Playing with your mind

A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a communication system between the brainand a machine like a computer. Some BCI systems have been used to help people withdisabilities and sometimes, with entertainment purposes. In this paper, a BCI-game system is developed. It allows controlling the altitude of a ball inside of a glass pipe according to mental concentration level, which is measured on EEG signals of the user. The system is automatically adjusted to each user, hence, it is not needed any calibration step. Ten subjects participated in the experiments. They achieved effective control of the ball in a few minutes, demonstratingthe feasibility of the BCI-game system.Fil: Rodriguez, Mauro. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrónica y Automática. Gabinete de Tecnología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Gimenez, Ramiro. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrónica y Automática. Gabinete de Tecnología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Diez, Pablo Federico. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrónica y Automática. Gabinete de Tecnología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Avila Perona, Enrique Mario. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrónica y Automática. Gabinete de Tecnología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Laciar Leber, Eric. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrónica y Automática. Gabinete de Tecnología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Orosco, Lorena Liliana. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrónica y Automática. Gabinete de Tecnología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Garces, Agustina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrónica y Automática. Gabinete de Tecnología Médica; Argentin

Computer physician order entry (CPOE) as a strategy to estimate laboratory activity and costs associated with cancer clinical trials

Introduction: Most of clinical laboratories are not properly reimbursed for their activity related to clinical trials (CTs) conducted in their institutions due to a lack of measurement strategies. We implemented a specific computer physician order entry (CPOE) environment for CTs in order to facilitate ordering to providers and estimate the associated costs to be compared with the standard of care (SOC). Materials and methods: Four specific electronic formularies, restricted to two new virtual CTs clinical services (onco - CT and haemo - CT), were implemented in January 2015. For each clinical trial displayed in the panels there were several box-cells that contained several profiles based on the different phase of the trials. Tests included in the profiles were the tests required by protocol. Laboratory costs (€) per patient were compared between the CTs services and their regular outpatients clinical services (onco - Out and haemo - Out, considered the SOC) for three years. Results: Costs per patient were higher for CTs services and increased progressively each year (25%, 70% and 70% and 0.6%, 2.7% and 17% in 2015, 2016 and 2017 for Oncology and Haematology, respectively). Taking into account all these differences and the number of patients attending a total difference in expense of + 130,377.7 € for the period 2015-2017 was obtained between CTs and outpatients services. Conclusions: Strategies through CPOE systems based on restricted and specific profiles for CTs ordering are a promising tool that can improve laboratory associated costs estimation and provide robust evidence in reimbursement negotiation processes with CTs sponsors

Automatic under-frequency load shedding mal-operation in power systems with high wind power penetration

[EN] Countries with a limited interconnection capacity suffer substantial frequency variations after large incidents so they use automatic under-frequency load shedding schemes to arrest the frequency decay. Some of these countries such as Portugal, Spain and Ireland also have very high wind penetrations. This can cause additional frequency excursions due to generation time variability but also to the fact that variable speed wind turbines do not add directly their inertia to the power system. Thus several transmission system operators have announced new grid codes requiring wind turbines to provide frequency response. In some scenarios, however, wind energy support may be detrimental to frequency control because it generates an extra energy that reduces decay and derivative but that cannot be maintained over time. These lower values of frequency decay and derivative are currently expected after a reduced incident or when conventional generation, which can maintain the extra generation, provides frequency support, so lead to low or no load shedding. This paper has studied, in particular, the effect of wind generation emulating inertia. A reduction of frequency derivative is achieved, which looks positive at first, but in some cases leads to initial smaller load shedding than the incident requires. A reduced frequency derivative triggers less under-frequency relays as if there were a significant amount of conventional generation that is online. However, this generation has been substituted by wind generation emulating inertia, and as it can maintain extra generation over time, the frequency continues to decay until the shedding of the next load step. As a result there is an excessive frequency deviation and an incorrect load shedding for the magnitude of the initial disturbance. In order to prevent this problem, automatic under frequency load shedding settings may need readjustment when a large amount of wind generation provides frequency support. (C) 2017 International Association for Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (IMACS). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The present work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity and European Union FEDER funds under grant DPI2014-53245-R and by the Universitat Jaume I through project number P1 . 1B2015-42. Part of this work was done by Nestor Aparicio during a visit to University College Dublin, which was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport under grant Jose Castillejo CAS14/00384.Aparicio Marín, N.; Añó Villalba, SC.; Belenguer Balaguer, E.; Blasco-Gimenez, R. (2018). Automatic under-frequency load shedding mal-operation in power systems with high wind power penetration. Mathematics and Computers in Simulation. 146:200-209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matcom.2016.12.006S20020914

Age and growth of Glycymeris longior (Sowerby, 1832) clam at the southern edge of its distribution (Argentine Sea)

