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Located in the South-East of Spain, the province of Almería was considered in the first part of the twentieth century, a poor region. Despite the infertile soil, the limited resources of water and the land not exactly suitable for agriculture, today over 70% of the vegetables exported from Spain are produced here. In the largest greenhouse in the world, as Almería is also called nowadays, are grown tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, with a high yield and a low level of pesticides. The practice of intensive agriculture has led to the growth of the economy of the area, which is mainly based on agriculture and tourism. This paper focuses, especially, on the analysis of relevant indicators for the specific activity of the agri-food cooperatives in Almería. In order to highlight the impact of the economic activity of Almería's cooperatives on the economy, the paper presents a series of indicators of horticultural production in Spain. The statistical data presented and analysed that formed the basis of this paper were provided by Eurostat, Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España Grupo Cooperativo Cajamar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an exploratory qualitative Social Life Cycle Analysis (S-LCA) of intensive greenhouse tomato farming in Almeria, Spain, with a specific focus on the social impacts on migrant workers. By setting as a functional unit the production of 10 kg of greenhouse tomato, the study investigates the social dynamics and challenges faced by migrant workers within the industry. The research sheds light on the negative aspects of intensive greenhouse farming for migrants, i.e., labor conditions, health and safety risks, social inequality, and exploitation of migrant labor. Utilizing document analysis, this study contributes to the field of S-LCA by providing a nuanced understanding of the social dimensions surrounding tomato production and migrant workers' experiences. It emphasizes the need for sustainable practices, improved labor conditions, and ethical considerations to ensure a socially responsible tomato farming industry. The findings have implications for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and consumers, providing insights for informed decision-making and the promotion of socially sustainable agricultural practices that prioritize the well-being and rights of migrant workers in the context of intensive greenhouse farming in Almeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to examine how the imposition of Public Service Obligations (PSO) on certain routes may affect the transportation sector, with a focus on aviation in the European Single Market. Thus, this research investigates how this form of public intervention can be useful to access adequeate transport system in remote and peripherical regions. Subsequently, this paper intends to display that the imposition of PSO on aviation routes should be considered as a unique mean of market intervention on behalf of territorial cohesion. To accomplish this, an analysis of the economic impact in terms of efficiency and sustainability in the case of the scheduled air route between Almeria and Seville in addition to other transportation alternatives such the bus or train was conducted. Additionally, this research attempts to shift the research focus away from PSO routes in order to determine the convenience of administrative concession as a way to foster the creation of specific routes, which furthermore cannot be covered by the entrepreneurship of private initiative in a free market regime. Consequently, this approach recognises that this form of public intervention is a way of correcting particular market failures, such as the lack of the adequate transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have focused on the Self-Determination Theory, paying special attention to intrinsic motivation, which is understood as the motivation that leads the subject to perform a task without the expectation of obtaining an external reward. In the field of sport, motivation is one of the most studied variables and one of the most researched, since it is closely related to the reasons that lead the athletes to start, maintain, and abandon sports practice. The main objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between intrinsic motivation (IM) and emotional intelligence from the theoretical contributions of the Self-Determination Theory. The specific objectives are to analyze attention, clarity, and emotional regulation, as well as intrinsic motivation to acquire knowledge. Additionally, we aim to explore the relationship between attention, clarity, and emotional regulation and the intrinsic motivation to achieve something. Lastly, we investigate the correspondence between attention, clarity, and emotional regulation and the intrinsic motivation to experience stimuli. The sample consists of 163 undergraduate and master's students related to Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, studying at a Spanish public university, located in the southeast region of Andalusia—specifically, in the city of Almería. The participants had a mean age of 20.33 years. In terms of gender, 70.9% (n = 117) were men and 27.9% (n = 46) women. In terms of degree, 76.7% (n = 147) were undergraduate students and 23.3% (n = 18) were postgraduate students. The Sports Motivation Scale (SMS/EMD) was used to assess intrinsic motivation, and the TMMS-24 was used to assess emotional intelligence. The main findings of this research demonstrate the existence of a relationship between the three dimensions of emotional intelligence (emotional attention, emotional clarity, and emotional regulation) and intrinsic motivation (intrinsic motivation to know something, intrinsic motivation to achieve something, and intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation). These findings emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence for intrinsic motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strike-slip fault ruptures have a limited capacity to generate vertical deformation, and for this reason they are usually dismissed as potential destructive tsunami sources. At the western tip of the western Mediterranean, in the Alboran Sea, tectonics is characterized by the presence of large transcurrent fault systems and minor reverse and normal faults in a zone of diffuse deformation. The strike-slip Carboneras fault is one of the largest sources in the Alboran Sea and therefore with the greatest seismogenic capacity. It is also one of the active structures with higher slip rates in the eastern Betic fault zone and has been proposed as the source of the damaging 1522 (M 6.5; Int. VIII–IX) Almeria earthquake. The dimensions and location of the Carboneras fault imply a high seismic and tsunami threat. In this paper we present tsunami simulations from seismic sources generated with physics-based earthquake simulators. We have generated a 1 Myr synthetic seismic catalogue consistent on 773 893 events, with magnitudes ranging between Mw 3.3 and 7.6. From these events we have selected those sources producing a potential energy capable of generating a noticeable tsunami, those sources being earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 6.71 to 7.62. The Carboneras fault has the capacity to generate locally damaging tsunamis; however, on a regional scale its tsunami threat is limited. The frequency–magnitude distribution of the generated seismic catalogue reflects the variability of magnitudes associated with the rupture of the entire fault, departing the upper limit from the classical Gutenberg–Richter potential relation. The inter-event time for the maximum earthquake magnitudes is usually between 2000 and 6000 years. The use of physics-based earthquake simulations for tsunamigenic sources allows an in-depth characterization of the scenarios, allowing a qualitative leap in their parametrization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The so-called "Sea