Normal discrimination of spatial frequency and contrast across visual hemifields in left-onset Parkinson’s disease: evidence against perceptual hemifield biases

Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) with symptom onset on the left side of the body (LPD) show a mild type of left-sided visuospatial neglect, whereas those with right-onset (RPD) generally do not. The functional mechanisms underlying these observations are unknown. Two hypotheses are that the representation of left-space in LPD is either compressed or reduced in salience. We tested these hypotheses psychophysically. Participants were 31 non-demented adults with PD (15 LPD, 16 RPD) and 17 normal control adults (NC). The spatial compression hypothesis was tested by showing two sinusoidal gratings, side by side. One grating's spatial frequency (SF) was varied across trials, following a staircase procedure, whereas the comparison grating was held at a constant SF. While fixating on a central target, participants estimated the point at which they perceived the two gratings to be equal in SF. The reduced salience hypothesis was tested in a similar way, but by manipulating the contrast of the test grating rather than its SF. There were no significant differences between groups in the degree of bias across hemifields for SF discrimination or for contrast discrimination. Results did not support either the spatial compression hypothesis or the reduced salience hypothesis. Instead, they suggest that at this perceptual level, LPD do not have a systematically biased way of representing space in the left hemifield that differs from healthy individuals, nor do they perceive stimuli on the left as less salient than stimuli on the right. Neglect-like syndrome in LPD instead presumably arises from dysfunction of higher-order attention.Published versio

Smart grid architecture for rural distribution networks: application to a Spanish pilot network

This paper presents a novel architecture for rural distribution grids. This architecture is designed to modernize traditional rural networks into new Smart Grid ones. The architecture tackles innovation actions on both the power plane and the management plane of the system. In the power plane, the architecture focuses on exploiting the synergies between telecommunications and innovative technologies based on power electronics managing low scale electrical storage. In the management plane, a decentralized management system is proposed based on the addition of two new agents assisting the typical Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system of distribution system operators. Altogether, the proposed architecture enables operators to use more effectively—in an automated and decentralized way—weak rural distribution systems, increasing the capability to integrate new distributed energy resources. This architecture is being implemented in a real Pilot Network located in Spain, in the frame of the European Smart Rural Grid project. The paper also includes a study case showing one of the potentialities of one of the principal technologies developed in the project and underpinning the realization of the new architecture: the so-called Intelligent Distribution Power Router.Postprint (published version

Disseny i valoració d'activitats per a la promoció de la família d'FP "Fabricació mecànica" entre les noies de l'ESO i el Batxillerat

En el marc de l'Agenda 2030 la igualtat de gènere apareix com el 5è ODS a assolir. Però tot i els esforços polítics i socials per promoure l'interès per l'àmbit STEM entre les noies, encara observem un índex molt baix de noies matriculades en estudis tècnics a tots els nivells. Fins al dia d'avui els estudis duts a terme marquen com a estratègies per promoure aquest àmbit la utilització de llenguatge inclusiu, l'ús de referents femenins, la promoció a través de mitjans visuals com imatges i vídeos o la contextualització social. Aquest treball qüestiona l'efectivitat d'algunes d'aquestes eines en edats adolescents. Parlant en termes generals, planteja la contextualització social com la millor d'elles per captar talent femení a l'àmbit STEM, i descarta l'ús de referents externs com a mitjà de promoció vocacional. Realitza un estudi de camp per tal de comprovar aquestes hipòtesis així com la viabilitat del seu ús i, segons els resultats obtinguts, elabora i proposa una activitat que destaca el vessant social i de serveis de la tecnologia, de cara a millorar la participació de les dones a les aules.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::5 - Igualtat de Gèner

