Social Mobility and Demand for Redistribution. A Comparative Analysis

The literature on preferences for redistribution has paid little attention to the effect of social mobility on the demand for redistribution, which is in contrast with the literature on class-voting, where studies on the effect of social mobility has been very common. Some works have addressed this issue but no systematic test of the hypotheses connecting social mobility and preferences has been done. In this paper we use the diagonal reference models to estimate the effect of origin and destination class on preferences for redistribution in a sample of European countries using data from the European Social Survey. Our findings indicate that social origin matters to a little extent to explain preferences, as newcomers tend to adopt the preferences of the destination class. Moreover, we have found only limited evidence supporting the acculturation hypothesis and not support for the status maximization hypothesis. Furthermore, the effect of social origin varies largely between countries. In a second step of the analysis we investigate what are the national factors explaining this variation. The empirical evidence we present leads to conclude that high rates of upward social mobility sharply reduce the effect of social origin on preferences for redistribution

Fibre Bragg gratings fabrication in four core fibres

Due to the limitation of the lens effect of the optical fibre and the inhomogeneity of the laser fluence on different cores, it is still challenging to controllably inscribe different fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) in multicore fibres. In this article, we reported the FBG inscription in four core fibres (FCFs), whose cores are arranged in the corners of a square lattice. By investigating the influence of different inscription conditions during inscription, different results, such as simultaneous inscription of all cores, selectively inscription of individual or two cores, and even double scanning in perpendicular core couples by diagonal, are achieved. The phase mask scanning method, consisting of a 244nm Argon-ion frequencydoubled laser, air-bearing linear transfer stage and cylindrical lens and mirror setup, is used to precisely control the grating inscription in FCFs. The influence of three factors is systematically investigated to overcome the limitations, and they are the defocusing length between the cylindrical lens and the bare fibre, the rotation geometry of the fibre to the irritation beam, and the relative position of the fibre in the vertical direction of the laser beam.

Variational mean-field approach to the double-exchange model

It has been recently shown that the double exchange Hamiltonian, with weak antiferromagnetic interactions, has a richer variety of first- and second-order transitions than previously anticipated, and that such transitions are consistent with the magnetic properties of manganites. Here we present a thorough discussion of the variational mean-field approach that leads to these results. We also show that the effect of the Berry phase turns out to be crucial to produce first-order paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transitions near half filling with transition temperatures compatible with the experimental situation. The computation relies on two crucial facts: the use of a mean-field ansatz that retains the complexity of a system of electrons with off-diagonal disorder, not fully taken into account by the mean-field techniques, and the small but significant antiferromagnetic superexchange interaction between the localized spins.

Aerobic power and lean mass are indicators of competitive sprint performance among elite female cross-country skiers

The purpose of this study was to establish the optimal allometric models to predict International Ski Federation’s ski-ranking points for sprint competitions (FISsprint) among elite female cross-country skiers based on maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) and lean mass (LM). Ten elite female cross-country skiers (age: 24.5±2.8 years [mean ± SD]) completed a treadmill roller-skiing test to determine V̇O2max (ie, aerobic power) using the diagonal stride technique, whereas LM (ie, a surrogate indicator of anaerobic capacity) was determined by dual-emission X-ray anthropometry. The subjects’ FISsprint were used as competitive performance measures. Power function modeling was used to predict the skiers’ FISsprint based on V̇O2max, LM, and body mass. The subjects’ test and performance data were as follows: V̇O2max, 4.0±0.3 L min-1; LM, 48.9±4.4 kg; body mass, 64.0±5.2 kg; and FISsprint, 116.4±59.6 points. The following power function models were established for the prediction of FISsprint: 3.91×105 ∙ VO -6.002maxand 6.95×1010 ∙ LM-5.25; these models explained 66% (P=0.0043) and 52% (P=0.019), respectively, of the variance in the FISsprint. Body mass failed to contribute to both models; hence, the models are based on V̇O2max and LM expressed absolutely. The results demonstrate that the physiological variables that reflect aerobic power and anaerobic capacity are important indicators of competitive sprint performance among elite female skiers. To accurately indicate performance capability among elite female skiers, the presented power function models should be used. Skiers whose V̇O2max differs by 1% will differ in their FISsprint by 5.8%, whereas the corresponding 1% difference in LM is related to an FISsprint difference of 5.1%, where both differences are in favor of the skier with higher V̇O2max or LM. It is recommended that coaches use the absolute expression of these variables to monitor skiers’ performance-related training adaptations linked to changes in aerobic power and anaerobic capacity.

