Some Theoretical Results on the Progeny of a Bisexual Galton-Watson Branching Process

A Superadditive Bisexual Galton-Watson Branching Process is considered and the total number of mating units, females and males, until the n-th generation, are studied. In particular some results about the stochastic monotony, probability generating functions and moments are obtained. Finally, the limit behaviour of those variables suitably normed is investigated

Rapid Prototyping for Evaluating Vehicular Communications

[Abstract] This Thesis details the different elements of a rapid prototyping system able to implement and evaluate vehicular communications fast, according to the continuously evolving requirements of the industry. The system is basically composed of a testbed and a channel emulator, which allow evaluating communication transceivers in realistic vehicular scenarios. Two different testbeds are introduced: a generic 2x2 system and a vehicular platform. The former is used to compare and study space-time block coding (STBC) transmissions at 2.4 GHz over different indoor channels. The latter makes use of software transceivers whose performance is evaluated when they work under artificial high-speed Rayleigh-fading scenarios. To show the capabilities of both platforms, three software transceivers have been developed following the specifications for the physical layers of the standards IEEE 802.11p, IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.16e (Mobile WiMAX). The present work details the different elements that make up each transceiver and indicates how to connect them to the rest of the system to perform evaluation measurements. Finally, single-antenna and multi-antenna performances are measured thanks to the design and implementation of three FPGA-based channel emulators that are able to recreate up to seven different vehicular scenarios that include urban canyons, suburban areas and highways[Resumo] A presente Tese detalla os elementos necesarios para constituir un sistema basado en prototipado rápido capaz de levar a cabo e avaliar comunicacións vehiculares. O hardware do sistema está composto básicamente por unha plataforma de probas (testbed) e un emulador de canal, os cales permiten avaliar o rendemento de transceptores inartiamicos recreando diferentes escenarios vehiculares. Inicialmente, este traballo céntrase na descripción do hardware do sistema, detallando a construcción e proba dunha plataforma multi-antena e un testebed vehicular. Estos sistemas permitiron, respectivamente, estudar o comportamento de códigos STBC (space-time block codes) en interiores e medir o rendemento de tranceptores software ao traballar a distintas velocidades vehiculares en canais con desvaecemento Rayleigh. Tres transceptores software foron creados seguindo as especificacións das capas físicas dos estándares IEEE 802.11p, IEEE 802.11a e IEEE 802.16e (Mobile WiMAX). Este traballo detalla os diferentes componentes de cada transceptor, indicando cómo conectalos ao resto do sistema para realizar a avaliacition do seu rendemento. Dita avaliación realizouse coa axuda de tres emuladores de canal basados en tecnoloxía FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), os cales son capaces de recrear ata sete escenarios vehiculares distintos, incluindo cañóns urbanos, zonas suburbanas e autopistas.[Resumen] La presente Tesis detalla los elementos necesarios para constituir un sistema basado en prototipado rtiapido capaz de llevar a cabo y evaluar comunicaciones vehiculares. El hardware del sistema está compuesto por una plataforma de pruebas (testbed) y un emulador de canal, los cuales permiten evaluar el rendimiento de transceptores inaltiambricos recreando diferentes escenarios vehiculares. Inicialmente, este trabajo se centra en la descripcition del hardware del sistema, detallando la construccition y prueba de una plataforma multi-antena y un testebed vehicular. Estos sistemas han permitido, respectivamente, estudiar el comportamiento de ctiodigos STBC (space-time block codes) en interiores y medir el rendimiento en canal con desvanecimiento Rayleigh de tranceptores software a distintas velocidades vehiculares. Tres transceptores software han sido creados siguiendo las especificaciones de las capas físicas de los estandares IEEE 802.11p, IEEE 802.11a e IEEE 802.16e (Mobile WiMAX). Este trabajo detalla los diferentes componentes de cada transceptor, indicando ctiomo conectarlos al resto del sistema para realizar la evaluacition de su rendimiento. Dicha evaluacition se realiztio con la ayuda de tres emuladores de canal basados en FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array), los cuales son capaces de recrear comunicaciones multi-antena en hasta siete escenarios vehiculares distintos, incluyendo cañones urbanos, zonas suburbanas y autopistas

Myositis and Cancer

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), classically dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), and inclusion body myositis (IBM), are acquired systemic autoimmune disorders defined by chronic muscle weakness and inflammation of unknown aetiology. The combination of clinical, laboratory, electromyographic, and histological features is the basis of diagnosis, as well as exclusion of several mimicking conditions (Bohan & Peter, 1975; Dalakas & Hohlfeld, 2003; Mann et al, 2010; Mastaglia & Phillips, 2002). IIM are the most common causes of acquired muscle disease in adults, but are still rare conditions with an estimated overall prevalence of 50 to 100 cases per million (Oddis et al., 1990; Prieto & Grau 2010; Wilson et al., 2008). In recent years, taking into account additional clinical, immunological and histological features, new phenotypes among IIM, such as antisynthetase syndrome, autoimmune necrotizing myopathy, connective tissue disorder-associated myositis, or cancer-associated myositis (CAM), have been described (Cox et al., 2010; Dalakas, 2010; Dimachkie, 2011; Rider & Miller, 2011; Targoff, 2008). The association between cancer and IIM has been widely reported in the medical literature, particularly in DM patients (Buchbinder et al., 2001; Sigurgeirsson et al., 1992). Cancer screening is a common practice in patients recently diagnosed with IIM, but there is not consensus about how, and how often screening should be performed. The aim of this chapter is to describe the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and histological reported features about CAM, to analyze the current potentially approach to preclude malignancy in IIM, and to provide an advisable algorithm in the diagnosis of occult cancer in myositis