Soluciones analíticas en la industria: calidad, seguridad y conciencia ambiental

La industria es uno de los principales motores de la economía mundial. Una de las ocupaciones y preocupaciones principales del sector industrial, es la salvaguarda de la calidad de las materias primas utilizadas, el control de los procesos y de las infraestructuras involucradas en la manufactura, la seguridad de los trabajadores durante las etapas de producción y las emisiones de residuos al medio ambiente, tanto gaseosos, como líquidos o sólidos. Por último, y no menos importante, la calidad del producto manufacturado, que es la cabeza visible para el consumidor y repercute de forma directa en el prestigio y economía de la industria en cuestión. En la mayoría de los casos, las metodologías habitualmente empleadas en la industria, aunque son selectivas y sensibles, sacrifican características deseables, como pueden ser la rapidez, un bajo consumo de reactivos y disolventes o una baja tasa de generación de residuos. El objetivo general de esta Tesis se ha centrado en el estudio, desarrollo y empleo de diversas herramientas analíticas, aplicadas a todos los ámbitos del proceso industrial y sobre diferentes tipos de matrices (productos fitosanitarios, biocidas, productos naturales, aire, suelos, fluidos biológicos,…). Las técnicas empleadas permiten bien un análisis directo y no destructivo, o bien, basándose en los criterios establecidos por la Química Analítica Verde, una mejora en la sostenibilidad de las metodologías analíticas en términos de tiempo, consumo de energía y volúmenes de reactivos y residuos consumidos y/o generados. El empleo de metodologías como la espectrometría de movilidad iónica (IMS) posibilita un amplio abanico de aplicabilidad con elevada sensibilidad y tiempos de respuesta bajos, tanto en el análisis de productos manufacturados como en la monitorización de contaminantes ambientales en distintos tipos de matrices, como fluidos biológicos o aire. Sin embargo, y aunque permite un análisis tanto off-line como at-line, el análisis de muestras complejas en ocasiones requiere de etapas previas de preparación. El empleo de la espectroscopia en el infrarrojo cercano (NIR) unido al tratamiento estadístico de datos, permite un análisis no destructivo de las muestras sin consumo de reactivos ni generación de residuos, proporcionando una herramienta al control de calidad rápida y de bajo coste. Al igual que ocurre con la espectroscopia NIR, el empleo de sondas portátiles en la industria permite la monitorización on-line y continua de tóxicos ambientales, de forma completamente sostenible e implicando una respuesta correctiva inmediata a problemas de exposición laboral. Cuando no es posible el empleo de metodologías directas, el uso de sistemas de introducción de muestra como la técnica de espacio de cabeza en cromatografía, cuando se tienen muestras complejas con analitos volátiles, permite una reducción tanto del tiempo de preparación de muestras como de los volúmenes de disolventes y residuos generados. Otra estrategia seguida en esta Tesis ha sido el empleo de muestreadores pasivos basados en membranas para la determinación de tóxicos ambientales, implicando un bajo coste en su preparación. Así mismo, la unión entre sistemas de muestreo de superficies basados en el uso de hisopos y la miniaturización en los volúmenes de disolventes empleados por la espectroscopia IR para la determinación de contaminaciones cruzadas en las líneas de producción, permite tanto su determinación cuantitativa y cualitativa de componentes traza de forma sostenible, constituyendo una poderosa herramienta para la industria. En esta Tesis, se ha evidenciado la posibilidad de sustituir la instrumentación habitualmente empleada en la extracción de contaminantes en matrices sólidas por otra rápida y de bajo coste, como son las cafeteras domésticas, permitiendo la extracción cuantitativa de bifenoles policlorados. Por último, cuando ninguna otra estrategia para aumentar la sostenibilidad de las metodologías analíticas es posible, se han empleado estrategias de descontaminación, como la neutralización para disminuir la toxicidad de los residuos generados. Todas las metodologías propuestas en esta Tesis, ofrecen una alternativa a las metodologías habitualmente utilizadas por la industria tanto en el control de calidad, como en la seguridad, tanto laboral como medioambiental

Overview of the JET preparation for deuterium-tritium operation with the ITER like-wall

For the past several years, the JET scientific programme (Pamela et al 2007 Fusion Eng. Des.82 590) has been engaged in a multi-campaign effort, including experiments in D, H and T, leading up to 2020 and the first experiments with 50%/50% D–T mixtures since 1997 and the first ever D–T plasmas with the ITER mix of plasma-facing component materials. For this purpose, a concerted physics and technology programme was launched with a view to prepare the D–T campaign (DTE2). This paper addresses the key elements developed by the JET programme directly contributing to the D–T preparation. This intense preparation includes the review of the physics basis for the D–T operational scenarios, including the fusion power predictions through first principle and integrated modelling, and the impact of isotopes in the operation and physics of D–T plasmas (thermal and particle transport, high confinement mode (H-mode) access, Be and W erosion, fuel recovery, etc). This effort also requires improving several aspects of plasma operation for DTE2, such as real time control schemes, heat load control, disruption avoidance and a mitigation system (including the installation of a new shattered pellet injector), novel ion cyclotron resonance heating schemes (such as the three-ions scheme), new diagnostics (neutron camera and spectrometer, active Alfvèn eigenmode antennas, neutral gauges, radiation hard imaging systems...) and the calibration of the JET neutron diagnostics at 14 MeV for accurate fusion power measurement. The active preparation of JET for the 2020 D–T campaign provides an incomparable source of information and a basis for the future D–T operation of ITER, and it is also foreseen that a large number of key physics issues will be addressed in support of burning plasmas.This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratom research and training programme 2014–2018 and 2019–2020 under grant agreement No. 633053Postprint (published version

