Instantaneous Reactive Power Theory in the Geometric Algebra Framework

In this paper, a new approach for instantaneous reactive power analysis in the geometric algebra (GA) environment is presented. The different formulations of the instantaneous reactive power theory (IRPT) proposed, to date, have been developed in three-phase systems. There, an instantaneous power variable, and two/three reactive power variables, all handled independently, were introduced. Thanks to GA, it is possible to carry out a global treatment where an instantaneous power multivector is defined. Thus, in the same multidimensional entity all the power variables are included. From the instantaneous power multivector, the instantaneous power current and the instantaneous reactive current are determined. It should be noted that in this mathematical framework there is no limitation on the number of phases, and the extension of the IRPT to the analysis of multi-phase systems appears in a natural manner. In this study, a systematic approach with the most relevant definitions and theorems corresponding to the proposed methodology has been established. Two practical cases of five-phase and three-phase systems have been included to apply the new established formulation

The Importance of Measuring Local Governments’ Information Disclosure: Comparing Transparency Indices in Spain

Transparency is considered a key element for developing a reliable government; it is the ability that all public entities have to provide access to all their information. The main objective of this work is to test the differences in the transparency of municipalities between the main indices and a new index made following the regulatory advances in this area at the national level. Called BTI, this new index aims to measure in the best possible way the degree of compliance of Spanish municipalities, through two dimensions (depth and breadth), which measure the quality and the quantity of the information. This work makes a comparison of the BTI with three of the main existing transparency indexes in Spain, to a sample of Spanish provincial capitals. The results obtained reveal clear differences between the indices, where three of the four indices analyzed show that most municipalities only fulfil the Transparency Act at the minimum level, with only a few municipalities reaching the maximum rating range. This work concludes that the BTI index is more demanding than the rest of the indexes. However, ITA stands out with a higher average score than the rest, which indicates that transparency portals are designed to obtain a good score in this index, being less objective. Finally, this paper remembers the importance of having an objective tool to measure transparency, as it can show notable differences with respect to reality.Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning, Republic of Korea PID2021-128713OB-I00 P20_0060

Foundations for the Design of a Creative System Based on the Analysis of the Main Techniques that Stimulate Human Creativity

This work presents the design of a computational system with creative capacity, based on the synthesis of the main methods that stimulate human creativity. When analyzing each method, a set of characteristics that the computer system must have in order to emulate a creative capacity has been suggested. In this way, by integrating all the suggestions in a structured way, it is possible to design the general architecture and functioning strategy of a computer system that has the incremental creative capacity of well-known creative methods. This computational system is designed as a multi-agent system, made up of two groups of agents, the problem solving group and the creative group, the first one exploring and evaluating paths for suitable solutions, the second implementing creative methods to generate new paths that are provided to the first group

Foreigners in Almeria: Target Language and Written Code

En España existe una realidad multilingüe que se ha visto multiplicada con la llegada de extranjeros. Con este trabajo pretendemos realizar un análisis de dicha realidad, tras la construcción del Índice de Competencias Lingüísticas en Español (ICLE) a partir de las distintas destrezas de producción y comprensión, haciendo un especial hincapié en el plano de la escritura, dada su relevancia en el contexto educativo. Los datos se obtienen a partir de la administración de una encuesta a la población extranjera asentada en la provincia de Almería de entre 14 y 18 años. Los resultados muestran que el nivel adquirido por éstos es inferior al obtenido por el alumnado autóctono.Además, entre los propios extranjeros existen diferencias importantes atendiendo al origen y la generación

