Western Sahara as a Hybrid of a Parastate and a State-in-exile: (Extra)territoriality and the Small Print of Sovereignty in a Context of Frozen Conflict

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Cambridge University Press via the DOI in this recordThis article argues that the “declarative” parastate of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) claiming sovereignty over Western Sahara is better understood as a hybrid between a parastate and a state-in-exile. It relies more on external, “international legal sovereignty,” than on internal, “Westphalian” and “domestic” sovereignty. While its Algerian operational base in the Tindouf refugee camps makes it work as a primarily extraterritorial state-in-exile de facto, the SADR maintains control over one quarter of Western Sahara’s territory proper allowing it to at least partially meet the requirements for declarative statehood de jure. Many case-specific nuances surround the internal sovereignty of the SADR in relation to criteria for statehood: territory, population, and government. However, examining this case in a comparative light reveals similarities with other (secessionist) parastates. The SADR exists within the context of a frozen conflict, where the stalemate has been reinforced by an ineffective internationally brokered peace settlement and the indefinite presence of international peacekeeping forces. Global powers have played a major role in prolonging the conflict’s status quo while the specific resilience of the SADR as a parastate has been ensured by support from Algeria as an external sponsor. The path to sovereignty appears to be blocked in every possible way

Physical activity practice and attitudes in canarian teenagers

En el presente estudio de la población adolescente de la Comunidad Autónoma de Canarias, se evidencia que aquellos adolescentes que cumplen con las recomendaciones de práctica de Actividad Física tanto de intensidad moderada como vigorosa frente a los que no las cumplen, muestran a su vez mejores valores en la percepción del conjunto de actitudes que influyen en los niveles de práctica; competencia motriz, disfrute y valor-utilidad otorgada a la misma. Lo cual nos permite afirmar que este conjunto de factores pueden determinar el tipo y grado de participación en actividades físico-deportivas en este sector de la poblaciónIn this actual study of the adolescent population of the Autonomous Region of the Canary Islands, is evident, that teens who comply with the recommendations of practice of physical activity both of moderate intensity as vigorous intensity, compared with those which do not comply, show the best values in the perception of the set of attitudes that influence the levels of practice; perceived competence, enjoyment, perceived value. Which allows us to affirm that this set of factors can determine the type and degree of participation in physical-sport activities in this sector of the populatio

Factorization invariants in half-factorial affine semigroups

Let $\mathbb{N} \mathcal{A}$ be the monoid generated by $\mathcal{A} = {\mathbf{a}_1, ..., \mathbf{a}_n} \subseteq \mathbb{Z}^d.$ We introduce the homogeneous catenary degree of $\mathbb{N} \mathcal{A}$ as the smallest $N \in \mathbb N$ with the following property: for each $\mathbf{a} \in \mathbb{N} \mathcal{A}$ and any two factorizations $\mathbf{u}, \mathbf{v}$ of $\mathbf{a}$, there exists factorizations $\mathbf{u} = \mathbf{w}_1, ..., \mathbf{w}_t = \mathbf{v}$ of $\mathbf{a}$ such that, for every $k, \mathrm{d}(\mathbf{w}_k, \mathbf{w}_{k+1}) \leq N,$ where $\mathrm{d}$ is the usual distance between factorizations, and the length of $\mathbf{w}_k, |\mathbf{w}_k|,$ is less than or equal to $\max{|\mathbf{u}|, |\mathbf{v}|}.$ We prove that the homogeneous catenary degree of $\mathbb{N} \mathcal{A}$ improves the monotone catenary degree as upper bound for the ordinary catenary degree, and we show that it can be effectively computed. We also prove that for half-factorial monoids, the tame degree and the $\omega$-primality coincide, and that all possible catenary degrees of the elements of an affine semigroup of this kind occur as the catenary degree of one of its Betti elements.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

Integrated sensitivity analysis of a macroscale hydrologic model in the north of the Iberian Peninsula