Analysis of the potential of ICRF waves to heat bulk ions in DEMO

While ITER’s main purpose is to confirm the feasibility of nuclear fusion as an energy source, DEMO is planned as the first fusion reactor to produce net electrical energy. Our analysis is carried out for the DEMO 2015 (from now on DEMO2), using the ICRF modelling codes PION and TORIC. We also have analyzed the previous design DEMO 2013 (from now on DEMO1)This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratom research and training programme 2014-2018 under grant agreement No 633053. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. We are grateful to Dr. R. Wenninger and Dipl.-Ing T. Franke (PPPT, Garching) for DEMO parameters.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Extrapolations of the fusion performance in JET

n preparation of the forthcoming high power campaign with the reactor-relevant deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel mixture in the Joint European Torus (JET), significant efforts are being devoted to DT scenario extrapolation using computer modelling. We report on simulations aimed at optimizing external heating using neutral beam injection (NBI) and radiofrequency waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) for high DT fusion yield. Our results show that by increasing external heating power to the maximum power available, the fusion neutron rate can be enhanced by a factor of 4-5 with respect to the recent record values. The comparison of two ICRF schemes using different resonant ion species, i.e. 3He and H minority ions, shows that the 3He minority heating scenario achieves a higher fuel ion temperature but not necessarily a better fusion performance. Finally, we study the dependence of the performance of external heating on key experimental parameters

The ACS LCID Project XI. On the early time resolution of LG dwarf galaxy SFHs: Comparing the effects of reionization in models with observations

The analysis of the early star formation history (SFH) of nearby galaxies, obtained from their resolved stellar populations is relevant as a test for cosmological models. However, the early time resolution of observationally derived SFHs is limited by several factors. Thus, direct comparison of observationally derived SFHs with those derived from theoretical models of galaxy formation is potentially biased. Here we investigate and quantify this effect. For this purpose, we analyze the duration of the early star formation activity in a sample of four Local Group dwarf galaxies and test whether they are consistent with being true fossils of the pre-reionization era; i.e., if the quenching of their star formation occurred before cosmic reionization by UV photons was completed. Two classical dSph (Cetus and Tucana) and two dTrans (LGS-3 and Phoenix) isolated galaxies with total stellar masses between $1.3\times 10^6$ to $7.2\times 10^6$ M$_\odot$ have been studied. Accounting for time resolution effects, the SFHs peak as much as 1.25 Gyr earlier than the optimal solutions. Thus, this effect is important for a proper comparison of model and observed SFHs. It is also shown that none of the analyzed galaxies can be considered a true-fossil of the pre-reionization era, although it is possible that the {\it outer regions} of Cetus and Tucana are consistent with quenching by reionization.Comment: To be published by the Ap

Progress with applications of three-ion ICRF scenarios for fusion research: A review

