SST–convection relation over tropical oceans

According to current knowledge, convection over the tropical oceans increases with sea surface temperature (SST) from 26 to 29 °C, and at SSTs above 29 °C, it sharply decreases. Our research shows that it is only over the summer warm pool areas of Indian and west Pacific Oceans (monsoon areas) where the zone of maximum SST is away from the equator that this kind of SST-convection relationship exists. In these areas (1) convection is related to the SST gradient that generates low-level moisture convergence and upward vertical motion in the atmosphere. This has modelling support. Regions of SST maxima have low SST gradients and therefore feeble convection. (2) Convection initiated by SST gradient produces strong wind fields particularly cross-equatorial low-level jetstreams (LLJs) on the equator-ward side of the warm pool and both the convection and LLJ grow through a positive feedback process. Thus, large values of convection are associated with the cyclonic vorticity of the LLJ in the atmospheric boundary layer. In the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) over the east Pacific Ocean and the south Pacific convergence zone (SPCZ) over the west Pacific Ocean, low-level winds from north and south hemisphere converge in the zone of maximum SST, which lies close to the equator producing there elongated bands of deep convection, where we find that convection increases with SST for the full range of SSTs unlike in the warm pool regions. The low-level wind divergence computed using QuikSCAT winds has large and significant linear correlation with convection in both the warm pool and ITCZ/SPCZ areas. But the linear correlation between SST and convection is large only for the ITCZ/SPCZ. These findings have important implications for the modelling of largescale atmospheric circulations and the associated convective rainfall over the tropical oceans

Characteristic Study of the Boundary Layer Parameters over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal Using the QuikSCAT Dataset

The marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) plays a vital role in the transport of momentum and heat from the surface of the ocean into the atmosphere. A detailed study on the MABL characteristics was carried out using high-resolution surface-wind data as measured by the QuikSCAT (Quick scatterometer) satellite. Spatial variations in the surface wind, frictional velocity, roughness parameter and drag coe±cient for the di®erent seasons were studied. The surface wind was strong during the southwest monsoon season due to the modulation induced by the Low Level Jetstream. The drag coe±cient was larger during this season, due to the strong winds and was lower during the winter months. The spatial variations in the frictional velocity over the seas was small during the post-monsoon season (»0.2 m s¡1). The maximum spatial variation in the frictional velocity was found over the south Arabian Sea (0.3 to 0.5 m s¡1) during the southwest monsoon period, followed by the pre-monsoon over the Bay of Bengal (0.1 to 0.25 m s¡1). The mean wind-stress curl during the winter was positive over the equatorial region, with a maximum value of 1.5£10¡7 N m¡3, but on either side of the equatorial belt, a negative wind-stress curl dominated. The area average of the frictional velocity and drag coe±cient over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal were also studied. The values of frictional velocity shows a variability that is similar to the intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) and this was con¯rmed via wavelet analysis. In the case of the drag coe±cient, the prominent oscillations were ISO and quasi-biweekly mode (QBM). The interrelationship between the drag coe±cient and the frictional velocity with wind speed in both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal was also studied.

Meteorological aspects of mud bank formation along south west coast of India

The study mainly intends to investigate the meteorological aspects associated with the formation of mud banks along southwest coast of India. During the formation of mud bank, the prominent monsoon organized convection is located in the equatorial region and relatively low clouding over Indian mainland. The wind core of the low level jet stream passes through the monsoon organized convection. When the monsoon organized convection is in the equatorial region, the low level wind over the southwest coast of India is parallel to the coastline and toward south. This wind along the coast gives rise to Ekman mass transport away from the coastline and subsequently formation of mud bank, if the high wind stress persists continuously for three or more days. As a result of the increased alongshore wind stress, the coastal upwelling increases. An increase in chlorophyll-a concentration and total chlorophyll can also be seen associated with mudbank formation

Local Hadley circulation over the Asian monsoon region associated with the Tropospheric Biennial Oscillation