of Plastic" in Almeria (southern Spain) is the largest concentration of plastic greenhouses in the world. Because of its monumentalism and "accidental aesthetics" (Davis, 2015), this geographic region has been extensively depicted from above by aircrafts, satellites, and drones from the 1950s to the present. The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, it offers a historical account of these images from above (from the ones obtained during the Francoist period for geopolitical purposes to those taken by local farmers today) in order to understand its colonial condition and legacy; second, it explores the significance of these images in the process of institutionalization of the landscape and its use in the ideological battle that takes place in the core of the agribusiness regarding its human and environmental externalities; and finally, it analyzes the tension between the artistic and the political condition of these images. We understand these productions as a visual testimony of the Anthropocene since they allow us to document the ecological violence that has taken place in this space over decades. Nevertheless, we argue that the aesthetic condition of most of the SoP's images creates a distance that ultimately fails to show the consequences of agro-industrial activity in the long term: desertification, aquifers' over-exploitation, and long-life plastic waste. Thus, these images allow us to think about the trauma inflicted on ecosystems and the representational challenges involved in representing traumatic landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, resources and computer tools have devolved to allow the production of three-dimensional (3D) models that have become great sources of data for the reconstruction of elements of forgotten heritage. The main advances in the field of 3D modelling are related to terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry. Thanks to the development of image processing techniques, such as structure from motion (SfM) and multiview stereopsis (MVS), combination of both techniques offers effective and cost-efficient photogrammetric process to obtain a high-resolution data set from photographs taken from different points of view. The goal of this paper is to study the effect of the number and distribution of GCP, and the inclusion of oblique photographs on the accuracy of the 3D points clouds yielded by UAV photogrammetry. To achieve this purpose, 18 UAV photogrammetric projects, combining number and distribution of GCPs and inclusion of oblique images to the nadir images, were developed, and the accuracy, precision, and distance respect to a reference cloud were estimated. Results concluded that when only nadir images are used, the best results were found with nine GCPs placed at each of the four corners of the object under study, four in the midpoint of each line that joins two consecutive corners, and another one in the midpoint. Maintaining this arrangement of GCP and adding 12% of oblique images with respect to the total of zenith images, with an angle of 20º with respect to the nadir, improves the precision of the 3D point cloud generated by the photogrammetric project. If it is not possible to place the GCPs in this arrangement, the best option is to place them at the top of the dam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to reconstruct the management of food resources in the early Neolithic site of Cabecicos Negros in southeastern Spain. For this purpose, we have studied 29 potsherds from Cabecicos Negros (Andalusia, Spain). Applying the methods of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry we were able to recompose the daily use of the sherds related to the consumption and storage of food products. Among the results obtained in this work, we were able to show new evidence of the exploitation of dairy products in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as provide information on the exploitation and management of the early domestic animals herds. To improve the archaeological results obtained, isotopic results were compared with a modern reference of 53 fat samples from the adipose tissue of domestic pigs and wild boars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Virtual Archaeology Review is the property of Virtual Archaeology Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Anales de Biología is the property of Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Correspondencias & Analisis is the property of Universidad de San Martin de Porres and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Strike-slip fault ruptures have a limited capacity to generate vertical deformation, and for this reason they are usually dismissed as potential destructive tsunami sources. At the western tip of the western Mediterranean, in the Alboran Sea, tectonics is characterized by the presence of large transcurrent fault systems and minor reverse and normal faults in a zone of diffuse deformation. The strike-slip Carboneras fault is one of the largest sources in the Alboran Sea, and therefore, with the greatest seismogenic capacity. It is also one of the active structures with higher slip rates in the Eastern Betic Fault Zone and has been proposed as source of the damaging 1522 (M6.5; Int. VIII-IX) Almeria earthquake. The dimensions and location of the Carboneras fault imply a high seismic and tsunami threat. In this paper we present tsunami simulations from seismic sources generated with physics-based earthquake simulators. We have generated a 1 Myr synthetic seismic catalogue consistent on 773,893 events with magnitudes ranging between M[sub W] 3.3 and 7.6. From these events we have selected those sources producing a potential energy capable of generating a noticeable tsunami, being earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 6.71 to 7.62. The Carboneras Fault has the capacity to generate locally damaging tsunamis, however, on a regional scale its tsunami threat is limited. The frequency -- magnitude distribution of the generated seismic catalogue reflects the variability of magnitudes associated to the rupture of the entire fault, departing the upper limit from the classical Gutenberg-Richter potential relation showing a bell-shaped distribution. The inter-event time for the maximum earthquake magnitudes is usually j between 2000 and 6000 years. The use of physics-based earthquake simulations for tsunamigenic sources allows a robust characterization of the scenarios, allowing a qualitative leap in their parametrization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica is the property of Universidad de la Rioja, Servicio de Publicaciones and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mapping the distribution of plastic covered greenhouses (PCG) is essential for any attempts to manage these complex areas of intensive agriculture. It is therefore important to understand how the spectrum of different PCG varies in order to establish its unique absorption features and how these can be utilised for mapping PCG from remote sensing imagery. This paper presents an analysis of the surface reflectance values of satellite image spectra for 50 PCG. The reflectance of these PCG, located in Almería (Spain), was studied in two seasons of the year (summer and winter). All single bands of WorldView-3 (WV3), Sentinel-2 MSI (S2 L2A) and Landsat 8 OLI (L8 L2), together with Normalized Difference Plastic Index (NDPI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), were generated through an object-based image analysis (OBIA) approach for each PCG and season. The results showed the variability of absorption features and overall shape of the spectra for all PCG. The main differences in reflectance were attributed to the crops and the specific characteristics of their local management. A relationship between brightness and whitewashing (greenhouse roof painted with lime to provide shade and reduce the temperature inside the greenhouse, especially in summer) was found, showing the ability of whitewashing to temporally mask the spectral