Sipuncula de la región magallánica comparada con zonas adyacentes de la Antártida

The Magellan sipunculan fauna includes 4 families, 7 genera and 16 species. A comparison between this fauna and that from adjacent regions of Antarctica has been made. A total of 8 species and 3 genera are shared by the compared areas. Univariate analyses show no significant statistical differences among the investigated faunas, whereas a multivariate analysis corroborates that the effects of the Antarctic Convergence are stronger at the level of genera than species. Only 3 genera were able to cross over this zoogeographical boundary. However, these 3 genera succeeded in the new biotopes of Antarctica, since a total of 16 species have been recorded, compared with the 8 species only found in the Magellan region.La fauna magallánica de sipuncúlidos presenta 4 familias, 7 géneros y 16 especies. Se lleva a cabo una comparación entre esta fauna y la procedente de zonas adyacentes de la Antártida. Un total de 8 especies y 3 géneros están presentes en ambas zonas. Los resultados del análisis univariante indican la ausencia de diferencias estadísticas significativas entre las faunas investigadas, mientras que el análisis multivariante revela que los efectos de la Convergencia Antártica son más importantes a nivel de género que de especie. Sin embargo, estos géneros tuvieron cierto éxito en la colonización progresiva de los nuevos biotopos antárticos, dado que se han encontrado un total de 16 especies frente a las 8 exclusivas del área magallánica

Learning ordered pooling weights in image classification

Spatial pooling is an important step in computer vision systems like Convolutional Neural Networks or the Bag-of-Words method. The spatial pooling purpose is to combine neighbouring descriptors to obtain a single descriptor for a given region (local or global). The resultant combined vector must be as discriminant as possible, in other words, must contain relevant information, while removing irrelevant and confusing details. Maximum and average are the most common aggregation functions used in the pooling step. To improve the aggregation of relevant information without degrading their discriminative power for image classification, we introduce a simple but effective scheme based on Ordered Weighted Average (OWA) aggregation operators. We present a method to learn the weights of the OWA aggregation operator in a Bag-of-Words framework and in Convolutional Neural Networks, and provide an extensive evaluation showing that OWA based pooling outperforms classical aggregation operators

Electric field effects on nuclear magnetic shielding of the 1:1 and 2:1 (homo and heterochiral) complexes of XOOX′ (X, X′ H, CH3) with lithium cation and their chiral discrimination

The set of 1:1 and 2:1 complexes of XOOX′ (X, X′ H, CH 3) with lithium cation has been studied to determine if they are suitable candidates for chiral discrimination in an isotropic medium via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Conventional nuclear magnetic resonance is unable to distinguish between enantiomers in the absence of a chiral solvent. The criterion for experimental detection is valuated by the isotropic part of nuclear shielding polarisability tensors, related to a pseudoscalar of opposite sign for two enantiomers. The study includes calculations at coupled Hartree-Fock and density functional theory schemes for 17O nucleus in each compound. Additional calculations for 1H are also included for some compounds. A huge static homogeneous electric field, perpendicular to the magnetic field of the spectromer, as big as ≈1.7 108 V m -1 should be applied to observe a shift of ≈1 ppm for 17O magnetic shielding in the proposed set of complexes. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.Fil:Pagola, G.I. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Ferraro, M.B. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Desarrollo y empleo de juegos educativos on-line destinados al auto-entrenamiento y auto-evaluación

La implantación del EEES, está originando cambios en el modelo docente, cada vez más orientado al trabajo autónomo del alumno. Los contenidos electrónicos que apoyan el proceso de aprendizaje también deben, por tanto, orientarse a facilitar el aprendizaje autónomo, como por ejemplo los procesos de autoevaluación y auto-entrenamiento por parte del estudiante. Por ello, parece adecuado desarrollar contenidos electrónicos que motiven y a la vez entretengan de forma amena al alumnado durante su aprendizaje autónomo. En esta contribución, proponemos una serie de juegos educativos electrónicos como herramienta que haga de la auto-evaluación y del autoentrenamiento un proceso ameno y entretenido.Peer Reviewe

Macrozoobenthic changes on rocky shores of the Bight of Bilbao: 14 years of monitoring biological recovery