The Tropospheric Biennial Oscillation (TBO), a major interannual variation phenomenon in the Indo-Pacific region, is the result of strong ocean-atmosphere coupling over the Asian-Australian monsoon area. Along with other meteorological and oceanographic parameters, the tropical circulation also exhibits interannual oscillations. Even though the TBO is the result of strong air–sea interaction, the circulation cells during TBO years are, as yet, not well understood. In the present study, an attempt has been made to understand the interannual variability of the mean meridional circulation and local monsoon circulation over south Asia in connection with the TBO. The stream function computed from the zonal mean meridional wind component of NCEP=NCAR reanalysis data for the years 1950–2003 is used to represent the meanmeridional circulation. Mean meridional mass transport in the topics reverses from a weak monsoon to a strong monsoon in the presence of ENSO, but in normal TBO yearsmean transport remains weak across the Northern Hemisphere. The meridional temperature gradient, which drives the mean meridional circulation, also shows no reversal during the normal TBO cycle. The local Hadley circulation over the monsoon area follows the TBO cycle with anomalous ascent (descent) in strong (weak) monsoon years. During normal TBO years, the Equatorial region and Indian monsoon areas exhibit opposite local Hadley circulation anomalies

Photoperiod-dependent plasticity of circadian pacemaker center in the brain of the Madeira cockroach Rhyparobia maderae

To various degrees, insects in nature adapt to and live with two fundamental environmental rhythms around them: (1) the daily rhythm of light and dark, and (2) the yearly seasonal rhythm of the changing photoperiod (length of light per day). It is hypothesized that two biological clocks evolved in organisms on earth which allow them to harmonize successfully with the two environmental rhythms: (1) the circadian clock, which orchestrates circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior, and (2) the photoperiodic clock, which allows for physiological adaptations to changes in photoperiod during the course of the year (insect photoperiodism). The circadian rhythm is endogenous and continues in constant conditions, while photoperiodism requires specific light inputs of a minimal duration. Output pathways from both clocks control neurosecretory cells which regulate growth and reproduction. This dissertation focuses on the question whether different photoperiods change the network and physiology of the circadian clock of an originally equatorial cockroach species. It is assumed that photoperiod-dependent plasticity of the cockroach circadian clock allows for adaptations in physiology and behavior without the need for a separate photoperiodic clock circuit. The Madeira cockroach Rhyparobia maderae is a well established circadian clock model system. Lesion and transplantation studies identified the accessory medulla (aMe), a small neuropil with about 250 neurons, as the cockroach circadian pacemaker. Among them, the pigment-dispersing factor immunoreactive (PDF-ir) neurons anterior to the aMe (aPDFMes) play a key role as inputs to and outputs of the circadian clock system. The aim of my doctoral thesis was to examine whether and how different photoperiods modify the circadian clock system. With immunocytochemical studies, three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction, standardization and Ca2+-imaging technique, my studies revealed that raising cockroaches in different photoperiods changed the neuronal network of the circadian clock (Wei and Stengl, 2011). In addition, different photoperiods affected the physiology of single, isolated circadian pacemaker neurons. This thesis provides new evidence for the involvement of the circadian clock in insect photoperiodism. The data suggest that the circadian pacemaker system of the Madeira cockroach has the plasticity and potential to allow for physiological adaptations to different photoperiods. Therefore, it may express also properties of a photoperiodic clock.

Cine y habilidades sociales : la comunicaci??n

Resumen basado en la publicaci??n

L'ús i la defensa de la llengua catalana a Presència (1965-1971)

Valoració de les aportacions en llengua catalana i en llengua castellana dintre dels continguts de la revista gironina Presència. Així mateix es comenten les dificultats que va tenir la revista per a editar-se des dels seus inicis, el 1965, i al llarg de la seva existència fins el 1971

Exercise sheet 6

Exercises and solutions in LaTex

Integración de invidentes, personalidad y habilidades interpersonales.

