Sistema de análisis de movimiento tridimensional basado en vídeo: aplicación a la evaluación de movilidad en enfermedades reumatológicas crónicas

La presente Tesis Doctoral describe el diseño y validación de un sistema de captura de movimiento basado en vídeo. Se ha descrito su esquema de funcionamiento y algoritmos principales así como una serie de ensayos para evaluar la precisión y fiabilidad del mismo. Por otro lado se ha demostrado la aplicabilidad de este sistema sobre una patología reumática que produce una reducción de la movilidad: la espondilitis anquilosante. Esta reducción es habitualmente registrada utilizando una serie de procedimientos e instrumentación validados. Se ha aplicado el sistema de captura de movimiento descrito en la evaluación de la movilidad sobre esta patología Con el sistema desarrollado se ha establecido un protocolo de medida, en base a la construcción de un laboratorio de movimiento, que permite obtener informes de movilidad sobre el sujeto a analizar. Los resultados de fiabilidad y precisión se han llevado a cabo en diferentes fases y con diferentes muestras con ensayos en más de 80 pacientes. Todas las medidas correlacionaron bien con las medidas utilizadas tradicionalmente en la consulta reumatológica y con otros parámetros como índices de afectación radiológica, índices de nivel de función física y de calidad de vida. Las medidas obtenidas, basadas en nuestro sistema de captura de movimiento, permiten obtener el nivel de afectación del paciente con un grado de objetividad, precisión y fiabilidad mayor que las herramientas hasta ahora existentes

Surface Electromyography of the Longissimus and Gluteus Medius Muscles in Greyhounds Walking and Trotting on Ground Flat, Up, and Downhill

In the field of canine rehabilitation, knowledge of muscle function in the therapeutic exercises prescribed is needed by physical therapists and veterinary surgeons. To gain insight into the function of longissimus dorsi (LD) and gluteus medius (GM) muscles in dogs, five Greyhounds performing leash walking and trotting on the ground flat, up (+7%), and downhill (−7%) were studied by surface electromyography, and the mean and maximum activity was compared. For the same incline, the surface electromyography (sEMG) of LD was higher (p < 0.05) at the trot than at the walk. In LD muscle, trotting uphill showed significantly higher maximum activity than any other exercise. A change of +7% incline or −7% decline affected (increased or decreased, respectively) the mean sEMG of the LD and GM muscles of dogs walking or trotting on the ground. When combined, the influence of gait and incline on electromyographic activity was analyzed, and walking at certain inclines showed no difference with trotting at certain inclines. Walking and trotting up and downhill added separate therapeutic value to flat motion. The results of the present study might contribute to a better understanding of the function of LD and GM muscles in dogs, this being especially useful for the field of canine rehabilitation

CMOS Architectures and circuits for high-speed decision-making from image flows

We present architectures, CMOS circuits and CMOS chips to process image flows at very high speed. This is achieved by exploiting bio-inspiration and performing processing tasks in parallel manner and concurrently with image acquisition. A vision system is presented which makes decisions within sub-msec range. This is very well suited for defense and security applications requiring segmentation and tracking of rapidly moving objects

Light-activated electroforming in ITO/ZnO/p-Si resistive switching devices

We report on light-activated electroforming of ZnO/p-Si heterojunction memristors with transparent indium tin oxide as the top electrode. Light-generated electron-hole pairs in the p-type substrate are separated by the external electric field and electrons are injected into the active ZnO layer. The additional application of voltage pulses allows achieving different resistance states that end up in the realization of the low resistance state (LRS). This process requires much less voltage compared to dark conditions, thus avoiding undesired current overshoots and achieving a self-compliant device. The transport mechanisms governing each resistance state are studied and discussed. An evolution from an electrode-limited to a space charge-limited transport is observed along the electroforming process before reaching the LRS, which is ascribed to the progressive formation of conductive paths that consequently induce the growth of conductive nanofilaments through the ZnO layer. This work was financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project Nos. TEC2012-38540-C02-01 and TEC2016-76849-C2-1-R). O.B. also acknowledges the subprogram "Ayudas para Contratos Predoctorales para la Formación de-Doctores" from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for economical support. J.L.F. acknowledges the subprogram "Ayudas para la Formación de Profesorado Universitario" (No. FPU16/06257) from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports for economical support. X.P., C.L., and C.G. are grateful to C. Frilay for his expertise in the maintenance of the sputtering setup used for the growth of the ZnO films

