Improving the precision matrix for precision cosmology

The estimation of cosmological constraints from observations of the large scale structure of the Universe, such as the power spectrum or the correlation function, requires the knowledge of the inverse of the associated covariance matrix, namely the precision matrix, $\mathbf{\Psi}$. In most analyses, $\mathbf{\Psi}$ is estimated from a limited set of mock catalogues. Depending on how many mocks are used, this estimation has an associated error which must be propagated into the final cosmological constraints. For future surveys such as Euclid and DESI, the control of this additional uncertainty requires a prohibitively large number of mock catalogues. In this work we test a novel technique for the estimation of the precision matrix, the covariance tapering method, in the context of baryon acoustic oscillation measurements. Even though this technique was originally devised as a way to speed up maximum likelihood estimations, our results show that it also reduces the impact of noisy precision matrix estimates on the derived confidence intervals, without introducing biases on the target parameters. The application of this technique can help future surveys to reach their true constraining power using a significantly smaller number of mock catalogues.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, minor changes to match version accepted by MNRA

Hanging In, Stepping up and Stepping Out: Livelihood Aspirations and Strategies of the Poor Development in Practice

In recent years understanding of poverty and of ways in which people escape from or fall into poverty has become more holistic. This should improve the capabilities of policy analysts and others working to reduce poverty, but it also makes analysis more complex. This paper describes a simple schema which integrates multidimensional, multilevel and dynamic understandings of poverty, of poor people’s livelihoods, and of changing roles of agricultural systems. The paper suggests three broad types of strategy pursued by poor people: ‘hanging in’; ‘stepping up’; and ‘stepping out’. This simple schema explicitly recognises the dynamic aspirations of poor people; diversity among them; and livelihood diversification. It also brings together aspirations of poor people with wider sectoral, inter-sectoral and macro-economic questions about policies necessary for realisation of those aspirations

Support policies for the renovations and restructuration of mature tourist destinations: a retrospective evaluation from case studies

La necesidad de reformulación del modelo de desarrollo turístico asociado a la fórmula sol y playa en el litoral mediterráneo español ha estado presente en la política turística a lo largo de los últimos veinte años, lo que ha conducido a la puesta en marcha de diferentes estrategias y programas de actuación dirigidos a la mejora y renovación de los destinos turísticos maduros del litoral a desarrollar por parte del sector público y privado. Bajo este planteamiento, el análisis de las últimas y más emblemáticas iniciativas y proyectos emprendidos resulta de interés para la mejor ilustración de la compleja realidad en la que se desenvuelven los procesos de reestructuración y renovación de los destinos turísticos costeros. Por esta razón, el presente trabajo analiza y elabora una síntesis integradora de los cuatro proyectos piloto de reconversión de destinos maduros impulsados por la Administración turística con el propósito de reflexionar sobre su naturaleza, y nivel de ejecución de las propuestas contempladas, de forma que pueda realizarse una evaluación de la efectividad y alcance de esta política. Las experiencias piloto analizadas han demostrado tener efectos positivos en la renovación aunque lejos ha quedado el cumplimiento de los objetivos de mayor envergadura, poniéndose así de manifiesto el gap existente entre lo proyectado desde el ámbito de la política y lo efectivamente conseguido en su ejecución. Este trabajo trata de evaluar desde una visión crítica, objetiva y de conjunto el desempeño de dichos proyectos.The need for a reformulation of the touristic development model associated to the “sun and beach” formula in the Spanish Mediterranean coast have been present in the touristic policy over the last twenty years, which conducted to has led to the implementation of various strategies, programs and actions aimed at the improvement and renewal of the mature tourist destinations on the coast by the public and private sector. Along these lines, the analysis of the latest and most emblematic initiatives and projects undertaken is of interest for the best illustration of the complex reality in which processes of restructuring and renovation of coastal tourist destinations operate. For this reason, this paper discusses an analysis and inclusive synthesis for the four pilot restructuring projects promoted by the Tourism Administration in order to reflect on its nature, the execution level of its initial proposals and, at the same time, facilitate an easier understanding and assessment of the support policy for the mature destinations conversion. Analyzed pilot experiences have demonstrated positive effects in the renewal yet far from the fulfillment of large magnitude objectives, revealing the existing gap between what is projected from political arena and what is actually achieved in its implementation. This work tries to evaluate in a pioneer manner from a critical, objective and overall perspective, the performance of these projects.El presente trabajo se enmarca en el proyecto de investigación “Metodología, criterios y aplicaciones para la configuración de clusters en áreas turísticas consolidadas: innovación, complementariedad y competitividad territorial” (CSO2011-26396), financiado por el Plan Nacional de I+D+i del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad

Los espacios naturales protegidos litorales de la Comunidad Valenciana: una oportunidad para la diversificación de los destinos turísticos consolidados de sol y playa

Comunicación presentada en el XIII Congreso Internacional de Turismo Universidad y Empresa: Renovación de Destinos Turísticos Consolidados, Castellón, 6-8 mayo 2010.En las dos últimas décadas, la política turística ha tenido entre sus objetivos la diversificación y diferenciación de los destinos turísticos a la par que la calidad de la oferta como mejores estrategias para garantizar la competitividad del turismo español. Aunque durante estos años, España ha conseguido mantener su liderazgo como destino turístico gracias a su abultada oferta basada en el producto sol y playa, las actuaciones emprendidas hasta ahora parece que no han conseguido imprimir un verdadero cambio en la dinámica de la actividad turística, capaz de responder a los nuevos patrones por los que se rige la demanda y dar respuesta al reto de la sostenibilidad. Por ello, en el contexto actual de renovación de los destinos turísticos consolidados, se plantea insistir en la cualificación de la oferta a partir de una nueva puesta en valor de sus componentes territoriales y, en particular, se propone el análisis de recursos que por el momento no han merecido una atención adecuada en su configuración y diseño. Entre ellos, se incluye el conjunto de espacios naturales protegidos de la Comunidad Valenciana que en la actualidad resisten el avance de la urbanización y constituyen el negativo de nuestros destinos turísticos. De hecho, durante más de medio siglo, la construcción de edificaciones ligadas a la creación de nuevas plazas en alojamientos turísticos y a la promoción inmobiliaria dirigida al turismo residencial, ha ido en detrimento de nuestros espacios naturales y de una progresiva pérdida de valor ambiental y paisajístico del frente litoral. Esta comunicación presenta el diagnóstico y las conclusiones obtenidas acerca del papel que pueden desempeñar estos espacios naturales protegidos en la diversificación de la oferta turística, a partir del aprovechamiento de sus posibilidades de uso público.In the last two decades, the tourism policies in Spain have had as a priority objective the diversification and differentiation of the tourist destinations together with the improvement of the quality services and infrastructures as the best strategies to guarantee the competitiveness of the tourism activity. Despite the fact that Spain has managed to maintain its leadership as a sun and sand tourist destination, the strategies undertaken to the present time have not fully achieved a substantial change in the tourism dynamics to respond to the new demand trends and the challenge of sustainability. In this respect, in the context of apparent need of renovation, the mature tourist destinations should insist on a qualitative tourist supply through the enhancement of the territorial components and particularly of those protected areas in the Valencia Region which have still survived to the urban process that has characterised most tourist destinations. In fact, the urbanisation and the processes of creating new accommodation infrastructure and residential homes have seriously threaten the protected area’s natural environment and has mainly contributed to the environmental impact of the coastal areas. This paper aims to present the diagnosis and conclusions obtained about how the protected areas may serve to strengthen the mass tourism product by offering opportunities for diversification.La presente comunicación se ha realizado en el marco del proyecto de investigación Renovación de los destinos turísticos consolidados del litoral: nuevos instrumentos para la planificación y gestión (RENOVESTUR), del Plan Nacional I+D+I 2008-2011, del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, en el que participan investigadores de las Universidades Jaime I de Castellón, Valencia y Alicante, y cuyo investigador principal es J. Fernando Vera Rebollo

Adaptive Optics Imaging of IRAS 18276-1431: a bipolar pre-planetary nebula with circumstellar "searchlight beams" and "arcs"

We present high-angular resolution images of the post-AGB nebula IRAS18276-1431 (also known as OH17.7-2.0) obtained with the Keck II Adaptive Optics (AO) system in its Natural Guide Star (NGS) mode in the Kp, Lp, and Ms near-infrared bands. We also present supporting optical F606W and F814W HST images as well as interferometric observations of the 12CO(J=1-0), 13CO(J=1-0), and 2.6mm continuum emission with OVRO. The envelope of IRAS18276-1431 displays a clear bipolar morphology in our optical and NIR images with two lobes separated by a dark waist and surrounded by a faint 4.5"x3.4" halo. Our Kp-band image reveals two pairs of radial ``searchlight beams'' emerging from the nebula center and several intersecting, arc-like features. From our CO data we derive a mass of M>0.38[D/3kpc]^2 Msun and an expansion velocity v_exp=17km/s for the molecular envelope. The density in the halo follows a radial power-law proportional to r^-3, which is consistent with a mass-loss rate increasing with time. Analysis of the NIR colors indicates the presence of a compact central source of ~300-500K dust illuminating the nebula in addition to the central star. Modeling of the thermal IR suggests a two-shell structure in the dust envelope: 1) an outer shell with inner and outer radius R_in~1.6E16cm and R_out>~1.25E17cm, dust temperature T_d~105-50K, and a mean mass-loss rate of Mdot~1E-3Msun/yr; and 2) an inner shell with R_in~6.3E14cm, T_dust~500-105K, and Mdot~3E-5Msun/yr. An additional population of big dust grains (radius a>~0.4mm) with T_dust=150-20K and mass M_dust=(0.16-1.6)E-3 [D/3kpc]^2 Msun can account for the observed sub-mm and mm flux excess. The mass of the envelope enclosed within R_out=1.25E17cm derived from SED modeling is ~1[D/3kpc]^2 Msun.Comment: 46 pages, 14 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ. Figures 12 & 13 in low resolution. Full resolution versions are available upon request to the first autho

