Wavefront curvature sensing for the human eye

In this paper we present a curvature wavefront sensor for the eye. The layout proposed is novel, whilst the algorithm used has been adapted from previously published work [Roddier, F.; Roddier, C. Appl. Opt. 1991, 30, 1325–1327]. The design of the set-up incorporates two field lenses that, together with a beam separator, define the distance Δz between the two sampled planes. We present a feasibility study to use this particular combination of optical configuration and retrieval algorithm in the eye. We present calibration curves and results from three real eyes

Weak measurement og the composite Goo-Haenchen shift in the critical region

By using a weak measurement technique, we investigated the interplay between the angular and lateral Goos-Haenchen shift of a focused He-Ne laser beam for incidence near the critical angle. We verified that this interplay dramatically affects the composite Goos-Haenchen shift of the propagated beam. The experimental results confirm theoretical predictions that recently appeared in the literature.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Switching to efficient technologies in traditional biomass intensive countries: The resultant change in emissions

This paper aims to quantify the benefits of switching from a system dependent on traditional biomass to systems running on more efficient fuels and technologies. It is estimated that even when open fires burning fuelwood are replaced by improved cooking stoves (ICSs) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stoves, and biomass is processed in dedicated biomass power plants, a net reduction in CO2 emissions is still obtained. The ICS/LPG stove/biomass combustion power plant configuration could provide an average net reduction of 84 kg-C-e/tDM. Meanwhile, a net reduction of 105 kg-C-e/tDM could be obtained when implementing a ICS/LPG stove/biomass gasification power plant scheme. Main factors influencing the net reduction of CO2 emissions are technology efficiency and the fraction of non-renewable fuel wood use. The switch from traditional biomass to modern biomass in traditional biomass intensive countries must not only be done to reduce CO2 emissions but also to avoid indoor pollution and energy poverty. Health improvements should be more important than energy savings. Results also indicate that the use of modern biomass systems not only could provide a reduction of local environmental pollution, but also could boost the local economy by the creation of biomass infrastructures

CO2 emissions and energy technologies in Western Europe

In this paper, we investigate the path to the green transition in Europe. In so doing, we implement an empirical model of dynamic panel data on a sample of sixteen Western European countries over the period 1980 to 2019. The model is consistent withvariousfeaturesofneoclassicalgrowththeoryincorporatingenergyuse.Ourfocus is on the short-run determinants of carbon emissions within that set of countries. We provide evidence that the relationship between economic activity and CO2 emissions is strong in economies where economic booms depend on energy-intensive sectors. Also,themitigatingroleofrenewableenergytechnologiesiskeywhenenergyintensity rebounds. These circumstances may constitute a challenge for the climate transition goals targeted in the EU’s Recovery Plan, whose main objective at this very moment is to mitigate the economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic.Wethank Pau Pujolas, Jesús Rodríguez-López and Jesús Ruiz for helpful comments, and seminar participants at ICAE-UCM and Universidad de Cantabria. We also thank two anonymous referees and the editors for multiple suggestions. We acknowledge the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Grant PID2019-107161GB) for financial support

Traveling with an invader: ectoparasitic mites of Hemidactylus frenatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Colombia

Information about natural history of invasive species (such as parasitism) is a relevant issue in order to consider potential threats to native fauna. In this work we report two pterygosomatid mites for the first time in Colombia, Geckobia bataviensis and G. keegani, parasites of the invasive house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus. Although it has not been demonstrated that these mites may infest native gecko lizards, our study highlights the need to explore the prevalence of internal and external parasites in native and invasive geckos, to better evaluate the potential impact of invasive Hemidactylus lizards in Colombia.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Traveling with an invader: ectoparasitic mites of Hemidactylus frenatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Colombia

