Interface electronic system for measuring air acidity with optical sensors

Environmental acidity is a key parameter in Cultural Heritage conservation issues since it has a direct impact on degradation of both exposed and stored materials. Unfortunately, most of the acidity sensors now available are electrodes, which are not able to measure pH in gaseous phases and, therefore, are not suitable for measuring the environmental acidity of the air. This paper describes the development of an interface electronic system designed for the practical application and using of environmental acidity sensors prepared by the Sol–Gel procedure. These chemical sensors were investigated previously. They have optical response: their color changes reversibly depending on the pH of the surrounding environment (air). A simple portable unit with a wireless ZigBee interface has been designed and developed to measure the environmental acidity in museums, showcases, store and exhibition rooms and several Cultural Heritage buildings. Main achievements of the interface electronic system have focused, on the one hand, on conversion of the optical signal of sensors into an electric current and, on the other hand, on the computer interfacing to obtain quantitative data of environmental pH. Quantitative data are obtained through the calibration curve of sensors and the software designed for managing the whole system.The authors acknowledge partial funding of programs: Geomateriales (ref. S-2009/Mat-1629, Regional Government of Madrid), Consolider Ingenio 2010 (ref. TCP CSD2007-00058, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation), and project ref. HAR2012-30769 from the Spanish MINECOPeer reviewe

Oral saliva swab reverse transcription PCR for Covid-19 in the paediatric population

8Pág. Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA)To evaluate the performance of oral saliva swab (OSS) reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) compared with RT-PCR and antigen rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) on nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) for SARS-CoV-2 in children.The study was funded by: Project PI20/00095, from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness) and cofounded by the European Regional Development Fund, by Infanta Sofia University Hospital and Henares University Hospital Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation (FIIB HUIS HHEN), and by SERMAS-Fundación para la Investigación Biomédica del Hospital 12 de Octubre. EC-C is supported by the Spanish Society of Paediatrics (Asociación Española de Pediatría); Grant COVID-19 EPICO-AEP 2020. JMM is funded by SERMAS-Fundación para la Investigación Biomédica del Hospital Infanta Sofía y del Henares and by Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain. MdlS is funded by Grant Cantera de Investigación Santander, Fundación Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain. ED is funded by the Juan de la Cierva–Incorporación granted by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. DB-G is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation—Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Fondos FEDER by ’Contratos para la intensificación de la actividad investigadora en el Sistema Nacional de Salud, 2020 (INT20/00086)’.Peer reviewe

Healthcare workers hospitalized due to COVID-19 have no higher risk of death than general population. Data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

Aim To determine whether healthcare workers (HCW) hospitalized in Spain due to COVID-19 have a worse prognosis than non-healthcare workers (NHCW). Methods Observational cohort study based on the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry, a nationwide registry that collects sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data on patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Spain. Patients aged 20-65 years were selected. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify factors associated with mortality. Results As of 22 May 2020, 4393 patients were included, of whom 419 (9.5%) were HCW. Median (interquartile range) age of HCW was 52 (15) years and 62.4% were women. Prevalence of comorbidities and severe radiological findings upon admission were less frequent in HCW. There were no difference in need of respiratory support and admission to intensive care unit, but occurrence of sepsis and in-hospital mortality was lower in HCW (1.7% vs. 3.9%; p = 0.024 and 0.7% vs. 4.8%; p<0.001 respectively). Age, male sex and comorbidity, were independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality and healthcare working with lower mortality (OR 0.211, 95%CI 0.067-0.667, p = 0.008). 30-days survival was higher in HCW (0.968 vs. 0.851 p<0.001). Conclusions Hospitalized COVID-19 HCW had fewer comorbidities and a better prognosis than NHCW. Our results suggest that professional exposure to COVID-19 in HCW does not carry more clinical severity nor mortality

Sistema de medida de ruido: diseño, implementación y prueba en una fuente de alimentación de bajo ruido

En este proyecto se desarrolla un equipo de medida para fuentes de alimentación de bajo ruido. El sistema de medida amplifica el ruido a su entrada para permitir medirlo con equipos de medida convencionales, como un multímetro. El trabajo comienza con un estudio teórico del ruido en circuitos electrónicos y repasa algunas de las técnicas para reducirlo. A continuación, se realiza todo el diseño electrónico del sistema de medida basado en una estructura amplificadora de par diferencial de transistores. Este diseño se desarrolla e integra en una placa de circuito impreso. Debido a la alta ganancia de amplificación del equipo de medida desarrollado, su sensibilidad a interferencias externas es elevada, lo que obliga a desarrollar el diseño de un sistema de apantallamiento de campos electromagnéticos. El amplificador es protegido con tres capas de metal de diferentes materiales con una separación de 10mm entre ellas. El proyecto termina con una aplicación de campo. Se realiza una evaluación del ruido sobre una fuente comercial de muy bajo ruido, específicamente diseñada para equipos de audio. Abstract: This project aims its work at the development of a measuring system for low noise power supplies. The developed system will amplify the noise received at the input and output it. This output will have enough level to be measured with a standard measuring device like a multimeter. The project starts with a theorical study of noise in electronic circuits. It also reviews some techniques to attenuate it. The next step is the electronic design of the measuring system. The design is based on a transistor differential pair amplifier. Once finished, the design will be integrated in a printed circuit board. Due to the high gain of the measuring device developed, it’s really sensible to external interferences. To solve this problem with electromagnetic field interferences, a shielding solution is developed. This shielding, protects the amplifier with three metal layers of different materials with a separation of 10mm between each of them. The last part of the project is a field test. The device is used to evaluate the noise of a commercial low noise power supply. This power supply has been designed specifically for high performance audio applications