AMPK Phosphorylation Modulates Pain by Activation of NLRP3 Inflammasome

Impairment in adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation are associated with several metabolic and inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the role of AMPK/NLRP3 inflammasome axis in the molecular mechanism underlying pain perception. Results: Impairment in AMPK activation induced by compound C or sunitinib, two AMPK inhibitors, provoked hyperalgesia in mice ( p < 0.001) associated with marked NLRP3 inflammasome protein activation and increased serum levels of interleukin-1b (IL-1b) (24.56 – 0.82 pg/ml) and IL-18 (23.83 – 1.882 pg/ml) compared with vehicle groups (IL-1b: 8.15 – 0.44; IL-18:4.92 – 0.4). This effect was rescued by increasing AMPK phosphorylation via metformin treatment ( p < 0.001), caloric restriction diet ( p < 0.001), or NLRP3 inflammasome genetic inactivation using NLRP3 knockout (nlrp3-/ - ) mice ( p < 0.001). Deficient AMPK activation and overactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome axis were also observed in blood cells from patients with fibromyalgia (FM), a prevalent human chronic pain disease. In addition, metformin treatment (200 mg/daily), which increased AMPK activation, restored all biochemical alterations examined by us in blood cells and significantly improved clinical symptoms, such as, pain, fatigue, depression, disturbed sleep, and tender points, in patients with FM. Innovation and Conclusions: These data suggest that AMPK/NLRP3 inflammasome axis participates in chronic pain and that NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition by AMPK modulation may be a novel therapeutic target to fight against chronic pain and inflammatory diseases as FM. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 24, 157–170.Junta de Andalucía CTS11

Rapid thermal annealing behavior of amorphous SiC layers deposited by electron cyclotron resonance plasma

The archival version of this work was published in Journal of the electrochemical society 143.1 (1996): 271-277Hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide, a‐SiC:H, has been deposited by electron cyclotron resonance plasmas. Operating in methane excess (Formula flow ratios between 2 and 4) and at high enough microwave powers, the deposited SiC films are close to stoichiometric. In these SiC layers, only small traces of the Formula and Formula stretching bands can be detected. Rapid thermal annealing leads to nearly complete dehydrogenation of the SiC layers deposited under these conditions as deduced from ellipsometric and infrared spectroscopy

Designing a Technological Pathway to Empower Vocational Education and Training in the Circular Wood and Furniture Sector through Extended Reality

Extended Reality (XR) is a term that refers to virtual, augmented, and, more recently, mixed reality (VR/AR//MR), which are key enabling technologies of the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and the simulated digital environment of the metaverse. XR enables the simulation of workplace scenarios, providing workers with training in a risk-free environment, resulting in cost savings, improved occupational risk prevention, and enhanced decision-making processes. XR is ideal for supporting digital transformation for organisations in fields such as production, occupational risk prevention, maintenance, and marketing. XR is also a key driver for training initiatives aimed at promoting good practices in the circular economy in specific sectors such as woodworking and furniture (W&F). The European Commission has recognised the potential of XR for the W&F sector, funding initiatives such as the European project, Allview, which seeks to identify the most appropriate and beneficial technologies of I4.0 with a green and digital transition focus from the perspective of vocational education and training (VET). This paper presents the work carried out within the framework of Allview, including the research and comparison of current software and hardware of XR tools suitable for VET in the W&F field, a review of successful examples of XR applied to W&F training actions, and an analysis of the opinions gathered from European students, teachers, and training organisations regarding the use of XR in education. As a result, the authors present a training pathway aimed at the development and implementation of a XR training scenario/lab/environment focused on VR, 360° videos, and MR, as a guideline for developing immersive XR training contents, contributing to the digital and green transformation of VET in the W&F sector

Assessing the Effects of User Accountability in Contracting Out

How does contracting out affect service performance? Evidence to date is mixed. We argue that this is partially due to prior studies focusing often on whether – not how – services are contracted. Yet, how services are contracted matters. In particular, we argue that whether users pay user fees for services to contractors affects efficiency. Where they do, contractor revenue depends on user satisfaction and contractors face incentives to provide quality services to users to retain revenue. Where, by contrast, governments fund services, information asymmetry about the quality of services users receive allows contractors to shirk quality. The assertion is substantiated by empirical evidence derived from a comprehensive analysis of conditional efficiency within the water supply services across 2,111 municipalities in Spain, employing a two-stage Conditional Order-M Data Panel estimation. Our results show that contracting out where users pay service fees and thus have incentives to hold contractors accountable outperforms contracting out without user fees in quality-adjusted service provision

Research and promotion of prehistoric heritage in Cordoba as tourist attraction and their role in the economic local development

