On the reversed hazard rate of sequential order statistics

Sequential order statistics can be used to describe the lifetime of a system with n components which works as long as k components function assuming that failures possibly affect the lifetimes of remaining units. In this work, the reversed hazard rates of sequential order statistics are examined. Conditions for the reversed hazard rate ordering and the decreasing reversed hazard rate property of sequential order statistics are given

Spanish validation of the Shorter Version of the Workplace Incivility Scale: An employment status invariant measure

Workplace Incivility (WI) occurs worldwide and has negative consequences on individuals and organizations. Valid and comprehensive instruments have been used, specifically in English speaking countries, to measure sucadverse process at work, but it is not available a validated instrument for research carried out in Spanish speaking countries. In this study we aim to test the psychometric properties of the Matthews and Ritter’s four-item Workplace Incivility Scale (2016) with Spanish workers (N = 407) from different sectors. Participants’ mean age was 38.73 (SD = 10.45) years old and the percentage of female employees was 59.2%. Confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS 19.0 was carried out, presenting a good fit. The internal consistency, convergent and concurrent validity of the scale were examined. Results show good scale reliability and expected high correlations with social undermining. Moreover, the scale related to propensity to leave a job, job satisfaction, and psychological well-being in the expected way. After configural invariance across groups was established, testing for metric invariance and scalar invariance was performed. Considering Δχ2 and ΔCFI tests for two nested models, the 4-item scale was invariant when the employment status is considered (permanent vs. temporal, full-time vs. part-time, and supervisor vs. non-supervisors). Overall, our findings showed good psychometric properties of the shorter version of the WIS in Spain. Theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España PSI2015-64894-PFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) Portugal SFRH/BPD/121748/201

A Spitzer view of protoplanetary disks in the gamma Velorum cluster

We present new Spitzer Space Telescope observations of stars in the young ~5 Myr gamma Velorum stellar cluster. Combining optical and 2MASS photometry, we have selected 579 stars as candidate members of the cluster. With the addition of the Spitzer mid-infrared data, we have identified 5 debris disks around A-type stars, and 5-6 debris disks around solar-type stars, indicating that the strong radiation field in the cluster does not completely suppress the production of planetesimals in the disks of cluster members. However, we find some evidence that the frequency of circumstellar primordial disks is lower, and the IR flux excesses are smaller than for disks around stellar populations with similar ages. This could be evidence for a relatively fast dissipation of circumstellar dust by the strong radiation field from the highest mass star(s) in the cluster. Another possibility is that gamma Velorum stellar cluster is slightly older than reported ages and the the low frequency of primordial disks reflects the fast disk dissipation observed at ~5 Myr.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal: 32 pages; 11 Figure

Rebuilding the social dialogue and promoting inclusive organizations: A tool for social innovation in times of crisis

Se aborda en el presente trabajo el desarrollo de una agenda de investigación enmarcada por las dificultades del entorno socioeconómico y su incidencia en las políticas de igualdad en el contexto laboral. Se presentan cuatro estudios desarrollados en el marco de la mejora del diálogo social y la promoción de organizaciones inclusivas, resaltando el estado del tema en España y su significado para la práctica profesional. Los estudios se centran en a) la necesidad de capacitar y apoderar a los agentes sociales - especialmente a los representantes de los trabajadores – para liderar la innovación social y la promoción de organizaciones inclusivas, b) las actuaciones ante las manifestaciones actuales de la denominada discriminación moderna en el contexto laboral, c) las barreras para promover la integración laboral de las personas con discapacidad, y d) el apoyo a las políticas de conciliación entre el trabajo y la vida personal.This paper addresses the developing research agenda framed by the difficulties of the socio-economic environment and its impact on equality policies in the employment context. We present four studies developed in the framework of improving the social dialogue and promoting inclusive organizations, highlighting the status of the issue in Spain and its meaning for professional practice. The studies focus on a) the need to train and empower social actors - especially workers’ representatives - to lead social innovation and promote inclusive organizations, b) proceedings for acting against the current manifestations of what is known as “modern discrimination” in the work context, c ) labor integration of persons with disabilities, and d) supporting policies to balance work and personal life.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PSI2011- 29256Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PSI2008-00503Comisión Europea VS/2010/0376Comisión Europea VP/2012/001/040

Two new catalogs of blazar candidates in the WISE infrared sky

We present two catalogs of radio-loud candidate blazars whose WISE mid-infrared colors are selected to be consistent with the colors of confirmed gamma-ray emitting blazars. The first catalog is the improved and expanded release of the WIBRaLS catalog presented by D'Abrusco et al. (2014): it includes sources detected in all four WISE filters, spatially cross-matched with radio source in one of three radio surveys and radio-loud based on their q22 spectral parameter. WIBRaLS2 includes 9541 sources classified as BL Lacs, FSRQs or mixed candidates based on their WISE colors. The second catalog, called KDEBLLACS, based on a new selection technique, contains 5579 candidate BL Lacs extracted from the population of WISE sources detected in the first three WISE passbands ([3.4], [4.6] and [12]) only, whose mid-infrared colors are similar to those of confirmed, gamma-ray BL Lacs. KDBLLACS members area also required to have a radio counterpart and be radio-loud based on the parameter q12, defined similarly to q22 used for the WIBRaLS2. We describe the properties of these catalogs and compare them with the largest samples of confirmed and candidate blazars in the literature. We crossmatch the two new catalogs with the most recent catalogs of gamma-ray sources detected by Fermi LAT instrument. Since spectroscopic observations of candidate blazars from the first WIBRaLS catalog within the uncertainty regions of gamma-ray unassociated sources confirmed that ~90% of these candidates are blazars, we anticipate that these new catalogs will play again an important role in the identification of the gamma-ray sky.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Serie

