Unemployment and Inflation Persistence in Spain: Are There Phillips Trade-Offs?

This paper studies the dynamic behavior of inflation and unemployment in Spain during the period 1964?1997. In particular, we analyze the implications of high persistence in both unemployment and inflation dynamics for inference regarding the size of Phillips trade-offs and sacrifice ratios in the Spanish economy, in response to a demand shock. To do so we use a Stuctural VAR approach with several identification outlines which give rise to alternative interpretations of the joint unemployment-inflation dynamics. When using a bivariate VAR we cannot reject the existence of a permanent output loss of one-half of one percentage point for each percentage point of permanent disinflation. However, when the VAR is augmented with a third variable, in order to disentangle monetary from non-monetary shocks within the demand class, the evidence favours a lower and marginally permanent trade-off with an output loss of about one-fourth of one percentage point.Publicad

Study of resonant modes in a 700 nm pitch macroporous silicon photonic crystal

In this study the modes produced by a defect inserted in a macroporous silicon (MP) photonic crystal (PC) have been studied theoretical and experimentally. In particular, the transmitted and reflected spectra have been analyzed for variations in the defect’s length and width. The performed simulations show that the resonant frequency is more easily adjusted for the fabricated samples by length tuning rather than width. The optimum resonance peak results when centered in the PC bandgap. The changes in the defect geometry result in small variations of the optical response of the PC. The resonance frequency is most sensitive to length variations, while the mode linewidth shows greater change with the defect width variation. Several MPS photonic crystals were fabricated by the electrochemical etching (EE) process with optical response in the range of 5.8 µm to 6.5 µm. Results of the characterization are in good agreement with simulations. Further samples were fabricated consisting of ordered modulated pores with a pitch of 700 nm. This allowed to reduce the vertical periodicity and therefore to have the optical response in the range of 4.4 µm to 4.8 µm. To our knowledge, modes working in this range of wavelengths have not been previously reported in 3-d MPS structures. Experimental results match with simulations, showing a linear relationship between the defect’s length and working frequency inside the bandgap. We demonstrate the possibility of tailoring the resonance peak in both ranges of wavelengths, where the principal absorption lines of different gases in the mid infrared are placed. This makes these structures very promising for their application to compact gas sensors.Postprint (author's final draft

Control del mantenimiento de la vegetación en el sistema de distribución eléctrico

Con el paso de las generaciones, el desarrollo de las sociedades conformadas por el hombre, trae consigo un conjunto de bienes y servicios que influyen en la calidad de vida de las personas. El acceso a servicios domiciliarios de energía, agua, alcantarillado, telefonía, gas natural entre otros, lleva como consecuencia una compleja red subterránea y aérea, para su mantenimiento y distribución que debe adaptarse en buena forma a las zonas urbanas. Existen factores externos que contribuyen a un estilo de vida confortable y a su vez ayudan al desarrollo permanente de la sociedad, como contar con un buen servicio de iluminación pública y zonas verdes dentro de la ciudad que ayudan a armonizar el paisaje urbano. La presencia de espacios verdes, es importante por el impacto ecológico, porque brinda beneficios tales como mitigación del ruido, la reducción de la contaminación en el medio ambiente, regulación de la temperatura, disminución de la velocidad del viento, evita la seca de los ríos, brinda sombra creando un espacio agradable, otorga vivienda y alimento a la avifauna urbana, entre otras [21]. Las zonas verdes son parte vital e importante en espacios públicos para generar un ambiente cálido y ameno, aliviando la congestión que se vive diariamente. Por este motivo la Organización Mundial para la Salud aconseja un mínimo de 12 metros cuadrados de zona verde por habitante

Cycles in Projective Spaces

We prove that every possible $k$-cycle can be embedded into $PG(n,q)$, for all $n\geq 3$ and $q$ a power of a prime.Comment: 6 page

Waveform Transition Graphs: a designer-friendly formalism for asynchronous behaviours

The paper proposes a new formal model for describing asynchronous behaviours involving the interplay of causality, concurrency and choice. The model is called Waveform Transition Graphs. Its main aim is simplifying the learning process for industrial engineers in accessing powerful synthesis tools provided for Signal Transition Graphs by sacrificing some of the expressive power of the latter. This formalism is developed based on feedback from engineers of Dialog Semiconductor.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Proposal of a system for the integrated and comparative assessment of protected areas

Appendix A: Supplementary data http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2012.05.009Protected areas’ overall goal is to achieve the long-term conservation of natural and associated cultural goods and services. However, effective long-term conservation of natural and associated cultural resources cannot always be guaranteed by a protection regime or even by effective management, as it is usually assumed. The ultimate goal of assessing protected areas is therefore concerned less with management effectiveness than with their overall long-term effectiveness. This paper describes the methodology underpinning the System for the Integrated Assessment of Protected Areas (SIAPA). The aim of SIAPA is to make the concept of ‘effectiveness’ operational when applied to protected areas. It is an innovative, horizontal site-level assessment system for evaluating integrally and comparably the effectiveness of terrestrial protected areas, as the assessment is based on the same parameters. Indicators are the basic assessment units. They were weighted by an expert panel and integrated into six categories (indexes) defining the effectiveness of protected areas: state of conservation, planning, management, social and economic context, social perception and valuation, and threats to conservation. These indexes were subsequently integrated into a single super-index: an effectiveness index for the protected area. Two alternative models of the SIAPA were developed: the complete model, containing 43 indicators, in order to maximize the amount of information on each protected area; and the simplified model, containing 28 indicators, in order to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the assessment.Peer reviewe

Results of the implementation of the System for the Integrated Assessment of Protected Areas (SIAPA) to the protected areas of the Autonomous Region of Madrid (Spain)

The long-term conservation of biodiversity and related ecosystems goods and services of the Autonomous Region of Madrid is jeopardized by the intensive resource-consuming development model followed by the region in the past few decades. This paper presents the aggregated results of the first integrated assessment of the protected areas of the Autonomous Region of Madrid (Spain) with the System for the Integrated Assessment of Protected Areas (SIAPA). Detailed results are also provided for individual protected areas as supplementary data. The assessment was done during 2009–2010, on ten protected areas differing in their sizes (from 2.5 to 52,796 ha), protection categories (seven categories) and types of ecosystems present. Comparison of results from both assessment models of the SIAPA (the Complete Model and the Simplified Model) is also presented. The results from the Complete Model show that eight out of the ten protected areas of the Autonomous Region of Madrid are currently ineffective. The poorest partial indexes overall were: “State of Conservation” and “Social and Economic Context”. The only indexes significantly correlated with the effectiveness of a protected area were: the “State of Conservation” (r = 0.851**) and the “Social Perception and Valuation” (r = 0.786**). Although not as relevant as was thought, “Management” and the other non-significant factors are likely to influence the effectiveness of protected areas as well. The results for the Simplified Model are slightly better than those for the Complete Model, although this is probably a specific result of this assessment. The two models of the SIAPA were very significantly correlated, although their aggregated results should not be compared directly.Peer reviewe