PERCEPCIÓN SOCIAL ANTE EL RIESGO EN LA CIUDAD DE SAN FERNANDO DEL VALLE DE CATAMARCA. REPUBLICA ARGENTINA

El riesgo (según el enfoque constructivista) es una construcción social, dado que los individuos responden de acuerdo a su percepción cultural del riesgo, o sea según las creencias acerca de la factibilidad de que ocurra un efecto indeseable, y no a través de un nivel de riesgo objetivo o una valoración científica. Esta percepción cultural,  es influenciada por las características del medio en que habitan. El área de estudio se enmarca en el ámbito de la  Diagonal Árida Sudamericana, y el sistema de Sierras Pampeana, concentrando  más del 50 % del total poblacional provincial. El objetivo de este trabajo fue indagar acerca de las percepciones de la población ante los riesgos, a fin de comparar la información resultante, con  los conocimientos objetivos existentes. La recopilación de la información mediante encuestas, entrevistas, con la correspondiente generación de capas resultantes, georeferenciadas y la recopilación de otras existentes referentes a variables físicas, espaciales, sirven de soporte metodológico para la representación cartográfica específica mediante la utilización de software libre. Aporte geográfico: la aplicación de  conocimientos  desde la geografía de la percepción y el comportamiento ante el riesgo. La implementación de acciones concretas para revertir la desinformación científica ante situaciones concretas de riesgos, superadora de las creencias populares.

RIESGO DE CONTAMINACION DE LOS RECURSOS HIDRICOS POR ACTIVIDADES ANTROPOGÉNICAS EN EL DEPARTAMENTO CAPITAL, PROVINCIA DE CATAMARCA, REPUBLICA ARGENTINA

El departamento Capital, provincia de Catamarca, cuenta con una población de 170.000 habitantes, el recurso hídrico es escaso dado que integra la Diagonal Árida Sudamericana. La acelerada urbanización en las dos últimas décadas, la promoción industrial, el cambio del uso del suelo y las prácticas inadecuadas en el tratamiento de los residuos sólidos urbanos, ponen en riesgo las escasas fuentes de agua disponibles. El objetivo fue determinar los riesgos de contaminación de los recursos hídricos superficiales y subterráneos, originados por las actividades humanas. La vulnerabilidad de las aguas subterráneas se determinó con la metodología DIOS propuesta por Foster e Hirata (1991), adaptada también para las aguas superficiales. Los análisis físicos –químicos de las aguas, fueron realizados utilizando técnicas normalizadas según el Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. En sectores de alta demanda de agua subterránea, algunas perforaciones para agua potable fueron contaminadas con nitratos, superando los límites tolerables de 45 mg/l que le asigna el CAA a la potabilidad del agua. Aportes principales: el análisis geográfico integrado a una visión holística multidisciplinaria de conservación y gestión integral del recurso agua, esencial para la vida humana; la localización precisa de zonas de alto riesgo de contaminación y el auspicio de un correcto ordenamiento territorial.

PARA QUE SERVE O GTP (GEOSISTEMA – TERRITÓRIO – PAISAGEM)?