signature of the plastic film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WorldView-3's 0.31m resolution in panchromatic mode, makes it one of the highest resolution commercial satellite in the world. This fact, together with its excellent stereo capabilities, make this satellite ideal for digital surface model (DSM) extraction working on very complex morphologies where a higher level of detail is required. In this communication we assess the quality (both completeness and vertical accuracy) of DSM extracted from WorldView-3 stereo pairs depending on the image geometry and sun position. Three different land covers (bare soil, urban areas and agricultural plastic greenhouses) have been tested in the Southeast of Spain (Almería). The well-known semiglobal matching (SGM) algorithm was used for all the extracted DSM. A clear relationship between DSM completeness and the WorldView-3 stereo pair imaging geometry measured as convergence angle was found. The completeness values decreased as convergence angles increased, especially in complex reliefs. In fact, convergence angles lower than 16 degrees is recommended when working on urban or greenhouse land covers. Moreover, sun light can cause glint effect in greenhouse areas. In this land cover, the attained results suggest to use stereo pairs taken when the sun presented a very low elevation. In Almería, the last happens in winter. The best results in all the tested land covers can be obtained by fusing DSM extracted from more than one stereo pair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate greenhouse mapping can support environment monitoring and resource management. In an object-based image analysis (OBIA) approach focused on plastic covered greenhouses (PCG) classification, the segmentation is a crucial step for the goodness of the final results. Multiresolution segmentation (MRS) is one of the most used algorithms in OBIA approaches, being greatly enabled by the advent of the commercial software eCognition. Therefore, in addition to the segmentation algorithm used, it is very important to count on tools to assess the quality of segmentation results from digital images in order to obtain the most similar segments to the real PCG objects. In this work, several factors affecting MRS such as the type of input image and the best MRS parameters (i.e., scale, compactness and shape), have been analysed. In this regard, more than 2800 segmentations focused on PCG land cover were conducted from four pre-processed Deimos-2 very high-resolution (VHR) satellite orthoimages taken in the Southeast of Spain (Almería). Specifically, one multispectral and one pansharpened Deimos-2 orthoimages, both with and without atmospheric correction were tested in this work. The free access AssesSeg command line tool, based on a modified version of the supervised discrepancy measure named Euclidean Distance 2 (ED2), was used to determine the best MRS parameters for all the VHR satellite images. According to both the supervised discrepancy measure ED2 and visual perception, the best segmentation on PCG was obtained over the atmospherically corrected pansharpened Deimos-2 orthoimage, achieving very good results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to contribute to the debate on the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the financial performance (FP), image and reputation (IR) of agri-food firms, examining whether the legal form of organization (LFO) (cooperatives vs. capital firms) moderates these relationships. To this aim, we also consider the potential effects of two scarcely investigated factors that can determine firms' CSR orientation, that is, the capacity to absorb CSR-related knowledge and the perception that managers have of ethics and social responsibility. Using data from a sample of 107 trading firms in the agri-food sector in Almeria (Spain), we show that both factors play a decisive role in the firms' CSR orientation, which has been measured as a multidimensional construct. Also, the orientation towards socially and environmentally responsible practices positively affect IR of agri-food firms and their FP. The relationship with the FP is stronger in the case of cooperatives compared to capital firms. Key implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean water-stressed areas face significant challenges from higher temperatures and increasingly severe droughts. We assess the effect of climate change on rainfed barley production in the aridity-prone province of Almería, Spain, using the FAO AquaCrop model. We focus on rainfed barley growth by the mid-century (2041–2070) and end-century (2071–2100) time periods, using three Shared Socio-economic Pathway (SSP)-based scenarios: SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5. Using the paired t-test, Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficient, Root Mean Squared Error, and relative Root Mean Squared Error, we verified AquaCrop's ability to capture local multi-year trends (9 or more years) using standard barley crop parameters, without local recalibration. Starting with a reference Initial Soil Water Content (ISWC), different soil water contents within barley rooting depth were modelled to account for decreases in soil water availability. We then evaluated the efficiency of different climate adaptation strategies: irrigation, mulching, and changing sowing dates. We show average yield changes of +14% to −44.8% (mid-century) and +12% to −55.1% (end-century), with ISWC being the main factor determining yields. Irrigation increases yields by 21.1%, utilizing just 3% of Almería's superficial water resources. Mulches improve irrigated yield performances by 6.9% while reducing irrigation needs by 40%. Changing sowing dates does not consistently improve yields. We demonstrate that regardless of the scenario used, climate adaptation of field barley production in Almería should prioritize limiting soil water loss by combining irrigation with mulching. This would enable farmers in Almería's northern communities to maintain their livelihoods, reducing the province's reliance on horticulture while continuing to contribute to food security goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road traffic noise is one of the most significant environmental impacts generated by transport systems. To this regard, the recent implementation of the European Environmental Noise Directive by Public Administrations of the European Union member countries has led to various noise action plans (NAPs) for reducing the noise exposure of EU inhabitants. Every country or administration is responsible for applying criteria based on their own experience or expert knowledge, but there is no regulated process for the prioritization of technical measures within these plans. This paper proposes a multi-criteria decision methodology for the selection of suitable alternatives against traffic noise in each of the road stretches included in the NAPs. The methodology first defines the main criteria and alternatives to be considered. Secondly, it determines the relative weights for the criteria and sub-criteria using the fuzzy extended analytical hierarchy process as applied to the results from an expert panel, thereby allowing expert knowledge to be captured in an automated way. A final step comprises the use of discrete multi-criteria analysis methods such as weighted sum, ELECTRE and TOPSIS, to rank the alternatives by suitability. To illustrate an application of the proposed methodology, this paper describes its implementation in a complex real case study: the selection of optimal technical solutions against traffic noise in the top priority road stretch included in the revision of the NAP of the regional road network in the province of Almeria (Spain). