Recent results from the cosmic ray program of the NA61/SHINE experiment

NA61/SHINE is a fixed target experiment designed to study hadron-proton, hadron-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus interactions at the CERN Super-Proton-Synchrotron. In this paper we summarize the results from pion-carbon collisions recorded at beam momenta of 158 and 350 GeV/c. Hadron production measurements in this type of interactions is of fundamental importance for the understanding of the muon production in extensive air showers. In particular, production of (anti)baryons and $\rho^0$ are mechanisms responsible for increasing the number of muons which reaches the ground. The underestimation of the (anti)baryons or $\rho^0$ production rates in current hadronic interaction models could be one of the sources of the excess of muons observed by cosmic ray experiments. The results on the production spectra of $\pi^{\pm}$, K$^{\pm}$, p, $\bar{\text{p}}$, $\Lambda$, $\bar{\Lambda}$, K$^{0}_\text{S}$, $\rho^0$, $\omega$ and K$^{0*}$ are presented, as well as their comparison to predictions of hadronic interaction models currently used in air shower simulations.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures. To appear in the proceedings of the 20th International Symposium on Very High Energy Cosmic Ray Interactions (ISVHECRI 2018), Nagoya, Japa

Process and Progress: Reviewing the Criminal Justice Act

Prado describes the results of a comprehensive study of the federal defender program and concludes that as the federal criminal justice system evolves, the Criminal Justice Act program must adapt to ever-changing conditions

The European used-car market at a glance: Hedonic resale price valuation in automotive leasing industry

In the leasing industry, the risk of loss on sales at the end of the contract term, as well as pricing are critically impacted by the forecasted resale price of the asset (residual value). We apply the Hedonic methodology to European auto lease portfolios, in order to estimate the resale price distribution. The Hedonic approach estimates the price of a good through the valuation of its attributes. Following a discussion on Hedonic prices, we propose an operational model for the automobile resale market. The model is applied to four European countries (France, Germany, Spain and Great Britain), and distributions are calculated on two vehicle versions (Audi A4 & Ford Focus) allowing a comparison of market depreciation patterns and residual value risks.Hedonic model, residual value, automotive market

Hedging residual value risk using derivatives

Abstract: In the leasing industry the lessor faces a risk, at the end of the contract, in not recovering sufficient capital value from resale of the asset. We propose a model to hedge residual value risk using the Gaussian copula methodology. After discussing residual value risk and credit risk modelization, a new derivative product is introduced and analyzed; the Collateralized Residual Values (CRV). The model is applied to an European auto lease portfolio of operating lease contracts pertaining to a major company. Our results indicate that the financial product is easy to customize, and to implement through the contract characteristics and the level of correlation.Residual value risk, credit risk, credit derivatives, factor modeling, copula

Tests of hadronic interactions with measurements by Pierre Auger Observatory

The hybrid design of the Pierre Auger Observatory allows for the measurement of a number of properties of extensive air showers initiated by ultra-high energy cosmic rays. By comparing these measurements to predictions from air shower simulations, it is possible to both infer the cosmic ray's mass composition and test hadronic interactions beyond the energies reached by accelerators. In this paper, we will present a compilation of results of air shower measurements by Pierre Auger Observatory which are sensitive to the properties of hadronic interactions and can be used to constrain the hadronic interaction models. The inconsistencies found between the interpretation of different observables with regard to primary composition and between their measurements and simulations show that none of the currently used hadronic interaction models can provide a proper description of air showers and, in particular, of the muon production.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. To appear in the proceedings of the 20th International Symposium on Very High Energy Cosmic Ray Interactions (ISVHECRI 2018), Nagoya, Japa

Measurements of Hadron Production in Pion-Carbon Interactions with NA61/SHINE at the CERN SPS

NA61/SHINE is a fixed target experiment designed to study hadron-proton, hadron-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus interactions at the CERN Super-Proton-Synchrotron. In this proceeding we present results on spectra of identified hadrons produced in pion-carbon production interactions, which are of fundamental importance to improve the extensive air shower modeling, and hence the interpretation of ultra-high-energy-cosmic-rays measurements. In particular, our measurements of (anti)baryons and $\rho^0$ production in pion-carbon interactions can contribute to improve the predictions of muon production by air shower simulations using hadronic interaction models. In this contribution we discuss the data analysis and the results from pion-carbon collisions recorded at beam momenta of 158 and 350 GeV/c. The preliminary spectra of $K^{\pm}$ and $p$($\bar{p}$) are shown, as well as a comparison to predictions of hadronic interaction models used in air shower simulations. Additionally, we present final results on the production of $\rho^0$, $\omega$ and $K^{0*}$ resonances.Comment: Proceedings of 35th International Cosmic Rays Conference, Busan, South Kore

