Evaluation of modern and mid-Holocene seasonal precipitation of the Mediterranean and northern Africa in the CMIP5 simulations

We analyse the spatial expression of seasonal climates of the Mediterranean and northern Africa in pre-industrial (piControl) and mid-Holocene (midHolocene, 6 yr BP) simulations from the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). Modern observations show four distinct precipitation regimes characterized by differences in the seasonal distribution and total amount of precipitation: an equatorial band characterized by a double peak in rainfall, the monsoon zone characterized by summer rainfall, the desert characterized by low seasonality and total precipitation, and the Mediterranean zone characterized by summer drought. Most models correctly simulate the position of the Mediterranean and the equatorial climates in the piControl simulations, but overestimate the extent of monsoon influence and underestimate the extent of desert. However, most models fail to reproduce the amount of precipitation in each zone. Model biases in the simulated magnitude of precipitation are unrelated to whether the models reproduce the correct spatial patterns of each regime. In the midHolocene, the models simulate a reduction in winter rainfall in the equatorial zone, and a northward expansion of the monsoon with a significant increase in summer and autumn rainfall. Precipitation is slightly increased in the desert, mainly in summer and autumn, with northward expansion of the monsoon. Changes in the Mediterranean are small, although there is an increase in spring precipitation consistent with palaeo-observations of increased growing-season rainfall. Comparison with reconstructions shows most models underestimate the mid-Holocene changes in annual precipitation, except in the equatorial zone. Biases in the piControl have only a limited influence on midHolocene anomalies in ocean–atmosphere models; carbon-cycle models show no relationship between piControl bias and midHolocene anomalies. Biases in the prediction of the midHolocene monsoon expansion are unrelated to how well the models simulate changes in Mediterranean climate

A graceful multiversal link of particle physics to cosmology

In this paper we work out a multiverse scenario whose physical characteristics enable us to advance the following the conjecture that whereas the physics of particles and fields is confined to live in the realm of the whole multiverse formed by finite-time single universes, that for our observable universe must be confined just in one of the infinite number of universes of the multiverse when such a universe is consistently referred to an infinite cosmic time. If this conjecture is adopted then some current fundamental problems that appear when one tries to make compatible particle physics and cosmology- such as that for the cosmological constant, the arrow of time and the existence of a finite proper size of the event horizon- can be solved.Comment: 10 pages, LaTe

Morphometric analysis of bite mark patterns caused by domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) using dental wax registers

Dog bites are a known public health problem involving physical, mental and emotional traumas. From a forensic point of view, it has been stated that their morphological characters, and the intercanine and interincisive measurements, could allow a taxonomic and specific identification of the implicated animal. The aim of this study was to differentiate and identify the biological profile of a potential aggressor dog by analysing eight morphometric bite patterns belonging to three different dog breeds. The data obtained were analyzed following three categories: a) breeds; b) sexes among breeds; and c) sex within breed. Significant differences were detected among the variables (p <= 0.05), but only the maximum maxillary intercanines width (MaxCW) allowed a breed differentiation. The other variables allowed a differentiation between two breeds or one breed over the others. The principal components analysis (PCA) allowed visualizing the degree of dispersion and relationship among the scores. It showed three well-defined and separated breed groups, and different degrees of dispersion within and among breeds. The most important variable for such a differentiation was MaxCW. When considering sex among breeds for males, it showed a statistically significant difference, but only the diastema located between the third left mandibular, incisive and the left mandibular canine (C-I-ManL) allowed breed differentiation. For females, only MaxCW allowed a differentiation among breeds. The multivariate analysis permitted with a 95 % confidence interval, a breed and sex differentiation. Besides, the PCA models allowed classifying, identifying, separating and graphically showing the relationship among the variables. This made it possible to differentiate between breeds and sexes. Due to the large range of dog breeds around the world, this multivariate analysis could also help determining the dog's weight and size, narrowing down towards an approximate number of offending dogs, focussing on a certain kind of dog breed, and pinpointing any suspect dog

La producción de programas musicales en la televisión pública española (1990-2010): el auge del talent show