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Interuniversitaria de Formación del Profesorado is the property of Asociacion Universitaria de Formacion del Profesorado (AUFOP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Greenhouse microclimate and crop response of winter cucumber cycles grown in unheated Mediterranean greenhouses with representative combinations of passive heating systems (fixed, plastic screen with and without black mulch; movable thermal screen with black mulch; and double-layer plastic covering with black mulch) were evaluated in Almería, SE Spain. In the first experiment, the black mulch in combination with a movable or fixed screen increased the marketable cucumber yield by 14%, which appears to be mostly attributable to higher substrate temperatures induced by the black mulch in the cold period. Moreover, the black mulch in combination with a fixed screen frequently led to screen water condensation. The use of a movable screen, rather than a fixed one, in combination with a black mulch increased the first-class cucumber yield in the second experiment and reduced the non-marketable one in the first experiment. This might be mainly attributable to the higher incoming shortwave radiation in the cold period. Moreover, the movable screen reduced the risk of water condensation on the screen and the crop. The cucumber in the greenhouse with the double-layer covering and black mulch, compared to that with movable screen and black mulch, received lower daily incoming shortwave radiation, particularly, during the second half of the cycle (mainly due to the formation of water condensation droplets on the lower surface of the external plastic film), which reduced crop yield. Further field research is needed to better quantify the most limiting factor for growth (substrate/soil or air temperature, radiation, or water condensation) in Mediterranean greenhouse crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in anti-immigrant hate speech on social media. Drawing on interviews with 15 immigrant associations and 11 pro-immigrant associations in the southern Spanish province of Almería, as well as digital ethnography, this article explores strategies used by immigrant and pro-immigrant associations to counter hate speech. The rise of this hate speech, disseminated mainly by far-right parties, has occurred at a time when many immigrant associations have little or no access to social media platforms. However, members of all these associations (immigrant and pro-immigrant) are aware of the perverse effects of these discourses, as they have either received them on their personal social media platforms or experienced abhorrent hate-speech attacks against their members and/or users. Despite their difficulties in navigating the "glocaline political arena", they have participated in a number of projects and developed tools that allow them to generate a counter-discourse. We identify and explore the richness and diversity of these online campaigns and activities, highlighting the difficulties that immigrant associations—compared to pro-immigrant ones—face in navigating the glocaline political arena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Paz y Conflictos is the property of Revista de Paz y Confilictos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract This paper shows the studies carried out in Palomares (Almería, Spain) following the ground dispersion of nuclear material as a result of the air crash accident that took place in 1966, in which four nuclear bombs were involved. As a consequence of the Palomares accident, plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) were dispersed over an area of approximately 2.3 km2 due to the chemical explosion of two of them. The most relevant activities carried out by CIEMAT, along with other national and international institutions in the Palomares scenario are detailed. These activities, performed for over 50 years, focus mainly in the characterization of the contamination source, in the continuous environmental and personal radiological monitoring programs, in the construction of a detailed superficial and 3-D mapping distribution of the remaining contamination and in the evaluation of the bioavailability of the transuranics still remaining in the area. Highlights • Most of the Pu contamination in the area affected by the Palomares accident is in particle form. • A three dimensional map of the Pu has been constructed allowing to update the estimation of the plutonium inventory. • The bioavailability of the Pu in the area is quite low. • No radiological risk exists due to consumption of food from the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Education & Psychology is the property of European Journal of Education & Psychology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A professional point of view suggests that photovoltaic systems should be installed at the optimum tilt angle and orientation. However, in photovoltaic systems integrated in buildings the flexibility of installation is common. This paper is organized in two different parts. In the first one, the energy losses caused by deviations from the tilt angle (β) and the orientation (γ) of the installation in relation to the ideal position are evaluated. This work considers the cloudy-sky conditions in each locality and theoretically calculates by applying the Cavaleri's principle, the energy losses. Ten cities around the world, in the northern hemisphere, have been studied with a MATLAB code and the findings demonstrate that non-ideal tilt and azimuth angles can also lead to acceptable levels of electric energy generation. A photovoltaic system installed in South orientation (γ = 0 °) and β deviations of up to 10 (°) in relation to the optimum tilt angle has a very small influence on the energy losses. The energy losses are: 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% when β deviations are respectively: 21–23 (°), 31–33 (°), 37–40 (°) and 43–47 (°). Then, in the second part, an important application of this previous outcome comes out: the best distribution of the photovoltaic modules on a flat roof of irregular shape of an urban building is achieved.The aim of this work is to maximize the amount of energy get by a photovoltaic system. This engineering problem is highly complex as it involves 10 variables: the available flat roof area, the shape and the orientation of the available flat roof area, the dimensions (length and width) of the commercial photovoltaic modules, the orientation and the position of the photovoltaic modules, the number of the photovoltaic modules, the minimum distances (maintenance operations, to avoid shadowing effects) between rows of photovoltaic modules, and the minimum distance to the terrace boundary. In this context, this work aims to present a study to assist the decision-making. This paper shows a packing algorithm (in Mathematica™) which maximizes the energy generation area of the solar photovoltaic system, considering shadings and distances required for maintenance. Eventually, using the initial study, it comes out the influence of β on the potential capacity of the solar photovoltaic system and it is demonstrated that a decrease in the optimal tilt angle results in an increase up to 24% in the amount of obtained energy keeping invariable the available area. For example, in Almeria, with an optimum tilt angle of 30.3 (°) the amount of obtained energy is 149.8 (MWh) while with a tilt angle of 14 (°) the amount of obtained energy is 186.2 (MWh). This analysis enables to find the optimal answer to the following practical questions: what number of photovoltaic modules is required?, which is the right position for the photovoltaic modules?, and what orientation of photovoltaic modules is the right one?. There are many installers of photovoltaic systems who would benefit from studies about this issue. [Display omitted] • We calculate the energy losses caused by deviations from optimal angles. • The energy losses are 10% when tilt angle deviation is around 30 (°). • The azimuth angle deviation has a small influence on the incoming solar irradiance. • As an application we find the best distribution of photovoltaic modules on a flat roof. • Decreasing the tilt angle, we increase up to 24% the amount of obtained energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Conosiphon