Exploiting virtual globes for ecology and conservation in the Digital Earth era

Letter.Peer Reviewe

Assessing species habitat using Google Street View: A case study of cliff-nesting vultures

The assessment of a species' habitat is a crucial issue in ecology and conservation. While the collection of habitat data has been boosted by the availability of remote sensing technologies, certain habitat types have yet to be collected through costly, on-ground surveys, limiting study over large areas. Cliffs are ecosystems that provide habitat for a rich biodiversity, especially raptors. Because of their principally vertical structure, however, cliffs are not easy to study by remote sensing technologies, posing a challenge for many researches and managers working with cliff-related biodiversity. We explore the feasibility of Google Street View, a freely available on-line tool, to remotely identify and assess the nesting habitat of two cliff-nesting vultures (the griffon vulture and the globally endangered Egyptian vulture) in northwestern Spain. Two main usefulness of Google Street View to ecologists and conservation biologists were evaluated: i) remotely identifying a species' potential habitat and ii) extracting fine-scale habitat information. Google Street View imagery covered 49% (1,907 km) of the roads of our study area (7,000 km2). The potential visibility covered by on-ground surveys was significantly greater (mean: 97.4%) than that of Google Street View (48.1%). However, incorporating Google Street View to the vulture's habitat survey would save, on average, 36% in time and 49.5% in funds with respect to the on-ground survey only. The ability of Google Street View to identify cliffs (overall accuracy = 100%) outperformed the classification maps derived from digital elevation models (DEMs) (62-95%). Nonetheless, high-performance DEM maps may be useful to compensate Google Street View coverage limitations. Through Google Street View we could examine 66% of the vultures' nesting-cliffs existing in the study area (n = 148): 64% from griffon vultures and 65% from Egyptian vultures. It also allowed us the extraction of fine-scale features of cliffs. This World Wide Web-based methodology may be a useful, complementary tool to remotely map and assess the potential habitat of cliff-dependent biodiversity over large geographic areas, saving survey-related costs.PMT was supported by a postdoctoral grant funded by Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha and Fondo Social Europeo.Peer Reviewe

Nested species- rich networks of scavenging vertebrates support high levels of interspecific competition

et al.Disentangling the processes that shape the organization of ecological assemblages and its implications for species coexistence is one of the foremost challenges of ecology. Although insightful advances have recently related community composition and structure with species coexistence in mutualistic and antagonistic networks, little is known regarding other species assemblages, such as those of scavengers exploiting carrion. Here we studied seven assemblages of scavengers feeding on ungulate carcasses in mainland Spain. We used dynamical models to investigate if community composition, species richness and structure (nestedness) affect species coexistence at carcasses. Scavenging networks showed a nested pattern in sites where highly efficient, obligate scavengers (i.e., vultures) were present and a non- nested pattern everywhere else. Griffon Vulture ( Gyps fulvus ) and certain meso- facultative mammalian scavengers (i.e., red fox, Vulpes vulpes, and stone marten, Martes foina ) were the main species contributing to nestedness. Assemblages with vultures were also the richest ones in species. Nested species- rich assemblages with vulture presence were associated with high carcass consumption rates, indicating higher interspecific competition at the local scale. However, the proportion of species stopping the consumption of carrion (as derived from the competitive dynamic model) stabilized at high richness and nestedness levels. This suggests that high species richness and nestedness may characterize scavenging networks that are robust to high levels of interspecific competition for carrion. Some facilitative interactions driven by vultures and major facultative scavengers could be behind these observations. Our findings are relevant for understanding species' coexistence in highly competitive systems.E. Sebastián-González and P. R. Guimarães benefited from FAPESP Research Foundation grants numbers 2011/17968-2 and 2009/054422-8, respectively; E. Sebastián-González is currently funded under the NSF grant NSF Award #1345247, M. Moleón by a postdoctoral grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education (Plan Nacional de I+D+I 2008-2011), J. P. Gibert by an Other Fellowship and SBS Special Funds (U. of N.), and P. Mateo-Tomás by a postdoctoral grant of the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla- La Mancha and Fondo Social Europeo. The study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through projects 23/2007 ICTS- RBD, CGL2009-12753-C02-02, and CGL2012-40013-C02-02, FEDER funds, the Generalitat Valenciana through project ACOMP/2012/147, and the Junta de Andalucía through project RNM-1925.Peer Reviewe

