Building microclouds at the network edge with the Cloudy platform

Edge computing enables new types of services which operate at the network edge. There are important use cases in pervasive computing, ambient intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) for edge computing. In this demo paper we present microclouds deployed at the networks edge in the Guifi.net community network leveraging an open extensible platform called Cloudy. The demonstration focuses on the following aspects: The usage of Cloudy for end users, the services of Cloudy to build microclouds, and the application scenarios of IoT data management within microclouds.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Assessing the participatory design of a project-based course on computer network applications

New teaching methodologies which foster student involvement, such as project-based learning, are nowadays part of the study curriculum of many engineering schools. Project-based learning courses, however, often build upon other previously taught technical courses, where the technical content for the project to be developed is studied. That type of course design focuses on building the transversal capabilities of students, and the technical challenges of the project are the mean to acquire these non-technical skills. In this paper, we present and assess a project-based course on computer network applications of a computer science school, which has been designed to improve within the same course both the transversal and technical skills of the students. The proposition of interest is that the course not only aims to train the students’ transversal skills by a group work project, but also to practise new technical topics and technologies. We argue that the key element of the proposed course design is that each student project group defines with the instructor the project they would like to develop in the course. We present first the design of the course and then an assessment with questionnaires, which were conducted over two semesters with the students enrolled in the course. The obtained results indicate that the students achieved both technical and transversal skills, while the instructors need to be flexible to adapt to diverse technical topics of the proposed projects.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Super Undies, Buff Bodies and Body Facism: Normative Gay Identity and the Politics of Regulation

fab Magazine, a bi-weekly based in Toronto, is an example of a gay tabloid press that claims to provide an alternative to the traditional discourses of gay identity. Providing local coverage of Toronto’s gay community, the magazine also contains featured columnists, music and restaurant reviews, and a classified section that focuses on gay businesses and services. However the magazine’s representation of the gay community embraces and glorifies the normative images of the gay body that articulate the stereotypical conception of gay consumer identity. This creates a contradiction at the centre of the magazine: it is a text that seeks to be understood as a “for us, by us text†publication yet it deploys a normative construction of gayness in the vast majority of its image-based representations

Color coherence in a heavy quark antenna radiating gluons inside a QCD medium

We compute the color coherence effects for soft gluon radiation off antennas containing heavy quarks in the presence of a QCD medium - in color singlet, triplet or octet global states. This work completes the studies of antenna radiation inside a medium which provide a useful picture of the relevance of interference effects in jet parton showers for the jet quenching phenomenon observed in high-energy nuclear collisions. The analysis is performed resumming the multiple scatterings of the partonic system with the medium. The main conclusion is that decorrelation due to color rotation is more effective in the case in which at least one of the emitters of the antenna is a heavy quark. This effect, present both for a heavy-quark-antiquark or a heavy-quark-gluon antenna is more relevant for the later or for the case in which the energies of the quark and antiquark are very different. The parameter controlling these effects involves the dead-cone angle. We find that interferences are cancelled, spoiling the color correlation of the pair, when $\theta_{ DC}=M/E >>1/\sqrt{\omega L}$ where E and {\omega} are the energies of the heavy quark and the radiated gluon and L is the medium length. In the case of a heavy-quark-antiquark antenna $t_{form}$ appears instead of L if the original splitting is symmetric. The presence or absence of interferences modifies the energy loss pattern.Comment: 12 page

Enzyme-magnetic nanoparticle reactor for the advanced oxidation of micropollutants in wastewaters

Oxidative biocatalysts by oxidoreductases arises as a promising alternative from the development of advanced oxidation processes for transformation of emerging contaminants to transformation of compounds into value added bio-based products. For technical and economic reasons, in most enzyme catalysed processes it is necessary to reuse the biocatalyst. In this context, enzyme immobilization can be defined as a technique that allows reuse or continued use of the biocatalyst. Envisaging the application of the different biocatalysts in wastewater treatment plants or other biotechnological applications it is important to design an enzymatic reactor in which the recovery and reuse of the enzyme is fulfilled

Study of antioxidant capacity in elicitated pepper cells with an extract of leaves of Moringa oleifera