Process-based hydrologic models allow to identify the behavior of a basin providing a mathematical description of the hydrologic processes underlying the runoff mechanisms that govern the streamflow generation. This study focuses on a macroscale application of the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model over 31 headwater subwatersheds belonging to the Duero River Basin, located in the Iberian Peninsula, through a three-part approach: (1) the calibration and validation of the VIC model for all the subwatersheds; (2) an integrated sensitivity analysis concerning the soil parameters chosen for the calibration, and (3) an assessment of equifinality and the efficiency of the calibration algorithm. The calibration and validation processes showed good results for most of the subwatersheds in a computationally efficient way using the Shuffled-Complex-Evolution algorithm. The sensitivity measures were obtained with the Standardized Regression Coefficients method through a post-process of the outputs of a Monte Carlo simulation carried out for 10 000 parameter samples for each subwatershed. This allowed to quantify the sensitivity of the water balance components to the selected parameters for the calibration and understanding the strong dependencies between them. The final assessment of the equifinality hypothesis manifested that there are many parameter samples with performances as good as the optimum, calculated using the calibration algorithm. For almost all the analyzed subwatersheds the calibration algorithm resulted efficient, reaching the optimal fit. Both the Monte Carlo simulation and the use of a calibration algorithm will be of interest for other feasible applications of the VIC model in other river basins.Comment: Published in Journal of Hydrolog

Understanding the Drought Phenomenon in the Iberian Peninsula

The analysis and understanding of drought phenomenon are essential for the management of hydrological resources. Drought indices are commonly used to predict these extreme events, being their suitability partly due to the use of climate fields at an adequate spatiotemporal resolution. This work aims to examine spatiotemporal patterns of drought over the Iberian Peninsula (IP), which is a region especially vulnerable to drought phenomenon. For this, climate data from a simulation completed with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model have been used. The spatiotemporal patterns of drought over the period 1980–2014 were examined using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) at the 3- and the 12-month time scales, and they were compared with other drought-related variables such as the surface evapotranspiration (SFCEVP), soil moisture (SM), and runoff. The results evidence that WRF is a valuable tool for characterizing droughts over the IP, providing large amounts of climate data at an adequate spatial resolution. Drought events seem to be more severe in regard to their duration over southern IP. Moreover, a good agreement between the SPEI at 3-month time scale with the SM and the SFCEVP is found. Additionally, the annual runoff evolves similarly to the SPEI at 12-month time scale

Development and evaluation of equations to predict body weight of Pelibuey ewes using heart girth

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate equations to predict body weight (BW) using heart girth (HG) in Pelibuey ewes. For model develop a data set composed by 366, 3-year-old, non-pregnant and non-lactating ewes; with a mean BW of 45.7±9.16 kg and HG of 87.55± 7.93 cm was used. A linear equation was fitted: BW= -47.97 (±2.01*) + 1.07 (±0.02**)×HG (R2 = 0.86, RMSE = 3.46, , y n = 366). A second data set composed by 67 animals, with similar characteristics (BW of 38.25± 8.62 kg and HG of 80.37± 7.03 cm) was used to evaluate the developed equations. For the evaluation, the relationship between observed and predicted values of BW by linear regression, the mean squared error of prediction (MSEP) and root MSEP (RMSEP), and concordance correlation coefficient analysis were used. The proposed equation was highly precise (r2 =0.913) and accurate (Cb=0.996) with a reproducibility index of 0.95. The MEF have indicates a higher efficiency of prediction with higher proportion of the total variance of the observed values been explained by the predicted data (0.91). The partition of the MSEP have indicated a very small mean bias (0.082). The systematic bias have shown that only 1.93% of the error of prediction was associated with the slope and most of the error was explained by the random component indicating small biases with the predictions. The proposed equation accurately and precisely estimated the BW of Pelibuey ewe using HG and therefore is recommended to be used

Evaluación del ambiente educacional en los residentes del hospital general universitario Carlos Manuel de Céspedes