Aplicación de los Sistemas de Información Geográficos (SIG) en el análisis de la bonificación por ubicación

Territorialmente Tucumán se encuentra entre las provincias más pequeñas de la República Argentina. Sin embargo, encontramos en toda su extensión distintas realidades respecto de la accesibilidad a los servicios básicos necesarios por parte de la población. Estas distintas realidades pueden traducirse en un potencial favorable o desfavorable para el desarrollo de cualquier actividad. En este contexto, el Sistema Educativo debe adaptarse a las distintas situaciones territoriales para poder cumplir con su misión. Por ello, una estrategia que se utiliza es la de equiparar desde lo económico la desigualdad que puede presentar la realidad territorial donde un docente desempeñará sus funciones. Es así que el Ministerio de Educación de la Provincia de Tucumán implemento el concepto de Bonificación por Ubicación, el cual adiciona un plus salarial a los docentes en función de la desfavorabilidad de la situación territorial del establecimiento donde realizaran sus labores. En este trabajo exploramos como la aplicación de un SIG puede colaborar en la mejora del estudio para la determinación de este adicional salarial.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Direct detection of pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone dark matter in a two Higgs doublet plus singlet extension of the SM

We calculate the leading radiative corrections to the dark-matter-nucleon scattering in the pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone dark matter model augmented with a second Higgs doublet (S2HDM). In this model, the cross sections for the scattering of the dark-matter on nuclei vanishes at tree-level in the limit of zero momentum-transfer due to a U(1) symmetry. However, this symmetry is softly broken in order to give a mass to the dark-matter particle. As a consequence, non-vanishing scattering cross sections arise at the loop level. We find that the current cross-section limits from dark-matter direct-detection experiments can hardly constrain the parameter space of the S2HDM. However, the loop-corrected predictions for the scattering cross sections can be well within the reach of future direct-detection experiments. As a consequence, future phenomenological analyses of the S2HDM should take into account cross-section predictions beyond tree-level and the experimental constraints from dark-matter direct-detection experiments.Comment: 27 pages, 9 figure

ANATRI 1.0: representation of dichotomous and polytomous item characteristic functions

El programa ANATRI permite estudiar varios modelos de Teoría de la Respuesta al Item para items dicotómicos y politómicos. Los modelos para items dicotómicos incluidos son los denominados como de 1, 2, 3 y 4 parámetros, en sus versiones normal y logística. Los modelos para items politómicos son el modelo de respuesta graduada, el modelo de crédito parcial y el modelo de respuesta nominal. El usuario selecciona el modelo y especifica los parámetros de uno o varios items. Mediante el programa se obtienen las curvas características de los items y, en su caso, las funciones de regresión asociadas a las diversas segmentaciones. Permite analizar en profundidad las propiedades particulares de los items, con lo que se facilita la didáctica de los diferentes modelosThe ANATRI program helps the user in studying dichotomous and polytomous Item Response Theory models. Normal and logistic versions for the 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-parameter models are included. Three polytomous models (Partial Credit, Nominal Response and Graded Response) are also available. The user chooses the model and specifies its parameters for one or more items. Items characteristic (or operating characteristic) curves are depicted. A deep analysis of just one item is also possible. This option allows a better understanding of peculiarities of each mode

Optimal Paternalistic Savings Policies

Abstract We study optimal savings policies when there is a dual concern about undersaving for retirement and income inequality. Agents differ in present bias and earnings ability, both unobservable to a planner with paternalistic and redistributive motives. We characterize the solution to this two-dimensional screening problem and provide a decentralization using realistic policy instruments: mandatory savings at low incomes but a choice between subsidized savings vehicles at high incomes—resembling Social Security, 401(k), and IRA accounts in the US. Offering more savings choice at higher incomes facilitates redistribution. To solve large-scale versions of this problem numerically, we propose a general, computationally stable, and efficient active-set algorithm. Relative to the current US retirement system, we find significant welfare gains from increasing mandatory savings and limiting savings choice at low incomes

