A 64-channel inductively-powered neural recording sensor array

This paper reports a 64-channel inductively powered neural recording sensor array. Neural signals are acquired, filtered, digitized and compressed in the channels. Additionally, each channel implements a local auto-calibration mechanism which configures the transfer characteristics of the recording site. The system has two operation modes; in one case the information captured by the channels is sent as uncompressed raw data; in the other, feature vectors extracted from the detected neural spikes are transmitted. Data streams coming from the channels are serialized by an embedded digital processor and transferred to the outside by means of the same inductive link used for powering the system. Simulation results show that the power consumption of the complete system is 377μW.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2009-0844

A power efficient neural spike recording channel with data bandwidth reduction

This paper presents a mixed-signal neural spike recording channel which features, as an added value, a simple and low-power data compression mechanism. The channel uses a band-limited differential low noise amplifier and a binary search data converter, together with other digital and analog blocks for control, programming and spike characterization. The channel offers a self-calibration operation mode and it can be configured both for signal tracking (to raw digitize the acquired neural waveform) and feature extraction (to build a first-order PWL approximation of the spikes). The prototype has been fabricated in a standard CMOS 0.13μm and occupies 400μm×400μm. The overall power consumption of the channel during signal tracking is 2.8μW and increases to 3.0μW average when the feature extraction operation mode is programmed.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2009-08447Junta de Andalucía TIC-0281

Nuevas aportaciones epigráficas sobre el tramo "Augustobriga - Numantia" de la vía XXVII del itinerario de Antonino

Con este trabajo se completa una investigación emprendida a mitad de los años '90. Publicamos el estudio de un miliario perteneciente al emperador Augusto hallado en Arancón (Soria), un documento de gran interés y singular por las particularidades epigráficas que presenta, sobre todo por lo que concierne a la cronología y a la información viaria. Al mismo tiempo damos a conocer otro miliario inédito pero anepígrafe y se hace una valoración sobre la situación de los miliarios de Aldealpozo (Soria).We fulfill, with this work, a research begun in the middle of the 90's. We publish the study of a milestone found in Arancón (Soria), which dates from Emperor August. This is a very interesting and outstanding document because of the characteristics of its epigraph, above all those concerning the chronology and the road information. At the sametime, we introduce another unpublished milestone and ponder the situation of the milestones of Aldealpozo (Soria)

Article Mindfulness Abilities Are Associated with Anxiety Levels, Emotional Intelligence, and Perceived Self-Efficacy

This study examined the relationship between anxiety, emotional intelligence, perceived self-efficacy, and mindfulness abilities. A total of 205 Spanish university students were assessed for mindfulness (Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory-14), state-trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), emotional intelligence (Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24), and general perceived self-efficacy (General Self- Efficacy Scale). The Student’s t-test was used to evaluate the possible differences between sexes for the study variables. Multiple regression analyses were conducted for each sex independently to evaluate the relationship between mindfulness and the other psychological variables, using mindfulness dimensions as a dependent variable. The results showed significant differences between females and males in mindfulness dimensions of self-control (p < 0.001) and acceptance (p = 0.012), and state (p = 0.005) and trait anxiety (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the models for the relationship between mindfulness dimensions (attention, self-control, acceptance, and self-perception) and the other variables differed between females and males. Our results suggest that anxiety, emotional intelligence, and general perceived self-efficacy may be related to mindfulness abilities among a sample of Spanish university students. These findings could inform the development of targeted intervention programs to improve these psycho-emotional abilities

Labor demand and information technologies: evidence for Spain, 1980-2005

Utilizando la base de datos EU KLEMS, se contrasta la hipótesis de complementariedad entre habilidad y capital en los distintos sectores productivos en España en el periodo 1980-2005. Se analizan tres tipos de trabajadores clasificados según su nivel de habilidad sea alto, medio o bajo. Los activos de capital se van a clasificar entre activos TIC (tecnologías de la información y la comunicación) y activos no-TIC. La adquisición y el uso de activos TIC son costosos pero ha ido disminuyendo en el periodo en consideración en términos relativos a otros activos y al factor trabajo. El principal resultado que se obtiene es que existe un grado de sustituibilidad entre los trabajadores y los activos TIC a medida que la habilidad del trabajador va aumentando. De hecho, los activos TIC son muy complementarios con los trabajadores de alta habilidad. A lo largo del periodo analizado, la fracción de trabajadores con habilidad media y alta ha crecido un 21% y un 12%, respectivamente, en detrimento de los trabajadores de baja habilidad. Después de descomponer estos cambios, se descubre que existe un ajuste dentro de los sectores más que un ajuste del trabajo entre sectores.capital-skill complementarity, ICT, translog cost function, elasticity of substitution.

