The Heroes’ Journey: Traces of Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949) in Brandon Sanderson’s The Final Empire (2006)

English: The fantasy genre frequently uses the model of the Hero’s Journey described in Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949). The protagonist of these stories must embark on a dangerous journey accompanied by his/her mentor figure, face numerous trials, defeat evil and restore the peace of the world. Some novels, however, modify that structure to enhance their narrative techniques and draw for inspiration at the same time. This is the case of Brandon Sanderson’s The Final Empire (2006). This project analyses the use of the Hero’s Journey and the stereotypes studied by Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces in Sanderson’s The Final Empire, shows how those patterns are depicted in the novel and in which way the author tries to detach himself from them. The project studies the four main heroic or potentially heroic figures of the book presented in the narrative (Alendi, Lord Ruler, Kelsier, and Vin), then it compares their development to the stages portrayed in the Monomyth of The Hero with a Thousand Faces and concludes with an analysis of its effects in the narrative of the novel. Español: El género fantástico utiliza con frecuencia el modelo del viaje del héroe descrito por Joseph Campbell en El héroe de las mil caras (1949): el o la protagonista de estas historias debe embarcarse en un peligroso viaje acompañado de una figura mentora, superar numerosas pruebas, enfrentarse al mal y devolver la paz al mundo. Algunos libros, sin embargo, manipulan esta estructura para potenciar su narrativa a la vez que beben de ella como inspiración: es el caso de El imperio final (2006) de Brandon Sanderson. Este trabajo analiza el uso del viaje del héroe y de los estereotipos del libro de Joseph Campbell en El imperio final, estudiando cómo este utiliza dichos patrones y en qué maneras trata el autor de alejarse de ellos. El estudio hace un recorrido por las cuatro figuras heroicas o potencialmente heroicas presentadas en la narrativa (Alendi,Lord Legislador, Kelsier y Vin) y compara sus desarrollos con las etapas presentadas en el monomito de El héroe de las mil caras, concluyendo con un análisis de su efecto en la narrativa de la obra

On the Applicability of Two Families of Cubic Techniques for Power Flow Analysis

This work presents a comprehensive analysis of two cubic techniques for Power Flow (PF) studies. In this regard, the families of Weerakoon‐like and Darvishi‐like techniques are considered. Several theoretical findings are presented and posteriorly confirmed by multiple numerical results. Based on the obtained results, the Weerakoon’s technique is considered more reliable than the New‐ ton‐Raphson and Darvishi’s methods. As counterpart, it presents a high computational burden. Re‐ garding this point, the Darvishi’s technique has turned out to be quite efficient and fully competitive with the Newton’s schem

Detección de variedad y estado de maduración del ciruelo japonés utilizando imégenes hiperespectrales y aprendizaje profundo

En la actualidad, España ocupa el séptimo puesto como productor de ciruelas a nivel mundial y el tercero a nivel europeo según la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura. La importancia que tiene el cultivo de esta fruta en nuestro paı́s es evidente, siendo mayor en Comunidades Autónomas como la Extremeña, que centran su actividad económica en el sector primario. Lo que debe diferenciar una producción es su calidad, pero la calidad de los frutos tradicionalmente se hace en base a la experiencia de los agricultores y técnicos, basándose únicamente en su percepción visual. Esto puede generar errores en la determinación de la fecha óptima de recolección. En este trabajo se propone un método novedoso basado en el análisis de imágenes hiperespectrales de los frutos del ciruelo japonés que, mediante técnicas de aprendizaje profundo (Deep Learning) y utilizando para ello redes neuronales convolucionales, se obtienen eficaces clasificadores de los frutos por su variedad y su fecha de maduración. Los resultados presentados en este trabajo permiten afirmar que es posible dotar a los agricultores y técnicos agrı́colas de herramientas que les ayuden a la correcta toma de decisón en relación a la fecha de maduración de sus frutos, para poder obtener productos de mayor calidad y ser más competitivos en el sector.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Desarrollo de nuevos productos para fenómenos adversos de impacto

