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We deal with integrals of invariant measures of pairs of planes in the Euclidean space E 3 as considered by Hug and Schneider. In this paper, we express some of these integrals in terms of functions of the visual angle of a convex set. As a consequence of our results, we evaluate the deficit in a Crofton-type inequality due to Blaschke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we deal with a general type of integral formulas of the visual angle, among them those of Crofton, Hurwitz and Masotti, from the point of view of Integral Geometry. The purpose is twofold: to provide an interpretation of these formulas in terms of integrals of functions with respect to the canonical density in the space of pairs of lines and to give new simpler proofs of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider the evaluation of intervention countermeasures for the restoration of a radionuclide contaminated aquatic ecosystem, simultaneously taking into account several conflicting objectives, like environmental, social and economic impacts. We propose an extension of the additive multi-attribute utility model to incorporate the concept of veto to deal with this group decision-making problem. Moreover, we consider what is known as decision-making with partial, imprecise or incomplete information, which accounts for uncertainty about the alternative performances and imprecision concerning DM preferences by means of intervals or ordinal information. Veto values for the most important DMs are used to define veto ranges, whereas veto values corresponding to the other less important DMs are partially taken into account, leading to the construction of adjust ranges. We then build the veto and adjust functions into the additive model, and a dominance matrix accounting for incomplete information is computed. A dominance measuring method is then used to derive a ranking of alternatives for each DM, which are then aggregated taking into account their relative importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An event in November 2007 in Ascó-1 nuclear power plant (NPP) in Spain, originated the release of a significant amount of active metallic particles through the discharge stack. Particles were dispersed and deposited in roofs and neighbouring areas within the NPP controlled area. However, the event was not detected until March 2008. More than 1,300 active points with radioactive particles were found, 94 % located inside the double fenced controlled area and 6 % within the exclusion area; 5 particles were found out of the exclusion area. To provide additional insights on the potential consequences of the release, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, ANSYS-CFX-11, has been used to investigate the near-range atmospheric dispersion and deposition of the particles. The purpose of the analysis was to assess the distance travelled by particles of different sizes. A very detailed model of the site was built, taking into account the buildings and the terrain features including the river valley and the surrounding hills. The modelled domain was $$3.2 \times 5.2\, \mathrm{km}$$ , with the atmospheric layer up to 4 km height. The atmospheric conditions recorded during the different periods of time between November 2007 and January 2008 were classified into 37 representative categories. In general, the distribution of the particles found was adequately reproduced by the numerical model. Particles larger than $$100\,{\upmu }$$ m could not travel beyond the double fence. Particles between $$\mathrm{50\;and\;100}\,{\upmu }$$ m could have been deposited mainly within the exclusion area, with a small probability of travelling farther. Smaller particles could have travelled beyond, but also should have been deposited in the nearby area, while the majority of particles found are larger, thus indicating that the size of the released particles should be above $$50\,{\upmu }$$ m. The detailed CFD simulation allowed answering relevant questions concerning the possibility of having an impacted region larger than the exclusion area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compute the measure with multiplicity of the set of complex planes intersecting a compact domain in any complex space form. The result is given in terms of the so-called hermitian intrinsic volumes. Moreover, we obtain two different versions for the Gauss-Bonnet-Chern formula in complex space forms. One of them gives the Gauss curvature integral in terms of the Euler characteristic, and some hermitian intrinsic volumes. The other one, which is shorter, involves the measure of complex hyperplanes meeting the domain. As a tool, we obtain variation formulas in integral geometry of complex space forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short-term effects of forest overstory reduction and slash mulching on ground vegetation were analysed in a Mediterranean Aleppo pine reforested woodland on degraded agricultural land in south-east Spain. This sort of practice is becoming common in the Mediterranean basin to guard against forest fires, but very few attempts have been made to analyse its effect upon biodiversity. The data concerning floristic richness and above-ground biomass of species were measured as dependent variables in 0.5 × 0.5 m quadrats in an overstory reduction versus control area (treatment factor) during the spring of 2006. The data were analysed by ANCOVA, in which slash-mulch weight was introduced as covariate. Relationships between dependent variables and slash-mulch weight were examined using linear regression, and variations in floristic composition were ascertained by means of principal component analysis (PCA). A total of 32 ruderal herbaceous species were recorded, none of which was exotic. In spite of some methodological constraints (i.e. low number of samples and data from a non-replicated case study), the results of our study point to the conclusion that most of these species were found more frequently in the overstory-reduction treatment compared to the control area, and that only a few species clearly preferred the control treatment. In general, overstory reduction led to a significant increase both in floristic richness and above-ground biomass. Slash mulching, on the other hand, encouraged the appearance of a greater quantity of above-ground biomass (in different ways depending upon treatment), although species richness did not improve, even to the extent of declining in the control area. On the basis of our findings, overstory reduction seems to increase species richness and productivity in dense Mediterranean afforestations on degraded agricultural land, at least in the short-term. Large quantities of mulch accompanied by high tree density would seem not to favour species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bartter syndrome (BS) is a heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive hypokalaemic salt-losing tubulopathies. Five types of BS caused by different genetic defects have been identified, and one of them is associated with sensorineural deafness (BSND). Mutations in the recently described BSND gene, mapped in chromosome 1p31, have been reported to be associated with BSND. This gene encodes barttin, an essential β-subunit subunit for ClC-Ka and ClC-Kb channels. Both subunits are co-expressed in basolateral membranes of renal tubules, in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle, and in the stria vascularis of the inner ear. We studied two apparently unrelated Spanish families from the Canary Islands, with five members showing this pathology. Sequence analysis of the BSND gene showed that the affected members were homozygous for a C-to-T transition in exon 1, while their parents were heterozygous. This alteration results in a missense mutation, G47R, which has been previously shown to abolish the stimulatory effect on the subunit barttin of the ClC-Kb channel. Our results indicate that families with the G47R mutation indeed present polyhydramnios, premature birth and salt loss. Nevertheless, glomerular filtration rate was normal in all patients. Clinical manifestations are moderate in patients with the G47R mutation compared to other published data form patients with BSND. This constitutes the first report of BSND cases in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pythium catenulatum, P. diclinum and P. paroecandrum, as well as asexual forms with filamentous sporangia were isolated from irrigation water in the Poniente region of Almería (south-eastern Spain). The taxonomic and morphological details of these fungal isolates are described. P. catenulatum and P. diclinumare new reports to Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that the limit Area/Length for a sequence of convex sets expanding over the whole hyperbolic plane is less than or equal 1, and exactly 1 when the sets considered are convex with respect to horocycles. We consider geodesics and horocycles as particular cases of curves of constant geodesic curvature λ with 0 ≥ λ ≤ 1 and we study the above limit Area/Length as a function of the parameter λ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]