Consensus stabilizability and exact consensus controllability of multi-agent linear systems

A goal in engineering systems is to try to control them. Control theory offers mathematical tools for steering engineered systems towards a desired state. Stabilizability and controllability can be studied under different points of view, in particular, we focus on measure of controllability in the sense of the minimum set of controls that need for to steer the multiagent system toward any desired state. In this paper, we study the consensus stabilizability and exact consensus controllability of multi-agent linear systems, in which all agents have a same linear dynamic mode that can be in any orderPostprint (published version

Gender stereotypes about steam careers in education

Treball Final de Grau en Psicologia. Codi: PS1048. Curs: 2018/2019.The number of girls choosing careers related to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) is still very low. One of the explanations focuses on the differentiated choice of professions according to gender due to the importance of the congruence search between the roles that society demands to each sex. The aim of this study is to examine if the gender stereotypes related to STEAM careers continue being reproduced by students and teachers. To this end, we carried out a qualitative study at the IES Ribalta in Castellón de la Plana with 12 female students (50% female) from 14 to 16 years old, and with 6 teachers (50% male). With the students, we hold a group workshop, showing an enigma about the sex of a person introduced as a medical eminence. With the teachers, we conducted semi-structured interviews in which they have been asked if they think if there are innate capacities in the function of gender in the people who are dedicated to STEAM careers. 50% of the students did not solve the enigma, because: masculinization /feminization of the professions (medical eminence, men; nurse, woman), the invisibility of women scientists in textbooks and the media, visualization of STEAM women achievements such as something "unusual". Teachers' responses were in three lines: Yes, there are innate differences in the function of gender and female gender is the most favored; no, there are no innate differences in the function of gender, and; Yes, there are differences and its benefits the male gender. In conclusion, these results confirm the variety of stereotyped beliefs in the educational settings, which are consistent with the low percentages of women in the STEAM careers currently. They also show the evident intention to dismantle them by the participants.El número de chicas que eligen carreras vinculadas a ciencias, tecnologías, ingenierías, artes y matemáticas (STEAM) sigue siendo muy bajo. Una de las explicaciones se centra en la elección diferenciada de profesiones en función del género debido a la importancia que tiene la búsqueda de congruencia entre los roles que la sociedad demanda a cada sexo. El objetivo del presente estudio es examinar si los estereotipos de género relacionados con las carreras STEAM se siguen reproduciendo en alumnado y profesorado. Para ello se ha llevado a cabo un estudio cualitativo en el IES Ribalta de Castellón de la Plana con 12 alumnas/os (50% mujeres) de 14 a 16 años, y con 6 profesores/as (50% hombres). Con el alumnado, se realizó un taller grupal donde debían resolver un acertijo sobre el género de una persona presentada como eminencia médica. Con el profesorado, se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas en las cuales se preguntó si existían capacidades innatas en función del sexo en las personas que se dedican a carreras STEAM. El 50% del alumnado no resolvió el enigma por: masculinización/feminización de profesiones (eminencia médica hombre, enfermera mujer), invisibilidad de las mujeres científicas en libros de texto y medios de comunicación, visibilización de logros de mujeres STEAM como algo “inusual”. Los resultados del profesorado fueron en tres líneas distintas: Si que existen diferencias innatas en las personas de carreras STEAM siendo el género femenino más favorecido; no existen diferencias innatas en función del género y, si existen, benefician al género masculino. En conclusión, mediante estos resultados se confirma la variedad de creencias estereotipadas en el ámbito educativo, son consistentes con los bajos porcentajes de mujeres en carreras STEAM en la actualidad. También se pone de manifiesto por parte de las/los participantes la intención de desmantelarlas

Analyzing controllability of neural networks

In recent years, due to the relation between cognitive control and mathematical concept of control dynamical systems, there has been growing interest in the descriptive analysis of complex networks with linear dynamics, permeating many aspects from everyday life, obtaining considerable advances in the description of their structural and dynamical properties. Nevertheless, much less effort has been devoted to studying the controllability of the dynamics taking place on them. Concretely, for complex systems is of interest to study the exact controllability, this measure is defined as the minimum set of controls that are needed to steer the whole system toward any desired state. In this paper, a revision of controllability concepts is presented and provides conditions for exact controllability for the multiagent systemsPostprint (author's final draft

