Unveiling the radiative local density of optical states of a plasmonic nanocavity by STM

Atomically-sharp tips in close proximity of metal surfaces create plasmonic nanocavities supporting both radiative (bright) and non-radiative (dark) localized surface plasmon modes. Disentangling their respective contributions to the total density of optical states remains a challenge. Electroluminescence due to tunnelling through the tip-substrate gap could allow the identification of the radiative component, but this information is inherently convoluted with that of the electronic structure of the system. In this work, we present a fully experimental procedure to eliminate the electronic-structure factors from the scanning tunnelling microscope luminescence spectra by confronting them with spectroscopic information extracted from elastic current measurements. Comparison against electromagnetic calculations demonstrates that this procedure allows the characterization of the meV shifts experienced by the nanocavity plasmonic modes under atomic-scale gap size changes. Therefore, the method gives access to the frequency-dependent radiative Purcell enhancement that a microscopic light emitter would undergo when placed at such nanocavityWe acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness (grants FIS2015-72482-EXP, FIS2015-64951-R, FIS2016-78591-C3-1-R, PGC2018-098613—B-C21, PGC2018-096047-B-I00, RTI2018-099737-B-I00 and MAT2014-53432-C5-5-R), the regional government of Comunidad de Madrid (grant S2018/NMT-4321), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM/48 and UAM/134) and IMDEA Nanoscience. Both IMDEA Nanoscience and IFIMAC acknowledge support from the Severo Ochoa and Maria de Maeztu Programmes for Centres and Units of Excellence in R&D (MINECO, Grants SEV-2016-0686 and MDM-2014-0377). We also acknowledge support by the QuantERA program of the European Union with funding by the Spanish AEI through project PCI2018-09314

Mudanças no perfil funcional de pacientes con patologia psiquiátrica resistente submetidos a neurocirurgia funcional estereotáxica

Con el objetivo de evaluar los resultados de la Neurocirugía Funcional Estereotáctica (NFE) sobre el perfil funcional de los pacientes diagnosticados con Patología Psiquiátrica Resistente (PPR), se realizó un diseño pre/post tratamiento. 13 pacientes fueron evaluados ( = 31 ± 8 años): siete mujeres diagnosticadas con algún Trastorno de la Conducta Alimentaria Resistente (TCAR); tres mujeres diagnosticadas con Trastornos Resistentes Obsesivo Compulsivo y Depresivo (TOC y DR) y tres pacientes (dos mujeres y un hombre) diagnosticados con Depresión Resistente (DR). A estos pacientes se les aplicó la Escala de funcionamiento del paciente Eje K, la cual consta de siete subescalas, y una Escala de Evaluación de la Actividad Global (EAG) antes del tratamiento y después de éste (seis meses posteriores a la NFE). Todos los grupos diagnósticos y el total de los pacientes evaluados presentaron cambios clínicos positivos; sin embargo, sólo el grupo de TCAR mostró importantes cambios clínicos de mejoría en el perfil de funcionamiento, siendo esta diferencia estadísticamente significativa (pre Md = 56; post Md = 84; z= - 2.36, p <0.05). Con la evidencia obtenida se observó que la NFE representa una opción terapéutica emergente efectiva orientada a disminuir el sufrimiento de los pacientes con PPR, así como a mejorar el nivel de funcionamiento global y por ende su calidad de vida. Todos los pacientes del estudio presentaban una condición de resistencia a tratamientos convencionales indicados, la cual había sido documentada por un equipo interdisciplinario experto.Con o objetivo de avaliar os resultados da Neurocirurgía Funcional Estereotáxica (NFE) sobre o perfil funcional dos pacientes diagnosticados com Patologia Psiquiátrica Resistente (PPR), realizou-se um desenho pré/pós tratamento. 13 pacientes foram avaliados ( = 31 ± 8 anos): sete mulheres diagnosticadas com algum Transtorno da Conduta Alimentar Resistente (TCAR); três mulheres diagnosticadas com Transtornos Resistentes Obsessivo Compulsivo e Depressivo (TOC e DR) e três pacientes (duas mulheres e um homem) diagnosticados com Depressão Resistente (DR). A estes pacientes foi aplicada a Escala de funcionamento do paciente Eixo K, a qual consta de sete sub-escalas, e uma Escala de Avaliação da Atividade Global (EAG) antes do tratamento e depois dele (seis meses posteriores à NFE). Todos os grupos diagnósticos e o total dos pacientes avaliados apresentaram mudanças clínicas positivas; porém, só o grupo de TCAR mostrou importantes mudanças clínicas de melhoria no perfil de funcionamento, sendo esta diferença estatisticamente significativa (pré Md= 56; pós Md= 84; z= - 2.36, p <0.05). Com a evidência obtida observou-se que a NFE representa uma opção terapêutica emergente efetiva orientada a diminuir o sofrimento dos pacientes com PPR, bem como a melhorar o nível de funcionamento global e portanto sua qualidade de vida. Todos os pacientes do estudo apresentavam uma condição de resistência a tratamentos convencionais indicados, a qual havia sido documentada por uma equipe interdisciplinar de especialistas.In order to evaluate the results of the Stereotactic Functional Neurosurgery (SFN) on the functional profile of patients diagnosed with Resistant Psychiatric Pathology (RPP), a pre / post treatment design was performed. Thirteen patients were assessed ( = 31 ± 8 years): seven women diagnosed with some type of Resistant Eating Disorder (RED); three women diagnosed with Resistant Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Resistant Depression (TOC and RD), and three patients (two women and one man) diagnosed with Resistant Depression (RD). The Patient's Functioning Scale, axis K, consisting of seven subscales, and the Assessment of Global Activity Scale (AGAS) were applied before and after treatment (6 months after FSN). All diagnostic groups and all the patients assessed showed positive clinical changes. However, only the RED group showed important clinical improvement in the performance profile with a statistically significant difference (pre Md = 56, Md = 84 post , z = - 2.36, p <0.05). With the evidence obtained it was noted that SFN represents an effective therapeutic option aimed at reducing the suffering of patients with RPP and improve their overall level of functioning and therefore their quality of life. All patients in the study had a condition indicating resistance to conventional treatments which had been documented by an expert multidisciplinary team