A note on isoperimetric inequalities of Gromov hyperbolic manifolds and graphs

We study in this paper the relationship of isoperimetric inequality and hyperbolicity for graphs and Riemannian manifolds. We obtain a characterization of graphs and Riemannian manifolds (with bounded local geometry) satisfying the (Cheeger) isoperimetric inequality, in terms of their Gromov boundary, improving similar results from a previous work. In particular, we prove that having a pole is a necessary condition to have isoperimetric inequality and, therefore, it can be removed as hypothesis.First author supported in part by a Grant from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (PGC2018-098321-B-I00), Spain. Second author supported in part by two Grants from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (MTM2016-78227-C2-1-P and MTM2017-90584-REDT), Spain. Also, the research of the second author was supported by the Madrid Government (Comunidad de Madrid-Spain) under the Multiannual Agreement with UC3M in the line of Excellence of University Professors (EPUC3M23), and in the context of the V PRICIT (Regional Programme of Research and Technological Innovation)

Cheeger isoperimetric constant of Gromov hyperbolic manifolds and graphs

In this paper, we study the relationship of hyperbolicity and (Cheeger) isoperimetric inequality in the context of Riemannian manifolds and graphs. We characterize the hyperbolic manifolds and graphs (with bounded local geometry) verifying this isoperimetric inequality, in terms of their Gromov boundary. Furthermore, we characterize the trees with isoperimetric inequality (without any hypothesis). As an application of our results, we obtain the solvability of the Dirichlet problem at infinity for these Riemannian manifolds and graphs, and that the Martin boundary is homeomorphic to the Gromov boundary.Supported in part by a grant from Ministerio de Economíıa y Competitividad (MTM 2012-30719), Spain. Supported in part by two grants from Ministerio de Economíıa y Competitividad (MTM 2013-46374-P and MTM 2015- 69323-REDT), Spain, and a grant from CONACYT (FOMIX-CONACyT-UAGro 249818), México

A Sub-μVRms Chopper Front-End for ECoG Recording

This paper presents a low-noise, low-power fully differential chopper-modulated front-end circuit intended for ECoG signal recording. Among other features, it uses a subthreshold source-follower biquad in the forward path to reduce noise and avoid the implementation of a ripple rejection loop. The prototype was designed in 0.18μm CMOS technology with a 1V supply. Post-layout simulations were carried out showing a power consumption below 2μW and an integrated input-referred noise of 0.75μV rms , with a noise floor below 50 nV√Hz, over a bandwidth from 1 to 200Hz, for a noise efficiency factor of 2.7.Ministerio de Economía y Empresa TEC2016-80923-

Extraction of ferulic acid from agro-industrial wastes and evaluation of bioconversion of ferulic acid to vanillin by Streptomyces setonii

Several agro-industrial wastes (as chestnut and pistachio shells, grass, leaf fruit, vine leaf,and, red and white grape stems) were evaluated to ferulic acid extraction. The chemical analysis of these raw materials shows a high content of xylan in pistachio shells (33%), following the biorefinery concept, this fraction can be used in xylitol manufacture. The lignocellulosic materials were submitted to an alkaline extraction to obtain phenolic compounds, reaching a concentration of 312 mg ferulic acid/L in grass wastes. Other phenolic compounds were also extracted (gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, syringic acid etc.) depending of used raw material. Besides, the ferulic fermentation into vanillin was assayed. The higher concentration of vainillin (2692 mg/L) was achieved at 27 h (QP = 99.704 mg/L·h and YP/S = 0.50 mg/mg) using Streptomyces setonii

Education Burnout and Engagement in Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Students and Its Associated Factors

Burnout syndrome has been characterized as a process of chronic responses to occupational stress in certain employee groups. However, this phenomenon has also been reported in other participant groups including university students. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS), composed of the Exhaustion, Cynicism and Efficacy subscales, was used to evaluate burnout in this sample group while the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) was used to gather data related to engagement, a positive psychology construct composed of the three factors, namely vigor, dedication, and absorption. To date, no studies considered these factors in relation to occupational therapy students. This begs the question, is there a relationship between occupational therapy students’ self-reported levels of burnout and engagement? The study objectives are to (1) ascertain the self-reported levels of burnout and engagement in a sample of Australian Occupational undergraduate therapy students, and (2) analyze the sociodemographic, occupational and academic characteristic associated with these levels. The results indicate that a number of demographic and academic study variables are significantly associated with burnout syndrome and education engagement reported by undergraduate occupational therapy students