales en Chile: ¿Regulación o buena gestión?

In this article we look at factors that could explain why department stores in Chile provide extensive financial services to their customers, and compare this situation with that in other countries. We believe that the success of department stores in Chile responds to several factors acting simultaneously; for example, asymmetric enforcement of financial regulations (stricter towards the banking industry), low bankarization, and good management. Consistent with a model of oligopolistic competition, neither can we discard the hypothesis that the rapid expansion of the department stores’ credit services is in part due to the banking industry’s little interest in extending their credit service, at least during the early years, to lower-income customers because of the externality that this would have imposed on existing customers. The available data makes it impossible to rank the importance of all these factors partly because they work together.

A Recipe for Constructing Frustration-Free Hamiltonians with Gauge and Matter Fields in One and Two Dimensions

State sum constructions, such as Kuperberg's algorithm, give partition functions of physical systems, like lattice gauge theories, in various dimensions by associating local tensors or weights, to different parts of a closed triangulated manifold. Here we extend this construction by including matter fields to build partition functions in both two and three space-time dimensions. The matter fields introduces new weights to the vertices and they correspond to Potts spin configurations described by an $\mathcal{A}$-module with an inner product. Performing this construction on a triangulated manifold with a boundary we obtain the transfer matrices which are decomposed into a product of local operators acting on vertices, links and plaquettes. The vertex and plaquette operators are similar to the ones appearing in the quantum double models (QDM) of Kitaev. The link operator couples the gauge and the matter fields, and it reduces to the usual interaction terms in known models such as $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge theory with matter fields. The transfer matrices lead to Hamiltonians that are frustration-free and are exactly solvable. According to the choice of the initial input, that of the gauge group and a matter module, we obtain interesting models which have a new kind of ground state degeneracy that depends on the number of equivalence classes in the matter module under gauge action. Some of the models have confined flux excitations in the bulk which become deconfined at the surface. These edge modes are protected by an energy gap provided by the link operator. These properties also appear in "confined Walker-Wang" models which are 3D models having interesting surface states. Apart from the gauge excitations there are also excitations in the matter sector which are immobile and can be thought of as defects like in the Ising model. We only consider bosonic matter fields in this paper.Comment: 52 pages, 58 figures. This paper is an extension of arXiv:1310.8483 [cond-mat.str-el] with the inclusion of matter fields. This version includes substantial changes with a connection made to confined Walker-Wang models along the lines of arXiv:1208.5128 and subsequent works. Accepted for publication in JPhys

The adsorption of ethyl formate on CaO: a DFT study

acceptedVersio

Life history traits of Sirex noctilio F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) can explain outbreaks independently of environmental factors

The woodwasp Sirex noctilio is a major pest of pine plantations worldwide. Economically significant damage is however limited to outbreak populations. To understand what determines outbreaks dynamics in this species, we developed an individual based model for a wasp population developing within a pine plantation. We show that outbreaks may be the result of the insect's life history. Specifically we show that limited dispersal may not only increase population persistence but also create the conditions for eruptive dynamics. When the probability of long distance dispersal is greater than zero, but relatively small (PLDD= 0.1) large outbreaks are the norm, with all of the suitable trees dead at the end of the simulation. For PLDD= 0 (only local dispersal allowed) outbreaks are smaller in size, and in some cases not well defined and spread over longer periods. For PLDD= 1 (only long distance dispersal allowed), the frequency of local population extinction (without outbreaks) increases significantly. Aggregated attacks may induce physiological changes in the trees which could allow other wasps to detect them. These changes may in turn trigger an outbreak. In contrast, healthy, vigorous trees are not suitable for wasp oviposition. In our model the density of suitable trees (healthy trees but yet suitable for oviposition) are a key factor determining population persistence before outbreaks. From an applied perspective, our results emphasize the importance of adequate plantation management in preventing woodwasp infestation.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore