Dynamic range extension of SiPM detectors with the time-gated operation

The silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) is a novel detector technology that has undergone a fast development in the last few years, owing to its single-photon resolution and ultra-fast response time. However, the typical high dark count rates of the sensor may prevent the detection of low intensity radiation fluxes. In this article, the time-gated operation with short active periods in the nanosecond range is proposed as a solution to reduce the number of cells fired due to noise and thus increase the dynamic range. The technique is aimed at application fields that function under a trigger command, such as gated fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy.

Haciendas Locales y Medio Ambiente

Junto a los medios puramente administrativos orientados a la protección del medio ambiente, cada día adquieren mayor protagonismo los que pueden adoptarse desde el ámbito del derecho financiero, del ingreso y gasto públicos. El trabajo se ha estructurado en cuatro apartados: aguas, residuos sólidos, polución atmosférica y contaminación acústica.

Radio continuum and near-infrared study of the MGRO J2019+37 region

MGRO J2019+37 is an unidentified extended source of very high energy gamma-rays originally reported by the Milagro Collaboration as the brightest TeV source in the Cygnus region. Its extended emission could be powered by either a single or several sources. The GeV pulsar AGL J2020.5+3653 , discovered by AGILE and associated with PSR J2021+3651 , could contribute to the emission from MGRO J2019+37 . Aims. Our aim is to identify radio and near-infrared sources in the field of the extended TeV source MGRO J2019+37 , and study potential counterparts to explain its emission. Methods. We surveyed a region of about 6 square degrees with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at the frequency 610 MHz. We also observed the central square degree of this survey in the near-infrared -band using the 3.5 m telescope in Calar Alto. Archival X-ray observations of some specific fields are included. VLBI observations of an interesting radio source were performed. We explored possible scenarios to produce the multi-TeV emission from MGRO J2019+37 and studied which of the sources could be the main particle accelerator. Results. We present a catalogue of 362 radio sources detected with the GMRT in the field of MGRO J2019+37 , and the results of a cross-correlation of this catalog with one obtained at near-infrared wavelengths, which contains ~3105 sources, as well as with available X-ray observations of the region. Some peculiar sources inside the ~1° uncertainty region of the TeV emission from MGRO J2019+37 are discussed in detail, including the pulsar PSR J2021+3651 and its pulsar wind nebula PWN G75.2+0.1 , two new radio-jet sources, the H II region Sh 2-104 containing two star clusters, and the radio source NVSS J202032+363158 . We also find that the hadronic scenario is the most likely in case of a single accelerator, and discuss the possible contribution from the sources mentioned above. Conclusions. Although the radio and GeV pulsar PSR J2021+3651 / AGL J2020.5+3653 and its associated pulsar wind nebula PWN G75.2+0.1 can contribute to the emission from MGRO J2019+37 , extrapolation of the GeV spectrum does not explain the detected multi-TeV flux. Other sources discussed here could contribute to the emission of the Milagro source.

Observation of Pulsed γ-Rays Above 25 GeV from the Crab Pulsar with MAGIC

One fundamental question about pulsars concerns the mechanism of their pulsed electromagnetic emission. Measuring the high-end region of a pulsar's spectrum would shed light on this question. By developing a new electronic trigger, we lowered the threshold of the Major Atmospheric γ-ray Imaging Cherenkov (MAGIC) telescope to 25 giga-electron volts. In this configuration, we detected pulsed γ-rays from the Crab pulsar that were greater than 25 giga-electron volts, revealing a relatively high cutoff energy in the phase-averaged spectrum. This indicates that the emission occurs far out in the magnetosphere, hence excluding the polar-cap scenario as a possible explanation of our measurement. The high cutoff energy also challenges the slot-gap scenario.

The environmental effects of changing speed limits: a quantile regression approach

Two speed management policies were implemented in the metropolitan area of Barcelona aimed at reducing air pollution concentration levels. In 2008, the maximum speed limit was reduced to 80 km/h and, in 2009, a variable speed system was introduced on some metropolitan motorways. This paper evaluates whether such policies have been successful in promoting cleaner air, not only in terms of mean pollutant levels but also during high and low pollution episodes. We use a quantile regression approach for fixed effect panel data. We find that the variable speed system improves air quality with regard to the two pollutants considered here, being most effective when nitrogen oxide levels are not too low and when particulate matter concentrations are below extremely high levels. However, reducing the maximum speed limit from 120/100 km/h to 80 km/h has no effect – or even a slightly increasing effect –on the two pollutants, depending on the pollution scenario. Length: 32 pages

