Detecting changes in the basin of attraction of a dynamical system: Application to the postural restoring system

A method that provides athree-dimensional representation ofthe basin ofattraction of a dynamical system from experimen tal data was applied tothe problem ofdynamic balance restoration. The method isbased onthe density ofthe data onthe phase space ofthe system under study and makes use ofmodeling and numerical curve fittingtools.For the dynamical system ofbalance restora tion,the shape and the size of the basin of attraction depend on the dynamics of the postural restoring mechanisms and contain important information regarding the biomechanical,as well as the neuromuscular condition of the individual. The aim ofthis work was toexamine the ability ofthe method todetect, through the observed changes inthe shape and/or the size ofthe calculated basins of attraction, (a)the inherent differences between different systems (in the current application, postural restoring systems of different individuals)and (b)induced chan ges in the same system (thepostural restoring system of an individual).The results ofthe study confirm the validity of the method and furthermore justify its robustness.

Changes in Petrophysical Properties of the Stone Surface due to Past Conservation Treatments in Archaeological Sites of Merida (Spain)

Petrophysical properties, such as porosity, permeability, density or anisotropy de-termine the alterability of stone surfaces from archaeological sites, and therefore, the future preservation of the material. Others, like superficial roughness or color, may point out changes due to alteration processes, natural or man-induced, for ex-ample, by conservation treatments. The application of conservation treatments may vary some of these properties forcing the stone surface to a re-adaptation to the new conditions, which could generate new processes of deterioration. In this study changes resulting from the application of consolidating and hydrophobic treatments on stone materials from the Roman Theatre (marble and granite) and the Mitreo’s House (mural painting and mosaics), both archaeological sites from Merida (Spain), are analyzed. The use of portable field devices allows us to perform analyses both on site and in la-boratory, comparing treated and untreated samples. Treatments consisted of syn-thetic resins, consolidating (such as tetraethoxysilane TEOS) and hydrophobic products. Results confirm that undesirable changes may occur, with consequences ranging from purely aesthetic variations to physical, chemical and mechanical damages. This also permits us to check limitations in the use of these techniques for the evaluation of conservation treatments.

Brown trout thermal niche and climate change: expected changes in the distribution of cold-water fish in central Spain

This paper addresses the determination of the realized thermal niche and the effects of climate change on the range distribution of two brown trout populations inhabiting two streams in the Duero River basin (Iberian Peninsula) at the edge of the natural distribution area of this species. For reaching these goals, new methodological developments were applied to improve reliability of forecasts. Water temperature data were collected using 11 thermographs located along the altitudinal gradient, and they were used to model the relationship between stream temperature and air temperature along the river continuum. Trout abundance was studied using electrofishing at 37 sites to determine the current distribution. The RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 change scenarios adopted by the International Panel of Climate Change for its Fifth Assessment Report were used for simulations and local downscaling in this study. We found more reliable results using the daily mean stream temperature than maximum daily temperature and their respective seven days moving-average to determine the distribution thresholds. Thereby, the observed limits of the summer distribution of brown trout were linked to thresholds between 18.1ºC and 18.7ºC. These temperatures characterise a realised thermal niche narrower than the physiological thermal range. In the most unfavourable climate change scenario, the thermal habitat loss of brown trout increased to 38% (Cega stream) and 11% (Pirón stream) in the upstream direction at the end of the century; however, at the Cega stream, the range reduction could reach 56% due to the effect of a ?warm-window? opening in the piedmont reach.

Magnetization reversal signatures in the magnetoresistance of magnetic multilayers

The simultaneous determination of magnetoresistance and vectorial-resolved magnetization hysteresis curves in a spin valve structure reveals distinct magnetoresistive features for different magnetic field orientations, which are directly related to the magnetization reversal processes. Measurements performed in the whole angular range demonstrate that the magnetoresistive response originates from the intrinsic anisotropic angular dependence of the magnetization orientation between the two ferromagnetic layers. This also provides direct proof that the spin-dependent scattering in the bulk of the magnetic layers is at the origin of the magnetoresistive signal.