Benthic communities on rocky shores from the Bight of Bilbao, known as the Abra de Bilbao (northern Spain) and the adjacent coast have been studied during 14 years (1984-1998) within the framework of an environmental monitoring programme for both subtidal and intertidal zones. The study area is now experiencing a process of generalised environmental improvement in its water quality, as a result of the region's industrial recession and the implementation of a comprehensive renovation sewage system, which is still in progress. Biological recovery has been analysed with uni- and multivariate techniques, which make it possible to differentiate several recovery stages, grouped according to the littoral zone sampled. A total of 12 taxa have been selected as characteristics of different environmental situations in space and time, the most sensitive of which are Sagartiidae, Mytilidae, Patellidae and Chthamalidae. The need to use alternative analyses in long term studies of hard bot- tom macrozoobenthos is highlighted. A three-phase conceptual model based on own results and previous works is proposed, which describes the current situation, as well as the recorded or expected changes. The model comprises two parts: a) one for the subtidal and lower intertidal levels, where biotic strategies related to the inverse patterns of fauna and flora dominance are emphasised; b) another for the upper intertidal level, where the appearance and development of a barnacle belt play a crucial role. The model is intended to serve as an environmental tool able to detect changes in the recovery process of the Bight of Bilbao and similar bays elsewhere.Se han estudiado las comunidades bénticas de sustrato rocoso del abra de Bilbao y su costa adyacente durante 14 años (1984-1998), dentro de un programa de seguimiento biológico de los medios submareal e intermareal. El área de estudio se encuentra en un proceso de mejora de la calidad ambiental de sus aguas como consecuencia de la recesión industrial y del Plan Integral de Saneamiento, actualmente en desarrollo. Se ha constatado la recuperación biológica por medio de técnicas univariantes y multivariantes, proponiéndose una serie de etapas en dicha recuperación, diferentes según el nivel litoral. Se ha seleccionado un total de doce taxones como los máximos responsables de discriminar situaciones en el espacio y en el tiempo, entre los que destacan por su mayor sensibilidad: Sagartiidae, Mytilidae, Patellidae y Chthamalidae. Se demuestra, asimismo, la necesidad de utilizar diferentes tipos de análisis en los estudios a largo plazo del macrozoobentos de sustrato rocoso. Con base en estos resultados y en trabajos previos, se articula un modelo conceptual en tres fases, describiendo la situación actual del bentos y los cambios registrados o previsibles. El modelo consta de dos partes: a) el correspondiente a los niveles submareal e intermareal inferior, donde se enfatizan las estrategias relacionadas con los patrones inversos de dominancia de la fauna y la flora; b) el concerniente al nivel intermareal superior, donde desempeñan un papel fundamental la aparición y el desarrollo del cinturón de cirrípedos. De este modo, se pretende dotar a los planes de seguimiento ambiental, tanto del abra de Bilbao como de otras áreas similares, de una herramienta para la detección de cambios en sus planes de recuperación.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Solar active envelope module with an adjustable transmittance/absorptance

A solar active envelope module with a high flexibility degree is proposed in this paper. The transparent module controls the day-lighting of the room, improving the indoor environment, while absorbing the superfluous solar energy inside. That energy is used to increase the efficiency of heating, ventilation, and the air-conditioning (HVAC) system of the building. This is carried out through a fine control of the absorptance of the envelope module. The active envelope module consists of three glazed chambers with advanced coatings and frames to assure a minimum thermal transmittance while allowing transparency. A fluid containing heat-absorbing nanoparticles flows inside the central chamber and is heated up due to the impinging solar energy. Unlike other systems proposed in the past, which included transparency control systems based on complex filters and chemical processes, the absorption of the module is controlled by the variation of the thickness of the central chamber with a mechanical device. That is, varying the thickness of the central chamber, it allows controlling the absorptance of the whole system and, as a result, indoor day-lighting and thermal loads. Therefore, a new system is proposed that enables to

Neuroimagen estructural y funcional en las enfermedades priónicas humanas

INTRODUCTION: Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders resulting from the accumulation of a misfolded isoform of the cellular prion protein (PrPc). They can occur as acquired, sporadic or hereditary forms. Although prion diseases show a wide range of phenotypic variations, pathological features and clinical evolution, they are all characterised by a common unfavourable course and a fatal outcome. REVIEW SUMMARY: Some variants, such as kuru, have practically disappeared, while others, for example the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob (vCJD) or those attributable to iatrogenic causes, are still in force and pose a challenge to current medicine. There are no definitive pre-mortem diagnostic tests, except for vCJD, where a tonsil biopsy detects 100% of the cases. For this reason, diagnostic criteria dependent on statistical probability have had to be created. These require complementary examinations, such as an electroencephalogram (EEG) or the detection of 14-3-3 protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Only the "pulvinar sign" in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been included as a vCJD diagnostic criterion. The present review discusses neuroimaging findings for each type of prion disease in patients with a definitive histopathological diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The aim is to define the usefulness of these complementary examinations as a tool for the diagnosis of this family of neurodegenerative diseases