The Pacific Alliance and the potential effects of a Trans-Pacific Economic Cooperation Agreement without the United States

This article analyzes the possible consequences of the entry into force of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) without the United States for the countries of the Pacific Alliance (PA). It develops a descriptive analysis of the evolution of trade between PA countries and TPP member countries during the period 1980-2015. Gravitational models are also estimated to empirically examine the determinants of trade flows in these countries. As a result, the paper shows that TPP may favor trade flows in PA countries, and that the withdrawal of the U.S. from TPP would not affect these trade flows.Este artículo analiza las posibles consecuencias, para los países de la Alianza del Pacífico (AP), de la entrada en vigor del Acuerdo de Asociación Transpacífico (TPP) sin Estados Unidos. Para ello, se desarrolla un análisis descriptivo de la evolución del comercio de los países de la AP con el resto de los países miembro del TPP durante el periodo 1980-2015. También se estiman modelos gravitacionales para examinar empíricamente los determinantes de los flujos comerciales de estos países. Se encuentra que el TPP puede favorecer los flujos comerciales de los países de la AP y que la salida de Estados Unidos del TPP no afectaría estos flujos comerciales

Failure to Recover from Proactive Semantic Interference Differentiates Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and PreMCI from Normal Aging after Adjusting for Initial Learning Ability

Background: There is increasing evidence that the failure to recover from proactive semantic interference (frPSI) may be an early cognitive marker of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, it is unclear whether frPSI effects reflect deficiencies in an individual’s initial learning capacity versus the actual inability to learn new semantically related targets. Objective: The current study was designed to adjust for learning capacity and then to examine the extent to which frPSI, proactive semantic interference (PSI) and retroactive semantic interference (RSI) effects could differentiate between older adults who were cognitively normal (CN), and those diagnosed with either Pre-Mild Cognitive Impairment (PreMCI) or amnestic MCI (aMCI). Methods: We employed the LASSI-L cognitive stress test to examine frPSI, PSI and RSI effects while simultaneously controlling for the participant’s initial learning capacity among 50 CN, 35 aMCI, and 16 PreMCI participants who received an extensive diagnostic work-up. Results: aMCI and PreMCI participants showed greater frPSI deficits (50% and 43.8% respectively) compared to only 14% of CNparticipants. PSI effects were observed for aMCI but not PreMCI participants relative to their CN counterparts. RSI failed to differentiate between any of the study groups. Conclusion: By using participants as their own controls and adjusting for overall learning and memory, it is clear that frPSI deficits occur with much greater frequency in individuals at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and likely reflect a failure of brain compensatory mechanisms.Fil: Curiel, Rosie E.. University of Miami; Estados UnidosFil: Crocco, Elizabeth A.. University of Miami; Estados UnidosFil: Raffo, Arlene. University of Miami; Estados UnidosFil: Guinjoan, Salvador Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Nemeroff, Charles B.. University of Miami; Estados UnidosFil: Penate, Ailyn. Mount Sinai Medical Center; Estados Unidos. University of Miami; Estados UnidosFil: Piña, Daema. University of Miami; Estados UnidosFil: Loewenstein, David A.. Mount Sinai Medical Center; Estados Unidos. University of Miami; Estados Unido

On-wafer I/V measurement setup for the characterization of low-frequency dispersion in electron devices

Large-signal dynamic modelling of 111-V FETs cannot he simply based on DC i/v characteristics, when accurate performance prediction is needed. In fact, dispersive phenomena due to self-heating and/or traps (surface state densities and deep level traps) must be taken into account since they cause important deviations in the low-frequency dynamic drain current. Thus, static drain current characteristics should he replaced with a suitable model which also accounts for low-frequency dispersive effects. The research community has proposed different modelling approaches and quite often a characterisation by means of pulsed i/v measurement systems has been suggested as the more appropriate for the identification of lowfrequency drain current models. In the paper, a new largesignal measurement setup is presented which is based on simple low-frequency sinusoidal excitations and it is easily reproducible with conventional general-purpose lab instrumentation. Moreover, the proposed setup is adopted in the paper to extract a hackgating-like model for dispersive phenomen

Hygienic and sanitary standards of housing in Europe: a comparative analysis of nine countries