Fracture strength of drilled wafers: study of the stress concentration factor and determination of the weibull distribution of the fracture stress

In the photovoltaic field, the back contact solar cells technology has appeared as an alternative to the traditional silicon modules. This new type of cells places both positive and negative contacts on the back side of the cells maximizing the exposed surface to the light and making easier the interconnection of the cells in the module. The Emitter Wrap-Through solar cell structure presents thousands of tiny holes to wrap the emitter from the front surface to the rear surface. These holes are made in a first step over the silicon wafers by means of a laser drilling process. This step is quite harmful from a mechanical point of view since holes act as stress concentrators leading to a reduction in the strength of these wafers. This paper presents the results of the strength characterization of drilled wafers. The study is carried out testing the samples with the ring on ring device. Finite Element models are developed to simulate the tests. The stress concentration factor of the drilled wafers under this load conditions is determined from the FE analysis. Moreover, the material strength is characterized fitting the fracture stress of the samples to a three-parameter Weibull cumulative distribution function. The parameters obtained are compared with the ones obtained in the analysis of a set of samples without holes to validate the method employed for the study of the strength of silicon drilled wafers.

Linking land cover changes in the subalpine and montane belts to changes in a torrential river.

Channel cbanges are the consequence of cbanges in sediment yield from the slopes and in the connectivity between slopes and channels bccause of distinct land use and climate inJpacts. In Ibis study, we investigated the characteristics and evolution of a short reach in the headwater of the !juez River, central-soutbem Pyrenees. Assessment of a series of sedimentar)' and geomorphic structures confirtned major cbanges to the valley boUom, mainly related to changes in the intensity of human activity. 'The oldest sedimentar)' structure is a terrace leve! located 3 10 4 m above the current alluvial plain. General deforestation, overgrazing and recwring tires in the montane belt ( 1100-1600 m a.sJ.) have led 10 increased soil erosioo and connectivity, and to tbe triggering of debris llows thal have been deposited on the fluvial tmace. Woody fragments from within the debris llows were dated using acceleraror mass spectrOmetry '"e radiocaroon tcchniques (AMS), yielding ages between 1 00 and 115 cal years BP, whicb coincides with tbe period of maximum deforestalion and human density in the Pyrenees. Depopulation and fannland abaodonment since tbe beginning of tbe 2001 oenrury has resulled in generalliJcod natural and artificial reforestation, a shrinkage of the eroded arcas aod a decline in connectivi¡y bdween slopes and the channel. 1be rnost impor1an1 consequence has been cbannel incision and oarrowing, and the development of a sedimed annour !ayer. Active sedimenl b8llSpOI1 is continui.Qg, although there has been a decrease in sed.iment yield from the slopes. Copyright O 2014 John Wiley & Soos, Ltd.

Longitudinal Changes in Response to a Cycle-Run Field Test of Young Male National "Talent identification" and Senior Elite Triathlon Squads.

This study investigated the changes in cardiorespiratory response and running performance of 9 male ?Talent Identification? (TID) and 6 male Senior Elite (SE) Spanish National Squad triathletes during a specific cycle-run test. The TID and SE triathletes (initial age 15.2±0.7 vs. 23.8±5.6 years, p=0.03; tests through the competitive period and the preparatory period, respectively, of two consecutive seasons: Test 1 was an incremental cycle test to determine the ventilatory threshold (Thvent); Test 2 (C-R) was 30 min constant load cycling at the Thvent power output followed by a 3-km time trial run; and Test 3 (R) was an isolated 3-km time trial control run, in randomized counterbalanced order. In both seasons the time required to complete the C-R 3-km run was greater than for R in TID (11:09±00:24 vs. 10:45±00:16 min:ss, pmenor que 0.01; and 10:24±00:22 vs. 10:04±00:14, p=0.006, for season 2005/06 and 2006/07, respectively) and SE (10:15±00:19 vs. 09:45±00:30, pmenor que 0.001 and 09:51±00:26 vs. 09:46±00:06, p= 0.02 for season 2005/06 and 2006/07, respectively). Compared to the first season, completion of the time trial run was faster in the second season (6.6%, pmenor que 0.01 and 6.4%, pmenor que 0.01, for C-R and R test, respectively) only in TID. Changes in post-cycling run performance were accompanied by changes in pacing strategy but only slight or non-significant changes in the cardiorespiratory response. Thus, the negative effect of cycling on performance may persist, independently of the period, over two consecutive seasons in TID and SE triathletes; however A improvements over time suggests that monitoring running pacing strategy after cycling may be a useful tool to control performance and training adaptations in TID. O2max 77.0±5.6 vs. 77.8±3.6 mL·kg-1·min-1, NS) underwent three TE D EP C C