Simuladores de Planificadores de Sistemas en Tiempo Real

En este artículo se presenta un simulador desarrollado que permite ejecutar diferentes planificadores de Tiempo Real, como el algoritmo de planificación cíclica, Algoritmo de la Razón Monótona (RMA) y EDF (Earliest Deadline First) para un conjunto de procesos con unos datos dados y muestra los resultados obtenidos. Mediante este simulador se facilita a los alumnos el aprendizaje de los algoritmos de planificación.This paper presents a simulator that has been developed to allow the execution of scheduling algorithms such as the Cyclic Non­preemptive Executive, Rate­monotonic scheduling (RMS) and Earliest Deadline First (EDF) for a given set of processes with different values and the simulator displays the results. With this simulator, students are able to learn about scheduling algorithms.Universidad de Granada: Departamento de Arquitectura y Tecnología de Computadores; Vicerrectorado para la Garantía de la Calidad

Simulador de negocios Capstone planeación estratégica de Digby en la industria de los sensores

En el presente documento de obtención de grado se analizan los resultados de la empresa Digby como parte la industria de sensores dentro del simulador de negocios CAPSTONE de CAPSIM, cuyo objetivo es recrear el diseño de una estrategia y la toma de decisiones dentro de una organización. Dentro del primer capítulo se encuentra el marco teórico donde se definen los conceptos necesarios para entender y desarrollar una estrategia dentro de una empresa, además de lo anterior se podrán encontrar una serie de análisis de casos en los que se aplica la teoría revisada previamente. En el segundo apartado se describe la industria de los sensores dentro de CAPSTONE. Además, se detalla la estructura de Digby como organización, su modelo de negocios, así como la planeación estratégica en la que se definen los objetivos de cada una de las áreas, el organigrama de la empresa y responsabilidad del equipo directivo de la misma. Del capítulo número tres al seis se revisan, analizan e interpretan los resultados obtenidos por la empresa Digby durante los ocho periodos de simulación, además se comparan con los que obtuvo la competencia. En el capítulo siete se encuentran las conclusiones a las que llegó el equipo después de la obtención de los resultados finales de la simulación, también se exponen las experiencias y aprendizajes de los distintos miembros del equipo a través de los distintos cursos de la asignatura de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación (IDI) y la maestría en el ITESO. Durante la realización del presente trabajo se acrecentó la experiencia en el manejo de una organización por parte de un equipo directivo mediante la práctica en la toma de decisiones de diferentes áreas de una compañía, así como del análisis del entorno económico e industrial.ITESO, A.C

Dense strontium hexaferrite-based permanent magnet composites assisted by cold sintering process

[EN] The use of rare-earth-based permanent magnets is one of the critical points for the development of the current technology. On the one hand, industry of the rare-earths is highly polluting due to the negative environmental impact of their extraction and, on the other hand, the sector is potentially dependent on China. Therefore, investigation is required both in the development of rare-earth-free permanent magnets and in sintering processes that enable their greener fabrication with attractive magnetic properties at a more competitive price. This work presents the use of a cold sintering process (CSP) followed by a post-annealing at 1100 °C as a new way to sinter composite permanent magnets based on strontium ferrite (SFO). Composites that incorporate a percentage ≤ 10% of an additional magnetic phase have been prepared and the morphological, structural and magnetic properties have been evaluated after each stage of the process. CSP induces a phase transformation of SFO in the composites, which is partially recovered by the post-thermal treatment improving the relative density to 92% and the magnetic response of the final magnets with a coercivity of up to 3.0 kOe. Control of the magnetic properties is possible through the composition and the grain size in the sintered magnets. These attractive results show the potential of the sintering approach as an alternative to develop modern rare-earth-free composite permanent magnets.This work has been supported by the Ministerio Español de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN), Spain, through the projects MAT2017-86540-C4-1-R and RTI2018-095303-A-C52, and by the European Commission through Project H2020 No. 720853 (Amphibian). C.G.-M. and A.Q. acknowledge financial support from MICINN through the “Juan de la Cierva” program (FJC2018-035532-I) and the “Ramón y Cajal” contract (RYC-2017-23320). S. R.-G. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Alexander von Humboldt foundation, Germany. A.S. acknowledges the financialsupport from the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain, for an “Atracción de Talento Investigador” contract (No. 2017-t2/IND5395)