In recent years, growing interest was devoted to housing conditions from both scientific community and public health, so they are now considered among the main environmental and social health determinants of health of the population. Aim of the study is to analyze and compare the current regulations regarding housing sanitary requirements in different Countries of the EU (Sweden, United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain) with the contents of the Italian Health Ministerial Decree 5th July 1975. From the websites of the official channels of the various countries the regulations have been downloaded. For the comparison, only the aspects of BCs concerning the scale of the building were examined; the comparison concerned all the requirements of the Health Ministerial Decree of 5.07.1975 and some other parameters (e.g. indoor chemical pollution, ionizing radiation, non-ionizing radiation) not provided for in the Ministerial Decree, treated in the other standards regulations, and relevant for the indoor well-being of the occupants. The authors observe a wide variability in the contents and in the formulation of the hygienic-sanitary requirements among the different Building Codes, above all as regards the dimensional data and some fundamental themes (e.g. heating systems, mechanical ventilation) whose treatment is often not it is updated with respect to the technological-scientific innovation consolidated over the past few years. A diverse approach among European Countries is also observed: from a market-oriented logic (e.g. UK), to a prescriptive one (Italy), to a functionality-oriented (the Netherlands). The comparative analysis we carried out made it possible to identify convergences and divergences in the standards analysed for the different European countries. As far as the Italian legislation on the usability of residential premises, finally, considering the health, social, environmental and economic trends, many standards contained in the MD 5th July 1975 should be reviewed and updated

Automated microwave device characterization set-up based on a technology-independent generalized Bias System

In this paper an automated laboratory set-up for the characterization of micro- and millimeter-wave electron devices under DC, small- and large-signal operation is described, which is based on a generalized, technology-independent bias system. The biasing parameters adopted, which are a linear combination between currents and voltages at the device ports, allow for a complete characterization of the desired empirical data (e.g. multi-frequency S-matrix) throughout all the regions in which the quiescent operation of the device can be conventionally divided, without any need for the switch between different biasing strategies. The look-up tables of experimental data obtained, which are carried out homogeneously with respect to the same couple of bias parameters, independently of the quiescent regions investigated, are particularly suitable for the characterization of empirical non-linear dynamic models for the electron device

Set-Point Tracking MPC with Avoidance Features

This work proposes a finite-horizon optimal control strategy to solve the tracking problem while providing avoidance features to the closed-loop system. Inspired by the set-point tracking model predictive control (MPC) framework, the central idea of including artificial variables into the optimal control problem is considered. This approach allows us to add avoidance features into the set-point tracking MPC strategy without losing the properties of an enlarged domain of attraction and feasibility insurances in the face of any changing reference. Besides, the artificial variables are considered together with an avoidance cost functional to establish the basis of the strategy, maintaining the recursive feasibility property in the presence of a previously unknown number of regions to be avoided. It is shown that the closed-loop system is recursively feasible and input-to-state-stable under the mild assumption that the avoidance cost is uniformly bounded over time. Finally, two numerical examples illustrate the controller behavior

An Adaptive Cognitive Sensor Node for ECG Monitoring in the Internet of Medical Things

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) paradigm is becoming mainstream in multiple clinical trials and healthcare procedures. Cardiovascular diseases monitoring, usually involving electrocardiogram (ECG) traces analysis, is one of the most promising and high-impact applications. Nevertheless, to fully exploit the potential of IoMT in this domain, some steps forward are needed. First, the edge-computing paradigm must be added to the picture. A certain level of near-sensor processing has to be enabled, to improve the scalability, portability, reliability and responsiveness of the IoMT nodes. Second, novel, increasingly accurate data analysis algorithms, such as those based on artificial intelligence and Deep Learning, must be exploited. To reach these objectives, designers, and programmers of IoMT nodes, have to face challenging optimization tasks, in order to execute fairly complex computing tasks on low-power wearable and portable processing systems, with tight power and battery lifetime budgets. In this work, we explore the implementation of a cognitive data analysis algorithm, based on a convolutional neural network trained to classify ECG waveforms, on a resource-constrained microcontroller-based computing platform. To minimize power consumption, we add an adaptivity layer that dynamically manages the hardware and software configuration of the device to adapt it at runtime to the required operating mode. Our experimental results show that adapting the node setup to the workload at runtime can save up to 50% power consumption. Our optimized and quantized neural network reaches an accuracy value higher than 97% for arrhythmia disorders detection on MIT-BIH Arrhythmia dataset