Estudiar las actitudes hacia la integración de los niños invidentes, por parte de sus compañeros, así como de sus codeterminantes. . 2415 estudiantes de primero a octavo de EGB; 704 eran peninsulares y 1711 de la isla de Tenerife. El porcentaje de alumnos sin contacto con los invidentes se sitúa en torno al 32 por ciento; el 46 por ciento, informa de un contacto medio y sobre el 21 por ciento de contacto máximo. . Se utilizó un diseño correlacional y de análisis transversal o transeccional a la hora del establecimiento de muestras evolutivas. Si bien se trata de un estudio descriptivo existen dos variables que se pueden considerar como dependientes: las actitudes hacia los invidentes y las habilidades interpersonales. Como variables independientes se pueden situar la procedencia de la muestra (Asturias o Tenerife), el grado de contacto con el invidente (nulo, medio y máximo), el curso (desde primero a octavo de EGB), el género y, además, para los alumnos del ciclo superior, factores de personalidad, motivación, locus de control e inteligencia. Mención aparte merecen las habilidades interpersonales. Los alumnos peninsulares de primero a cuarto, sólo aportaron datos sobre habilidades interpersonales. . 1. Pruebas actitudinales: Escala de actitudes hacia la integración de invidentes-1 para los alumnos de 5' y 8' de EGB (Pelechano, 1991); Escala de actitudes hacia la integración de invidentes-2, para alumnos de 1'a 4' de EGB (elaborada para esta investigación). 2. Pruebas de habilidades interpersonales: se emplearon tres baterías de habilidades interpersonales diseñadas y depuradas a través d elos trabajos previos de Pelechano (1984-1988). 3. Pruebas de personalidad, motivación, locus de control e inteligencia: Cuestionario ENR (Pelechano, 1989); cuestionario MA de motivación y ansiedad ante el rendimiento (Pelechano, 1989); cuestionario Lucad de control (Pelechano, 1989). . 1. Las actitudes hacia la integración son interpretadas más adecuadamente como un aspecto multidimensional. Esto implica no sólo una pluralidad de dimensiones con sentido psicológico, sino que las relaciones de éstas con las variables consideradas no son fácilmente predecibles ni justificables. No es correcto esperar una simetría o inversión de los codeterminantes del rechazo y la aceptación. 2. La relevancia del género como elemento que conlleva actitudes más positivas y menos negativas, va en aumento con el nivel educativo. 3. Los chicos parecen más sensibles al impacto de la escuela y del contacto sobre las actitudes que las chicas. 4. El contacto máximo tiende a favorecer la aceptación e inhibir el rechazo. El contacto medio resulta contraproducente. La ausencia de contacto con el invidente se traduce en la inmovilidad cuantitativa de las actitudes hacia la integración del mismo. Estas afirmaciones más válidas conforme evolucionan los alumnos. 5. El papel de las habilidades es más relevante conforme aumenta el nivel de la escolarización. Destaca, en este sentido, el papel favorecedor, pro-aceptación e inhibidor del rechazo de la dimensión de toma de perspectivas. Las restantes habilidades tienen un papel menos relevante o más limitado para determinados grupos de criterio. 6. Las variables de personalidad (rigidez, extraversión, locus), e inteligencia parecen jugar un paepl importante -pero suficiente- en la explicación del fenómeno del rechazo, y de mayor e irrelevante en el caso de la aceptación. 7. Contrariamente a lo esperado, existen diferencias en el nivel de actitudes hacia la integración por parte de alumnos de distintas comunidades autónomas. Estas diferencias parecen suavizarse si nos referimos únicamente al subgrupo de ausencia de contacto. 8. El desaconocimiento que poseemos sobre los determinantes de estas actitudes es amplísimo, siendo mucho mayor para la aceptación que para el rechazo. . Desde un punto de vista pragmático, deben diseñarse programas de intervención para su aplicación en edades tempranas. Para ello es importante tener presente cómo se definen las actitudes aquí estudiadas y adaptar dichas intervenciones a las circunstancias concretas de los alumnos. Es muy posible que una intervención homogénea no produzca los efectos deseados en todos ellos. En futuros estudios, debería darse mayor peso a los aspectos concretos y específicos sobre cómo se lleva a cabo la integración. Por ejemplo, a nivel de análisis podría ser útil tomar como unidad el colegio, dado que es ése y no otro el marco en el que la integración y sus consecuencias tienen lugar. Otra posibilidad es llevar a cabo estudios intensivos en los que se interrelacione información d elos padres, profesores, alumnos; o de aquellos aspectos que se consideren relevantes. Quizá así estemos más cerca de comprender un fenómeno que pese a su importancia se nos escapa a todas luces..