Insights on the Early Pleistocene Hominin Population of the Guadix-Baza Depression (SE Spain) and a Review on the Ecology of the First Peopling of Europe

The chronology and environmental context of the first hominin dispersal in Europe have been subject to debate and controversy. The oldest settlements in Eurasia (e.g., Dmanisi, ∼1.8 Ma) suggest a scenario in which the Caucasus and southern Asia were occupied ∼0.4 Ma before the first peopling of Europe. Barranco León (BL) and Fuente Nueva 3 (FN3), two Early Pleistocene archeological localities dated to ∼1.4 Ma in Orce (Guadix-Baza Depression, SE Spain), provide the oldest evidence of hominin presence in Western Europe. At these sites, huge assemblages of large mammals with evidence of butchery and marrow processing have been unearthed associated to abundant Oldowan tools and a deciduous tooth of Homo sp. in the case of BL. Here, we: (i) review the Early Pleistocene archeological sites of Europe; (ii) discuss on the subsistence strategies of these hominins, including new estimates of resource abundance for the populations of Atapuerca and Orce; (iii) use cartographic data of the sedimentary deposits for reconstructing the landscape habitable in Guadix-Baza; and (iv) calculate the size of the hominin population using an estimate of population density based on resource abundance. Our results indicate that Guadix-Baza could be home for a small hominin population of 350–280 individuals. This basin is surrounded by the highest mountainous reliefs of the Alpine-Betic orogen and shows a limited number of connecting corridors with the surrounding areas, which could have limited gene flow with other hominin populations. Isolation would eventually lead to bottlenecks, genetic drift and inbreeding depression, conditions documented in the wild dog population of the basin, which probably compromised the viability of the hominin population in the medium to long term. This explains the discontinuous nature of the archeological record in Guadix-Baza, a situation that can also be extrapolated to the scarcity of hominin settlements for these ancient chronologies in Europe

Study on aerosol properties over Madrid (Spain) by multiple instrumentation during SPALI10 lidar campaign

Understanding the effect of aerosols upon radiative forcing requ ires information about vertical profiles. Lidar techniques represent a powerful tool for studies of the vertical structure of the aerosol field. During the SPAin Lidar Intercomparison 20 10 (SPALI10) campaign, several multiwavelen gth Raman lidar systems measured simultaneously in order to assess their performances. Multiwavelength lidars can pr ovide relevant vertically-resolved information on aerosol optical properties because the wavelength dependence of the backscatter and extinction coefficients allows for a more detailed discrimination of aerosol types. Several lidar stations belonging to SPALINET, the Spanish and Portuguese Lidar NETwork and also EARLINET, the European Aerosol Research Lidar NETwork, intercompared during a campaign that took place in Madrid from 18 October to 5 November 2010. The products provided by the lidar systems were compared with ancillary data. At ground level, aerosol size distribution was continuously monitored. Additionally, the column-integrated characterization of the atmospheric aerosol was performed by means of a sun photometer. The extensive dataset obtained during SPALI10 field campaign enables to compare ground-level in-situ measurements with remote sensing techniques to determine vertically-resolved optical and microphysical properties of aerosols. Several relevant features shown in the comparison of the results obtained by the different instruments are discussed in this work.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative

Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Adaptation of irrigation networks to climate change: Linking robust design and stakeholder contribution

Agriculture is a particularly sensitive sector to the potential impacts of climate change. Thus, irrigation infrastructure is required to be robust to cope with these potential threats. The objective of this research is designing more robust irrigation networks, considering cost and stakeholder contribution. To that end, the investigation was addressed in three phases: a sensitivity analysis to understand the effectiveness of the distinct variables, a cost-effectiveness analysis assessing their efficiency, and a global study of the most efficient variables to provide an insight into their function. The sensitivity analysis indicates that the networks oversized by means of the coefficient of utilisation or the factor of safety, behave better than those oversized via the continuous specific discharge; moreover, the degree of freedom has been shown ineffective. The cost-effectiveness analysis shows that the coefficient of utilisation and the factor of safety are the most efficient variables, as they introduced safety margin oversizing fewer network elements and to a lesser extent than the continuous specific discharge. It also shows that stakeholder contribution, conveyed as a reduction of the degree of freedom, plays an important role in the network’s adaptive capacity to change. The global study of these variables reveals the subtlety of the coefficient of utilisation, which is the variable that better reproduces the farmer behaviour during demand increase scenarios. In conclusion, the results identify the coefficient of utilisation as the variable which provides the safest margins and reveal the importance of stakeholder contribution in absorb the demand increase in a better manner