Presentación realizada en el Foro de Usuarios Aeronáuticos, celebrado el 21 de febrero de 2017 en los Servicios Centrales de AEMET en Madri

Sheet metal forming analysis using a large strain anisotropic multiplicative plasticity formulation, based on elastic correctors, which preserves the structure of the infinitesimal theory

[EN] Sheet metal forming is a very important process in industry to create a wide variety of goods. The analysis of local ductility and residual stresses is important both to assess the viability of the manufacturing process and the reliability of the resulting elements in service. An example is crash-worthiness, where remaining ductility and residual stresses govern the safety of the overall structure during the impact. A main ingredient of finite element simulations for sheet metal forming in industry is a robust continuum-based computational algorithm for large strain elastoplasticity which includes both elastic and plastic anisotropy, as well as mixed hardening. The theory should use exactly-integrable (conservative) elastic and hardening behaviors based on physically motivated proper state variables and, if possible, result in a simple integration algorithm. In this work we implement a novel large strain formulation for anisotropic hyperelasto-plasticity in a user subroutine of the commercial program ADINA to perform sheet metal forming simulations, testing the robustness and suitability of the model for industry, as well as its accuracy. The formulation is based on a new approach to the treatment of large strain kinematics, using logarithmic elastic corrector rates instead of plastic rates. Furthermore, kinematic hardening is formulated without an explicit backstress. We compare and discuss the results with those in the literature which use alternative frameworks.Partial financial support for this work has been given by grant PGC 2018-097257-B-C32 from the Direccion General de proyectos de Investigacion of the Ministerio de Economia y Competividad of Spain. The ADINA program license used in this work has been a courtesy of ADINA R&D to the UPMSanz, MA.; Nguyen, K.; Latorre, M.; Rodríguez, M.; Montáns, FJ. (2019). Sheet metal forming analysis using a large strain anisotropic multiplicative plasticity formulation, based on elastic correctors, which preserves the structure of the infinitesimal theory. Finite Elements in Analysis and Design. 164:1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finel.2019.06.00411716

A comparison of total precipitable water measurements from radiosonde and sunphotometers

Atmospheric water vapour is an essential component of the terrestrial atmosphere and must be known precisely in a wide range of applications such as radiative transfer modelling or weather forecasting to mention just a few examples. Vertically integrated measurements, or total precipitable water (TPW) equivalent amounts traditionally derived from radiosonde measurements, are needed in many of these applications and can also be obtained from other methodologies such as sunphotometers or GPS-based techniques. This paper presents a study comparing different measurements of TPW from radiosonde and sunphotometer data recorded from 2001 to 2004 in Barcelona, Spain. Three collocated instruments were employed in this study: RS-80A Vaisala sondes and two types of commonly used sunphotometers (Cimel 318N-VBS7 and Microtops II). A cloud screening filter was applied to photometer data based on the quality control procedure of the AERONET database. A systematic comparison among the measurements indicates that bivariate correlations between different instruments were high, with correlation factors (r2) above 0.8 in all cases. Measurements covered all seasons allowing examining intra-annual variability, which generally did not exhibit statistically significant differences. Examination of 57 concurrent measurements of the three instruments indicated that radiosonde TPW measurements were the highest (15 mm on average) and Cimel and Microtops presented similar values (12 mm and 11 mm respectively).This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology under the project DAMOCLES ‘Aerosols characterization by columnar (lidar and extinction) and “in situ” measurements’ (REF: CGL2005-03428-C04-04)

Climatological comparison of 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 snow seasons in Central and Western Spanish Pyrenees and its relationship with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) [Póster]

Póster presentado en: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble, celebrado en Chamonix Mont-Blanc, del 7 al 11 de octubre de 2013.An analysis of 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons (NDJFMAM) has been made in the Pyrenees of Navarre and Aragon. The main objective is to highlight the contrast between the two seasons in relation to temperature, precipitation and snowpack behaviour, trying to find a relationship with the NAO

New Perspectives Related to the Bioluminescent System in Dinoflagellates: Pyrocystis lunula, a Case Study