Self-referenced fibre-optic sensor for liquid detection and/or measurement

The optical technology developed by the Spanish University Carlos III of Madrid is related with carrying out measurements on liquid tanks. It allows detecting the liquid level using light, in an intrinsically safe way, without the risk of explosion of the electronic type techniques. We are looking for the collaboration of companies devoted to the development of instrumentation systems, specifically instrumentation for the storage and distribution of flammable liquids, fuel tanks manufacturers, as well as instrumentation for aircrafts and vehicles.Contrato Programa de Comercialización e Internacionalización. Sistema Regional de Investigación Científica e Innovación Tecnológica. (Comunidad de Madrid; Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Application of Semantics to Solve Problems in Life Sciences

Fecha de lectura de Tesis: 10 de diciembre de 2018La cantidad de información que se genera en la Web se ha incrementado en los últimos años. La mayor parte de esta información se encuentra accesible en texto, siendo el ser humano el principal usuario de la Web. Sin embargo, a pesar de todos los avances producidos en el área del procesamiento del lenguaje natural, los ordenadores tienen problemas para procesar esta información textual. En este cotexto, existen dominios de aplicación en los que se están publicando grandes cantidades de información disponible como datos estructurados como en el área de las Ciencias de la Vida. El análisis de estos datos es de vital importancia no sólo para el avance de la ciencia, sino para producir avances en el ámbito de la salud. Sin embargo, estos datos están localizados en diferentes repositorios y almacenados en diferentes formatos que hacen difícil su integración. En este contexto, el paradigma de los Datos Vinculados como una tecnología que incluye la aplicación de algunos estándares propuestos por la comunidad W3C tales como HTTP URIs, los estándares RDF y OWL. Haciendo uso de esta tecnología, se ha desarrollado esta tesis doctoral basada en cubrir los siguientes objetivos principales: 1) promover el uso de los datos vinculados por parte de la comunidad de usuarios del ámbito de las Ciencias de la Vida 2) facilitar el diseño de consultas SPARQL mediante el descubrimiento del modelo subyacente en los repositorios RDF 3) crear un entorno colaborativo que facilite el consumo de Datos Vinculados por usuarios finales, 4) desarrollar un algoritmo que, de forma automática, permita descubrir el modelo semántico en OWL de un repositorio RDF, 5) desarrollar una representación en OWL de ICD-10-CM llamada Dione que ofrezca una metodología automática para la clasificación de enfermedades de pacientes y su posterior validación haciendo uso de un razonador OWL

Optimizing a Simple Natural Dye Production Method for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Examples for Betalain (Bougainvillea and Beetroot Extracts) and Anthocyanin Dyes

We present a study about the sensitizers extracted from natural resources. This paper focuses on how to select, extract and characterize natural dyes, giving some guides to establish a protocol for the whole process of fabricating and using these dyes. The influence of the extraction solvent and method, and of parameters such as pH are analyzed. Also, dye precursor and dye extract stability have been studied, as well as how the dye adsorbs onto substrates and the effect of mixing or concentrating the extracts. Results concerning betalain pigments present in bougainvillea and beetroot extracts, and anthocyanins in eggplant extracts, analyzed by using UV-Vis spectrometry, are included. As an example of application, we report procedures intended to test and enhance the dye potential as a main component of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). DSSCs mimic nature’s photosynthesis and have some advantages like an easy and low-cost fabrication procedure. Their efficiency depends on its design and fabrication process and also on the different components involved. Hence, optimizing each component is essential to achieve the best performance, and thus the dye used as a sensitizer is crucial. We fabricate cells by using a simple procedure: As the interest is focused on the sensitizer, the same consecutive steps are followed, varying only the dye extract. Among all the natural-dyes tested, beetroot extract reaches up to 0.47% cell efficiency, which is near the highest values found in literature for this pigment

Brainiac Caspases: Beyond the Wall of Apoptosis

For the last two decades, caspases, a family of cysteine-aspartic proteases, have evolved from being considered solely as regulators of apoptosis or inflammation to having a wider range of functions. In this mini review, we focus on the most recent "non-apoptotic" roles of caspases in the CNS, particularly in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Non-apoptotic caspase functions in microglia have already been reviewed extensively elsewhere. Here we discuss the involvement of caspases in the activation of the inflammasome, autophagy, and non-apoptotic forms of cell death such as necroptosis and pyroptosis. Also, we review the involvement of caspases in synapses and the processing of aggregates key to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases. Likewise, we mention the recently described involvement of caspases in mitochondrial biogenesis, which is a function independent of the enzymatic activity. We conclude discussing the relevance that "new" functions of caspases have in the CNS and the future of this field of researchEspaña Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad SAF2015-64171- R (MINECO/FEDER, EU)España Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Programa Ramón y Cajal: RYC-2017-21804