Spatial and Temporal Trends in Sunshine Duration over Western Europe

This work analyzes sunshine duration variability in the western part of Europe (WEU) over the 1938– 2004 period. A principal component analysis is applied to cluster the original series from 79 sites into 6 regions, and then annual and seasonal mean series are constructed on regional and also for the whole WEU scales. Over the entire period studied here, the linear trend of annual sunshine duration is found to be nonsignificant. However, annual sunshine duration shows an overall decrease since the 1950s until the early 1980s, followed by a subsequent recovery during the last two decades. This behavior is in good agreement with the dimming and brightening phenomena described in previous literature. From the seasonal analysis, the most remarkable result is the similarity between spring and annual series, although the spring series has a negative trend; and the clear significant increase found for the whole WEU winter series, being especially large since the 1970s. The behavior of the major synoptic patterns for two seasons is investigated, resulting in some indications that sunshine duration evolution may be partially explained by changes in the frequency of some of them

Catálogo sinóptico manual y causas atmosféricas de la precipitación en la provincia de Alicante

El estudio climático del régimen pluviométrico, y al mismo tiempo de la variabilidad de las precipitaciones, ha acaparado un punto de atención prioritario de las investigaciones que, sobre Climatología Mediterránea, han visto la luz para la fachada oriental de la península Ibérica durante los últimos lustros. Empero, no son muchos los trabajos que se han preocupado en cuantificar de forma estadística la precipitación en función de la causa atmosférica que la ha originado. En estrecha relación con ello, la presente investigación plantea un catálogo manual de clasificación de las situaciones atmosféricas que causan precipitación en la provincia de Alicante, distinguiendo tres grandes grupos: Episodios atlánticos, convectivos y mediterráneos. Bajo este planteamiento metodológico y algún otro más adicional, se analiza el comportamiento y características de todos los sucesos atmosféricos con precipitación ≥ 10 mm durante la década 1991-2000, para un total de seis observatorios meteorológicos. Se destaca el dominio de las lluvias mediterráneas en todos ellos, el importante peso de las precipitaciones de origen convectivo en el interior y, a grandes rasgos, la pobre eficacia pluviométrica de las situaciones atlánticas para la totalidad del territorio alicantino.

El sol té efectes negatius retardats sobre la pell

PRENDRE EL SOL POT SER UNA ACTIVITAT molt plaent. Tanmateix, la radiació ultraviolada pot esdevenir carcinògena, atesa la seva capacitat d'induir mutacions en l'ADN, motiu pel qual sempre s'ha de prendre amb moderació i utilitzar una crema protectora adequada. Els rajos solars més mutagènics són els ultraviolats de tipus B (UVB), atès que són més energètics. Provoquen mutacions de forma gairebé instantània, de manera que quan deixem de prendre el sol tenim la sensació d'estar protegits. Però un treball publicat a Science demostra que els UVA, que tradicionalment s'han percebut com a menys nocius i per això són els que emeten les làmpades solars per bronzejar-se, també són mutagènics, tot i que actuen de manera diferent dels UVB. La seva capacitat per induir mutacions no és instantània, sinó que perdura fins a tres hores després que hàgim deixat de prendre el sol.

Candidate counterparts to the soft gamma-ray flare in the direction od LSI+61303

A short duration burst reminiscent of a soft gamma-ray repeater/anomalous X-ray pulsar behaviour was detected in the direction of LS I +61 303 by the Swift satellite. While the association with this well known gamma-ray binary is likely, a different origin cannot be excluded. Aims. We explore the error box of this unexpected flaring event and establish the radio, near-infrared and X-ray sources in our search for any peculiar alternative counterpart. Methods. We carried out a combined analysis of archive Very Large Array radio data of LS I +61 303 sensitive to both compact and extended emission. We also reanalysed previous near infrared observations with the 3.5 m telescope of the Centro Astronómico Hispano Alemán and X-ray observations with the Chandra satellite. Results. Our deep radio maps of the LS I +61 303 environment represent a significant advancement on previous work and 16 compact radio sources in the LS I +61 303 vicinity are detected. For some detections, we also identify near infrared and X-ray counterparts. Extended emission features in the field are also detected and confirmed. The possible connection of some of these sources with the observed flaring event is considered. Based on these data, we are unable to claim a clear association between the Swift-BAT flare and any of the sources reported here. However, this study represents the most sophisticated attempt to determine possible alternative counterparts other than LS I +61 303.

El fotorreactor elíptico

In this paper, the mathematical model of the elliptical photoreactor , an special type of reactor that uses ultraviolet radiation, is presented. In the elliptical photoreactor the cylindrical reactor is irradiated from the outside by placing the lamp and the reactor at the foci of an elliptical reflector. The two main models of radiation -radial and difusse- are studied, an finally the general method of resolution of the mathematical model and its resolution in certain simple cases is shown.

A Method for Sky-Condition Classification from Ground-Based Solar Radiation Measurements

Identification of clouds from satellite images is now a routine task. Observation of clouds from the ground, however, is still needed to acquire a complete description of cloud conditions. Among the standard meteorologicalvariables, solar radiation is the most affected by cloud cover. In this note, a method for using global and diffuse solar radiation data to classify sky conditions into several classes is suggested. A classical maximum-likelihood method is applied for clustering data. The method is applied to a series of four years of solar radiation data and human cloud observations at a site in Catalonia, Spain. With these data, the accuracy of the solar radiation method as compared with human observations is 45% when nine classes of sky conditions are to be distinguished, and it grows significantly to almost 60% when samples are classified in only five different classes. Most errors are explained by limitations in the database; therefore, further work is under way with a more suitable database

Sistema d'adquisició de temperatures de 2 canals via R.F.