Pyrocystis lunula is considered a model organism due to its bioluminescence capacity linked to circadian rhythms. The mechanisms underlying the bioluminescent phenomenon have been well characterized in dinoflagellates; however, there are still some aspects that remain an enigma. Such is the case of the presence and diversity of the luciferin-binding protein (LBP), as well as the synthesis process of luciferin. Here we carry out a review of the literature in relation to the molecular players responsible for bioluminescence in dinoflagellates, with particular interest in P. lunula. We also carried out a phylogenetic analysis of the conservation of protein sequence, structure and evolutionary pattern of these key players. The basic structure of the luciferase (LCF) is quite conserved among the sequences reported to date for dinoflagellate species, but not in the case of the LBP, which has proven to be more variable in terms of sequence and structure. In the case of luciferin, its synthesis has been shown to be complex process with more than one metabolic pathway involved. The glutathione S-transferase (GST) and the P630 or blue compound, seem to be involved in this process. In the same way, various hypotheses regarding the role of bioluminescence in dinoflagellates are exposed

Climatological comparison of 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 snow seasons in Central and Western Spanish Pyrenees and its relationship with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)

Comunicación presentada en: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble, celebrado en Chamonix Mont-Blanc, del 7 al 11 de octubre de 2013.The 2011–2012 winter season can be considered exceptional in Spanish Central and Western Pyrenees due to the scarce precipitation and unconsolidated snowpack. However, the 2012- 2013 winter season was highlighted by the intensity and duration of snowfall episodes, specially in January and February. Snowpacks depths around 4 metres have been reported in several stations at altitudes of more than 2000 m.a.s.l. and depths over 2 metres in stations at altitudes between 1300 and 2000 m.a.s.l. Different weather and snow parameters (temperature, precipitation, snowfall, number of snow days, snowpack depth) have been taken into account to compare these two seasons. A possible influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) teleconnection pattern in the different behaviour of the two winter seasons has been analyzed, demonstrating a clear relationship. All weather and snow data are provided from AEMET nivometeorological stations network in the Central and Western Spanish Pyrenees range, which are also presented in this work

Postprandial glycemic response in a non-diabetic adult population: the effect of nutrients is different between men and women

Background: There is a growing interest in the pathopysiological consequences of postprandial hyperglycemia. It is well known that in diabetic patients 2 h plasma glucose is a better risk predictor for coronary heart disease than fasting plasma glucose. Data on the glycemic response in healthy people are scarce. Objective: To evaluate the effect of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) and fiber on postprandial glycemic response in an observational study of a non-diabetic adult population. Design: Cross-sectional study. 150 non-diabetic adults performed continuous glucose monitoring for 6 days. During this period they recorded food and beverage intake. The participants were instructed not to make changes in their usual diet and physical exercise. Variables analyzed included clinical parameters (age, sex, body weight, height, body mass index, blood pressure, and waist measurement), meal composition (calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and fiber) and glycemic postprandial responses separated by sexes. The study period was defined from the start of dinner to 6 h later. Results: A total of 148 (51% women) subjects completed all study procedures. Dinner intake was higher in males than in females (824 vs 531 kcal). Macronutrient distribution was similar in both sexes. No significant differences were found in fiber intake between men and women (5.5 g vs 4.5 g). In both sexes, the higher intake of carbohydrates corresponded to a significantly higher glycemic response (p = 0.0001 in women, p = 0.022 in men). Moreover, in women, as fat intake was higher, a flattening of the postprandial glycemic curve was observed (p = 0.003). With respect to fiber, a significantly lower glycemic response was observed in the group of women whose fiber intake at dinner was higher (p = 0.034). Conclusions: Continuous glucose monitoring provides important information about glucose levels after meals. In this study, the postprandial glycemic response in women was different from that of men, and carbohydrates were the main determinant of elevated postprandial glucose levels.This research project was supported by grants from Spain’s Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII) (PI11/02219, PI16/01395) and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). This work was also supported by a grant from Medtronic IbéricaS