Este artículo tiene como objeto ofrecer un recorrido por la historia de la producción de los programas musicales en la televisión pública española durante el periodo 1990-2010. Con esta finalidad, se ha consultado el archivo histórico digital de Radio Televisión Española como fuente primaria. A continuación, se ha completado la información con el análisis de fuentes secundarias como las secciones televisivas de la prensa nacional, publicaciones especializadas en televisión y bases de datos online como IMDb. Siguiendo un método de investigación inductivo, las conclusiones derivadas del estudio cronológico de los datos confirman las hipótesis planteadas. Primero, que el género musical ha sufrido un proceso de transformación al hibridarse con otros tipos de contenidos como las variedades, el concurso o la telerrealidad, dando como resultado el talent show contemporáneo. Y segundo, que la oferta de musicales de la televisión pública española no difiere en gran medida de la programada por los principales operadores privados, especialmente en la franja de máxima audiencia, dado su carácter comercial. La apuesta de TVE por el talent show musical ha sido determinante en la evolución del género musical en la televisión española.The aim of this article is to offer a journey through the history of the production of musical programmes on Spanish public television during the period 1990-2010. For this purpose, the digital historical archive of Radio Televisión Española has been consulted as a primary source. Besides, the information has been completed with the analysis of secondary sources such as television sections of the national press, specialized publications on television and online databases such as IMDb. Following an inductive research method, the conclusions derived from this study confirm our hypotheses. Firstly, the musical genre has undergone a transformation process due to its hybridization with other types of content such as varieties, game shows or reality shows, becoming the current talent show. And secondly, the musical offer of the Spanish public television does not differ a lot from that programmed by the main private operators, especially in prime time. TVE's commitment to musical talent shows has been a cornerstone in the evolution of the musical genre in contemporary Spanish television

Adjoint fermion zero-modes for SU(N) calorons

We derive analytic formulas for the zero-modes of the Dirac equation in the adjoint representation in the background field of Q=1 SU(N) calorons. Solutions with various boundary conditions are obtained, including the physically most relevant cases of periodic and antiperiodic ones. The latter are essential ingredients in a semiclassical treatment of finite temperature supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. A detailed discussion of adjoint zero-modes in several other contexts is also presented.Comment: 40 latex pages and 5 eps figure

Applications of Direct Injection Soft Chemical Ionisation-Mass Spectrometry for the Detection of Pre-blast Smokeless Powder Organic Additives

Analysis of smokeless powders is of interest from forensics and security perspectives. This article reports the detection of smokeless powder organic additives (in their pre-detonation condition), namely the stabiliser diphenylamine and its derivatives 2-nitrodiphenylamine and 4-nitrodiphenylamine, and the additives (used both as stabilisers and plasticisers) methyl centralite and ethyl centralite, by means of swab sampling followed by thermal desorption and direct injection soft chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry. Investigations on the product ions resulting from the reactions of the reagent ions H3O+ and O2+ with additives as a function of reduced electric field are reported. The method was comprehensively evaluated in terms of linearity, sensitivity and precision. For H3O+, the limits of detection (LoD) are in the range of 41-88 pg of additive, for which the accuracy varied between 1.5 and 3.2%, precision varied between 3.7 and 7.3% and linearity showed R20.9991. For O2+, LoD are in the range of 72 to 1.4 ng, with an accuracy of between 2.8 and 4.9% and a precision between 4.5 and 8.6% and R20.9914. The validated methodology was applied to the analysis of commercial pre-blast gun powders from different manufacturers.(VLID)4826148Accepted versio

Deinking of Mixed Office Waste (MOW) Paper Using Enzymes

Deinking of Mixed Office Waste [MOW] paper was carried out by using a flotation device and adding enzymes as defibrillators. Employing the computational simulation of the molecular coupling between the cellulase enzyme obtained from Trichoderma sp. and cellulose, the enzyme-cellulose molecular complex and the main amino acids endo-β-1,4-D-glucanase of this molecule, responsible for the hydrolysis of cellulose, were obtained. Three of these amino acids were used for deinking. The deinked cellulose fibers were evaluated according to the standards of the paper industry (ISO whiteness [brightness], factor of reflectance, opacity, and tonality) to determine the efficiency of deinking. The experimental results show that the best optical characteristics of the sheets of deinked paper with amino acids are those where a mixture of aspartate, glutamate, and asparagine was applied, instead of their individual dosage. In addition to the aforesaid, the use of enzymes instead of the traditionally used reagent, such as sodium hydroxide, avoids the contamination of wastewater; additionally, the operation of the column is carried out easily, taking into consideration that the pH of the system goes from alkaline to neutral