Even though Glycymeris longior is a clam widely distributed in the SW Atlantic Ocean, little is known about its biology and life history. The present study assessed the periodicity of the internal growth increments of G. longior using thin shell sections. Each internal growth increment was composed of two alternating bands: A translucent band (light-coloured when viewed with transmitted light) and an opaque band (dark-coloured). Annual formation for each pair of bands was demonstrated. The formation of the annual growth increments was synchronous among individuals. Growth was determined from live clams collected at El Sótano, Argentine Sea (age range = 29 to 69 years). According to the growth model, G. longior grows fast during the first 5 years of life and then growth becomes slower in later years; individuals reached 50% and 90% of maximum size at 5 and 13 years of age, respectively. High variability was found in shell height for the first 10 years: Differences up to 5-7 mm among individuals were registered for the first 2 years of age, and up to 11 mm between the ages of 3 and 9 years. The growth performance index phi-prime (φ′) and the index of growth performance (P) of G. longior were compared with those of other Glycymeris species. Our results indicate that G. longior is a slow-growing species with a long lifespan (maximum longevity = 69 years).Fil: Gimenez, Lucas Hernán. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Escuela Superior de Ciencias Marinas; Argentina. Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción; ChileFil: Doldan, María del Socorro. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Escuela Superior de Ciencias Marinas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni". - Provincia de Río Negro. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni". Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni"; ArgentinaFil: Zaidman, Paula Cecilia. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Escuela Superior de Ciencias Marinas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni". - Provincia de Río Negro. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni". Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni"; ArgentinaFil: Morsan, Enrique Mario. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Escuela Superior de Ciencias Marinas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni". - Provincia de Río Negro. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni". Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni"; Argentin

Sizing and Short-Circuit Capability of a Transformerless HVDC DC-DC Converter

This work aims at optimizing the converter design of the double-T MMC DC-DC converter in terms of transmitted power per submodule and also in terms of transmitted power per silicon area, while, at the same time, providing the capability to block dc faults. Firstly, the converter operation is described and the optimal values of the inner ac and dc voltages that minimize device power rating are derived. Next, the submodule topology is analyzed and a thorough study on the converter capability for blocking fault currents is carried out, showing that the converter is able to isolate dc faults both at the input and at the output of the converter. Finally, the previous analytical study is verified by means of detailed PSCAD simulations

Relación entre estrés laboral, alucinación y experiencias anómalas entre profesionales de enfermería

Objetivo: evaluar el tipo y frecuencia de experiencias perceptuales inusuales en ámbitos hospitalarios, así como su relación con el estrés laboral y la absorción, y comparar tales experiencias en enfermeros (os) que las han tenido. Materiales y Métodos: se analizó una muestra de 39 enfermeros (as)  con tales experiencias y un grupo control de 61 profesionales (sin experiencias). Las enfermeros (as) completaron cuatro instrumentos: la Encuesta de Experiencias Anómalo/Paranormales en Enfermeras y Trabajadores de la Salud, el Maslach Burnout Inventory que mide el estrés laboral, el Cuestionario de Experiencias Alucinatorias que evalúa la propensión a la alucinación y la Escala de Absorción de Tellegen que evalúa el grado de involucramiento en la percepción. Resultados: los profesionales que reportaron tales experiencias no tendían a experimentar mayor estrés laboral, en comparación con un grupo control, en contra de la principal hipótesis; sin embargo, mostraron mayor frecuencia experiencias perceptivas anómalas asociadas a la capacidad de absorción psicológica, que resultó el principal predictor entre enfermeras con experiencia y el grupo control [β= 0,33, p= 0,005; R2= 0,12] combinando estrés laboral y propensión a la alucinación. Conclusión: el análisis estadístico confirma que los profesionales de enfermería que reportan experiencias perceptuales inusuales, tienden a mostrar mayor absorción psicológica, de igual forma, mayor propensión a alucinar; sin embargo, ninguna de estas variables se relaciona con el estrés laboral. El turno de noche es el más propenso a estas experiencias. PALABRAS CLAVE: estrés laboral, enfermería, parapsicología, percepción extrasensorial.Relationship between work stress, hallucination and abnormal experiences among nursing professionals ABSTRACT Objective: evaluate the type and frequency of unusual perceptual experiences in hospital areas, as well as its relationship with work stress and absorption, and compare such experiences in nurses who have had. Materials and Methods: a sample of 39 nurses with such experiences and a control group of 61 professionals (without experiences) were analyzed. The nurses completed four instruments: The Survey of Abnormal/Paranormal Experiences in Nurses and Health Workers, the Maslach Burnout Inventory that measures work stress, the Questionnaire of Hallucinatory Experiences that evaluates the tendency of hallucinating, and the Tellegen Absorption Scale that assesses the degree of involvement in perception. Results: the professionals that reported such experiences did not tend to experience major work stress, in comparison to a control group, in opposition to the first hypothesis; however, they showed more frequency to abnormal perceptual experiences associated with the capacity of psychological absorption, which resulted in the main predictor between nurses with experience and the control group [β= 0,33, p= 0,005; R2= 0,12] combining work stress and tendency of hallucination. Conclusion: the statistical analysis confirms that the nursing professionals that report unusual perceptual experiences, tend to show a greater psychological absorption, likewise, a greater tendency to hallucinate; however, none of these variables is related with work stress. The night shift is the most prone to these experiences. KEYWORDS: burnout professional, nursing, parapsychology, extrasensory perception. Relação entre estresse de trabalho, alucinação e experiências anômalas entre professionais de enfermagem RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar o tipo e frequência de experiências perceptuais incomuns em âmbitos hospitalários, assim como sua relação com o estresse de trabalho e a absorção, e comparar tais experiências em enfermeiras (os) que tiveram. Materiais e Métodos: analisou-se uma amostra de 39 enfermeiras (os) com tais experiências e um grupo controle de 61 professionais (inexperientes). As enfermeiras (os) completaram quatro instrumentos: a Pesquisa de Experiências Anômalo/Paranormais em Enfermeiras e Trabalhadores da Saúde, o Maslach Burnout Inventory que mede o estresse de trabalho, o Questionário de Experiências Alucinatórias que avalia a propensão à alucinação e a Escala de Absorção de Tellegen que avalia o grau de envolvimento na percepção. Resultados: os professionais que reportaram tais experiências não tenderam a experimentar maior estresse de trabalho, em comparação com um grupo controle, contra a hipótese principal; porém, mostraram maior frequência de experiências perceptivas anômalas associadas à capacidade de absorção psicológica, que resultou o principal preditor entre enfermeiras com experiência e o grupo controle [β= 0,33, p= 0,005; R2= 0,12] combinando estresse de trabalho e propensão à alucinação. Conclusões: a análise estadística confirma que os professionais de enfermagem que reportam experiências perceptuais incomuns, tendem a mostrar maior absorção psicológica; de igual maneira, maior propensão a alucinar; no entanto, nenhuma destas variáveis se relaciona com o estresse de trabalho. O turno da noite é o mais propenso a esse tipo de experiência.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: esgotamento profissional, enfermagem, parapsicologia, percepção extra-sensorial

