Using CMB polarization to constrain the anomalous nature of the Cold Spot with an incomplete-sky coverage

Recent results of the ESA Planck satellite have confirmed the existence of some anomalies in the statistical distribution of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies. One of the most intriguing anomalies is the cold spot, first detected in the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) data by Vielva et al. In a later paper, Vielva et al. (2011) developed a method to probe the anomalous nature of the cold spot by using the cross-correlation of temperature and polarization of the CMB fluctuations. Whereas this work was built under the assumption of analysing full-sky data, in this paper we extend such approach to deal with realistic data sets with a partial-sky coverage. In particular, we exploit the radial and tangential polarization patterns around temperature spots. We explore the capacity of the method to distinguish between a standard Gaussian CMB scenario and an alternative one, in which the cold spot arises from a physical process that does not present correlated polarization features (e.g. topological defects), as a function of the instrumental-noise level. Moreover, we consider more in detail the case of an ideal noise-free experiment and the ones with the expected instrumental-noise levels in QUIJOTE and Planck experiments. We also present an application to the 9-year WMAP data, without being able to obtain firm conclusions, with a significance level of 32 per cent. In the ideal case, the alternative scenario could be rejected at a significance level of around 1 per cent, whereas for expected noise levels of QUIJOTE and Planck experiments the corresponding significance levels are 1.5 and 7.4 per cent, respectively

Influence of health behaviours on the incidence of infection and allergy in adolescents: the AFINOS cross-sectional study

[Background] Some health behaviours are liable to affect the incidence of allergies and/or common infections in young people; however, the extent and ways in which these might occur are mostly unknown. This study examines the association of health behaviours related to physical activity, sedentariness, diet and sleep with allergy and infection symptoms in adolescents, and also with biological markers that might mediate disease incidence.[Methods] The study comprised a total of 2054 adolescents (50.7% girls) from the Madrid region of Spain. The incidence of infection and allergy symptoms three months prior to the study was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire. Physical and sedentary activities, height and weight, food habits and sleep duration were also self-reported and their influence on infection and allergy incidence was assessed by logistic regression analysis. Blood biomarkers (IgE, eosinophil percentage, leptin, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10) were evaluated in a subsample of 198 subjects.[Results] Adequate sleep duration (OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.64 to 0.97) and unhealthy weight status (overweight/obesity) (OR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.04-1.74) were independently associated with decreased and increased allergy incidence, respectively. No significant association was observed with infection incidence. IgE and leptin differed between adolescents with and without allergy symptoms. In regression models IgE was significantly associated with inadequate sleep duration and leptin with weight status.[Conclusion] Excess weight and inadequate sleep duration are independently associated with the incidence of allergy symptoms in adolescents. Adequate sleep duration and weight during adolescence might be relevant for a decreased risk of suffering allergy symptoms.The study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (DEP2006-56184-C03-02/PREV) and EU funding (FEDER). DM-G received a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (AP2006-02464). The Unit of Information Resources for Research’s Library (CSIC) provided financial support for the editorial charges of this article.Peer Reviewe

Nutrient availability and climate as the main determinants of the ratio of biomass to NPP in woody and non-woody forest compartments

Key message: Once the effect of stand age has been taken into account, nutrient availability and climate play a crucial role in determining the B:NPPs of woody and non-woody tissues. - Abstract: Forest ecosystems accumulate large amounts of carbon in living tissues. The residence time of this carbon in the ecosystem depends largely on the turnover time of these tissues, which can be estimated as a surrogate of the ratio of biomass to net primary production (B:NPP). We used a global forest database of 310 sites containing data for biomass stocks and NPP to investigate the differences of B:NPPs among species and forest compartments and to determine B:NPPs main exogenous (mainly climate and nutrient availability) and endogenous (leaf habit and stand age) drivers. We used asymptotic exponential functions to adjust the B:NPPs of woody compartments to a theoretical stationary state to allow comparisons between forests of different ages. The B:NPPs of woody tissues (branches, stems, and coarse roots) were positively influenced by stand age, conversely to fine roots and leaves, which were weakly dependent on the age of the forest. The B:NPPs of woody tissues were positively correlated with nutrient availability, whereas fine-root B:NPPs decreased with increasing nutrient availability. The foliar B:NPP of evergreen forests was positively correlated with water deficit, and the fine-root B:NPP was correlated positively with the seasonality of precipitation and with annual thermal amplitude but negatively with water deficit. Our results support the influence of climate on the B:NPPs of non-woody compartments and identify nutrient availability as the main influence on the B:NPPs of woody tissues