Aportación al conocimiento del género Cheilanthes en la Península Ibérica

Cheilanthes pulchella and Cheilanthes x insularis are mentionedas new from the Iberian Peninsula and distribution of Cheilanthes guanchica and Cheilanthes x iberica is amplied. The Cheilanthes taxa from the Iberian Peninsuli are listed. Key of determination is proposed.En esta nota se citan por primera vez en la Península Ibérica Cheilanthes pulcheIla y Cheilanthes x insularis y se amplia la distribución de Cheilanthes guanchica y Cheilanthes x iberica. Se completa el catálogo de los táxones de este género en la Península Ibérica, añadiéndose una clave de determinación para los mismos

Hooked on lit screens

The aim of this article is to trace new audiovisual consumption habits, analyzing which screens are preferred by people in Spain when watching different types of content online. In addition, we study the use of second screens, an increasingly common phenomenon. The main sources of data for this empirical study are two original surveys carried out online in May 2012 and in December 2016. The sample size was 1,200 in both cases, and interviews were conducted via the Internet. The target population consisted of Internet users in Spain and the sample distribution was designed to be representative of this population. Our results show that audiovisual consumption habits are changing dramatically, especially when looking at younger users, whose loyalty and attention is even more difficult to attract due to their disruptive practices. In this sense, great uncertainties and risks have emerged in the entertainment industry, although valuable opportunities may also arise.El objetivo de este artículo es descubrir nuevos hábitos de consumo audiovisual, analizando cuáles son las pantallas preferidas por los internautas españoles para ver contenidos audiovisuales online. Además, se analiza el uso de las segundas pantallas, práctica muy extendida entre la audiencia. La principal fuente de información es un estudio de campo basado en dos encuestas online originales lanzadas en mayo de 2012 y en diciembre de 2016. La muestra se compone en ambos casos de 1.200 personas y es representativa de la población internauta en España (universo). Los resultados apuntan a que los patrones de consumo audiovisual están cambiando drásticamente, especialmente en el caso de los usuarios más jóvenes, cuya fidelidad y atención es incluso más difícil de atraer debido a sus prácticas disruptivas. En este sentido, la industria del entretenimiento atraviesa una etapa repleta de importantes incertidumbres y riesgos, aunque al mismo tiempo se vislumbran valiosas oportunidade

Tell me the screen you use, and I will tell you the content you watch: The case of Spanish internet users

En els últims anys s’ha multiplicat el nombre de pantalles disponibles per veure continguts audiovisuals. Les llars han passat de tenir un o més televisors a comptar amb una àmplia varietat de dispositius connectats a internet. Aquest fet ha transformat profundament els hàbits de consum audiovisual a Espanya. Així, per exemple, el temps de visionat s’ha incrementat en totes les pantalles, inclosa la televisió convencional, amb una mitjana de quatre hores al dia. El públic jove sobresurt com el perfil que consumeix cada vegada més continguts en pantalles connectades a internet. L’objectiu d’aquest article és analitzar quins dispositius prefereix l’audiència per veure els diferents tipus de continguts —series de ficció, programes d’entreteniment, pel·lícules, notícies i esports—, així com les raons d’aquesta elecció. Per a això, hem tingut en compte els suports següents: televisió intel·ligent, telèfon mòbil, tauleta, ordinador i videoconsola. Entre les conclusions principals destaca que gairebé la meitat dels internautes espanyols veu la televisió a internet, sobretot per mitjà de l’ordinador. Això no obstant, les dades corroboren que els usuaris trien una pantalla o una altra en funció del tipus de contingut. Els resultats d’aquest estudi, basat en una enquesta pròpia, són especialment rellevants per conèixer els nous hàbits de consum audiovisual de la societat espanyola a internet.In recent years, the number and range of screens used to watch audiovisual contents has risen, from the traditional television set to Internet-enabled devices. This fact has profoundly changed audiovisual consumption habits in Spain. Firstly, viewing-times have increased across every platform. For example, in the case of conventional television, the average Spanish person watches four hours per day. Secondly, at the same time, younger audiences in particular are increasingly likely to use Internetenabled screens. The aim of this article is to analyze which screens are preferred by Spanish Internet users, as well as their reasons for doing so when watching different types of TV contents online, such as fiction series, entertainment shows, films, news and sports. In order to carry out this research, the following screens have been taken into account: smart TV, mobile phones, tablets, computers and video consoles. Of the main findings, two in particular may be highlighted in advance: almost half of Internet users watch TV online, and the most frequently used device to do so is the computer —including laptops and netbooks—. A further clear conclusion is that users choose different program genres depending on the screen. The results of this study, based on an original survey carried out online, may prove especially significant in order to discover new consumption habits of the Spanish population on the Internet