Becker, 1923, Conosiphon ianus Álvarez Fidalgo & van den Broek, sp. nov., is described from Spain, representing the first record of this genus for Europe. It is illustrated in high-resolution photographs and the first ecological information is provided, as well as a key to all species tentatively placed in this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic covered greenhouse (PCG) mapping via remote sensing has received a great deal of attention over the past decades. The WorldView-3 (WV3) satellite is a very high resolution (VHR) sensor with eight multispectral bands in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) spectral range, and eight additional bands in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) region. A few studies have already established the importance of indices based on some of these SWIR bands to detect urban plastic materials and hydrocarbons which are also related to plastics. This paper aims to investigate the capability of WV3 (VNIR and SWIR) for direct PCG detection following an object-based image analysis (OBIA) approach. Three strategies were carried out: (i) using object features only derived from VNIR bands (VNIR); (ii) object features only derived from SWIR bands (SWIR), and (iii) object features derived from both VNIR and SWIR bands (All Features). The results showed that the majority of predictive power was attributed to SWIR indices, especially to the Normalized Difference Plastic Index (NDPI). Overall, accuracy values of 90.85%, 96.79% and 97.38% were attained for VNIR, SWIR and All Features strategies, respectively. The main PCG misclassification problem was related to the agricultural practice of greenhouse whitewash (greenhouse shading) that temporally masked the spectral signature of the plastic film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to analyse the opinions of farmers in the province of Almería concerning the state of the fruit and vegetable sector, to learn about the main considerations in their decision-making processes when marketing their products and their assessment of the image of companies and cooperatives and to analyse the social structure of this collective. To that end, the analysis was conducted on three levels: a descriptive analysis on two levels - a quantitative analysis of the socio-demographic, socio-economic and marketing characteristics of farmers in the province of Almería and a qualitative analysis based on the opinions of farmers and a group of experts in the sector; and an explanatory analysis, based on a binary logistic regression model, to show how decision-making occurs in the marketing dialectic, whether it either be at the source (auction) or the end-point (cooperative). The conclusion is that the marketing variables that are most tied to context - such as price, timeframe or certification - better explain the decision- making process of farmers in the province of Almería when marketing their products, both for cooperative members and for those who sell their products in alhóndigas (traditional auction houses). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐linearity is an inherent feature of practical systems. Although there have been significant advances in the control of nonlinear systems, the proposed methods often require considerable computational resources or rely on local linearization around equilibrium points. The Koopman operator is an infinite‐dimensional linear operator that fully captures a system's non‐linear dynamics. However, one of the major problems is identifying a Koopman finite dimensional linear model for a nonlinear system. Initiated by the Willems' fundamental Lemma, a class of data‐driven control methods has been developed for linear systems without the need to identify the system's matrices. Motivated by these two ideas, a data‐driven Koopman‐based predictive control scheme for non‐linear systems is proposed for unknown disturbed non‐linear systems utilising a finite‐length dataset. Then, considering the uncertainty in the Koopman state variables, a robust data‐driven Koopman predictive control structure is presented. Also, the results led to the design of a data‐driven Koopman predictive control strategy with terminal components to ensure the closed‐loop stability of nonlinear systems. The proposed scheme is tested on the distributed‐parameter model of the ACUREX solar collector field (located at Almería, Spain) to regulate the field outlet temperature around a desired value. Finally, simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Benínar Dam, located in Southeastern Spain, is an earth-fill dam that has experienced filtration issues since its construction in 1985. Despite the installation of various monitoring systems, the data collected are sparse and inadequate for the dam's lifetime. The present research integrates Multi-Temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (MT-InSAR) and dam modeling to validate the monitoring of this dam, opening the way to enhanced integrated monitoring systems. MT-InSAR was proved to be a reliable and continuous monitoring system for dam deformation, surpassing previously installed systems in terms of precision. MT-InSAR allowed the almost-continuous monitoring of this dam since 1992, combining ERS, Envisat, and Sentinel-1A/B data. Line-of-sight (LOS) velocities of settlement in the crest of the dam evolved from maximums of −6 mm/year (1992–2000), −4 mm/year (2002–2010), and −2 mm/year (2015–2021) with median values of −2.6 and −3.0 mm/year in the first periods (ERS and Envisat) and −1.3 mm/year in the Sentinel 1-A/B period. These results are consistent with the maximum admissible modeled deformation from construction, confirming that settlement was more intense in the dam's early stages and decreased over time. MT-InSAR was also used to integrate the monitoring of the dam basin, including critical slopes, quarries, and infrastructures, such as roads, tracks, and spillways. This study allows us to conclude that MT-InSAR and dam modeling are important elements for the integrated monitoring systems of embankment dams. This conclusion supports the complete integration of MT-InSAR and 3D modeling into the monitoring systems of embankment dams, as they are a key complement to traditional geotechnical monitoring and can overcome the main limitations of topographical monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring sustainability is a multi-attribute issue consisting of numerous variables that tend to be interrelated. The holistic perspective and the determination of said relationships, synergies and/or trade-offs, are aspects that have been receiving close attention in the literature on the subject. This paper aims to develop an analysis that considers these topics regarding the farming system in Almería, utilizing primary data obtained from surveys of a sampling of farmers and secondary data from the sector. A series of ecological, social and economic indicators are determined, following the framework of the Sustainability Assessment of Farming and the Environment (SAFE), and its subsequent aggregation using synthetic indexes. The estimation of interrelationships is carried out by means of a multivariate analysis, considering the endogeneity between the sustainability dimensions and the influence of several features of the agrifood system. The results reveal that the increase in the economic and social indicators reduces environmental pressures on the use of resources; in parallel, it can also be observed how social and environmental improvements reveal positive effects on the economic dimension of the farmers. Overall, this study presents an analytical study that combines indicators at farm level and the effects related to the productive activities surrounding agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generally established protocol for leaf measurement with proximal optical sensors is to use the most recently fully expanded leaf. However, differences in the nitrogen (N) status of lower and upper leaves could possibly