Nota sobre las características estructurales de la zona de "Cueto Negro" (Cordillera Cantábrica)

Se citan algunos datos estructurales respecto a la zona comprendida entre los puertos Pajares y La Cubilla (Cordillera Cantábrica). Se destaca la presencia de una ventana tectónica, en la zona de Cueto negro, relacionada con la unidad cabalgante de Bodón, ampliamente replegada. Estos elementos se integran dentro del haz de estructuras que caracterizan el "arco medio" de la Rodilla Astúrica (Cordillera Cantábrica, España)

Is forest fecundity resistant to drought? Results from an 18-yr rainfall-reduction experiment

Recruitment is a primary determinant of the long-term dynamics of plant populations in changing environments. However, little information is known about the effects of anthropogenic environmental changes on reproductive ecology of trees. We evaluated the impact of experimentally induced 18 yr of drought on reproduction of three contrasting forest trees: Quercus ilex , Phillyrea latifolia and Arbutus unedo. Rainfall reduction did not decrease tree fecundity. Drought, however, affected the allocation of resources in Q. ilex and A. unedo but not the more drought tolerant P. latifolia. Larger crop production by Q. ilex and A. unedo was associated with a stronger decrease in growth in the rainfall-reduction plots compared with the control plots, suggesting that these species were able to maintain their fecundity by shifting their allocation of resources away from growth

Prevalencia de bajo peso, sobrepeso y obesidad en adolescentes escolarizados de la provincia de La Pampa

Introducción. Mientras que diversos estudios epidemiológicos incluyen como parte de su relevamiento datos de jóvenes de la provincia de La Pampa en relación con la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad, sus diseños experimentales presentan ciertas limitaciones en cuanto a la descripción de la realidad regional. Objetivo. Obtener un diagnóstico de situación acerca del perfil de composición corporal de adolescentes de 13 años de edad de la provincia de La Pampa. Población y métodos. Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal en una muestra de varones y niñas nacidos en el año 2001, a los que se les tomó peso, talla, perímetro de cintura, pliegue subescapular y tricipital. Resultados. De los 711 varones y niñas evaluados, 5 sujetos (0,7%) presentaron un peso por debajo del percentilo 3 para sexo y edad. En lo que hace a sobrepeso y obesidad, los valores de la muestra fueron 26,4% y 14,1%, respectivamente (27,5% y 16,9% en varones; 25,5% y 11,7% en niñas). Un 15,8% del total de la muestra (16,5% de los varones y 15,6% de las niñas) presentó valores de perímetro de cintura compatibles con obesidad abdominal. Un 36,8% (37,4% de varones y 36% de mujeres) mostró valores de grasa por encima de lo normal de acuerdo con la evaluación realizada a partir de los pliegues cutáneos. Conclusión. En contraposición a la pequeña prevalencia de bajo peso en la región, el sobrepeso y la obesidad constituyen una problemática de magnitudes elevadas en nuestra provincia en lapoblación estudiada.Fil: Catalani, Fabrizio. Gobierno de la Provincia de La Pampa. Ministerio de Bienestar Social. Dirección de Deportes; ArgentinaFil: Fraire, Javier. Provincia de La Pampa. Hospital Gobernador Centeno; ArgentinaFil: Pérez, Norma. Gobierno de la Provincia de La Pampa. Ministerio de Bienestar Social. Dirección de Deportes; ArgentinaFil: Mazzola, Monica Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Ana M.. Fundación Centro de Salud e Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Mayer, Marcos Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; Argentina. Fundación Centro de Salud e Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) have been avoiding leaf veins during oviposition for at least 52 million years