Potential climatic influence on the maximum stand carrying capacity of 15 Mediterranean conifers and broadleaves

Las proyecciones de cambio climático para la cuenca del Mediterráneo predicen un incremento continuo en episodios de sequía y calor extremos, afectando a la dinámica, estructura y composición de las masas forestales. En este contexto, resulta fundamental comprender cómo el clima influye en la relación tamaño-densidad máxima (recta de autoclareo) de estas masas con el fin de diseñar actuaciones de gestión forestal sostenible adaptadas a este nuevo escenario. Este estudio pretende avanzar en esta línea, analizando los potenciales impactos del clima en el Índice de Máxima Densidad (SDImax) de 15 especies forestales pertenecientes a los géneros Pinus, Fagus y Quercus. Para ello se utilizaron las bases de datos del Tercer Inventario Forestal Nacional Español (IFN3) y WorldClim. En primer lugar, se ajustaron rectas de autoclareo básicas mediante regresión cuantílica y se estimaron nuevos valores SDImax de referencia por especie. En un segundo paso, se seleccionaron 35 variables climáticas anuales y periódicas para ajustar rectas de autoclareo dependientes del clima. El mejor modelo climáticodependiente fue seleccionado para cada especie basándonos en el Indice de Información de Akaike con el fin de analizar las tendencias generales y específicas en la variación de SDImax. Para todas las especies de estudio, la influencia del clima sobre el SDImax fue significativa. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron una tendencia común en la variación de SDImax, con valores más pequeños vinculados a condiciones más secas y cálidas, lo que sugiere reducciones potenciales del stock de estas especies bajo futuros escenarios climáticos. En oposición a esta tendencia, el modelo de Pinus nigra sugiere que inviernos más suaves como efecto de incrementos en temperaturas mínimas podrían beneficiar a las especies en zonas de montaña. En general, el estrés hídrico (expresado a través del Indice De Martonne) fue un factor determinante afectando al SDImax de Fagus, mientras que cambios en las temperaturas de primavera y verano explicaron las variaciones SDImax de las especies del género Quercus. Las especies de Pinus se vieron indistintamente afectadas por potenciales variaciones de temperatura y humedad. Todos los modelos climático-dependientes seleccionados mejoraron los modelos básicos y los modelos ajustados en estudios similares, como aquellos que utilizan el Índice de Martonne como variable climática independiente. Nuestros hallazgos destacan la necesidad de utilizar variables climáticas periódicas para caracterizar mejor los impactos climáticos en el SDImax. Los modelos presentados en este estudio permitirán obtener estimaciones más precisas de la máxima densidad admisible por diferentes especies de coníferas y frondosas, proporcionando una herramienta avanzada para la gestión forestal sostenible de masas puras y mixtas mediterráneas bajo diferentes escenarios de cambio climático.Climate change projections for the Mediterranean basin predict a continuous increment in extreme drought and heat episodes, affecting forest dynamics, structure and composition. Understanding how climate influences the maximum size-density relationship (MSDR) is therefore critical to design adaptative silvicultural guidelines based on the potential stand carrying capacity of tree species. With this aim, data from the Third Spanish National Forest Inventory (3NFI) and WorldClim databases were used to analyze climate related variations of the maximum stand carrying capacity for 15 species from the Pinus, Fagus and Quercus genus. First, basic MSDR were fitted using linear quantile regression and observed size-density data from monospecific 3NFI plots. Reference values of maximum stocking, expressed as SDImax, were estimated by species. In a second step, climatedependent MSDR models including 35 different annual and seasonal climatic variables were fitted. The best climate-dependent MSDR model was selected by species according to the Akaike Information Criteria in order to analyze general and species-specific trends in the SDImax variation. Results showed a common trend across species in SDIgenus variation with smaller SDImax values linked to drier and warmer conditions, suggesting potential reductions of the maximum stocking for this species based on projected climatic scenarios. Opposed to this trend, results for Pinus nigra suggest that milder winters as effect of increments in minimum temperatures could beneficiate mountainous species. Humidity (expressed as the De Martonne Index) was found as key driver affecting SDImax of Fagus species, since changes in spring and summer temperatures explained SDImax variations of Quercus species. Pinus species were indistinctively affected by temperature and water stress. All the selected climate-dependent models improved the goodness of fit over the basic and the business-as-usual models including the De Martonne Index as independent climatic variable. Our findings highlight the importance of using specific climatic variables to better characterize climatic impacts on the MSDR. Models presented in this study will allow to obtain more precise estimations of the maximum stocking for different coniferous and broadleaved species, providing an advanced tool for managing Mediterranean pure and mixed forests under different scenarios of climate change.Máster en Gestión Forestal basada en Ciencia de Dato