A crise contemporânea do meio ambiente encontra a pesquisa numa situação de complexidade e de urgência. A introdução desse artigo é destinada, de uma parte, a definir o objeto da pesquisa (o meio ambiente geográfico no seu sentido amplo) e, de outra parte, a ferramenta científica para a análise (um novo paradigma). No transcorrer dos anos 1966-1970 se assiste a uma verdadeira “revolução coperniciana”: o mundo muda, a visão do mundo muda e a pesquisa científica é mexida/transtornada pelo recurso à interdisciplinaridade e às novas tecnologias. A geografia física deve sair de seu (relativo) isolamento. A questão do meio ambiente não é mais apenas uma questão de pesquisa e de método. Face à mudança global, material e imaterial, é preciso inventar um paradigma. Até o momento temos um sistema de referência tripolar – GTP: Geosistema - Território – Paisagem – cuja validade tentaremos demonstrar ao longo de nossa exposição. O GTP parte de três pólos fundamentais à reconstrução da geografia física: (a) um pólo epistemológico de base filosófica que tem por objetivo maior colocar o conjunto da problemática ambiental no quadro da “natureza e da sociedade”; (b) um pólo metodológico que tem como objetivo definir os conceitos, as práticas metodológicas e as técnicas ou tecnologias de trabalho; (c) um pólo didático, cada vez mais essencial, voltado tanto para a formação inicial (pedagogia) como para as aplicações profissionais (aménagement-desenvolvimento). Existe aqui um papel fundamental a ser desempenhado pela geografia como “ciência didática” do meio ambiente? O geosistema, o território, a paisagem são três maneiras de se considerar um objeto único que é o espaço que nos cerca, em uma palavra, o meio ambiente. Estas são três entradas construídas num objeto único, três entradas e, pois, três finalidades diferentes. Os aproximar sem os confundir num sistema tripolar permite introduzir a diversidade e de a flexibilizar num sistema complexo. Estas são três entradas complementares e interativas. O geosistema com finalidade naturalista toma em consideração a “natureza” antropizada. O território com finalidade sócio-econômica corresponde à abordagem clássica da geografia humana. A paisagem com finalidade cultural introduz a dimensão das imagens e das representações. Não há hierarquia entre os três pólos, mas complementaridades: é isto que dá a flexibilidade ao funcionamento científico. A título de reflexão: Para um retorno do geográfico?Em torno de três questões possíveis: (a) O retorno do geográfico será um retorno da disciplina Geografia? (b) Trata-se de uma « ciência diagonal » em curso de criação?(c) Qual é o impacto deste paradigma sobre as aplicações para o aménagement do território e para o “desenvolvimento sustentável”?

POLÍTICAS DE ORDENAMIENTO AMBIENTAL DEL TERRITORIO EN LA ARGENTINA CONTEMPORÁNEA

Promover el desarrollo equitativo del territorio es un desafío para gran parte de los gobiernos latinoamericanos. Ello da cuenta de la generación de un nuevo paradigma que reconoce dos vectores fundamentales: el impulso al crecimiento económico con soberanía política, asentado en el proceso de integración regional como plataforma de inclusión en la economía global y la implementación de políticas que promuevan procesos de desarrollo sostenible, lo cual sintetiza los conceptos de equidad social y sustentabilidad ambiental de los territorios nacionales. A partir de ambos vectores, el objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las políticas de ordenamiento del territorio impulsadas por el Ministerio de Planificación Federal, Inversión Pública y Servicios y las políticas ambientales encuadradas en la Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la República Argentina. Enmarcada en el enfoque metodológico cualitativo, la estrategia utilizada para procesar datos procedentes de fuentes primarias y secundarias, fue el análisis e interpretación de documentos. Los resultados muestran exiguos avances en materia de ordenamiento territorial. A ello se suma la complejidad y superposición de las normas ambientales y la cambiante naturaleza de las políticas públicas que, entre otras razones, obstaculizaron la sanción de una Ley de Desarrollo y Ordenamiento Ambiental del Territorio Argentino ritóriA � a`@�9�o três maneiras de se considerar um objeto único que é o espaço que nos cerca, em uma palavra, o meio ambiente. Estas são três entradas construídas num objeto único, três entradas e, pois, três finalidades diferentes. Os aproximar sem os confundir num sistema tripolar permite introduzir a diversidade e de a flexibilizar num sistema complexo. Estas são três entradas complementares e interativas. O geosistema com finalidade naturalista toma em consideração a “natureza” antropizada. O território com finalidade sócio-econômica corresponde à abordagem clássica da geografia humana. A paisagem com finalidade cultural introduz a dimensão das imagens e das representações. Não há hierarquia entre os três pólos, mas complementaridades: é isto que dá a flexibilidade ao funcionamento científico. A título de reflexão: Para um retorno do geográfico?Em torno de três questões possíveis: (a) O retorno do geográfico será um retorno da disciplina Geografia? (b) Trata-se de uma « ciência diagonal » em curso de criação?(c) Qual é o impacto deste paradigma sobre as aplicações para o aménagement do território e para o “desenvolvimento sustentável”? 

Spatial scale effects of sampling on the interpolation of species distribution models in the southwestern Amazon.