Medical Students Circadian Sleep Rhythms and Academic Performance

Objective: to evaluate, with a preliminary study, the distribution of circadian rhythms, sleep schedule patterns and their relationship with academic performance on medical students. Methodology: in this descriptive study, a 10 item original questionnaire about sleep rhythms and academic performance was applied to medical students from different semesters. Week (class time) and weekend schedules, preferences, daytime somnolence and academic performance were asked. Three chronotypes (morningness, intermediate and eveningness) were defined among waking-sleeping preference, difficulty to sleep early, exam preparation preference hour and real sleep schedule. The sleep hour deficit per week night was also calculated. Results: Of the 318 medical students that answered the questionnaire, 62.6% corresponded to intermediate chronotypes, 8.8% to evening-type and 28.7% to morning-type. Significant difference was found among the two chronotype tails (p=0.000, Chi-square 31.13). No correlation was found between academic performance and age, sex, chronotype, week sleep deficit and sleep hours in week and weekends. A 71.1% of the students slept 6 or fewer hours during class time and 78% had a sleep deficit (more frequent in the evening chronotype). Conclusions: No relation was found between sleep chronotype and academic performance. Students tend to morningness. Few studies have been made on equatorial zones or without seasons

Realidades y utopías de una ciudad en la periferia del mundo globalizado. Un relato lefebvriano

Nos proponemos compartir una reflexión y analizar algunas variables que se conjugan en la configuraciónurbana de una ciudad —Resistencia—, una afectación recurrente que aparece como uncastigo de la naturaleza —la inundación— y un estado de conciencia que impide al pensamientogenerar cierto orden de ideas.Intentamos mostrar cómo la ciudad se desarrolla en una total ajenidad con el medio en dondese inserta, cuya concepción de “lo urbano”, fundada en un modelo de ciudad a imagen y semejanzade la ciudad pampeana, desempeña un papel preponderante en su configuración.Dicho modelo supone no solo aspectos formales o estructurales, sino también una práctica legitimaday legalizada de transformación de la tierra urbana en mercancía.Las inundaciones recurrentes mostraron, a quien quisiera ver, la crisis profunda del modelo; noobstante todas las nuevas propuestas urbanas, de defensas y ordenamiento, no se puede escapar aldestino de la ciudad contra natura.Rescatamos como propuesta la ruptura de esa no‑conciencia, en la que la relación con el ambientees el elemento articulador a partir de la que puedan materializarse, en hechos, las armas dela crítica.

La autonomía y descentralización del modelo federal venezolano. Una mutación del federalismo dual en el marco del ordenamiento latinoamericano

En la presente investigación se estudió la organización administrativa y territorial de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, para poder identificar si se podían definir y catalogar a Venezuela como un Estado federal como manda su Constitución, o si por el contrario, podríamos estar hablando de una organización distinta llámese autonómica o unitaria, o simplemente un modelo federal diferente al dual influenciado por las diferentes formas de organización.

Cómo enseñar en el aula universitaria.

Resumen basado en el de la publicación

Academia. Formaci??n permanente transnacional de los profesionales europeos de la orientaci??n, 2005 : informes de los intercambios de orientadores

Resumen basado en el de la publicaci??n

"UNIVEST 2011: l'autogestió de l'aprenentatge" (resum de les jornades)

Resum del III Congrés Internacional UNIVEST 2011 centrat en el tema de l’autogestió de l’aprenentatge