An Implementation for Dynamic Application Allocation in Shared Sensor Networks

We present a system architecture implementation to perform dynamic application allocation in shared sensor networks, where highly integrated wireless sensor systems are used to support multiple applications. The architecture is based on a central controller that collects the received data from the sensor nodes, dynamically decides which applications must be simultaneously deployed in each node and, accordingly, over-the-air reprograms the sensor nodes. Waspmote devices are used as sensor nodes that communicate with the controller using ZigBee protocol. Experimental results show the viability of the proposal

Energy-aware dynamic resource allocation in virtual sensor networks

Sensor network virtualization enables the possibility of sharing common physical resources to multiple stakeholder applications. This paper focuses on addressing the dynamic adaptation of already assigned virtual sensor network resources to respond to time varying application demands. We propose an optimization framework that dynamically allocate applications into sensor nodes while accounting for the characteristics and limitations of the wireless sensor environment. It takes also into account the additional energy consumption related to activating new nodes and/or moving already active applications. Different objective functions related to the available energy in the nodes are analyzed. The proposed framework is evaluated by simulation considering realistic parameters from actual sensor nodes and deployed applications to assess the efficiency of the proposals

Asthma, obesity and diet

El asma y la obesidad son dos trastornos de gran impacto en la salud pública que han aumentado su prevalencia en los últimos años. Numerosos estudios han relacionado ambas entidades. La mayoría de los estudios prospectivos demuestran que la obesidad es un factor de riesgo para el diagnóstico “de novo” de asma. Además, los resultados de diversos estudios sugieren que así como la ganancia de peso aumenta el riesgo de asma, la pérdida mejora su evolución. En general, los estudios prospectivos encuentran una asociación positiva entre el índice de masa corporal (IMC) basal y el posterior desarrollo de asma, lo que sugiere que es el exceso de peso el que podría favorecer el desarrollo de asma, aunque estos resultados no son tan concluyentes cuando se estudia la asociación entre hiperreactividad bronquial con el IMC. Existen distintos factores que podrían explicar esta asociación. La obesidad es capaz de reducir la compliance pulmonar, los volúmenes pulmonares y el diámetro de de las vías respiratorias periféricas, así como alterar los volúmenes sanguíneos pulmonares y la relación ventilación- perfusión. Además, el aumento del funcionamiento normal del tejido adiposo en sujetos obesos conduce a un estado proinflamatorio sistémico, que produce un aumento de las concentraciones séricas de numerosas citoquinas, fracciones solubles de sus receptores y quimiocinas. Muchos de estos mediadores son sintetizados y secretados por células del tejido adiposo y reciben el nombre genérico de adipocinas, entre las que se incluyen IL-6, IL-10, eotaxina, TNF- , TGF- 1, PCR, leptina y adiponectina. Por último, se han identificado regiones específicas del genoma humano que están relacionadas tanto con el asma como con la obesidad. La mayoría de los estudios apuntan a que la obesidad es capaz de aumentar la prevalencia y la incidencia de asma, aunque este efecto parece ser moderado. El tratamiento de los asmáticos obesos debe incluir un programa de control de peso.Asthma and obesity have a considerable impact on public health and their prevalence has increased in recent years. Numerous studies have linked both disorders. Most prospective studies show that obesity is a risk factor for asthma and have found a positive correlation between baseline body mass index (BMI) and the subsequent development of asthma, although these results are not conclusive when studying the association between airway hyperresponsiveness with BMI. Furthermore, several studies suggest that whereas weight gain increases the risk of asthma, weight loss improves the course of the illness. Different factors could explain this association. Obesity is capable of reducing pulmonary compliance, lung volumes and the diameter of peripheral respiratory airways as well as affecting the volume of blood in the lungs and the ventilation-perfusion relationship. Furthermore, the increase in the normal functioning of adipose tissue in obese subjects leads to a systemic proinflammatory state, which produces a rise in the serum concentrations of several cytokines, the soluble fractions of their receptors and chemokines. Many of these mediators are synthesized and secreted by cells from adipose tissue and receive the generic name of adipokines, including IL-6, IL-10, eotaxin, TNF- , TGF- 1, PCR, leptin y adiponectin. Finally, specific regions of the human genome which are related to both asthma and obesity have been identified. Most studies point out that obesity is capable of increasing the prevalence and incidence of asthma, although this effect appears to be modest. The treatment of obese asthmatics must include a weight control progra