High Quality Inkjet Printed‐Emissive Nanocrystalline Perovskite CsPbBr3 Layers for Color Conversion Layer and LEDs Applications

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have shown outstanding optical emissive properties and can be employed in several optoelectronics devices. In contrast with materials of well-established technologies, which are prone to degradation or require expensive processes, MHPs can be obtained by solution processing methods and increase stability. Inkjet printing is proposed as an industrial friendly technique to deposit MHPs. The inks have been developed from colloidal CsPbBr3 nanocrystals and printing procedures that allow the deposition of thin layers with intense green emission. High emissive printed layers are assured by carrying out thermal annealing in vacuum oven, which is demonstrated to promote compact layers with low roughness, corroborated by SEM and AFM. XRD measurements show CsPbBr3 crystalline layers with cubic symmetry and XPS provides insight into the stoichiometric composition and local bonding. Optical properties of inkjet-printed CsPbBr3 films have been analyzed by UV-vis absorbance and photoluminescence (PL), to extract the bandgap energy and photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). CsPbBr3 printed layers emit at 524 nm with a narrow emission (FWHM ≈ 15 nm), exhibiting a PLQY up to 20%. These results enabled the large-scale fabrication by inkjet printing of CsPbBr3 color conversion layers (CCLs) and pave the way for flexible LEDs

Perfil empr eendedor dos pequenos empr esários agropecuários de Valle de Puebla, México

The purpose of this research work is to provide a description of the entrepreneurial profile of small business owners in the livestock and farming industry at the Valle of Puebla in Mexico. The information used was obtained from well-structured surveys administered to a random sample of business owners in the livestock and farming industry. To assess the relationship between entrepreneurs and the determining factors of entrepreneurship, an entrepreneurship index was created based on the variables of "innovation" and "willingness to take risks". It was then correlated with possible explanatory variables using contingency tables and a difference of means test. The percentage of business owners who possess an entrepreneurial spirit is 32%. The difference of means (t-statistic) for entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs is significant for the variables number of years of education and number of years of experience in the major business activity. Meanwhile, the categories that exhibit significant differences (statistical Chi square) between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs are attendance at training sessions on production processes, marketing, use of financing, and use of social networks. This research proposes a general exploratory approach which can be employed in other related studies for identifying the characteristics of rural entrepreneurs and factors associated with entrepreneurship.El propósito de esta investigación es describir el perfil emprendedor de los pequeños empresarios agropecuarios del Valle de Puebla, México. Los datos utilizados se generaron mediante una entrevista estructurada, aplicada a una muestra aleatoria de empresarios agropecuarios. Para valorar la relación entre emprendedor y sus determinantes, se construyó un índice de emprendimiento a partir de las variables “innovación” y “propensión a tomar riesgos”, y se relacionó con posibles variables explicativas usando tablas de contingencia y una prueba de diferencia de medias. La proporción de empresarios con la característica de emprendedor es del 32%. La diferencia de medias (estadístico t) para emprendedores y no emprendedores es significativa para las variables años de escolaridad y años de experiencia en la actividad productiva principal, en tanto que las categorías con diferencias significativas (estadístico Chi2) entre emprendedores y no emprendedores son la asistencia a capacitación en el proceso de producción, en marketing, uso de financiamiento y en uso de redes sociales. Esta investigación propone un método general de tipo exploratorio, que puede utilizarse en otros estudios relacionados, para identificar las características de los emprendedores rurales y los factores relacionados con su emprendedurismoO objetivo dessa pesquisa é descrever o perfil empreendedor dos pequenos empresários agropecuários de Valle de Puebla, México. Os dados usados foram gerados por meio de uma entrevista estruturada, aplicada a uma amostra aleatória de empresários agropecuários. Para avaliar a relação entre o empreendedor e seus determinantes, foi construído um índice de empreendedorismo a partir das variáveis “inovação” e “propensão para assumir riscos”, e foi relacionado com as variáveis explicativas possíveis usando análises cruzadas e um teste de diferença de médias. A proporção de empresários com a característica de empreendedor é de 32%. A diferença de médias (estatística t) entre empreendedores e não empreendedores é significativa para as variáveis de anos de escolaridade e anos de experiência na atividade produtiva principal, na medida em que as categorias com diferenças significativas (estatística Chi2) entre empreendedores e não empreendedores são a assistência à formação no processo de produção, em marketing, no uso de financiamento e no uso das redes sociais. Essa investigação propõe um método geral de tipo exploratório que pode ser usado em outros estudos relacionados para identificar as características dos empreendedores rurais e os fatores relacionados com seu empreendedorismo