Optimal Paternalistic Savings Policies

Abstract We study optimal savings policies when there is a dual concern about undersaving for retirement and income inequality. Agents differ in present bias and earnings ability, both unobservable to a planner with paternalistic and redistributive motives. We characterize the solution to this two-dimensional screening problem and provide a decentralization using realistic policy instruments: mandatory savings at low incomes but a choice between subsidized savings vehicles at high incomes—resembling Social Security, 401(k), and IRA accounts in the US. Offering more savings choice at higher incomes facilitates redistribution. To solve large-scale versions of this problem numerically, we propose a general, computationally stable, and efficient active-set algorithm. Relative to the current US retirement system, we find significant welfare gains from increasing mandatory savings and limiting savings choice at low incomes

Voices from Latin America: adolescents in the face of the COVID19 pandemic

[EN] This article is derived from the 2020 webinar "Views of adolescents on the impact of the COVID19 pandemic", organized by the (Tejiendo Redes Infancia) project in collaboration with the National School of Social Work of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The objective was to analyze the experiences of Latin American adolescents on the COVID19 pandemic, through a virtual meeting on the zoom platform that allowed the voices of this sector to be positioned in the context of the health crisis in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Six adolescents participated, three of each sex between 15 and 18 years old, from Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Guatemala and Bolivia. It was developed under a qualitative methodology, the technique used by focus groups considering it the most suitable to recover ideas, information and knowledge regarding the subject, in addition to the use of images designed by them to present their arguments. The findings revealed the similarities in Latin American realities and a general feeling of concern over the absence of State strategies to address the needs of vulnerable sectors, such as low-income families and those who will not have the possibility of returning to their schools.[ES] El presente artículo se desprende del webinar 2020 “Miradas de las y los adolescentes sobre el impacto de la pandemia por COVID19”, organizado por el proyecto Tejiendo Redes Infancia en colaboración con la Escuela Nacional de Trabajo Social de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). El objetivo fue analizar las experiencias de adolescentes latinoamericanos sobre la pandemia por COVID19, a través de un encuentro virtual en la plataforma zoom que permitió posicionar las voces de este sector en el contexto de la crisis sanitaria en la región de Latinoamérica y el Caribe. Participaron seis adolescentes, tres de cada sexo de 15 a 18 años provenientes de México, Panamá, Paraguay, Guatemala y Bolivia. Se desarrolló bajo una metodología cualitativa, la técnica utilizada grupos focales por considerarla la más idónea para recuperar ideas, informaciones y conocimientos respecto al tema, además del uso de imágenes diseñadas por ellas y ellos para presentar sus argumentaciones. Los hallazgos dieron cuenta de las similitudes en las realidades latinoamericanas y un sentimiento de preocupación generalizado por la ausencia de estrategias de los Estados para atender las necesidades de los sectores vulnerables, como las familias de escasos recursos y quienes no tendrán la posibilidad de regresar a las escuelas.Martínez Sierra, PD.; Olea Uribe, FM. (2021). Voces desde Latinoamérica: adolescentes ante la pandemia por COVID19. Revista sobre la infancia y la adolescencia. 