Information about natural history of invasive species (such as parasitism) is a relevant issue in order to consider potential threats to native fauna. In this work we report two pterygosomatid mites for the first time in Colombia, Geckobia bataviensis and G. keegani, parasites of the invasive house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus. Although it has not been demonstrated that these mites may infest native gecko lizards, our study highlights the need to explore the prevalence of internal and external parasites in native and invasive geckos, to better evaluate the potential impact of invasive Hemidactylus lizards in Colombia.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Traveling with an invader: ectoparasitic mites of Hemidactylus frenatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Colombia

Information about natural history of invasive species (such as parasitism) is a relevant issue in order to consider potential threats to native fauna. In this work we report two pterygosomatid mites for the first time in Colombia, Geckobia bataviensis and G. keegani, parasites of the invasive house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus. Although it has not been demonstrated that these mites may infest native gecko lizards, our study highlights the need to explore the prevalence of internal and external parasites in native and invasive geckos, to better evaluate the potential impact of invasive Hemidactylus lizards in Colombia.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Binds to TRPV1 and Mediates NGF-stimulated TRPV1 Trafficking to the Plasma Membrane

Sensitization of the pain-transducing ion channel TRPV1 underlies thermal hyperalgesia by proalgesic agents such as nerve growth factor (NGF). The currently accepted model is that the NGF-mediated increase in TRPV1 function during hyperalgesia utilizes activation of phospholipase C (PLC) to cleave PIP2, proposed to tonically inhibit TRPV1. In this study, we tested the PLC model and found two lines of evidence that directly challenge its validity: (1) polylysine, a cationic phosphoinositide sequestering agent, inhibited TRPV1 instead of potentiating it, and (2) direct application of PIP2 to inside-out excised patches dramatically potentiated TRPV1. Furthermore, we show four types of experiments indicating that PI3K is physically and functionally coupled to TRPV1: (1) the p85β subunit of PI3K interacted with the N-terminal region of TRPV1 in yeast 2-hybrid experiments, (2) PI3K-p85β coimmunoprecipitated with TRPV1 from both HEK293 cells and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, (3) TRPV1 interacted with recombinant PI3K-p85 in vitro, and (4) wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of PI3K, completely abolished NGF-mediated sensitization in acutely dissociated DRG neurons. Finally, simultaneous electrophysiological and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy recordings demonstrate that NGF increased the number of channels in the plasma membrane. We propose a new model for NGF-mediated hyperalgesia in which physical coupling of TRPV1 and PI3K in a signal transduction complex facilitates trafficking of TRPV1 to the plasma membrane

Madurez y autoeficacia vocacional en 3º y 4º de ESO, Bachillerato y ciclos formativos