Concentrations, sources and geochemistry of airborne particulate matter at a major European airport

9 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables.-- PMID: 20383366 [PubMed]Monitoring of aerosol particle concentrations (PM10, PM2.5, PM1) and chemical analysis (PM10) was undertaken at a major European airport (El Prat, Barcelona) for a whole month during autumn 2007. Concentrations of airborne PM at the airport were close to those at road traffic hotspots in the nearby Barcelona city, with means measuring 48 g PM10/m3, 21 g PM2.5/m3 and 17 g PM1/m3. Meteorological controls on PM at El Prat are identified as cleansing daytime sea breezes with abundant coarse salt particles, alternating with nocturnal land-sourced winds which channel air polluted by industry and traffic (PM1/PM10 ratios > 0.5) SE down the Llobregat Valley. Chemical analyses of the PM10 samples show that crustal PM is dominant (38% of PM10), followed by total carbon (OC + EC, 25%), secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA, 20%), and sea salt (6%). Local construction work for a new airport terminal was an important contributor to PM10 crustal levels. Source apportionment modelling PCA-MLRA identifies five factors: industrial/traffic, crustal, sea salt, SIA, and K+ likely derived from agricultural biomass burning. Whereas most of the atmospheric contamination concerning ambient air PM10 levels at El Prat is not attributable directly to aircraft movement, levels of carbon are unusually high (especially organic carbon), as are metals possibly sourced from tyre detritus/smoke in runway dust (Ba, Zn, Mo) and from brake dust in ambient PM10 (Cu, Sb), especially when the airport is at its most busy. We identify microflakes of aluminous alloys in ambient PM10 filters derived from corroded fuselage and wings as an unequivocal and highly distinctive tracer for aircraft movement.This work was supported by research projects from the Spanish Ministry of Environment (MMA 2006_EG0X2006-M-PARTICULADO- M1) (CALIOPE, 441/2006/3-12.1), the Spanish Ministry of Sciences and Innovation (GRACCIE-CSD2007- 00067, DOASUR CGL2007-62505/CLI) and a fellowship from the Spanish Council of Research (CSIC).Peer reviewe

Application of the Dispersion Model and Comparison with Hydrodynamic Parameters in Porous Media Column

Poster submitted to the 13th Mediterranean Congress of Chemical Engineering, 13MCCE, Barcelona, September 30-October 3, 2014Reactive transport experiments carried out in columns filled with different porous media (aquifer sediment and soil-sea sand mixtures) and injection of seawater or calcium chloride showed differences between tracer breakthrough curves (BTC) used to calculate the column hydrodynamic parameters. These research experiments in columns filled with glass beads were carried out with the main goal to study transport and dispersion processes in inert homogeneous media. The column hydrodynamic characteristics were determined with the program ACUAINTRUSION TRANSPORT, designed by the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Alicante. On the other hand, the estimation of the dispersion module was performed using different approximations, depending on the dispersion degree and the tracer injection mode (pulse or step) in the column, as shown in Levenspiel. Different results are obtained in this research to obtain the best approximation to ACUAINTRUSION TRANSPORT parameters

Impact of intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis upon the intestinal microbiota and the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in vaginally delivered full-term neonates

Background: Disturbances in the early establishment of the intestinal microbiota may produce important implications for the infant's health and for the risk of disease later on. Different perinatal conditions may be affecting the development of the gut microbiota. Some of them, such as delivery mode or feeding habits, have been extensively assessed whereas others remain to be studied, being critical to identify their impact on the microbiota and, if any, to minimize it. Antibiotics are among the drugs most frequently used in early life, the use of intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis (IAP), present in over 30% of deliveries, being the most frequent source of exposure. However, our knowledge on the effects of IAP on the microbiota establishment is still limited. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the impact of IAP investigating a cohort of 40 full-term vaginally delivered infants born after an uncomplicated pregnancy, 18 of which were born from mothers receiving IAP. Results: Fecal samples were collected at 2, 10, 30, and 90 days of age. We analyzed the composition of the fecal microbiota during the first 3 months of life by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantified fecal short chain fatty acids by gas chromatography. The presence of genes for resistance to antibiotics was determined by PCR in the samples from 1-month-old infants. Our results showed an altered pattern of intestinal microbiota establishment in IAP infants during the first weeks of life, with lower relative proportions of Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes and increased of Preoteobacteria and Firmicutes. A delay in the increase on the levels of acetate was observed in IAP infants. The analyses of specific antibiotic resistance genes showed a higher occurrence of some beta-lactamase coding genes in infants whose mothers received IAP. Conclusions: Our results indicate an effect of IAP on the establishing early microbiota during the first months of life, which represent a key moment for the development of the microbiota-induced host homeostasis. Understanding the impact of IAP in the gut microbiota development is essential for developing treatments to minimize it, favoring a proper gut microbiota development in IAP-exposed neonates

RF Design of the X-band Linac for the EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB Project

We illustrate the RF design of the X-band linac for the upgrade of the SPARC_LAB facility at INFN-LNF (EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB). The structures are travelling wave (TW) cavities, working on the 2π/3 mode, fed by klystrons with pulse compressor systems. The tapering of the cells along the structure and the cell profiles have been optimized to maximize the effective shunt impedance keeping under control the maximum value of the modified Poynting vector, while the couplers have been designed to have a symmetric feeding and a reduced pulsed heating. In the paper we also present the RF power distribution layout of the accelerating module and a preliminary mechanical design