On the use of microwaves during combustion/calcination of N-doped TiO2 precursor: An EMW absorption study combined with TGA-DSC-FTIR results

For the first time, dielectric properties and electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing performance of a precursor for N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles undergoing combustion synthesis are reported. The precursor contains titania, NH4Cl as source of N atoms for TiO2 nanoparticles doping, and organics. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) reveals that the 180-450 degrees C temperature range accounts for the overall weight loss of the process. High -temperature gas evolution analysis confirms combustion of the organic component. Aiming to optimize output power and time schedule of the material's microwave (MW) calcination, in situ high temperature dielectric properties measurements were recorded during MW irradiation in a dedicated cavity. Results revealed that after a first stage of non-combustive decomposition, in a second stage the EMW absorption decreases, so MW power is no longer necessary and hybrid heating is suggested to reach the desired calcination temperature (375-400 degrees C)

β-N-acetylglucosaminidase grafted on mesoporous silica nanoparticles. A bionanoantibiotic system against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria

A bionanoantibiotic system based on beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (Ami) and Lysozyme (Lyz) enzymes grafted on the external surface of amino functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles, having a radial arrangement of pores (MSNr-NH2), was prepared and fully characterized. Before the enzyme grafting the nanoparticles were also loaded with the antibiotic drug levofloxacin (Levo) to explore the possible synergic effect with the enzymes. MSNr-NH2-Lyz-Levo and MSNr-NH2-Ami-Levo did not show any activity against S. aureus. On the contrary, in the absence of the antibiotic, both Lyz and Ami immobilized on MSNr were able to destroy S. aureus cells, suggesting an inhibiting action of the antibiotic on the enzymes. Although the loading of immobilized Lyz was higher than that of Ami (76 vs. 20 mg/g, respectively), the highest antibacterial efficacy was found for MSNr-NH2-Ami nanoantibiotic. Moreover, MSNr-NH2-Ami was active against S. aureus even at very low concentration (12.5 mu g/ mL) with a bactericidal activity (79%), higher than that determined for MSNr-NH2 loaded with levofloxacin (54%). These results suggest the possibility of using enzyme grafted MSNr as a bionanoantibiotic drug with high efficiency even at low nanoparticles concentration

Interferometric inverse synthetic aperture radar experiment using an interferometric linear frequency modulated continuous wave millimetre-wave radar

D. Felguera-Martín,1 J.-T. González-Partida,1 P. Almorox-González,1 M. Burgos-García,1 and B.-P. Dorta-Naranjo2 1Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Grupo de Microondas y Radar. Departamento de Señales, Sistemas y Radiocomunicaciones, Madrid, Spain 2Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Departamento de Señales y Comunicaciones, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain An interferometric linear frequency modulated continuous wave (LFMCW) millimetre-wave radar is presented, along with the results of an experiment conducted to study the feasibility of using it in a future millimetre-wave interferometric inverse synthetic aperture radar (InISAR) system. First, a description of the radar is given. Then, the signal processing chain is described, with special attention to the phase unwrapping technique. The interferometric phase is obtained by unwrapping the prominent target's phase in each antenna using a sliding frame processing technique. Cell migration issues in this method are also addressed. Simulations were carried out to illustrate and assess the processing chain and to show the effects of multipath echoes on the height measurement. In the real experiment, the range, speed and height of a moving target were tracked over consecutive inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) image frames, verifying the performance of the whole system

Intraspecific trait variation, growth, and altered soil conditions at tree species distribution limits: From the alpine treeline to the rear edge

Alpine treelines are expected to shift upward due to climate warming, whereas warmer conditions can have negative impacts on forests located near the xeric, equatorward limit of the distribution of tree species (rear edge). We compare tree populations forming the distribution limits of mountain pine (Pinus uncinata) in north-eastern Spain: two cold-limited alpine treeline populations, and a rear-edge drought-prone stand. In the treelines, trees were sampled in three altitudinal belts to evaluate within-site variations considering the forest, the transitional ecotone and the treeline. Tree growth was markedly higher in one of the treeline sites (Tesso), particularly in the forest belt, as compared to the other treeline (Las Cutas), and to the warmest rear-edge stand. Tree growth in the rear-edge population depended on June precipitation. Trees presented also comparatively smaller leaves with higher Specific Leaf Area (SLA) there than in the two treelines. Regarding the differences between altitudinal belts within the treelines, treeline soils showed lower N concentrations and a lower content of sand than in forests. Soil microbiota was dominated by bacteria in the treeline and by fungi in the forest, although with differences between sites. Soil characteristics and microbial composition were strongly related, whereas its relationship with tree growth and functional traits was less clear. The marked differences in leaf traits and growth response to climate found when comparing treeline and rear-edge sites highlights the biogeographical uniqueness of sites forming the equatorward distribution limit. The greater tree growth in the Tesso treeline as compared to Las Cutas indicate that interactions between climate and physical and chemical properties of the soil influence tree growth and its interactions with soil microbial communities in the treeline. A better understanding of plant-soil feedbacks may help to understand the future dynamics of tree populations forming the species’ climatic and geographic limits of distribution