Introduction: educational environment is the set of conditions and feelings, which are experienced and perceived by students in a determined institutional context. Objective: To evaluate the educational environment in the residents of the hospital Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. Methods: an evaluative investigation was carried out for which the PHEEM (Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure) was used a specific instrument to evaluate the educational environment of the residents in the hospital context. Results: the survey was applied to 120 (58.25 %) residents of the center of 206 in total; belonging to both genders. The 20 chairs of the hospital were represented. The overall average was 2.5333, indicating an educational environment with significant limitations. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.888 and an alpha of standardized items of 0.889, demonstrates reliability of the applied instrument. Conclusion: the application of the survey was very useful in the diagnosis of the educational environment of the residents of the hospital, proving that there are important limitations, it would be necessary an investigation to compare with other hospitals in the province and the country.Introducción: el “ambiente” educacional es el con­junto de condiciones y sentimientos que experimentan y perciben los estudiantes en un contexto institucio­nal determinado.Objetivo: evaluar el ambiente educacional en los residentes del hospital Carlos Manuel de Céspedes.Método: se realizó una investigación evaluativa para lo cual se empleó la cuesta PHEEM (Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure) un instrumento específico para evaluar el ambiente educacional de los residentes en el contexto hospitalario.Resultados: la encuesta fue aplicada a 120 residentes del centro de 206 en total, para 58,25 %; pertenecientes a ambos géneros. Estuvieron representadas las 20 cátedras del hospital. El promedio general fue 2,5333, lo que indica un ambiente educacional con limitaciones importantes. El coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach de 0,888 y un Alfa de ítems estandarizados de 0,889, demuestra confiabilidad del instrumento aplicado. Conclusiones: la aplicación de la encuesta fue muy útil en el diagnóstico del ambiente educacional de los residentes del hospital, demostrándose que existen limitaciones importantes, sería necesaria una próxima investigación para compararnos con otros hospitales de la provincia y del país

Evaluación del ambiente educacional en los residentes del hospital general universitario Carlos Manuel de Céspedes.

RESUMEN Introducción: el “ambiente” educacional es el conjunto de condiciones y sentimientos que experimentan y perciben los estudiantes en un contexto institucional determinado. Objetivo: evaluar el ambiente educacional en los residentes del hospital Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. Método: se realizó una investigación evaluativa para lo cual se empleó la cuesta PHEEM (Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure) un instrumento específico para evaluar el ambiente educacional de los residentes en el contexto hospitalario. Resultados: la encuesta fue aplicada a 120 residentes del centro de 206 en total, para 58,25 %; pertenecientes a ambos géneros. Estuvieron representadas las 20 cátedras del hospital. El promedio general fue 2,5333, lo que indica un ambiente educacional con limitaciones importantes. El coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach de 0,888 y un Alfa de ítems estandarizados de 0,889, demuestra confiabilidad del instrumento aplicado. Conclusiones: la aplicación de la encuesta fue muy útil en el diagnóstico del ambiente educacional de los residentes del hospital, demostrándose que existen limitaciones importantes, sería necesaria una próxima investigación para compararnos con otros hospitales de la provincia y del país. ABSTRACT Introduction: educational environment is the set of conditions and feelings, which are experienced and perceived by students in a determined institutional context. Objective: To evaluate the educational environment in the residents of the hospital Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. Methods: an evaluative investigation was carried out for which the PHEEM (Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure) was used a specific instrument to evaluate the educational environment of the residents in the hospital context. Results: the survey was applied to 120 (58.25 %) residents of the center of 206 in total; belonging to both genders. The 20 chairs of the hospital were represented. The overall average was 2.5333, indicating an educational environment with significant limitations. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.888 and an alpha of standardized items of 0.889, demonstrates reliability of the applied instrument. Conclusion: the application of the survey was very useful in the diagnosis of the educational environment of the residents of the hospital, proving that there are important limitations, it would be necessary an investigation to compare with other hospitals in the province and the country