be used to enhance optical sensor measurement. Normalized indices that consider both upper and lower leaves have been proposed to improve the assessment of crop N status and yield estimation. This study evaluated whether normalized indices improved the estimation of crop yield from measurements with three different proximal optical sensors: (i) SPAD-502 leaf chlorophyll meter, (ii) Crop Circle ACS 470 canopy reflectance sensor, and (iii) Multiplex fluorescence meter. The study was conducted with sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) in plastic greenhouses in Almeria, Spain. Measurements were made on the latest (most recent) leaf (L1), and the second (L2), third (L3) and fourth (L4) fully expanded leaves. Yield estimation models, using linear regression analysis, were developed and validated from the absolute and normalized measurements of the three optical sensors. Overall, the calibration and validation results indicated that the absolute measurements generally had better yield estimation performance than the normalized indices for all the leaves and different leaf profiles. In both species, there was a better performance at the early phenological stages, such as the vegetative and flowering stages, for the absolute and normalized indices for the three optical sensors. Absolute proximal optical sensor measurements on the lower leaves (L2, L3 and L4) slightly improved yield estimation compared to the L1 leaf. Normalized indices that included the L4 leaf (L1–L4) had better yield estimation compared to those using L2 and L3 (e.g., L1–L2 and L1–L3). Of the normalized indices evaluated, the yield performance of the Relative Index (RI), Relative Difference Index (RDI), and Normalized Difference Index (NDI) were very similar, and generally superior to the Difference Index (DI). Overall, the results of this study demonstrated that for three different proximal optical sensors in both muskmelon and sweet pepper (i) normalized indices did not improve yield estimation, and (ii) that absolute measurements on lower leaves (L2, L3 and L4) slightly improved yield estimation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gypsum covers a vast area of the Iberian Peninsula, making Spain a leader in its production. Gypsum is a fundamental raw material for modern societies. However, gypsum quarries have an obvious impact on the landscape and biodiversity. Gypsum outcrops host a high percentage of endemic plants and unique vegetation, considered a priority by the EU. Restoring gypsum areas after mining is a key strategy to prevent biodiversity loss. For the implementation of restoration approaches, understanding vegetation's successional processes can be of invaluable help. To fully document the spontaneous succession in gypsum quarries and to evaluate its interest for restoration, 10 permanent plots of 20 × 50 m were proposed, with nested subplots, in which vegetation change was recorded for 13 years in Almeria (Spain). Through Species-Area Relationships (SARs), these plots' floristic changes were monitored and compared to others in which an active restoration was carried out, as well as others with natural vegetation. Furthermore, the successional pattern found was compared to those recorded in 28 quarries distributed throughout the Spanish territory. The results show that an ecological pattern of spontaneous primary auto-succession is widely recurring in Iberian gypsum quarries, which is capable of regenerating the pre-existing natural vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal energy storage tanks are habitually combined with solar thermal fields to improve the dispatchability of these facilities. From the dynamical point of view, the start-up phase is relevant since if the storage device is unloaded in terms of energy or widely stratified, the transitory regime can take long time until reaching the operating point. In this paper, an optimal real-time procedure based on a hierarchical controller for improving the start-up phase is proposed. The hierarchical controller is composed of two layers based on a Model Predictive Control (MPC) technique and Proportional Integer Derivative (PID) controllers. Real experimental tests were performed in a pilot facility located at Plataforma Solar de Almería (Almería, Spain). In addition, a comparison in simulation with the typical manual procedure and with two techniques proposed previously in the literature for the same plant is provided. The results demonstrate the benefits obtained by using the proposed method; since it reduces the start-up phase in 34 [min] in comparison with the manual operation, and in 26 and 6 [min] with respect to the two previous techniques. • This paper proposes an optimal start-up policy for solar thermal fields. • The procedure is based on a hierarchical controller that uses a real time optimizer. • Experimental tests were conducted in a real facility with direct storage. • A simulated comparative analysis with other start-up techniques is also provided. • The start-up stage time can be reduced up to 10.5% with the proposed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current agricultural water panorama in many Mediterranean countries is composed by desalination facilities, wells (frequently overexploited), the water public utility network, and several consumer agents with different water needs. This distributed water network requires centralized management methods for its proper use, which are difficult to implement as the different agents are usually geographically separated. In this sense, the use of enabling technologies such as the Internet of Things can be essential to the proper operation of these agroindustrial systems. In this paper, an Internet of Things cloud architecture based on the FIWARE standard is proposed for interconnecting the several agents that make up the agroindustrial system. In addition, this architecture includes an efficient management method based on a model predictive control technique, which is aimed at minimizing operating costs. A case study inspired by three real facilities located in Almería (southeast of Spain) is used as the simulation test bed. The obtained results show how around 75% of the total operating costs can be saved with the application of the proposed approach, which could be very significant to decrease the costs of desalinated water and, therefore, to maintain the sustainability of the agricultural system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along the Southeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula are numerous remains linked to the ancient purple exploitation destined for elaborating dyes. Our study focused on analysing the Torregarcía's site (Almeria, Spain), which is set in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, a protected coastal space of huge ecological interest. Torregarcía was excavated in the 1980s. Despite its importance, it has remained invisible to the historiography of the last three decades due to the lack of scientific publications on the matter. The current archaeological works, performed by non-invasive prospection techniques, such as GPR, magnetometer or UAV, revealed the relevance of purple exploitation as one of the main activities and have made possible the documentation of more complex facilities associated with excavated structures and the extensive shell midden. Along with these, other buildings and shell middens have been found throughout the coast of this location. This study emphasised the first results of the 2019 and 2021 campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we conduct an investigation of the Sorbas Basin (Almería, Spain) on the Messinian gypsum unit using geophysical prospecting methods. Geophysical electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) methods were applied to study the subsurface of this gypsum unit, the exploitation of which could be of interest economically, with different commercial specifications for alabastrine and selenitic gypsums. For the interpretation of the different ERT images, the data