Effect of the Front and Back Illumination on Sub-Terahertz Detection Using n-Channel Strained-Silicon MODFETs

[EN] Plasma waves in semiconductor gated 2-D systems can be used to efficiently detect Terahertz (THz) electromagnetic radiation. This work reports on the response of a strained-Si Modulation-doped Field-Effect Transistor (MODFET) under front and back sub-THz illumination. The response of the MODFET has been characterized using a two-tones solid-state continuous wave source at 0.15 and 0.30 THz. The DC drain-to-source voltage of 500-nm gate length transistors transducing the sub-THz radiation (photovoltaic mode) exhibited a non-resonant response in agreement with literature results. Two configurations of the illumination were investigated: (i) front side illumination in which the transistor was shined on its top side, and (ii) back illumination side where the device received the sub-THz radiation on its bottom side, i.e., on the Si substrate. Under excitation at 0.15 THz clear evidence of the coupling of terahertz radiation by the bonding wires was found, this coupling leads to a stronger response under front illumination than under back illumination. When the radiation is shifted to 0.3 THz, as a result of a lesser efficient coupling of the EM radiation through the bonding wires, the response under front illumination was considerably weakened while it was strengthened under back illumination. Electromagnetic simulations explained this behavior as the magnitude of the induced electric field in the channel of the MODFET was considerably stronger under back illumination.This research was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Investigacion y Universidades of Spain andFEDER (ERDF: European Regional Development Fund) under the Research Grants numbers RTI2018-097180-B-100 and TEC2016-78028-C3-3-P and FEDER/Junta de Castilla y Leon Research Grant number SA256P18. Also by Conselleria d'Educacio, lnvestigacio, Cultura i Esport, Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) through the grant AIC0/2019/018. The APC received no external funding.Delgado-Notario, JA.; Calvo-Gallego, J.; Velázquez-Pérez, JE.; Ferrando Bataller, M.; Fobelets, K.; Meziani, YM. (2020). Effect of the Front and Back Illumination on Sub-Terahertz Detection Using n-Channel Strained-Silicon MODFETs. Applied Sciences. 10(17):1-9. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10175959S191017Lewis, R. A. (2019). A review of terahertz detectors. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 52(43), 433001. doi:10.1088/1361-6463/ab31d5Dragoman, D., & Dragoman, M. (2004). Terahertz fields and applications. Progress in Quantum Electronics, 28(1), 1-66. doi:10.1016/s0079-6727(03)00058-2Mittleman, D. M. (2017). Perspective: Terahertz science and technology. Journal of Applied Physics, 122(23), 230901. doi:10.1063/1.5007683Pawar, A. Y., Sonawane, D. D., Erande, K. B., & Derle, D. V. (2013). Terahertz technology and its applications. Drug Invention Today, 5(2), 157-163. doi:10.1016/j.dit.2013.03.009Federici, J., & Moeller, L. (2010). Review of terahertz and subterahertz wireless communications. Journal of Applied Physics, 107(11), 111101. doi:10.1063/1.3386413Federici, J. F., Schulkin, B., Huang, F., Gary, D., Barat, R., Oliveira, F., & Zimdars, D. (2005). THz imaging and sensing for security applications—explosives, weapons and drugs. Semiconductor Science and Technology, 20(7), S266-S280. doi:10.1088/0268-1242/20/7/018Dyakonov, M., & Shur, M. (1993). Shallow water analogy for a ballistic field effect transistor: New mechanism of plasma wave generation by dc current. Physical Review Letters, 71(15), 2465-2468. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.71.2465Dyakonov, M., & Shur, M. (1996). Detection, mixing, and frequency multiplication of terahertz radiation by two-dimensional electronic fluid. IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, 43(3), 380-387. doi:10.1109/16.485650Tauk, R., Teppe, F., Boubanga, S., Coquillat, D., Knap, W., Meziani, Y. M., … Shur, M. S. (2006). Plasma wave detection of terahertz radiation by silicon field effects transistors: Responsivity and noise equivalent power. Applied Physics Letters, 89(25), 253511. doi:10.1063/1.2410215Rumyantsev, S. L., Fobelets, K., Veksler, D., Hackbarth, T., & Shur, M. S. (2008). Strained-Si modulation doped field effect transistors as detectors of terahertz and sub-terahertz radiation. Semiconductor Science and Technology, 23(10), 105001. doi:10.1088/0268-1242/23/10/105001Javadi, E., Delgado-Notario, J. A., Masoumi, N., Shahabadi, M., Velázquez-Pérez, J. E., & Meziani, Y. M. (2018). Continuous Wave Terahertz Sensing Using GaN HEMTs. physica status solidi (a), 215(11), 1700607. doi:10.1002/pssa.201700607Delgado-Notario, J. A., Clericò, V., Diez, E., Velázquez-Pérez, J. E., Taniguchi, T., Watanabe, K., … Meziani, Y. M. (2020). Asymmetric dual-grating gates graphene FET for detection of terahertz radiations. APL Photonics, 5(6), 066102. doi:10.1063/5.0007249Lewis, R. A. (2014). A review of terahertz sources. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 47(37), 374001. doi:10.1088/0022-3727/47/37/374001Delgado-Notario, J., Velazquez-Perez, J., Meziani, Y., & Fobelets, K. (2018). Sub-THz Imaging Using Non-Resonant HEMT Detectors. Sensors, 18(2), 543. doi:10.3390/s18020543Gaspari, V., Fobelets, K., Velazquez-Perez, J. E., Ferguson, R., Michelakis, K., Despotopoulos, S., & Papavassilliou, C. (2004). Effect of temperature on the transfer characteristic of a 0.5 μm-gate Si:SiGe depletion-mode n-MODFET. Applied Surface Science, 224(1-4), 390-393. doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2003.08.066Fobelets, K., Jeamsaksiri, W., Papavasilliou, C., Vilches, T., Gaspari, V., Velazquez-Perez, J. E., … König, U. (2004). Comparison of sub-micron Si:SiGe heterojunction nFETs to Si nMOSFET in present-day technologies. Solid-State Electronics, 48(8), 1401-1406. doi:10.1016/j.sse.2004.01.017Delgado Notario, J. A., Javadi, E., Calvo-Gallego, J., Diez, E., Velázquez, J. E., Meziani, Y. M., & Fobelets, K. (2016). Sub-Micron Gate Length Field Effect Transistors as Broad Band Detectors of Terahertz Radiation. International Journal of High Speed Electronics and Systems, 25(03n04), 1640020. doi:10.1142/s0129156416400206Sakowicz, M., Łusakowski, J., Karpierz, K., Grynberg, M., Gwarek, W., Boubanga, S., … Studart, N. (2010). A High Mobility Field-Effect Transistor as an Antenna for sub-THz Radiation. doi:10.1063/1.3295528Knap, W., Teppe, F., Meziani, Y., Dyakonova, N., Lusakowski, J., Boeuf, F., … Shur, M. S. (2004). Plasma wave detection of sub-terahertz and terahertz radiation by silicon field-effect transistors. Applied Physics Letters, 85(4), 675-677. doi:10.1063/1.177503

