Entorno a la arqueometría española en 1995

Sin resume

Estudios arqueométricos sobre materiales cerámicos de la edad del hierro

En general y pese a las últimas investigaciones, la Edad del Hierro no es un período excesivamente bien conocido tanto en el entorno de Talavera de la Reina como en el resto de la provincia de Toledo. Es por ello por lo que todavía en la actualidad resulta complicada la elaboración de síntesis sobre ciertos aspectos económicos de esta etapa, como pueden ser los relacionados con la producción de cerámica. Los estudios que se realizan sobre este material aún no han superado el estadio de descripción crono-tipológica de las producciones, lo cual no ha permitido la aplicación de nuevas metodologías de carácter arqueométrico con las que obtener datos sobre sus procesos tecnológicos o sus secuencias de manufactura. Este trabajo ofrece una visión general de este período, haciendo especial hincapié en aquellos problemas planteados por las producciones cerámicas de esta región que podrían ser abordados desde una perspectiva arqueométrica.Peer reviewe

Enactivism, action and normativity: a Wittgensteinian analysis

In this paper, we offer a criticism, inspired by Wittgenstein’s rule-following considerations, of the enactivist account of perception and action. We start by setting up a non-descriptivist naturalism regarding the mind and continue by defining enactivism and exploring its more attractive theoretical features. We then proceed to analyse its proposal to understand normativity non-socially. We argue that such a thesis is ultimately committed to the problematic idea that normative practices can be understood as private and factual. Finally, we offer a characterization of normativity as an essentially social phenomenon and apply our criticisms to other approaches that share commitments with enactivism

Comprender el mundo. La valencia hermenéutica del binomio Lebenswelt (Husserl) e In-der-Welt-sein (Heidegger).

Sin resume

Análisis arqueométrico de muestras cerámicas de Cerdeña

Sin resume

Digital quantum simulations of spin models with superconducting circuits

143 p.A lo largo de la historia, el ser humano, consciente de su incapacidad natural para realizar diversas tareas, ha utilizado herramientas que le han permitido afrontar de forma cada vez más satisfactoria los problemas de cada época. Estos avances que van desde las lanzas prehistóricas para cazar mamuts hasta los aviones actuales para llegar al otro lado del mundo en cuestión de horas, han provisto a los humanos de habilidades que la naturaleza no nos ha brindado. No es distinto el caso particular de la computación. Desde niños hemos aprendido a hacer uso de elementos más allá de nuestra mente analítica para la realización de todo tipo de cálculos. Contar con los dedos, utilizar un ábaco o un papel y un lápiz, y en última instancia hacer uso de un ordenador son solo algunos ejemplos de ello. Hay quien podría pensar erróneamente que los superordenadores con tecnología puntera son capaces de resolver los problemas computacionales más complejos pero la verdad es que posiblemente nunca lleguen a conseguirlo

Environmental factors influencing the breeding and health of a predator endemic to southern Africa: the endangered Black Harrier Circus Maurus

A general and increasing biodiversity loss has been observed since the 20th century. Faced with the extreme rapidity of population declines, conservation biologists seek to understand the limiting and regulating factors driving changes in animal populations. This is particularly important for rare species as small population size increases extinction risk. Birds are amongst the most studied animals in this context. As a group that occupies a high trophic level, raptors are particularly vulnerable to external changes and are generally regarded as useful indicators of ecological change. The Black Harrier Circus maurus is an avian predator endemic to southern Africa, which breeds essentially along the South African coast within the Fynbos biome, and inland within the Karoo biome. Its population size has been estimated at less than 1,000 breeding birds, and the species is currently considered as Endangered in South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho. Although some studies have been conducted on Black Harriers in the last four decades, the reasons for its scarcity currently remain little known and insufficiently explored. Filling this knowledge gap is therefore essential for its conservation. In this context, the main goal of this thesis is to develop an overall comprehension of how various environmental factors may affect the breeding and health of this Endangered species, at both population and individual levels. I conducted my fieldwork during the 2012-2015 breeding seasons in two contrasting geographical regions: one along the west coast in the Western Cape Province, and the second one inland in the surroundings of Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape Province. For some chapters (Chapters 1-3), I analysed historical data collected by Dr. R. E. Simmons during 2000-2011 breeding seasons

Design of a Knee Exoskeleton actuated with Artificial Muscles of SMA

This project presents the preliminary design of a powered exoskeleton for the knee joint, build upon the structural framework of DonJoy’s X-Act Rom Lite - Knee Brace. The device allows exclusively one degree of freedom, intended for the flexion and extension of the lower limb. The actuation mechanism is based on artificial muscles of Nitinol fibers, which are a type of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA). These wires contract 4% of its original length as the temperature rises due to the Joule Effect, when connected to a power supply. Thanks to this phenomenon, the proposed robotic orthosis presents portability, lightness and noiseless performance, in comparison to similar products. The main role of these instruments is to conduct medical rehabilitation therapy for those patients who have suffered from neurological diseases, musculoskeletal lesions or spinal cord injuries. Consequently, the wearer might recover -partially or fully- the movement on the joint. The results from several trials were obtained after mimicking real rehabilitation positions -like sitting, standing or lying down- and are analyzed thoroughly in this thesis. All in all, this prototype proves how the SMA actuators are a viable alternative to create lower extremity robotic devices for rehabilitation.Ingeniería Biomédic