0(20):78-95. https://doi.org/10.4995/reinad.2021.14192OJS7895020- Canche Arteaga, L. (septiembre-diciembre 2012). El niño y adolescente como ciudadano mexicano. Boletín Mexicano de Derecho Comparado, nueva serie. XLV(135) 1023-1061. Recuperado el 13 de agosto de 2020, de http://dx.doi.org/10.22201/iij.24484873e.2012.135.4778- Carpizo, J. (2011). Los derechos humanos: naturaleza, denominación y características. Cuestiones constitucionales, 25, 3-29. Recuperado el 13 de agosto de 2020, de http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1405-91932011000200001&lng=es&tlng=es https://doi.org/10.22201/iij.24484881e.2011.25.5965- Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (2020). Contracción de la actividad económica de la región se profundiza a causa de la pandemia: caerá -9,1% en 2020. Recuperado el 22 de julio de 2020, de https://www.cepal.org/es/- Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (2020). CIDH presenta sus observaciones y recomendaciones preliminares tras la histórica visita in loco a Venezuela para monitorear situación de derechos humanos. Recuperado el 11 de junio de 2020, de http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/- Cuevas Cajiga, Y. (septiembre 2016). Recomendaciones para el estudio de representaciones sociales en investigación educativa. Cultura y representaciones sociales. 1,(21), 109-139. Recuperado el 29 de julio de 2020, de http://www.journals.unam.mx- Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia (2006). Covención de los Derechos del Niño. Recuperado el 13 de julio de 2020, de https://www. un.org/es/events/childrenday/pdf/derechos.pdf- Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia (2018). Cada niño participa y hace valer su voz. Recuperado el 17 de julio de 2020, de https://unicef.org.mx/Informe2018/cada-nino-participa-y-hace-valer-su-voz/- Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia (2020). Niños y niñas en América Latina y el Caribe. Abordando los derechos de 193 millones de niños y adolescentes. Recuperado el 20 de marzo de 2021 de https://www.unicef.org/lac/niños-y-niñas-en-américa-latina-y-el-caribe- Martínez Sierra, P.D (2020). Aproximación a las implicaciones sociales de la pandemia del COVID19 en niñas, niños y adolescentes: el caso de México. Sociedad E Infancias, 4, 255-258. Recuperado el 10 de julio de 2020, de https://doi.org/10.5209/soci.69541- Ochoa, M. L. (2019). Participación y autonomía progresiva del adolescente. Democratización escolar en Buenos Aires (Argentina). Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud, 17(1), 125-137. Recuperado el 02 agosto de 2020 de https://doi.org/10.11600/1692715x.17107- Riós, A.M. (2020). Número de casos confirmados de coronavirus (COVID-19) en América Latina y el Caribe al 24 de julio de 2020, por país [Base de datos]. Recuperado el 02 agosto de 2020 de https://es.statista.com/estadisticas/1105121/numero-casos-covid-19-america-latina-caribe-pais/- Silva Dreyer, C.L. & Martínez Guzmán, M. L. (2007). Empoderamiento, Participación y Autoconcepto de Persona Socialmente Comprometida en Adolescentes Chilenos. Revista Interamericana de Psicología. 41,2, 129-138. Recuperado el 06 de junio de 2020 de https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/284/28441203.pdf- Tejiendo Redes Infancia (2020, mayo 22). Miradas de las y los adolescentes sobre el impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19. [Webinar]. Facebook. Recuperado el 28 de agosto de 2021, de https://www.facebook.com/106861099354985/videos/1082413098824797- Villagrasa Alcaide, C. (2008). Los derechos de la infancia y de la adolescencia: la participación social de la infancia y la adolescencia, por su incorporación a la ciudadanía activa. Enrahonar: quaderns de filosofia. 40-41, 141-152. Recuperado el 02 agosto de 2020 de https://ddd.uab.cat/pub/enrahonar/0211402Xn40-41/0211402Xn40-41p141.pd

Catalytic Activity of Mixed Al2O3-ZrO2 Oxides for Glucose Conversion into 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural

In the present work, a series of catalysts based on aluminum and zirconium oxides was studied for the transformation of glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. These catalysts were characterized by using experimental techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption–desorption at -196 ºC, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption of NH3 and CO2, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The catalytic behavior in glucose dehydration was evaluated in a water-methyl isobutyl ketone biphasic system, in the presence of CaCl2, in order to minimize losses due to unwanted secondary reactions. High glucose conversion and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) yield values were obtained in the presence of an Al(Zr)Ox catalyst with an Al:Zr molar ratio of 7:3, reaching 97% and 47%, respectively, at 150 ºC after 120 min. Under tested conditions, this catalyst retained most of its catalytic activity for four reuses.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (RTI2018-94918-B-C44), FEDER (European Union) funds (UMA18-FEDERJA-171) and Malaga University