[Resumen]: Moringa oleifera Lam es un árbol apreciado por su elevado valor en la alimentación, la medicina o el tratamiento de aguas, entre otros. Además posee múltiples características metabólicas, entre las cuales destaca su elevada cantidad de metabolitos secundarios, implicados en mecanismos de defensa o adaptación al ambiente. Forman parte de estos metabolitos secundarios los compuestos fenólicos caracterizados por su alto poder antioxidante. Debido a estas características, se elicitaron las suspensiones celulares de Capsicum annuum L var. annuum con hojas de extracto de Moringa a 24 y 96 horas, con el objetivo de ver la respuesta a nivel celular. Los resultados obtenidos señalan un aumento en la concentración de fenoles y de la actividad antioxidante a las 24 horas de la elicitación.[Resumo]: Moringa oleifera Lam é una árbore apreciada polo seu elevado valor na alimentación, na medicina, no tratamento de augas, entre outros. Ademais, posúe múltiples características metabólicas, entre as cales destaca a súa elevada cantidade de metabolitos secundarios, implicados en mecanismos de defensa ou adaptación ao ambiente. Forman parte destes metabolitos secundarios os compostos fenólicos caracterizado polo seu alto poder antioxidante. Debido a estas características, levouse a cabo a elicitación de suspensión celulares de Capsicum annuum L var. annuum con follas de extracto de Moringa de a 24 e 96 horas co obxectivo de ver a resposta a nivel celular. Os resultados obtidos sinalan un aumento na concentración de fenoles e da actividade antioxidante ás 24 horas da elicitación.[Abstract]: Moringa oleifera Lam is a highly regarded tree for its high value in nutrition, medicine an water treatment among others. It also has multiples metabolic features, among which stands out its high quantity of secondary metabolites, involved in defense mechanisms or adaptation to the environment. Phenolic compounds which are considered by their high-antioxidant power, take part in these secondary metabolites. Owing to these features, cell suspensions of Capsicum annuum L. var annuum were elicited with Moringa extract leaves for a period above 24 and 96 hours with the aim to watch the effects on the cellular response. According to the results obtained, there is an increasing in concentration of phenols and also an antioxidant activity after 24 hours of the elicitation.Traballo fin de grao (UDC.CIE). Bioloxía. Curso 2017/201

Object Distribution Networks for World-wide Document Circulation

This paper presents an Object Distribution System (ODS), a distributed system inspired by the ultra-large scale distribution models used in everyday life (e.g. food or newspapers distribution chains). Beyond traditional mechanisms of approaching information to readers (e.g. caching and mirroring), this system enables the publication, classification and subscription to volumes of objects (e.g. documents, events). Authors submit their contents to publication agents. Classification authorities provide classification schemes to classify objects. Readers subscribe to topics or authors, and retrieve contents from their local delivery agent (like a kiosk or library, with local copies of objects). Object distribution is an independent process where objects circulate asynchronously among distribution agents. ODS is designed to perform specially well in an increasingly populated, widespread and complex Internet jungle, using weak consistency replication by object distribution, asynchronous replication, and local access to objects by clients. ODS is based on two independent virtual networks, one dedicated to the distribution (replication) of objects and the other to calculate optimised distribution chains to be applied by the first network

Spending money on well-being: identity and motivation processes involved in the association of well-being with material and experiential consumer products

This thesis investigates the identity and motivation processes involved in the association of well-being with consumer products (material or experiential). Through a series of four empirical studies looking at consumer spending behaviours, it both tests and extends some of the theoretical claims made by motivated identity construction theory (MICT, Vignoles, 2011), which postulates that the satisfaction of identity motives (such as self-esteem, distinctiveness or effectiveness) enhance well-being, and self-determination (SDT, Deci & Ryan, 2002), which postulates that the pursuit of the extrinsic goals (such as wealth, image and fame) leads to lower well-being. The current thesis suggests that it might not be so much what consumers buy (material or experiential purchases), but how consumer products are thought to transform or enhance one’s extended sense of self by satisfying identity motives (MICT) (Paper 1 and 3), and why people are motivated to make a spending behaviour that drives the effects on well-being that consumers associate with a purchase (SDT: intrinsic or extrinsic goals; paper 2). As a result, the present research contributes to the literature on material and experiential consumption by providing a theoretically-driven explanation for the differences in well-being found between the different types of consumer products as identity processes mediate the relationship between what consumers buy and the well-being associated with a purchase, and that goal orientations predict both those identity processes and the initial choice of spending behaviour. Moreover, it provides a behavioural explanation for the extended body of literature that has found a negative relationship between extrinsic goals and well-being (i.e., Dittmar, Bond et al., 2014) as it fills in the gap between goals and well-being by suggesting that concrete behaviours concerning the allocation of economic resources mediatethe relationship between goals pursued and the well-being experience

Factors influencing the bioremoval of copper and zinc from wastewater using microalgae, bacteria, and their consortia