Sistema de medida de ruido: diseño, implementación y prueba en una fuente de alimentación de bajo ruido

En este proyecto se desarrolla un equipo de medida para fuentes de alimentación de bajo ruido. El sistema de medida amplifica el ruido a su entrada para permitir medirlo con equipos de medida convencionales, como un multímetro. El trabajo comienza con un estudio teórico del ruido en circuitos electrónicos y repasa algunas de las técnicas para reducirlo. A continuación, se realiza todo el diseño electrónico del sistema de medida basado en una estructura amplificadora de par diferencial de transistores. Este diseño se desarrolla e integra en una placa de circuito impreso. Debido a la alta ganancia de amplificación del equipo de medida desarrollado, su sensibilidad a interferencias externas es elevada, lo que obliga a desarrollar el diseño de un sistema de apantallamiento de campos electromagnéticos. El amplificador es protegido con tres capas de metal de diferentes materiales con una separación de 10mm entre ellas. El proyecto termina con una aplicación de campo. Se realiza una evaluación del ruido sobre una fuente comercial de muy bajo ruido, específicamente diseñada para equipos de audio. Abstract: This project aims its work at the development of a measuring system for low noise power supplies. The developed system will amplify the noise received at the input and output it. This output will have enough level to be measured with a standard measuring device like a multimeter. The project starts with a theorical study of noise in electronic circuits. It also reviews some techniques to attenuate it. The next step is the electronic design of the measuring system. The design is based on a transistor differential pair amplifier. Once finished, the design will be integrated in a printed circuit board. Due to the high gain of the measuring device developed, it’s really sensible to external interferences. To solve this problem with electromagnetic field interferences, a shielding solution is developed. This shielding, protects the amplifier with three metal layers of different materials with a separation of 10mm between each of them. The last part of the project is a field test. The device is used to evaluate the noise of a commercial low noise power supply. This power supply has been designed specifically for high performance audio applications

Tecnología para conservar el Museo

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Sistema electrónico para la evaluación de la acidez ambiental con sensores ópticos

La preservación de los bienes culturales es una cuestión que afecta no sólo a los gestores del Patrimonio Cultural, sino también a los profesionales, científicos y tecnólogos que se enfrentan con la tarea de conservar los materiales de dichos bienes culturales. Independientemente de las tareas de restauración, la conservación preventiva juega un papel cada vez más importante en la preservación global del Patrimonio. La interacción del medioambiente con los materiales da lugar, con mayor o menor velocidad, a un progresivo deterioro de éstos que puede desembocar en degradación o corrosión, frecuentemente irreversible.Los autores agradecen la financiación parcial de los Programas de investigación Consolider (Ref. TCPCSD2007- 00058), y Geomateriales (Ref. S2009/MAT-1629), así como el apoyo profesional de la Red de Ciencia y Tecnología para la Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural (TechnoHeritage). J. Peña Poza y A. Llorente Alonso agradecen sus contratos al Programa Consolider mencionado; J. Pérez Lobato agradece una beca Finnova I 2010 de la Comunidad de Madrid.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of environmental conditions of the Museo del Ejército (Toledo, Spain) by means of Sol-Gel optical sensors

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Conservación de vidrios y materiales cerámicos históricos y monumentales (CERVITRUM)

4 páginas, 2 figuras, 1 tabla. Primera Reunión de la Red de Ciencia y Tecnología para la Conservación del Patrimonio (Madrid, 28-29 de junio de 2011).CERVITRUM es un Grupo de Investigación multi e interdisciplinar formado en la actualidad por químicos, arqueólogos e ingenieros. Se creó en el Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Metalúrgicas (CENIM-CSIC) en el año 2002. Tras una actividad investigadora de más de cinco años en el CENIM, durante la cual ya contaba con la colaboración del Prof. Rincón del IETcc, el grupo se trasladó, en julio de 2007, al Instituto de Historia en el nuevo Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CCHS-CSIC).Peer reviewe