Por lo general, siempre tendemos a valorar una atracción turística por el número de visitantes que recibe y la riqueza que genera alrededor, pero pocas veces se habla de todo el camino que hay que recorrer para conseguirlo. La ciudad de Córdoba es un claro ejemplo de salvaguarda y rentabilización del patrimonio cultural, y, prueba de ello son las inclusiones en el listado de Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la Mezquita-Catedral (ampliado posteriormente al centro histórico), la fiesta de los patios y la ciudad califal de Medina Azahara, siendo la ciudad con más reconocimientos de España. Es evidente que no todos los monumentos, tradiciones, obras de arte, etc., tienen esa excepcionalidad, pero existen muchos recursos patrimoniales interesantes que bien gestionados pueden adquirir un rol fundamental en el desarrollo económico local. El presente estudio trata de dar visibilidad al recorrido de cinco yacimientos prehistóricos de Córdoba desde su descubrimiento, investigación, puesta en valor e incorporación a la oferta turística. Para lograr este objetivo, hemos pedido colaboración a las instituciones pertinentes, facilitándonos los datos del recuento de personas que han visitado dichos yacimientos durante los últimos años. Esta aproximación nos ha permitido comprender en qué fase se encuentran, valorar si los yacimientos están agotados o no, promover la investigación continua como forma para potenciar nuestro patrimonio prehistórico y hacer propuestas constructivas al respecto.Touristic attractions tend to be valued according to the number and visitors they receive and the economic profit they generate to the area in which they are located. Nonetheless, they difficulties involved in making the attraction appealing and profitable are not reflected about so often. The city of Córdoba is a clear example of protection and promotion of the cultural heritage, as it becomes clear by the monuments included on the World Heritage List, such as the Mosque-Cathedral (later extended to the historic center of the town), the Fiesta of the patios and The Caliphate city of Medina Azahara. As matter of fact, Córdoba is the Spanish city with more monuments awarded recognition by the UNESCO World Heritage List. It goes without saying that not all the monuments, traditions, pieces of art, etc from the city of Cordoba exhibit this exceptionality. Nonetheless, there are still many interesting heritage resources that, well managed, can acquire a fundamental role in the local economic development. The goal of the present paper is to grant visibility to the route of five prehistoric sites in Córdoba, since their discovery, research, promotion and incorporation into the touristic offer. In order to achieve this goal, several different local institutions have collaborated, by providing us with insightful information regarding the number of tourists who have visited the studied sites during recent years. The results of this study are several, since this approach has allowed us to understand their progress, to assess whether the sites are depleted or not, to promote continuous research as a way to enhance our prehistoric heritage and, finally, to make constructive proposals about it

Contaminantes emergentes: determinación de fármacos antihipertensivos en aguas superficiales

Estudios recientes han mostrado la presencia de un amplio grupo de principios activos farmacológicos en el medioambiente procedentes principalmente de la descarga de estaciones depuradoras de aguas residuales. Entre ellos, son de especial interés aquellos empleados en el tratamiento de enfermedades crónicas, como los fármacos antihipertensivos, no sólo debido a su consumo continuado, sino además a su potente mecanismo de acción, lo que los hace especialmente peligrosos para el medioambiente. En este trabajo se ha optimizado y validado una metodología analítica, basada en la extracción en fase sólida y determinación mediante cromatografía líquida con detector de espectrometría de masas de triple cuadrupolo, para la determinación de los tres fármacos antihipertensivos más consumidos (irbesartán, telmisartán y valsartán) en aguas superficiales. Las recuperaciones obtenidas se situaron entre el 84 y el 101 %. La precisión, medida en unidades de desviación estándar relativa, fue inferior al 10 % y los límites de detección se situaron entre 0.24 y 2.01 ng/L.Recent studies have reported the presence of a broad spectrum of pharmaceutical compounds in several environmental compartments, where they mainly end up due to discharges of effluent wastewater. Among them, pharmaceuticals designed to treat chronic diseases, including hypertensive pharmaceuticals, are of special interest, not only due to its continued consumption, but also for their potent mechanism of action, which makes them especially dangerous for the environment. In this work, an analytical method, based on solid phase extraction and determination by liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry detector, has been optimized and validated for the determination of three of the most consumed antihypertensive pharmaceuticals (irbesartan, telmisartan and valsartan) on surface water samples. The recoveries obtained were between 84 and 101%. Precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was < 10%, and limits of detection were between 0.24 and 2.01 ng/L.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Proyecto CGL2013-44402-