Knowledge of the geographical distribution of timber tree species in the Amazon is still scarce. This is especially true at the local level, thereby limiting natural resource management actions. Forest inventories are key sources of information on the occurrence of such species. However, areas with approved forest management plans are mostly located near access roads and the main industrial centers. The present study aimed to assess the spatial scale effects of forest inventories used as sources of occurrence data in the interpolation of potential species distribution models. The occurrence data of a group of six forest tree species were divided into four geographical areas during the modeling process. Several sampling schemes were then tested applying the maximum entropy algorithm, using the following predictor variables: elevation, slope, exposure, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and height above the nearest drainage (HAND). The results revealed that using occurrence data from only one geographical area with unique environmental characteristics increased both model overfitting to input data and omission error rates. The use of a diagonal systematic sampling scheme and lower threshold values led to improved model performance. Forest inventories may be used to predict areas with a high probability of species occurrence, provided they are located in forest management plan regions representative of the environmental range of the model projection area.

Data analysis of collapse mechanisms of a 3D printed groin vault in shaking table testing

The aim of this novel experimental study is to investigate the behaviour of a 2m x 2m model of a masonry groin vault, which is built by the assembly of blocks made of a 3D-printed plastic skin filled with mortar. The choice of the groin vault is due to the large presence of this vulnerable roofing system in the historical heritage. Experimental tests on the shaking table are carried out to explore the vault response on two support boundary conditions, involving four lateral confinement modes. The data processing of markers displacement has allowed to examine the collapse mechanisms of the vault, based on the arches deformed shapes. There then follows a numerical evaluation, to provide the orders of magnitude of the displacements associated to the previous mechanisms. Given that these displacements are related to the arches shortening and elongation, the last objective is the definition of a critical elongation between two diagonal bricks and consequently of a diagonal portion. This study aims to continue the previous work and to take another step forward in the research of ground motion effects on masonry structures.

Generalized hydrodynamics of a (1+1)-dimensional integrable scattering theory with roaming trajectories

The emergence of hydrodynamic features in off-equilibrium (1 + 1)-dimensional integrable quantum systems has been the object of increasing attention in recent years. In this Master Thesis, we combine Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz (TBA) techniques for finite-temperature quantum field theories with the Generalized Hydrodynamics (GHD) picture to provide a theoretical and numerical analysis of Zamolodchikov’s staircase model both at thermal equilibrium and in inhomogeneous generalized Gibbs ensembles. The staircase model is a diagonal (1 + 1)-dimensional integrable scattering theory with the remarkable property of roaming between infinitely many critical points when moving along a renormalization group trajectory. Namely, the finite-temperature dimensionless ground-state energy of the system approaches the central charges of all the minimal unitary conformal field theories (CFTs) M_p as the temperature varies. Within the GHD framework we develop a detailed study of the staircase model’s hydrodynamics and compare its quite surprising features to those displayed by a class of non-diagonal massless models flowing between adjacent points in the M_p series. Finally, employing both TBA and GHD techniques, we generalize to higher-spin local and quasi-local conserved charges the results obtained by B. Doyon and D. Bernard [1] for the steady-state energy current in off-equilibrium conformal field theories.

Iberian and Latin American Music Scholarship on the Ascent: Reflections from the United States

In the early twentieth century, musicology was established as an academic discipline in the United States. Nonetheless, with the exception of Iberian medieval and Renaissance repertories, U.S. scholars largely overlooked the music of the Spanish- and Portuguese- speaking world. Why should this have been the case, especially in light of Spain’s strong historical presence in the United States? This autobiographical essay examines this question by tracing the career of an individual musicologist, the Hispanist musicologist Carol A. Hess. Evaluated here are disciplinary shifts in U.S. musicology —methodological, philosophical, and ideological— over the past thirty years. These transformations have combined to make this repertory a viable field of study today. Musicologists in the United States can now make their careers by specializing in Iberian and Latin American music, as well as the music of the Hispanic diaspora. They research topics ranging from the avant-garde composer Llorenç Barber to the rapper Nach Scratch or the popular bandleader Xavier Cugat and his U.S. audiences of the 1940s, while others also pursue the time-tested areas of medieval and Renaissance music. Iberian and Latin American music is regularly offered in postsecondary institutions while instructors now have a variety of textbooks and other pedagogical resources from which to choose. All add up to a disciplinary freedom that would have been unthinkable only a few decades ago.