ABSTRACTIn this article we analyze vocational maturity and vocational self-efficacy of students from3º and 4º of Compulsory Secondary Education, High School and Vocational Training in a  school of Tenerife (Canary Islands). Specifically we examine the differences of those variables by two other: educational level and sex in. In the research participated 171 students that collaborated in the research project "The Academic and Professional Transition of Young People". The research group designed the Academic and Labor Guidance Questionnaire that includes: 1) an adaptation of the Spanish version of the Career Maturity Questionnaire (Álvarez y cols., 2007) and 2) the Vocational Self Efficacy Scale (Carbonero y Merino, 2002). The analysis of the students’ vocational maturity and vocational self-efficacy shows significant differences by educational levels: the students of High School and High Training School had higher scores in both variables. However, it doesn’t observe differences by gender. The clarity of life project differs depending on the students’ vocational maturity and vocational self-efficacy. Results highlight the need for: a) increasing motivation in students of Compulsory Secondary Education and Middle Training School in their academic and professional future; b) working vocational maturity and vocational self-efficacy with these students to facilitate the planning of the personal life project.RESUMENEn este artículo se analizan la madurez y la autoeficacia vocacional del alumnado de 3º y 4º de ESO, Bachillerato, Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio y de Grado Superior de un IES de la provincia de Tenerife. Concretamente examinamos las diferencias por nivel de estudios y sexo en relación a esas variables. En el estudio participaron 171 alumnos que colaboraban en el proyecto de investigación “La Transición Académica y Sociolaboral de los Jóvenes”. Para el estudio se diseñó el Cuestionario de Orientación Académica y Laboral que incluye: 1) una adaptación de la versión española del Cuestionario de Madurez de la Carrera (Álvarez y cols., 2007), y 2) la Escala de Autoeficacia Vocacional de Carbonero y Merino (2002). En el análisis de la madurez y de la autoeficacia vocacional del alumnado se observan diferencias significativas por etapas educativas: el alumnado de Bachillerato y de Ciclos Formativos de Grado Superior presentan mayores puntuaciones en ambas variables. No se advierten diferencia por sexos. La claridad del proyecto de vida varía en función de la madurez y de la autoeficacia vocacional del alumnado. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto varias cuestiones relevantes: a) la necesidad de incrementar el interés del alumnado de ESO y de los Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio por su futuro académico y profesional y b) desde la institución escolar se ha de favorecer la planificación del proyecto de vida de los alumnos fomentando su madurez y autoeficacia vocacional.ABSTRACTIn this article we analyze vocational maturity and vocational self-efficacy of students from3º and 4º of Compulsory Secondary Education, High School and Vocational Training in a  school of Tenerife (Canary Islands). Specifically we examine the differences of those variables by two other: educational level and sex in. In the research participated 171 students that collaborated in the research project "The Academic and Professional Transition of Young People". The research group designed the Academic and Labor Guidance Questionnaire that includes: 1) an adaptation of the Spanish version of the Career Maturity Questionnaire (Álvarez y cols., 2007) and 2) the Vocational Self Efficacy Scale (Carbonero y Merino, 2002). The analysis of the students’ vocational maturity and vocational self-efficacy shows significant differences by educational levels: the students of High School and High Training School had higher scores in both variables. However, it doesn’t observe differences by gender. The clarity of life project differs depending on the students’ vocational maturity and vocational self-efficacy. Results highlight the need for: a) increasing motivation in students of Compulsory Secondary Education and Middle Training School in their academic and professional future; b) working vocational maturity and vocational self-efficacy with these students to facilitate the planning of the personal life project

Arduino in the automation of irrigation systems

El propósito principal de la investigación es integrar la tecnología de la placa Arduino a los sistemas de riego con la finalidad de mejorar el control del agua en el riego, evitar el desperdicio y mal uso del líquido vital. Para esto se utilizó la metodología de hardware libre, se inició por el análisis y alcance en los sistemas de riego utilizados habitualmente, lo que determinó los componentes que complementarán/complementaron la automatización y tecnificación del riego, como lo son: módulo Relé, módulo lector de micro SD, módulo RTC, módulo LCD, electroválvula. Fue necesario recopilar información, para determinar los sectores estratégicos en la instalación de los actuadores en el riego, se realizaron pruebas en prototipos, donde se obtuvo como resultado el correcto funcionamiento del control. Finalmente se sometió a prueba en campo real donde se verificó y demostró el buen funcionamiento de la placa Arduino en la automatización del riego, con resultados óptimos en el manejo del uso de agua.The purpose of the research is to integrate Arduino’s board technology in the irrigation systems in order to improve control of irrigation water, and avoid the waste and misuse of this vital liquid. In order to achieve this, we used the free hardware methodology, which was initiated by an analysis and scope of the irrigation systems commonly used, which determined the components that complement the automation and irrigation technology, as are: Relay module, SD micro reader, RTC module, LCD module, solenoid module. It was necessary to gather information to determine the strategic sectors in the installation of actuators in the irrigation, tests were performed on prototypes, and the result of those test were the proper functioning of the control. Finally, it was tested in a real field where the proper functioning of the implementation of the Arduino board in automation irrigation was verified, obtaining favorable results in the good management of water used in irrigation