Proceedings of the 24TH TOPICAL CONFERENCE ON RADIO-FREQUENCY POWER IN PLASMAS 26–28 September 2022 Annapolis, USAThe viability of magnetic confinement fusion as an energy source depends on achieving the high ion temperatures required for D-T fusion. Among the available techniques, plasma heating with waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) is a prominent method for bulk ion heating in fusion plasmas. Furthermore, a detailed understanding of the non-linear physics of alpha heating and the complex impact of MeV-range fast ions on plasma dynamics becomes progressively more important. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments with the three-ion ICRF scenarios on Alcator C-Mod, ASDEX Upgrade and JET tokamaks. The results demonstrate the flexibility of these novel scenarios for heating bulk ions in D-T ≈ 50%-50% plasmas and efficient generation of MeV-range fast ions in multi-ion species plasmas. Several key results relevant for ITER and future fusion reactors are highlighted.This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium, funded by the European Union via the Euratom Research and Training Programme (Grant Agreement No 101052200 – EUROfusion). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them. We thank the ITPA Energetic Particle Physics Topical Group for its support. Part of this work was also carried out in the framework of projects done for the ITER Scientist Fellow Network (ISFN). ITER is the Nuclear Facility INB No. 174. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ITER Organization. This publication is provided for scientific purposes only. Its contents should not be considered as commitments from the ITER Organization as a nuclear operator in the frame of the licensing process.Peer Reviewed"Article signat per 78 autors/es: Ye. O. Kazakov; J. Ongena; M. Nocente; V. Bobkov; J. Garcia; V. G. Kiptily; M. Schneider; S. Wukitch; J. C. Wright; M. Dreval; K. K. Kirov; S. Mazzi; R. Ochoukov; S. E. Sharapov; Ž. Štancar; H. Weisen; Y. Baranov; M. Baruzzo; A. Bierwage; R. Bilato; A. Chomiczewska; R. Coelho; T. Craciunescu; K. Crombé; E. Delabie; E. de la Luna; R. Dumont; P. Dumortier; F. Durodié; J. Eriksson; M. Fitzgerald; J. Galdon-Quiroga; D. Gallart; M. Garcia-Munoz; L. Giacomelli; C. Giroud; J. Gonzalez-Martin; A. Hakola; R. Henriques; P. Jacquet; I. Jepu; T. Johnson; A. Kappatou; D. Keeling; D. King; C. Klepper; Ph. Lauber; M. Lennholm; E. Lerche; B. Lomanowski; C. Lowry; M. J. Mantsinen; M. Maslov; S. Menmuir; I. Monakhov; F. Nabais; M. F. F. Nave; C. Noble; E. Panontin; S. D. Pinches; A. R. Polevoi; D. Rigamonti; A. Sahlberg; M. Salewski; P. A. Schneider; H. Sheikh; K. Shinohara; P. Siren; S. Sumida; A. Thorman; R. A. Tinguely; D. Valcarcel; D. Van Eester; M. Van Schoor; J. Varje; M. Weiland; N. Wendler; JET Contributors, the ASDEX Upgrade Team and the EUROfusion MST1 Team"Postprint (author's final draft

The role of isotope mass and transport for H-mode access in tritium containing plasmas at JET with ITER-like wall

Special Issue Featuring the Invited Talks from the 48th EPS Conference on Plasma Physics, 27 June - 1 July 2022The required heating power, , to access the high confinement regime (H-mode) in tritium containing plasmas is investigated in JET with ITER-like wall at a toroidal magnetic field of T and a plasma current of MA. , also referred to as the L-H power threshold, is determined in plasmas of pure tritium as well as mixtures of hydrogen with tritium (H-T) and mixtures of deuterium with tritium (D-T), and is compared to the L-H power threshold in plasmas of pure hydrogen and pure deuterium. It is found that, for otherwise constant parameters, is not the same in plasmas with the same effective isotope mass, , when they differ in their isotope composition. Thus, is not sufficient to describe the isotope effect of in a consistent manner for all considered isotopes and isotope mixtures. The electron temperature profiles measured at the L-H transition in the outer half of the radius are very similar for all isotopes and isotope mixtures, despite the fact that the L-H power threshold varies by a factor of about six. This finding, together with the observation of an offset linear relation between the L-H power threshold, , and an effective heat diffusivity, , indicates that the composition-dependent heat transport in the low confinement mode (L-mode) determines, how much power is needed to reach the necessary electron temperatures at the edge, and hence PLH.This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium, funded by the European Union via the Euratom Research and Training Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101052200—EUROfusion). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them. G Birkenmeier received funding from the Helmholtz Association under Grant No. VH-NG-1350Peer Reviewed"Article signat per 50 autors/es: G Birkenmeier, E R Solano, I S Carvalho, J C Hillesheim, E Delabie, E Lerche, D Taylor, D Gallart, M J Mantsinen, C Silva, C Angioni, F Ryter, P Carvalho, M Fontana, E Pawelec, S A Silburn, P Sirén, S Aleiferis, J Bernardo, A Boboc, D Douai, P Puglia, P Jacquet, E Litherland-Smith, I Jepu, D Kos, H J Sun, A Shaw, D King, B Viola, R Henriques, K K Kirov, M Baruzzo, J Garcia, A Hakola, A Huber, E Joffrin, D Keeling, A Kappatou, M Lennholm, P Lomas, E de la Luna, C F Maggi, J Mailloux, M Maslov, F G Rimini, N Vianello, G Verdoolaege, H Weisen, M Wischmeier and JET Contributors"Postprint (published version