for the surface geology, borehole cores, and seismic refraction conducted at a point within the ERT profiles were used. The results obtained from this investigation can be used as a reference for other similar studies in other regions. It was observed that selenitic gypsum is more resistive than alabastrine gypsum; therefore, the diagenetic processes of dehydration (anhydritization) and hydration (gypsification) increase the "percolation" phenomenon through possibly ensuring a greater connectivity of the shale matrix. Fracturing and moisture can be used to fully determine the resistivity of the purest and most resistive gypsum, to the point of considerably lowering the resistivity in an entire area affected by fracturing. The use of different tests with different lengths for the same profile can help one better understand the structure of the gypsum body in the subsurface, especially when there are shale intercalations or more- or less-pure levels of gypsum that do not reach a value of a few meters in thickness, because these thinner levels of a few meters are not defined in the ERT images when the test is performed at depths of up to 75 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic-covered greenhouse (PCG) segmentation represents a significant challenge for object-based PCG mapping studies due to the spectral characteristics of these singular structures. Therefore, the assessment of PCG segmentation quality by employing a multiresolution segmentation algorithm (MRS) was addressed in this study. The structure of this work is composed of two differentiated phases. The first phase aimed at testing the performance of eight widely applied supervised segmentation metrics in order to find out which was the best metric for evaluating image segmentation quality over PCG land cover. The second phase focused on examining the effect of several factors (reflectance storage scale, image spatial resolution, shape parameter of MRS, study area, and image acquisition season) and their interactions on PCG segmentation quality through a full factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) design. The analysis considered two different study areas (Almeria (Spain) and Antalya (Turkey)), seasons (winter and summer), image spatial resolution (high resolution and medium resolution), and reflectance storage scale (Percent and 16Bit formats). Regarding the results of the first phase, the Modified Euclidean Distance 2 (MED2) was found to be the best metric to evaluate PCG segmentation quality. The results coming from the second phase revealed that the most critical factor that affects MRS accuracy was the interaction between reflectance storage scale and shape parameter. Our results suggest that the Percent reflectance storage scale, with digital values ranging from 0 to 100, performed significantly better than the 16Bit reflectance storage scale (0 to 10,000), both in the visual interpretation of PCG segmentation quality and in the quantitative assessment of segmentation accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for organic food products has increased in recent years due to them being perceived healthier, safer, and eco-friendlier by consumers, boosting the development of this industry. The higher retailing price of organic products increases the risk of fraudulent practices, making it necessary to establish control mechanisms to authenticate these products. However, the authentication of organic foodstuffs is a great analytical challenge that still requires further research. In the case of organic agriculture, regulations mainly determine the nutrient inputs that can be used by farmers, and generally prohibit the use of pesticides and/or synthetic fertilisers, aiming at maintaining soil fertility using green manures, composts, animal manures, etc. These inputs affect the final food product, and numerous analytical attempts, based on the measurement of multiple markers or complex chemical/physical profiles, have been tested over recent years. However, the high variability of these measurements due to weather condition factors reduces their efficiency and limits their use. In this sense, stable isotopes have emerged as an analytical technique with great potential for the authentication of organic agricultural products, due to their lower dependence on weather conditions and capability to reflect the origin of plant nitrogen, in the case of stable nitrogen isotopes. In this work, the feasibility was assessed using stable isotopes of bulk nitrogen for the organic authentication of four important horticultural crops (zucchini, cucumber, tomato, and pepper) produced in Almeria, southern Spain, which is the largest producing region with the highest export levels in Europe. To this end, 360 samples of vegetables were collected and their δ15N values were determined by combustion coupled to stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS). The results allowed an authentication framework to be established based on three ranges delimited by δ15N = 2‰ and δ15N = 5‰, which made it possible to detect with a high degree of confidence vegetables produced under proper organic practices (δ15N > 5‰), conventional practices (δ15N < 2‰), and samples that should be tracked over time to be considered organically produced (middle range). The results of this study demonstrated the potential of using δ15N as a single measure to authenticate organic vegetables, providing official bodies with a tool to make decisions about the organic accreditation of regularly inspected farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of Chalcolithic settlements in southern Iberia (c. 3200-2200 bce) has changed dramatically in recent decades. Instead of clearly bounded and dense settlements, archaeology is establishing a range of site types, some sparsely settled, some quite large. Such varied settlement typology is now understood as being part of a thriving period of development, which included monumental tombs, high-quality craft organisation and highly dynamic exchange networks. This article presents recent work around the River Antas in Almeria, Spain, which has revealed a complex settlement network along the river for the period in question. This new evidence challenges our understanding of prehistoric habitation in the area and poses new questions about major settlement pattern changes in the prehistory of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results on the agronomic performance of organic amendments in the EU 7th FP project "FERTIPLUS—reducing mineral fertilizers and agro-chemicals by recycling treated organic waste as compost and bio-char". Four case studies on field-scale application of biochar, compost and biochar-blended compost were established and studied for three consecutive years in four distinct cropping systems and under different agro-climatic conditions in Europe. These included the following sites: olive groves in Murcia (Spain), greenhouse grown tomatoes in Almeria (Spain), an arable crop rotation in Oost-Vlaanderen (Merelbeke, Belgium), and three vineyards in Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy). A slow pyrolysis oak biochar was applied, either alone or in combination with organic residues: compost from olive wastes in Murcia (Spain), sheep manure in Almeria (Spain), and compost from biowaste and green waste in Belgium and Italy. The agronomical benefits were evaluated based on different aspects of soil fertility (soil total organic carbon (TOC), pH, nutrient cycling and microbial activity) and crop nutritional status and productivity. All amendments were effective in increasing soil organic C in all the field trials. On average, the increase with respect to the control was about 11% for compost, 20% for biochar-blended compost, and 36% for biochar. The amendments also raised the pH by 0.15–0.50 units in acidic soils. Only biochar had a negligible fertilization effect. On the contrary, compost and biochar-blended compost were effective in enhancing soil fertility by increasing nutrient cycling (25% mean increase in