Returning magnetic flux in sunspot penumbrae

We study the presence of reversed polarity magnetic flux in sunspot penumbra. We applied a new regularized method to deconvolve spectropolarimetric data observed with the spectropolarimeter SP onboard Hinode. The new regularization is based on a principal component decomposition of the Stokes profiles. The resulting Stokes profiles were inverted to infer the magnetic field vector using SIR. We find, for the first time, reversed polarity fields at the border of many bright penumbral filaments in the whole penumbra.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in A&A Letter

La industria lítica en el Prehistoria cerámica de Cantabria.

Se aborda el estudio de los tecnocomplejos líticos correspondientes a las últimas fases de la Prehistoria en los yacimientos del sector central de la Cornisa Cantábrica. Las series analizadas proceden de contextos diferenciados : yacimientos de habitación, funerarios, tanto en cueva como al   aire libre. El estudio permite la caracterización de los distintos tecnocomplejos revelándose diferencias de orden funcional, de carácter cultural y en menor medida procedentes de condicionamientos técnicos

Photospheric downward plasma motions in the quiet-Sun

We analyze spectropolarimetric data taken with the Hinode spacecraft in quiet solar regions at the disk center. Distorted redshifted Stokes $V$ profiles are found showing a characteristic evolution that always follows the same sequence of phases. We have studied the statistical properties of these events using spectropolarimetric data from Hinode/SP. We also examined the upper photosphere and the low chromosphere using Mg i b2 and Ca ii h data from Hinode. Finally, we have applied the SIRGAUSS inversion code to the polarimetric data in order to infer the atmospheric stratification of the physical parameters. We have also obtained these physical parameters taking into account dynamical terms in the equation of motion. The Stokes V profiles display a bump that evolves in four different time steps, and the total process lasts 108 seconds. The Stokes I shows a strongly bent red wing and the continuum signal exhibits a bright point inside an intergranular lane. This bright point is correlated with a strong redshift in the Mg i b2 line and a bright feature in Ca ii h images. The model obtained from the inversion of the Stokes profiles is hotter than the average quiet-Sun model, with a vertical magnetic field configuration and field strengths in the range of kG values. It also presents a LOS velocity stratification with a Gaussian perturbation whose center is moving to deeper layers with time. We have examined a particular type of event that can be described as a plasmoid of hot plasma that is moving downward from the top of the photosphere, placed over intergranular lanes and always related to strong magnetic field concentrations. We argue that the origin of this plasmoid could be a magnetic reconnection that is taking place in the chromosphere.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figure

El depósito cerámico de la Cueva de las Grajas (Matienzo, Ruesga).

El fenómeno de las cuevas con depósitos cerámicos en superficie,   sin asociación de restos humanos, es relativamente frecuente en la Cornisa Cantábrica, al menos en su sector centro-oriental ; a pesar de ello es aún muy poco lo que se sabe de ellos. En este artículo se ofrecen los resultados del estudio de detalle de un yacimiento de este tipo intentando establecer su cronología y su atribución funcional. Su principal resultado es quizás la evidencia de la enorme complejidad interna de estos conjuntos, probablemente resultado de la suma de distintas actividades, desarrolladas en diferentes momentos

Spatial deconvolution of spectropolarimetric data: an application to quiet Sun magnetic elements

Observations of the Sun from the Earth are always limited by the presence of the atmosphere, which strongly disturbs the images. A solution to this problem is to place the telescopes in space satellites, which produce observations without any (or limited) atmospheric aberrations. However, even though the images from space are not affected by atmospheric seeing, the optical properties of the instruments still limit the observations. In the case of diffraction limited observations, the PSF establishes the maximum allowed spatial resolution, defined as the distance between two nearby structures that can be properly distinguished. In addition, the shape of the PSF induce a dispersion of the light from different parts of the image, leading to what is commonly termed as stray light or dispersed light. This effect produces that light observed in a spatial location at the focal plane is a combination of the light emitted in the object at relatively distant spatial locations. We aim to correct the effect produced by the telescope's PSF using a deconvolution method, and we decided to apply the code on Hinode/SP quiet Sun observations. We analyze the validity of the deconvolution process with noisy data and we infer the physical properties of quiet Sun magnetic elements after the deconvolution process.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figure