Quantifying the portfolio of larval responses to salinity and temperature in a coastal-marine invertebrate: a cross population study along the European coast

portfolio available for a species to cope with and mitigate effects of climate change. Here, we quantified variation in larval survival and physiological rates of Carcinus maenas among populations occurring in distant or contrasting habitats (Cádiz: Spain, Helgoland: North Sea, Kerteminde: Baltic Sea). During the reproductive season, we reared larvae of these populations, in the laboratory, under a combination of several temperatures (15–24 °C) and salinities (25 and 32.5 PSU). In survival, all three populations showed a mitigating effect of high temperatures at lower salinity, with the strongest pattern for Helgoland. However, Cádiz and Kerteminde differed from Helgoland in that a strong thermal mitigation did not occur for growth and developmental rates. For all populations, oxygen consumption rates were driven only by temperature; hence, these could not explain the growth rate depression found at lower salinity. Larvae from Cádiz, reared in seawater, showed increased survival at the highest temperature, which differs from Helgoland (no clear survival pattern), and especially Kerteminde (decreased survival at high temperature). These responses from the Cádiz population correspond with the larval and parental habitat (i.e., high salinity and temperature) and may reflect local adaptation. Overall, along the European coast, C. maenas larvae showed a diversity of responses, which may enable specific populations to tolerate warming and subsidise more vulnerable populations. In such case, C. maenas would be able to cope with climate change through a spatial portfolio effect

Nonlinear Negotiation Approaches for Complex-Network Optimization: A Study Inspired by Wi-Fi Channel Assignment

At the present time, Wi-Fi networks are everywhere. They operate in unlicensed radio-frequency spectrum bands (divided in channels), which are highly congested. The purpose of this paper is to tackle the problem of channel assignment in Wi-Fi networks. To this end, we have modeled the networks as multilayer graphs, in a way that frequency channel assignment becomes a graph coloring problem. For a high number and variety of scenarios, we have solved the problem with two different automated negotiation techniques: a hill-climber and a simulated annealer. As an upper bound reference for the performance of these two techniques, we have also solved the problem using a particle swarm optimizer. Results show that the annealer negotiator behaves as the best choice because it is able to obtain even better results than the particle swarm optimizer in the most complex scenarios under study, with running times one order of magnitude below. Finally, we study how different properties of the network layout affect to the performance gain that the annealer is able to obtain with respect to the particle swarm optimizer.Comment: This is a pre-print of an article published in Group Decision and Negotiation. The final version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10726-018-9600-