Water pollution by toxic heavy metals is a severe socio-sanitary problem that requires efficient, environmentally friendly, and economically viable solutions. Typical pig diets have a high content of phytates, which reduces the availability of Zn and Cu. Thus, to ensure animal health, welfare and productivity, pig diets are supplemented with these elements that are partially released to the ambient through the urine and feces. These residues represent an alarming problem nowadays, due to their high concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and, of course, heavy metals and pharmaceutical products. Therefore, it is essential to develop an effective treatment of slurry generated in livestock facilities, which not only prevents contamination but also allows the recovery of organic matter and nutrients present in them, applying the concept of circular bioeconomy. This work aims to provide a sustainable solution to this issue, using microorganisms to treat and valorize wastewater from the food industry, in general, and livestock, in particular. The study focuses on the elimination of two metals (Cu and Zn) that, although essential at low concentrations, can be toxic when prolonged exposure to concentrations higher than required takes place. A bibliographic review has been carried out to evaluate the retention capacity of these elements by microalgae, bacteria, and their consortia, the experimental conditions in which metal retention takes place, and the predominant bioaccumulation mechanisms in each type of biomass. In the experimental part, a complete factorial design of 144 experiments has been applied to evaluate the effect of six factors on the bioelimination capacity of copper and zinc and the growth of the biomass. Three types of biomass were used: a pure Scenedesmus Almeriensis strain, a bacterial sludge, and a consortium of Scenedesmus Almeriensis and bacteria grown in slurry water. Furthermore, we selected other factors intending to study whether they influenced the retention process or not, such as organic matter, the CO2, the initial concentration of metals, the light, and the contact time. After the statistical analysis of the results, it was determined that the most important factors are the type of biomass (the pure microalgae showed the highest metal retention capacities), the initial metal concentration (the higher the concentration, the higher the retention), and stirring time (short times resulted in higher retention). For pure microalgae and slurry-grown biomass, significant biomass growth was observed. The results obtained from the retention capacities are promising since very high values were reached for copper and zinc metals, which makes it possible to consider the treatment of wastewater with high organic load and metals in photobioreactors as a promising method for the elimination heavy metal.La contaminación de las aguas por metales pesados tóxicos es un grave problema sociosanitario que requiere soluciones eficientes, respetuosas con el medio ambiente y económicamente viables. Típicamente, las dietas porcinas tienen un alto contenido en fitatos, que reducen la disponibilidad de Zn y Cu. Con el fin de asegurar su correcto desarrollo, los piensos que se dan a los cerdos se suplementan con estos dos elementos. La mayor parte de esos metales se expulsa con las heces, que suponen actualmente un problema medioambiental muy importante debido a sus elevadas concentraciones de carbono, nitrógeno y fósforo y, por supuesto de metales pesados y productos farmacéuticos. Resulta imprescindible, en la actualidad, un tratamiento efectivo de los purines generados en las instalaciones ganaderas, que no sólo evite la contaminación, sino que permita la recuperación de la materia orgánica y nutrientes presentes en los mismos, aplicando el concepto de bioeconomía circular. Este trabajo pretende dar una solución sostenible a este problema, usando microorganismos para tratar y valorizar aguas residuales de la industria alimentaria, en general, y ganadera, en particular. El estudio se centra en la eliminación de dos metales (Cu y Zn) que, aunque esenciales a bajas concentraciones, pueden resultar tóxicos cuando tiene lugar una exposición prolongada a concentraciones superiores a la requerida. Se ha llevado a cabo una revisión bibliográfica para evaluar la capacidad de retención de estos elementos por microalgas, bacterias y sus consorcios, las condiciones experimentales en las que la retención de metales tiene lugar y los mecanismos de bioacumulación predominantes en cada tipo de biomasa. En este trabajo se ha aplicado un diseño factorial completo de 144 experimentos para evaluar el efecto de seis factores sobre la capacidad de bioeliminación de cobre y cinc y sobre el crecimiento de la biomasa. Se hizo uso de tres tipos de biomasa: una cepa Scenedesmus Almeriensis pura, un fango de bacterias, y un consorcio de Scenedesmus Almeriensis y bacterias crecido en aguas de purín. Además, seleccionamos otros factores con la intención de estudiar si influían en el proceso de retención, como la materia orgánica, el CO2, la concentración inicial de metales, la luz, y el tiempo de contacto con la disolución. Tras el análisis estadístico de los resultados, se determinó que los factores más importantes son el tipo de biomasa (la microalga pura mostró las capacidades de retención de metales más altas), la concentración inicial de metal (a mayor concentración, mayores retenciones), y el tiempo de agitación (tiempos cortos resultaron en mayores retenciones). Para la microalga pura y biomasa crecida en purín, se observó un crecimiento de biomasa significativo. Los resultados que se obtuvieron de las capacidades de retención son prometedores, pues se alcanzaron valores muy altos para los metales cobre y cinc, que hacen que podamos considerar el tratamiento de aguas residuales con elevada carga orgánica y metales en fotobioreactores un método prometedor para la eliminación de metales pesados.Departamento de Química AnalíticaMáster en Técnicas Avanzadas en Química. Análisis y Control de Calidad Químico