Excitonic properties of transition metal oxide perovskites and workflow automatization of GW schemes

The Many-Body-Perturbation Theory approach is among the most successful theoretical frameworks for the study of excited state properties. It allows to describe the excitonic interactions, which play a fundamental role in the optical response of insulators and semiconductors. The first part of the thesis focuses on the study of the quasiparticle, optical and excitonic properties of \textit{bulk} Transition Metal Oxide (TMO) perovskites using a G$_0$W$_0$+Bethe Salpeter Equation (BSE) approach. A representative set of 14 compounds has been selected, including 3d, 4d and 5d perovskites. An approximation of the BSE scheme, based on an analytic diagonal expression for the inverse dielectric function, is used to compute the exciton binding energies and is carefully bench-marked against the standard BSE results. In 2019 an important breakthrough has been achieved with the synthesis of ultrathin SrTiO3 films down to the monolayer limit. This allows us to explore how the quasiparticle and optical properties of SrTiO3 evolve from the bulk to the two-dimensional limit. The electronic structure is computed with G0W0 approach: we prove that the inclusion of the off-diagonal self-energy terms is required to avoid non-physical band dispersions. The excitonic properties are investigated beyond the optical limit at finite momenta. Lastly a study of the under pressure optical response of the topological nodal line semimetal ZrSiS is presented, in conjunction with the experimental results from the group of Prof. Dr. Kuntscher of the Augsburg University. The second part of the thesis discusses the implementation of a workflow to automate G$_0$W$_0$ and BSE calculations with the VASP software. The workflow adopts a convergence scheme based on an explicit basis-extrapolation approach [J. Klimeš \textit{et al.}, Phys. Rev.B 90, 075125 (2014)] which allows to reduce the number of intermediate calculations required to reach convergence and to explicit estimate the error associated to the basis-set truncation.

Comparison of the seismic performances of a steel frame building equipped with different geometrical configurations of Crescent Shaped Braces

The Crescent Shaped Brace (CSB) is a new simple steel hysteretic device proposed to be used as an enhanced diagonal brace in framed structures. The CSB allows the practical designer to choose the lateral stiffness independently from the yield strength of the device, due to its peculiar ad-hoc shape. In the present thesis, a complete study referring to different CSB configurations has been presented. After the validation of the hysteretic capacities of the Crescent Shaped Braces, the seismic concept of the "enhanced first story isolation" system has been proposed within the PBSD. It relies on the total separation between the Vertical Resisting System (VRS) and the Horizontal Resisting System (HRS) in order to attain a certain objective curve of the structure. An applicative example has been studied following this concept and exploiting the advantages of the CSBs as seismic dissipative devices used for the HRS. Then several geometrical configurations called Single CSB system, Single 2 CSB system, Double CSB system, Coupled CSB system, Coupled with high length CSB system, and the final one was Cross bracing system have been introduced and modelled with SAP2000 and the results have been compared.

Sistemi di stoccaggio non tradizionali: modellazione analitica ed analisi prestazionale multi-scenario

Il seguente elaborato di tesi prevede la simulazione del comportamento di quattro diversi layout di magazzino contenenti lo stesso numero di vani, ipotizzando uno stoccaggio della merce secondo il criterio delle classi. Inoltre è stata analizzata l’influenza della variabile altezza sul tempo di ciclo dei singoli magazzini. I quattro layout analizzati sono stati: il layout tradizionale, il layout diagonal cross aisle, il layout fishbone e il layout leaf. Il primo è un magazzino “convenzionale”, nel quale l’intersezione dei corridoi genera sempre angoli retti, i restanti tre sono magazzini “non convenzionali”, ovvero l’intersezione dei corridoi genera angoli particolari. Per ciascun magazzino è stato realizzato un modello matematico discreto in grado di determinare la posizione di ogni singolo vano, la sua distanza dal punto I/O e la sua altezza da terra. Il modello matematico e la tipologia di gestione del magazzino sono stati successivamente implementati in un programma scritto su Microsoft Excel, mediante il linguaggio integrato VBA (Visual Basic for Application). Questo ha permesso di determinare i tempi di ciclo medi per ciascun magazzino, facendo il rapporto tra le distanze precedentemente calcolate e le velocità di traslazione e sollevamento del carrello elevatore. Per ottenere dalla simulazioni dei valori il più possibile prossimi alla realtà è stata adottata la metodologia di Simulazione Monte Carlo e un numero di estrazioni pari a 1000. Dai risultati ottenuti è emerso che il magazzino fishbone è in grado di garantire i miglior tempo di ciclo e che i tempi di ciclo più bassi si ottengono, a parità di vani presenti in un magazzino, aumentando le dimensioni in pianta piuttosto che aumentando l’altezza del magazzino.