El megalitismo en Cantabria: una aproximación espacial

En las síntesis más recientes sobre el megalitismo en la Península Ibérica queda patente la idea de la independencia de los focos astur-galaico y vasco-pirenaico, derivada fundamentalmente de la ausencia de manifestaciones megalíticas en el sector central de la Cornisa Cantábrica, coincidente con la actual región de Cantabria. La constatación de la uniformidad en la distribución de las estructuras megalíticas en el corredor cantábrico plantea la necesidad de revisar los planteamientos en boga sobre el origen y difusión de este fenómeno en el Norte peninsular. De este modo quedaría superada la ''independencia" de los focos mencionados, estableciéndose un nuevo vector cultural a lo largo del Cantábrico. Las fechas radiocarbónicas de que se dispone apuntan a la contemporaneidad del fenómeno megalítico en toda la Cornisa Cantábrica 1 y contribuyen al conocimient del polémico proceso de neolitización en la misma (González Morales 1992). En la explicación de este sorprendente vacío intervienen un entramado de razones diversas, entre las que destaca la polarización de los estudios regionales hacia el Paleolítico Superior a causa de la importancia de los conjuntos con arte rupestre - Altamira y Castillo, sobre todo - . lo que provocó una empobrecedora asociación entre Arqueología y Espeleología. Esta limitó la prospección a los medios cársticos y ligó la investigación arqueológica a los grupos espeleológicos. A partir de su creación, el entonces Departamento de Prehistoria, de la Universidad de Cantabria, fija como una de sus líneas prioritarias de actuación la Prehistoria Reciente de esta región. Así se emprenden campañas sistemáticas de documentación de yacimientos al aire libre que suponen una inflexión en la investigación prehistórica regional ligada a una creciente profesionalización de la misma. La labor de la Universidad tiene un primer reflejo en la publicación de una síntesis de la Prehistoria Regional en la que se sientan las bases conceptuales y metodológ icas para el estudio de la misma (González Sainz; González Morales 1986) 2. A partir de entonces se emprende la excavación del dolmen del Alto de Lodos en la zona oriental (Serna y otros 1990), la necrópolis de La Raiz en la plataforma costera (Serna 1991a) y el conjunto megalítico de la Peña Oviedo en la comarca de Liébana (Diaz; Diez y otros 1991). En la actualidad se continúan los trabajos de campo en el conjunto de la Peña Oviedo, y se han comenzado en la necrópolis de Hayas-Alto Guriezo (Serna 1991c).In the most recent syntheses about the megalithism in the Iberian Peninsula, the idea of ​​the independence of the Astur-Galician and Basque-Pyrenean foci is evident, mainly derived from the absence of megalithic manifestations in the central sector of the Cantabrian Cornice, coinciding with the current region of Cantabria. The verification of the uniformity in the distribution of the megalithic structures in the Cantabrian corridor raises the need to review the current proposals on the origin and diffusion of this phenomenon in the North of the Iberian Peninsula. In this way, the "independence" of the mentioned centers would be overcome, establishing a new cultural vector along the Bay of Biscay. The radiocarbon dates available point to the contemporaneity of the A megalithic phenomenon throughout the Cantabrian Cornice 1 and contribute to the knowledge of the controversial neolithisation process in the area (González Morales 1992). In the explanation of this surprising emptiness a series of diverse reasons had played their role, among which the polarization of the regional studies towards the Upper Paleolithic stands out because of the importance of the rock art sites - Altamira and Castillo, above all -. Which caused an impoverishing association between Archeology and Speleology. This fact, have limited archaeological surveys to karst media and linked archaeological research to speleological groups. From its creation, the then Department of Prehistory, of the University of Cantabria, establishes as one of its priority lines of action the Recent Prehistory of this region. In this way, systematic campaigns are carried out to document open-air sites that represent an inflection in regional prehistoric research linked to a growing professionalization of the field. The work of the University has a first reflection in the publication of a synthesis of the Regional Prehistory in which are laid the conceptual and methodological bases for the study of the megalithism (González Sainz, González Morales 1986). From then on the excavation of: a) the Alto de Lodos dolmen in the eastern zone (Serna et al. 1990), b) the necropolis of La Raiz on the coastal platform (Serna 1991a) and c) the megalithic complex of Peña Oviedo in the Liébana valley (Diaz Casado; Diez Castillo et al. 1991) have been carried out. At present, fieldwork continues in the Peña Oviedo complex, and have begun at the Hayas-Alto Guriezo necropolis (Serna 1991c)

On the validity of the 630 nm Fe I nm lines for the magnetometry of the internetwork quiet Sun

The purpose of this work is to analyze the reliability of the magnetic field strengths inferred from the 630 nm pair of Fe I lines at internetwork quiet Sun regions. Some numerical experiments have been performed that demonstrate the inability of these lines to recover the magnetic field strength in such low flux solar regions. It is shown how different model atmospheres, with magnetic field strengths ranging from few hundred Gauss to kiloGauss, give rise to Stokes profiles that can not be distinguished. The reasons for this degeneracy are discussed.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

Follow-up of health-related quality of life and pain in a cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis before and after COVID-19

Background The foot is one of the anatomical structures of the body most affected in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), associated with the disability of patients, even more during COVID-19. The aim of this study was to analyse whether the period of physical inactivity during COVID-19 is an influential factor on health-related quality of life and foot pain in patients with RA. Methods 162 patients with foot pain and RA, recruited from the Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada (Spain) were included. Data was collected during two different periods: January - December 2018 in person and June - September 2021 by phone. Patients were asked to complete the Spanish adapted version of the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results The results from the SF-12 questionnaires were divided between its two subscales (i.e., mental, and physical component). The physical component shows an improvement between 2018 and 2021, from 32.05 in 2018–35.18 in 2021 (p < 0.05). The opposite happened with the mental component, showing a deterioration, from 39.69 in 2018–34.48 in 2021 (p < 0.05). Regarding pain, VAS shows higher levels of pain with statistically significant differences, both in general pain (from 6 in 2018–7 in 2012) and in foot pain (from 5 to 7), (p < 0.05). Conclusion Mental quality of life and pain, both general and foot pain, are influenced by the period of physical inactivity during COVID-19