Runtime adaptive iomt node on multi-core processor platform

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) paradigm is becoming mainstream in multiple clinical trials and healthcare procedures. Thanks to innovative technologies, latest-generation communication networks, and state-of-the-art portable devices, IoTM opens up new scenarios for data collection and continuous patient monitoring. Two very important aspects should be considered to make the most of this paradigm. For the first aspect, moving the processing task from the cloud to the edge leads to several advantages, such as responsiveness, portability, scalability, and reliability of the sensor node. For the second aspect, in order to increase the accuracy of the system, state-of-the-art cognitive algorithms based on artificial intelligence and deep learning must be integrated. Sensory nodes often need to be battery powered and need to remain active for a long time without a different power source. Therefore, one of the challenges to be addressed during the design and development of IoMT devices concerns energy optimization. Our work proposes an implementation of cognitive data analysis based on deep learning techniques on resource-constrained computing platform. To handle power efficiency, we introduced a component called Adaptive runtime Manager (ADAM). This component takes care of reconfiguring the hardware and software of the device dynamically during the execution, in order to better adapt it to the workload and the required operating mode. To test the high computational load on a multi-core system, the Orlando prototype board by STMicroelectronics, cognitive analysis of Electrocardiogram (ECG) traces have been adopted, considering single-channel and six-channel simultaneous cases. Experimental results show that by managing the sensory node configuration at runtime, energy savings of at least 15% can be achieved

Assessment of ability of medical and obstetric students to achieve adequate positive pressure ventilation using basic neonatal resuscitation manikins

Introduction. The ability to perform adequate positive pressure ventilation is necessary for neonatal clinical practice. However, there are few studies on the achievements of undergraduate students on this task. It is necessary to assess health science students’ adequate positive pressure ventilation because it is vital at the beginning of their clinical activity. Objective. To evaluate the cognitive and procedural ability related to adequate positive pressure ventilation performed by 6th year medicine students and 4th year obstetrics students at a public university in Lima, Peru. Methods. We surveyed 78 medical and obstetric students in their last years of studies within six months of taking a course on neonatal resuscitation that included positive pressure ventilation theory and practice. Participants voluntarily agreed to participate in this study. Previously, we validated the survey by asking three experienced neonatologists for their expert judgments on improving the survey. The survey consists of three theoretical questions as a cognitive assessment and three practice assessment criteria qualified by observing performance using neonatal manikins. Results. Medicine students had a better practical ability (p <0.001) than obstetrics students, and obstetrics students presented better theoretical knowledge (p = 0.019). However, both groups achieved limited performance within six months of taking the neonatal clinical practice course as 21.8% of all students passed both the theoretical and practical parts of this study. Conclusion. Participants from both schools require further training alternatives to achieve adequate positive pressure ventilation performance.Introduction. The ability to perform adequate positive pressure ventilation is necessary for neonatal clinical practice. However, there are few studies on the achievements of undergraduate students on this task. It is necessary to assess health science students’ adequate positive pressure ventilation because it is vital at the beginning of their clinical activity. Objective. To evaluate the cognitive and procedural ability related to adequate positive pressure ventilation performed by 6th year medicine students and 4th year obstetrics students at a public university in Lima, Peru. Methods. We surveyed 78 medical and obstetric students in their last years of studies within six months of taking a course on neonatal resuscitation that included positive pressure ventilation theory and practice. Participants voluntarily agreed to participate in this study. Previously, we validated the survey by asking three experienced neonatologists for their expert judgments on improving the survey. The survey consists of three theoretical questions as a cognitive assessment and three practice assessment criteria qualified by observing performance using neonatal manikins. Results. Medicine students had a better practical ability (p <0.001) than obstetrics students, and obstetrics students presented better theoretical knowledge (p = 0.019). However, both groups achieved limited performance within six months of taking the neonatal clinical practice course as 21.8% of all students passed both the theoretical and practical parts of this study. Conclusion. Participants from both schools require further training alternatives to achieve adequate positive pressure ventilation performance