Acute febrile illness is associated with Rickettsia spp infection in dogs

BACKGROUND: Rickettsia conorii is transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks and causes Mediterranean Spotted Fever (MSF) in humans. Although dogs are considered the natural host of the vector, the clinical and epidemiological significance of R. conorii infection in dogs remains unclear. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether Rickettsia infection causes febrile illness in dogs living in areas endemic for human MSF. METHODS: Dogs from southern Italy with acute fever (n = 99) were compared with case–control dogs with normal body temperatures (n = 72). Serology and real-time PCR were performed for Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum/A. platys and Leishmania infantum. Conventional PCR was performed for Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. Acute and convalescent antibodies to R. conorii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum were determined. RESULTS: The seroprevalence rates at first visit for R. conorii, E. canis, A. phagocytophilum and L. infantum were 44.8%, 48.5%, 37.8% and 17.6%, respectively. The seroconversion rates for R. conorii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum were 20.7%, 14.3% and 8.8%, respectively. The molecular positive rates at first visit for Rickettsia spp., E. canis, A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, L. infantum, Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. were 1.8%, 4.1%, 0%, 2.3%, 11.1%, 2.3% and 0.6%, respectively. Positive PCR for E. canis (7%), Rickettsia spp. (3%), Babesia spp. (4.0%) and Hepatozoon spp. (1.0%) were found only in febrile dogs. The DNA sequences obtained from Rickettsia and Babesia PCRs positive samples were 100% identical to the R. conorii and Babesia vogeli sequences in GenBank®, respectively. Febrile illness was statistically associated with acute and convalescent positive R. conorii antibodies, seroconversion to R. conorii, E. canis positive PCR, and positivity to any tick pathogen PCRs. Fourteen febrile dogs (31.8%) were diagnosed with Rickettsia spp. infection based on seroconversion and/or PCR while only six afebrile dogs (12.5%) seroconverted (P = 0.0248). The most common clinical findings of dogs with Rickettsia infection diagnosed by seroconversion and/or PCR were fever, myalgia, lameness, elevation of C-reactive protein, thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates acute febrile illness associated with Rickettsia infection in dogs living in endemic areas of human MSF based on seroconversion alone or in combination with PCR

Proteomic approach in the search of new cardiovascular biomarkers

Proteomic approach in the search of new cardiovascular biomarkers With the increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases worldwide, specifically atherosclerosis and heart failure, the search for novel biomarkers remains a priority. As opposed to complex diagnostic techniques that may not be suitable to be applied to the wider population, biomarkers are useful for population screening. The search for novel biomarkers is based on knowledge of the molecular and cellular processes that take place in the development of a specific disease. Atherosclerosis and heart failure are characterized by a long period of silent disease progression, allowing early diagnosis and the potential of early therapeutic intervention. The use of the so-called proteomic techniques allows not only protein identification but partial characterization, which includes expression and also post-translational modification of these proteins. This allows for the discovery of previously unknown proteins involved in cardiovascular diseases, including some that may be suitable to be used as biomarkers. However, to approach this issue, we have to overcome difficulties such as tissue heterogeneity (vessel wall or myocardium) and the lack of fresh human samples. We discuss the proteomic study of human plaques, secreted proteins by pathologic and normal vessel wall, and left ventricular hypertrophy as potential sources of new biologic markers of cardiovascular disease