Poder mesurar i enregistrar diferents tipus de magnituds com pressió, força, temperatura etc. s’ha convertit en una necessitat per moltes aplicacions actuals. Aquestes magnituds poden tenir procedències molt diverses, tals com l’entorn, o poden ser generades per sistemes mecànics, elèctrics, etc. Per tal de poder adquirir aquestes magnituds, s’utilitzen els sistemes d’adquisició de dades. Aquests sistemes, prenen mostres analògiques del món real, i les transformen en dades digitals que poden ser manipulades per un sistema electrònic. Pràcticament qualsevol magnitud es pot mesurar utilitzant el sensor adient. Una magnitud molt utilitzada en sistemes d’adquisició de dades, és la temperatura. Els sistemes d’adquisició de temperatures estan molt generalitzats, i podem trobar-los com a sistemes, on l’objectiu és mostrar les dades adquirides, o podem trobar-los formant part de sistemes de control, aportant uns inputs necessaris per el seu correcte funcionament, garantir-ne l’estabilitat, seguretat etc. Aquest projecte, promogut per l’empresa Elausa, s’encarregarà d’adquirir, el senyal d’entrada de 2 Termoparells. Aquests mesuraran temperatures de circuits electrònics, que es trobaran dintre la càmera climàtica de Elausa, sotmesos a diferents condicions de temperatura, per tal de rebre l’homologació del circuit. El sistema haurà de poder mostrar les dades adquirides en temps real, i emmagatzemar-les en un PC que estarà ubicat en una oficina, situada a uns 30 m de distància de la sala on es farà el test. El sistema constarà d’un circuit electrònic que adquirirà, i condicionarà el senyal de sortida dels termoparells, per adaptar-lo a la tensió d’entrada d’un convertidor analògic digital, del microcontrolador integrat en aquesta placa. Seguidament aquesta informació, s’enviarà a través d’un mòdul transmissor de radiofreqüència, cap al PC on es visualitzaran les dades adquirides. Els objectius plantejats són els següents: - Dissenyar el circuit electrònic d’adquisició i condicionament del senyal. - Dissenyar, fabricar i muntar el circuit imprès de la placa d’adquisició. - Realitzar el programa de control del microcontrolador. - Realitzar el programa per presentar i desar les dades en un PC. - El sistema ha d’adquirir 2 temperatures, a través de Termoparells amb un rang d’entrada de -40ºC a +240ºC - S’ha de transmetre les dades via R.F. Els resultats del projecte han estat satisfactoris i s’han complert els objectius plantejats.

Mutants solars

Des de fa un bon grapat de dècades, un dels costums més generalitzats a l'estiu és prendre el sol i permetre que l'astre rei ens escalfi la pell i la bronzegi. Certament, la llum solar exerceix una influència molt beneficiosa sobre el nostre organisme. D'una banda, el nostre cos la necessita per poder aprofitar determinades vitamines, com la vitamina D. També és molt eficaç en determinats processos dolorosos que afecten els ossos, la musculatura i les articulacions. A més, el sistema nerviós respon a la presència de llum solar produint endorfines, unes hormones que s'assemblen als opioides, les quals contribueixen a produir una sensació de benestar general [...].

Impactes

Fa dues setmanes vaig parlar de la importància d'assistir a reunions científiques i de les conseqüències ambientals de la recerca. Un treball recent ha analitzat l'impacte d'un congrés al qual van assistir 15.000 especialistes, el desplaçament dels quals va generar 11.000 tones de CO2, les mateixes que emeten 110.000 txadians en un any [...].

Caracterização espectral de estágios sucessionais de vegetação secundária arbórea em Altamira (PA), através de dados orbitais

Imagens TM/Landsat 5 (bandas TM1-TM5 e TM7) de Altamira, PA, de 07.02.1991 foram transformadas em reflectância de superfície usando o modelo 6S de correção atmosférica com o objetivo de caracterizar espectralmente formações florestais secundárias. Dados biofísicos (DAP, G e H) foram coletados de 16 parcelas em campo, os quais foram utilizados no cálculo da área basal total (GT) e da rugosidade do dossel (Rug) e no estabelecimento de correlações entre os valores de reflectância de superfície dessas mesmas parcelas. Os coeficientes de correlação mais elevados foram verificados nas relações com a banda TM7. Regressões lineares foram estabelecidas tendo como variável dependente os parâmetros biofísicos e como variável independente, os valores de reflectância de superfície da banda TM7, a partir das quais foram elaborados mapas temáticos representativos da distribuição espacial dos parâmetros biofísicos. A reflectância de superfície não foi sensível a valores pequenos de dados biofísicos. Apesar disso, a metodologia aqui empregada mostrou-se eficaz para estimativas remotas de dados dendrométricos.