Factores que explican la innovación en microempresarios agropecuarios en el estado de Puebla, México

Innovation is a development factor that has been at the center of the discussion in México during the last two decades, as an element that contributes to generate dynamics of entrepreneurialism. This induces to empirically revise models that attempt to describe the dynamics of innovation and their explicative factors. The objective of this research was to analyze the factors that explain the innovative behavior of small agricultural/livestock micro-entrepreneurs in Valle de Puebla, México. The data used were generated through a structured interview applied to a statistical sample. In order to value the relationship between innovative micro-entrepreneurs and their determinants, an innovation index was built from five variables related to innovative behavior, and it was related to possible explicative variables by using a correlation analysis, difference of means tests, and linear regression. It was found that training is an important factor in the development of new products. The factors related to the market are a source of changes and development of new products that drive innovation. In the regression model, the variables schooling, experience, propensity for risk, social relations and wholesale sales were statistically significant.La innovación es un factor de desarrollo que en las últimas dos décadas en México ha estado en el centro de la discusión, como elemento que coadyuva a generar dinámicas de emprendedurismo. Esto induce a revisar empíricamente modelos que intentan describir la dinámica de la innovación y sus factores explicativos. El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar los factores que explican la conducta innovadora de los pequeños microempresarios agropecuarios del Valle de Puebla, México. Los datos utilizados se generaron mediante una entrevista estructurada, aplicada a una muestra estadística. Para valorar la relación entre microempresarios innovadores y sus determinantes, se construyó un índice de innovación a partir de cinco variables relacionadas con la conducta innovadora, y se relacionó con posibles variables explicativas usando análisis de correlación, pruebas de diferencia de medias, y regresión lineal. Se encontró que la capacitación es un factor importante en el desarrollo de nuevos productos. Los factores relacionados con el mercado son una fuente de cambios y desarrollo de productos nuevos que impulsan la innovación. En el modelo de regresión, las variables escolaridad, experiencia, propensión al riesgo, relaciones sociales, y venta al mayoreo fueron estadísticamente significativas

2D PEA2SnI4Inkjet-Printed Halide Perovskite LEDs on Rigid and Flexible Substrates

Lead-free PEA2SnI4-based perovskite LEDs are successfully inkjet-printed on rigid and flexible substrates. Red-emitting devices (λmax = 633 nm) exhibit, under ambient conditions, a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 1% with a related brightness of 30 cd/m2 at 10 mA/cm2

Concurrent Validity and Reliability of an Inertial Measurement Unit for the Assessment of Craniocervical Range of Motion in Subjects with Cerebral Palsy

Objective: This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) for the assessment of craniocervical range of motion (ROM) in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: twenty-three subjects with CP and 23 controls, aged between 4 and 14 years, were evaluated on two occasions, separated by 3 to 5 days. An IMU and a Cervical Range of Motion device (CROM) were used to assess craniocervical ROM in the three spatial planes. Validity was assessed by comparing IMU and CROM data using the Pearson correlation coefficient, the paired t-test and Bland–Altman plots. Intra-day and inter-day relative reliability were determined using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). The Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) and the Minimum Detectable Change at a 90% confidence level (MDC90) were obtained for absolute reliability. Results: High correlations were detected between methods in both groups on the sagittal and frontal planes (r > 0.9), although this was reduced in the case of the transverse plane. Bland–Altman plots indicated bias below 5º, although for the range of cervical rotation in the CP group, this was 8.2º. The distance between the limits of agreement was over 23.5º in both groups, except for the range of flexion-extension in the control group. ICCs were higher than 0.8 for both comparisons and groups, except for inter-day comparisons of rotational range in the CP group. Absolute reliability showed high variability, with most SEM below 8.5º, although with worse inter-day results, mainly in CP subjects, with the MDC90 of rotational range achieving more than 20º. Conclusions: IMU application is highly correlated with CROM for the assessment of craniocervical movement in CP and healthy subjects; however, both methods are not interchangeable. The IMU error of measurement can be considered clinically acceptable; however, caution should be taken when this is used as a reference measure for interventions