Plant-insect interactions can provide extremely valuable information for reconstructing the oviposition behavior. We have studied about 1350 endophytic egg traces of coenagrionid damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera) from the Eocene, identifying triangular or drop-shaped scars associated with them. This study aims to determine the origin of these scars. Our behavioral study of about 1,800 endophytic eggs from recent coenagrionids indicates that these scars were caused by ovipositor incisions, but without egg insertion. The scar correlates (χ2-test) with leaf veins in both fossil and extant species. We infer that a female would detect the proximity of a leaf vein and avoid egg-laying, generating a scar that also fossilizes. For the first time, a scar produced by the ovipositor has been identified, indicating the existence of undesirable areas for oviposition. Accordingly, we recognize that Coenagrionidae damselflies (narrow-winged damselflies or pond damselflies) have been avoiding leaf veins for at least 52 million years

Variability of the temporary sequence of the kinetic chain of the handball throw

Se pretende analizar la variabilidad intraindividual de los lanzamientos en apoyo desde nueve metros y en presencia de un portero. La muestra se compone de cuatro lanzadores y siete porteros de la primera división española. A partir de las fuerzas de reacción se registró el movimiento de los porteros, y los lanzamientos mediante técnicas de vídeo 3D. La variabilidad en los patrones de movimiento engaña al portero y reducen el tiempo de movimiento. La cadena cinética utilizada responde a una secuencia temporal P-D, orientada a reducir el estrés excesivo en la articulación del hombro. La inercia del tronco permite reducir el tiempo de ejecución y elegir el instante de inicio de lanzamiento según las acciones del portero.The aim is to analyze the intraindividual variability of the throw in support realized from nine meters and in presence of a goalkeeper. Four throwers and seven goalkeepers from first Spanish division took part. From the forces of reaction proceeding from the platform, was registered the beginning of the movement of the goalkeeper, whereas the model of the throwing was using video 3D. The variability in the movement pattern faked the goalkeepers and reduced the time of movement. The kinetic chain is a temporary sequence P-D orientated to reducing the excessive stress in the joint of the shoulder. The inertia of the trunk reduced the time of execution and choose the instant of throwing depending on the goalkeeper

Entomofauna associated the plants of the campus of the University of Alicante (Spain)

La entomofauna de los espacios verdes urbanos es poco conocida aun siendo reservorio de insectos plaga y beneficiosos. Este estudio tiene como principal objetivo catalogar los insectos plaga y sus potenciales enemigos naturales con el propósito de facilitar información para un correcto manejo integrado de este ecosistema ajardinado. Se realizaron muestreos durante 6 meses que dieron como resultado el registro de interacciones entre niveles tróficos así como la identificación de 69 especies, 53 insectos fitófagos potencialmente plaga o polinizadores pertenecientes a 7 órdenes y 28 familias (áfidos, trips, coleópteros, cochinillas, psílidos, aleuródidos, àpidos, minadoras de hojas y frutos… ), 2 especies de ácaros potencialemente plaga así como 14 enemigos naturales, depredadores o parasitoides, pertenecientes a 5 órdenes y 8 familias. Podemos concluir que la entomofauna fitófaga se encuentra bien controlada, en general, por sus enemigos naturales y que participan en una amplia red de interacciones tritróficas: planta-fitófago-enemigo natural cuyo conocimiento es crucial para el establecimiento de estrategias acertadas de control integrado de plagas en estos ecosistemas urbanos donde el uso de productos fitosanitarios está cada día más restringido.The entomofauna of the urban greenspaces is little known even being a reservoir of plague and beneficial insects. The main objective of this study is to catalogue pest insects and their potential natural enemies with the purpose of providing information for a correct integrated management of this landscaped ecosystem. Samples were carried out during 6 months that resulted in the recording of interactions between trophic levels as well as the identification of 69 species, 53 phytophagous insects potentially plague or pollinators belonging to 7 orders and 28 families (aphids, thrips, coleoptera, cochineals, psyllids, aleurodids, bees, leaf and fruit miners…), 2 species of potentially plague mites as well as 14 natural enemies, predators or parasitoids, belonging to 5 orders and 8 families. We can conclude that the entomofauna phytophaga is well controlled, in general, by its natural enemies and that they participate in a wide network of tritrophic interactions: plant-phytophagous-natural enemy whose knowledge is crucial for the establishment of successful strategies of integrated pest control in these urban ecosystems where the use of phytosanitary products is increasingly restricted