Changes in food access by mestizo communities associated with deforestation and agrobiodiversity loss in Ucayali, Peruvian Amazon

Few longitudinal studies link agricultural biodiversity, land use and food access in rural landscapes. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that, in a context of economic change, cash crop expansion is associated with deforestation, reduced agrobiodiversity and changes in food access. For this purpose, we analysed data collected from the same 53 upland and floodplain mestizo households in Ucayali, Peru, in 2000 and 2015. We found an emerging transition towards less diversified food access coupled with loss of forest cover and reduced agricultural biodiversity. In 2015, diets appeared to rely on fewer food groups, fewer food items, and on products increasingly purchased in the market compared to 2000. Wild fruits and plants were mentioned, but rarely consumed. Agricultural production systems became more specialised with a shift towards commercial crops. Peak deforestation years in the 15-year period appeared linked with incentives for agricultural expansion. Our results suggest an overall trend from diversified productive and “extractive” systems and more diverse food access, towards specialized productive systems, with less diverse food access and stronger market orientation (both in production and consumption). The assumption in the food and agricultural sciences that increased income and market-orientation is linked to improved food security, is challenged by our integrated analyses of food access, agrobiodiversity, land use and forest cover. Our results highlight the importance of longitudinal, multidimensional, systemic analyses, with major implications for land use, food and health policies. The potential risks of parallel homogenisation of diets and agricultural production systems require interdisciplinary research and policies that promote integrated landscape approaches for sustainable and inclusive food systems

1-(2-Chlorobenzyloxy)-3-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl-propan-2-ol Derivatives: Synthesis, Characterization, and DFT-Based Descriptors Analysis

A novel series of 1-(2-chlorobenzyloxy)-3-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl-propan-2-ol derivatives was designed and synthesized using copper catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition in the key step. Theoretical investigation of molecular and electronic properties by means of global and local reactivity indexes of the synthetized compounds was carried out, using DFT (Density Functional Theory) at PBEPBE/6-31++G∗∗ levelCONACY

Atomic hydrogen, star formation and feedback in the lowest mass Blue Compact Dwarf galaxies

We present the results from a search for HI emission from a sample of newly discovered dwarf galaxies in the M81 group. HI is detected in three galaxies, all of which are classified as BCDs. The HI masses of these galaxies are ~ 10^6 M_sun, making these some of the lowest mass BCDs known. For these three galaxies FUV images (from GALEX) and H-alpha images (from the Russian 6m BTA telescope) are available.The H-alpha emission is very faint, and, in principle could be produced by a single O star. Further, in all cases we find offsets between the peak of the FUV emission and that of the H-alpha emission. Offsets between the most recent sites of star formation (i.e. those traced by H-alpha) and the older sites (i.e. those traced by FUV) would be natural if the star formation is stochastic. In spite of the expectation that the effects of mechanical feedback from star formation would be most directly seen in the smallest galaxies with low gravitational potentials, we only see tentative evidence of outflowing HI gas associated with the star forming region in one of the galaxies.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS. The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.co

Circadian cycle-dependent MeCP2 and brain chromatin changes

Abstract Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a chromosomal protein of the brain, very abundant especially in neurons, where it plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Hence it has the potential to be affected by the mammalian circadian cycle. We performed expression analyses of mice brain frontal cortices obtained at different time points and we found that the levels of MeCP2 are altered circadianly, affecting overall organization of brain chromatin and resulting in a circadian-dependent regulation of well-stablished MeCP2 target genes. Furthermore, this data suggests that alterations of MeCP2 can be responsible for the sleeping disorders arising from pathological stages, such as in autism and Rett syndrome