MEGARA-GTC stellar spectral library: I

MEGARA (Multi Espectrografo en GTC de Alta Resolucion para Astronomia) is an optical (3650-9750 Å), fibre-fed, medium-high spectral resolution (R = 6000, 12 000 and 20 000) instrument for the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC) 10.4-m telescope, commissioned in the summer of 2017, and currently in operation. The scientific exploitation of MEGARA requires a stellar spectra library to interpret galaxy data and to estimate the contribution of the stellar populations. In this paper, we introduce the MEGARA-GTC spectral library, detailing the rationale behind the building of this catalogue. We present the spectra of 97 stars (21 individual stars and 56 members of the globular cluster M15, which are both subsamples taken during the commissioning runs, and 20 stars from our ongoing GTC Open-Time programme). The spectra have R = 20 000 in the HR-R and HR-I set-ups, centred at 6563 and 8633 Å, respectively. We describe the procedures to reduce and analyse the data. Then, we determine the best-fitting theoretical models to each spectrum through a χ^(2) minimization technique, to derive the stellar physical parameters, and we discuss the results. We have also measured some absorption lines and indices. Finally, we introduce our project to complete the library and the data base in order to make the spectra available to the community

Strontium hexaferrite platelets: a comprehensive soft X-ray absorption and Mössbauer spectroscopy study

IBERMÖSS-2019, Bilbao, 30-31 may 2019. --https://www.ehu.eus/es/web/ibermossmeetingStrontium ferrite (SFO, SrFe12O19) is a ferrite employed for permanent magnets due to its high magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Since its discovery in the mid-20th century, this hexagonal ferrite has become an increasingly important material both commercially and technologically, finding a variety of uses and applications. Its structure can be considered a sequence of alternating spinel (S) and rocksalt (R) blocks. All the iron cations are in the Fe3+ oxidation state and it has a ferrimagnetic configuration with five different cationic environments for the iron (three octahedral sites, a tetraedrical site and a bipiramidal site)[1,2]. We have studied the properties of SrFe 12O19 in the shape of platelets, up to several micrometers in width, and tens of nanometers thick, synthesized by a hydrothermal method. We have characterized the structural and magnetic properties of these platelets by Mössbauer spectroscopy, x-ray transmission microscopy (TMX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM), x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), x-ray circular magnetic dichroism (XMCD) and photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM). To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that the x-ray absorption spectra at the Fe L 2,3 edges of this material in its pure form have been reported. The Mössbauer results recorded from these platelets both in the electron detection and transmission modes have helped to understand the iron magnetic moments determined by XMCD (Fig.1). The experimental results have been complemented with multiplet calculations aimed at reproducing the observed XAS and XMCD spectra at the Fe L 2,3 absorption edge, and by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to reproduce the oxygen K- absorption edge. Finally the domain pattern measured in remanence is in good agreement with micromagnetic simulations [3]

Mapping the ionized gas of the metal-poor HII galaxy PHL 293B with MEGARA

Here we report the first spatially resolved spectroscopic study for the galaxy PHL293B using the high-resolution GTC/MEGARA IFU. PHL293B is a local, extremely metal-poor, high ionization galaxy. This makes PHL 293B an excellent analogue for galaxies in the early Universe. The MEGARA aperture (~12.5''x 11.3'') covers the entire PHL 293B main body and its far-reaching ionized gas. We created and discussed maps of all relevant emission lines, line ratios and physical-chemical properties of the ionized ISM. The narrow emission gas appears to be ionized mainly by massive stars according to the observed diganostic line ratios, regardless of the position across the MEGARA aperture. We detected low intensity broad emission components and blueshifted absorptions in the Balmer lines (H$\alpha$,H$\beta$) which are located in the brightest zone of the galaxy ISM. A chemically homogeneity, across hundreds of parsecs, is observed in O/H. We take the oxygen abundance 12+log(O/H)=7.64 $\pm$ 0.06 derived from the PHL293B integrated spectrum as the representative metallicity for the galaxy. Our IFU data reveal for the first time that the nebular HeII4686 emission from PHL 293B is spatially extended and coincident with the ionizing stellar cluster, and allow us to compute its absolute HeII ionizing photon flux. Wolf-Rayet bumps are not detected excluding therefore Wolf-Rayet stars as the main HeII excitation source. The origin of the nebular HeII4686 is discussed.Comment: 14 pages, 9 Figures, 3 Tables; Accepted for publication in MNRA