Amphisbaena cegei

Number of Pages: 3Integrative BiologyGeological Science

A Market-Based Environmental Policy Experiment in Chile

Despite the increasing interest in the use of emissions trading for pollution control, empirical evidence reduces to a few experiences in the US. This paper studies the “"emission-offsets trading program”" established since 1992 to control particulate in Santiago-Chile. While the program is doing well from an environmental perspective, thanks, in part, to the price-based introduction of natural gas, the market is poorly performing because of high transaction costs, uncertainty and low enforcement. However, the scarcity rents created by the allocation of grandfathered emission rights to incumbents have proved very effective for the completion of the emissions inventory.

QCD ghost dark energy cannot (even roughly) explain the main features of the accepted cosmological paradigm

We explore the whole phase space of the so called Veneziano/QCD ghost dark energy models where the dynamics of the inner trapping horizon is ignored and also the more realistic models where the time-dependence of the horizon is taken into consideration. We pay special attention to the choice of phase space variables leading to bounded and compact phase space so that no critical point of physical interest is missing. It is demonstrated that ghost dark energy is not a suitable candidate to explain the presently accepted cosmological paradigm since no critical point associated with matter dominance is found in the physical phase space of the model. A transient stage of matter dominance -- responsible for the observed amount of cosmic structure -- is an essential ingredient of the accepted cosmological paradigm. The above drawback is in addition to the well known problem with classical instability against small perturbations of the background density originated from negativity of the sound speed squared.Comment: 12 pages, 3 eps figures. Remarks on phase space analysis substantially improved. Minor corrections to the text and title. This version matches the one published in PR

CWDM self-referencing sensor network based on ring resonators in reflective configuration

A new scalable self-referencing sensor network with low insertion losses implemented in Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) technology is reported. It allows obtaining remote self-referenced measurements with a full-duplex fibre downlead up to 35 km long, with no need for optical amplification. Fibre Bragg gratings (FBG) are used in order to achieve a reflective configuration, thus increasing the sensitivity of the optical transducers. Low-cost off-the-shelf devices in CWDM technology can be used to implement and scale the network. Ring resonator (RR) based incoherent interferometers at the measuring points are used as selfreferencing technique. A theoretical analysis of power budget of the topology is reported, with a comparison between the proposed network and a conventional star topology. Finally, the new configuration has been experimentally demonstrated.This work has been supported by CICYT:TIC2003-03783, UC3M:FAVICOBIS and CAM:FACTOTEM-CM (S-0505/ESP/000417).Publicad

Unemployment, poverty and social protection strategies: Peru 1998-2005

This paper uses information from a panel based on Peruvian National Household Surveys between 1998 and 2005 to quantitatively estimate the impacts that the loss of a job from a household member has. We find the following effects in the short run: a) reduces family income by 27%, b) reduces household’s real expenditures by 7%, c) diminishes the digested calories by 13%, and d) increases the probability of poverty by 44%. According to our results, the most effective strategy to mitigate these negative impacts on welfare would be an increase in the number of hours worked at the family level. Internal family transfers, receiving remittances from relatives abroad, and access to state social programs would be less effective. Finally, the benefit of the compensation for length of service (CTS) in the previous job would have no impact on halting the loss of welfare.Unemployment, poverty, social protection, caloric intake.

Raza, corrupción y acceso a servicios públicos en el Perú: ¿Exclusión o discriminación?

"Este estudio evalúa desde el punto de vista cuantitativo la posible existencia de discriminación contra los ciudadanos de origen indígena en el uso de los servicios públicos, con información de la Encuesta Nacional de Hogares de Perú entre los años 2004 y 2006. Dichas versiones de la ENAHO recogen información sobre la realización de trámites en un grupo de instituciones del Estado, así como sobre los episodios de coima en dichos trámites. Se encuentra que los hogares con características indígenas alcanzan niveles más bajos de acceso a servicios públicos así como menores tasas de conclusión exitosa de trámites. El análisis econométrico sugiere que mientras que la menor tasa de acceso puede explicarse por las más elevadas incidencias de pobreza y menores niveles de educación de los hogares indígenas (lo que lo convierte en un problema de exclusión más que de discriminación), la menor tasa de conclusión sí parece representar un problema adicional de discriminación al interior de las entidades del Estado. No se hallan efectos de un trato diferenciado a la población indígena en los casos de coima. El análisis desagregado por tipo de institución proveedora de servicios muestra que la situación es particularmente grave en el caso de servicios básicos, tales como agua potable y saneamiento, donde sí se encuentra evidencia de discriminación en los tres niveles analizados. Por último, no se halla evidencia de discriminación racial específica en la policía, el sistema judicial ni en los servicios de aduanas y migraciones."Burocracia, Corrupción, Discriminación, Servicios públicos

Optimum Selection of DNN Model and Framework for Edge Inference

This paper describes a methodology to select the optimum combination of deep neuralnetwork and software framework for visual inference on embedded systems. As a first step, benchmarkingis required. In particular, we have benchmarked six popular network models running on four deep learningframeworks implemented on a low-cost embedded platform. Three key performance metrics have beenmeasured and compared with the resulting 24 combinations: accuracy, throughput, and power consumption.Then, application-level specifications come into play. We propose a figure of merit enabling the evaluationof each network/framework pair in terms of relative importance of the aforementioned metrics for a targetedapplication. We prove through numerical analysis and meaningful graphical representations that only areduced subset of the combinations must actually be considered for real deployment. Our approach can beextended to other networks, frameworks, and performance parameters, thus supporting system-level designdecisions in the ever-changing ecosystem of embedded deep learning technology.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (TEC2015-66878-C3-1-R)Junta de Andalucía (TIC 2338-2013)European Union Horizon 2020 (Grant 765866

Self-Referencing Fiber-Optic Intensity Sensors Using Ring Resonators and Fiber Bragg Gratings

An improved ring resonator self-referencing technique in a new reflection configuration for remote fiber-optic intensity sensors is demonstrated using fiber Bragg gratings. Sensor sensitivity doubles and a single fiber lead is used. The sensor is interrogated at two subcarrier frequencies having a high rejection of interference from laser source intensity fluctuations and loss in the fiber lead. We experimentally demonstrate the efficiency of the new reflection configuration, the usefulness of the theoretical model proposed, and discuss design parameters for optimum insertion lossesThis work was supported in part by CICYT (TIC2003-03783 and TEC2006-13273-C03-03-MIC), in part by UC3M (FAVICOBIS), in part by CAM (FACTOTEM-CM:S-0505/ESP/000417), and in part by COST 299.Publicad

Physical demands focused on external factors in elite football players

El fútbol es el deporte más popular en el mundo y lo practican tanto hombres, como mujeres y niños con diferentes niveles de experiencia. La práctica del fútbol depende de una multitud de factores como son la técnica, biomecánica, táctica, áreas mentales y demandas fisiológicas. La información ha sido recabada de diversos artículos científicos y revisiones relacionadas con el tema, todos ellos de actualidad y seleccionando únicamente la información que nos interesa en relación a este tema. En el presente artículo se describen los factores externos más importantes y que mayor influencia tienen en el rendimiento del deportista y que se deberían de tener en cuenta. Se muestran las demandas relacionadas con la distancia total recorrida por los jugadores durante los partidos, la intensidad y velocidad de desplazamiento, las acciones según el puesto específico que ocupa cada jugador en el terreno de juego y, por último, la superficie de contacto