extractable organic C and 44% increase in extractable N), element availability (26% increase in available K), and soil microbial activity (26% increase in soil respiration and 2–4 fold enhancement of denitrifying activity). In general, the tested amendments did not show any negative effect on crop yield and quality. Furthermore, in vineyards and greenhouse grown tomatoes cropping systems, compost and biochar-blended compost were also effective in enhancing key crop quality parameters (9% increase in grape must acidity and 16% increase in weight, 9% increase in diameter and 8% increase in hardness of tomato fruits) important for the quality and marketability of the crops. The overall results of the project suggest that the application of a mixture of biochar and compost can benefit crops. Therefore, biochar-blended compost can support and maintain soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almería horticulture in SE Spain hosts the largest concentration of greenhouses in the world and faces important environmental sustainability challenges. Microalgae-derived applications are efficient nature-based solutions as they are used for wastewater regeneration or as biostimulants and biopesticides in agriculture. However, farmers' knowledge and acceptance of microalgae-derived applications remain unknown, which is a major barrier to its commercialization. This study explores current farmers' knowledge and acceptance of microalgae in Almería horticulture. Results revealed that there exists a significant lack of knowledge regarding the use of microalgae agricultural-based applications. Over sixty percent of farmers indicated that microalgae can have beneficial uses in agriculture, such as biostimulants or biofertilizers. However, although seventy percent of farmers expressed their willingness to use them, results also showed that only 32% of farmers using microalgae-derived applications have obtained satisfactory results. We call the urgent need for new communication strategies based on transdisciplinary approaches that increase farmers' knowledge around the multiple microalgae-derived products and applications in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historia Actual Online is the property of Asociacion de Historia Actual and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Bentonite is a claystone formed by a complex mineralogical mixture, composed of montmorillonite, illite, and accessory minerals like quartz, cristobalite, feldspars, carbonates, and minor amounts of iron oxy-hydroxides. Bentonite presents complexity at various scales: (1): a single mineral may present different chemical composition within the same quarry (e.g., feldspars solid solutions); (2): montmorillonite presents variability in the cation-exchange distribution while illite may be presented as mixed-layer with smectite sheets; and (3): hardness and crystal size are larger in accessory minerals than in clay minerals, preventing uniform grinding of bentonite. The FEBEX bentonite used is originally from Almería (Spain), and it is a predominantly calcium, magnesium, and sodium bentonite. This Spanish FEBEX bentonite has been hydrothermally altered at laboratory scale for 7–14 years. A thermal gradient was generated by heating a disk of pressed iron powder, simulating the metal waste canister, in contact with the compacted bentonite sample. Hydration was forced from the opposite direction. XRD recorded patterns were very similar. In order to minimize the bias of XRD semi-quantitative determination methods, Rietveld refinement was performed using BGMN software and different structural models. Confidence in the quantification of the main phases allows us to convincingly detect other subtle changes such as the presence of calcite in the hydration front, right at the interface between the saturated and unsaturated bentonite, or the presence of goethite, and not hematite, in the saturated bentonite, near the source of hydration. Smectite component was 72 ± 3% and the refinement was consistent with the presence of ~10% illite, comparable with previous characterizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective monitoring of Mediterranean forest is essential to determine the role of forest management in mitigating climate change and ensuring the maintenance of its environmental services. Most of the allometric models to estimate dry above-ground biomass (AGB) at tree level are based on knowing the diameter of the trunk at breast height (DBH). However, it is difficult, if not impossible, to estimate DBH from airborne/spaceborne sensors within the context of a remote sensing-oriented approach, being common to draw upon regression models to relate DBH to remotely sensed dendrometric variables such as total tree height (H) and tree crown diameter (CD). This study uses UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) image-based data to estimate the dendrometric variables H and CD of the repopulated Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) located in a semiarid continental Mediterranean forest of Almería (southeast of Spain). DBH data were gathered through field work. Both bivariate (DBH = Φ(H)) and multivariate (DBH = Ψ(H, CD)) allometric models were developed by applying least-squares-based regression and machine learning regression methods. The results showed that multivariate allometric models performed better than bivariate at predicting DBH, both in terms of goodness-of-fit and stability against changes in training or testing samples. In addition, least-squares-based regression (linear and potential) provided statistically similar results to those obtained from complex machine learning ensemble algorithms. In this way, the easy-to-apply multivariate linear allometric model DBH = −4.84 + 1.73149H + 3.08114CD (R2 = 89.23%) would be recommended to locally estimate DBH in Aleppo pine from remotely sensed H and CD data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arab Journal of Plant Protection is the property of Arab Society for Plant Protection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: This paper presents a new system for the optimized control of IKN-type cement coolers based on adaptive predictive methodology. The new system introduces the concepts of ’layer on grate’ and ’thickness of slope’, which allow a decoupled multivariable control of the layer of clinker over the grate, and the flow rate of the cooler fans, solving a fundamental control problem for this type of process and maximizing the heat transfer from the cooling process to the kiln. The experimental results obtained in the Gador mill of Holcim, in Almeria (Spain), are analyzed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Theoretical analysis demonstrates that coupling a double effect absorption heat pump (DEAHP) cycle to a multi-effect distillation (MED) process shows higher overall performance than other conventional heat pumps like steam ejectors. However, only two demonstration facilities have been implemented worldwide to date, both of them at the Plataforma Solar de Almería (Spain). The first experience (1992) allowed the expected performance results to be achieved, but some operational problems showed that the technology was not mature enough for its commercial implementation. This paper reports on the assessment of a second heat pump prototype (2005) more successful than the first one. Advances in both the DEAHP unit and design layout of the desalination system as a whole have led to proven reliability of the DEAHP/MED concept, which has an overall performance ratio of 20 with stable and fully automatic operation. It requires a 180°C saturated steam supply which can be provided by solar linear-focusing concentrators. This is a 100% increase over the performance ratio of the MED unit, thus becoming the most efficient solar distillation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anuario de Letras. Lingüística y Filología is the property of Instituto de Investigaciones Filologicas - UNAM and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)