Towards AER VITE: building spike gate signal

Neuromorphic engineers aim to mimic the precise and efficient mechanisms of the nervous system to process information using spikes from sensors to actuators. There are many available works that sense and process information in a spike-based way. But there are still several gaps in the actuation and motor control field in a spike-based way. Spike-based Proportional-Integrative-Derivative controllers (PID) are present in the literature. On the other hand, neuro-inspired control models as VITE (Vector Integration To End point) and FLETE (Factorization of muscle Length and muscle Tension) are also present in the literature. This paper presents another step toward the spike implementation of those neuro-inspired models. We present a spike-based ramp multiplier. VITE algorithm generates the way to achieve a final position targeted by a mobile robotic arm. The block presented is used as a gate for the way involved and it also puts the incoming movement on speed with a variable slope profile. Only spikes for information representation were used and the process is in real time. The software simulation based on Simulink and Xilinx System Generator shows the accurate adjust to the traditional processing for short time periods and the hardware tests confirm and extend the previous simulated results for any time. We have implemented the spikes generator, the ramp multiplier and the low pass filter into the Virtex-5 FPGA and connected this with an USB-AER (Address Event Representation) board to monitor the spikes.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2009-10639-C04-0

Non-Invasive Forehead Segmentation in Thermographic Imaging

The temperature of the forehead is known to be highly correlated with the internal body temperature. This area is widely used in thermal comfort systems, lie-detection systems, etc. However, there is a lack of tools to achieve the segmentation of the forehead using thermographic images and non-intrusive methods. In fact, this is usually segmented manually. This work proposes a simple and novel method to segment the forehead region and to extract the average temperature from this area solving this lack of non-user interaction tools. Our method is invariant to the position of the face, and other different morphologies even with the presence of external objects. The results provide an accuracy of 90% compared to the manual segmentation using the coefficient of Jaccard as a metric of similitude. Moreover, due to the simplicity of the proposed method, it can work with real-time constraints at 83 frames per second in embedded systems with low computational resources. Finally, a new dataset of thermal face images is presented, which includes some features which are difficult to find in other sets, such as glasses, beards, moustaches, breathing masks, and different neck rotations and flexions

Sistema de información web para la gestión de los procesos de producción de la empresa CONFORTEX

Presenta el análisis y diseño del desarrollo de un sistema de información web para la gestión de los procesos de la empresa CONFORTEX. Determina los requerimientos funcionales y no funcionales para el desarrollo del software, partiendo de las necesidades planteadas en la empresa, Diseña el sistema haciendo uso de la metodología UWE utilizando UML como lenguaje de modelado

Sinovitis villonodular pigmentada: dificultad diagnóstica y terapéutica

La sinovitis villonodular pigmentada (SVNP) es una proliferación benigna, localmente agresiva del tejido sinovial, caracterizada por depósitos de hemosiderina, que afecta con mayor frecuencia a la rodilla y a pacientes adultos jóvenes. Entre 1985 y 2007 se han tratado en nuestro servicio 9 pacientes con SVNP, 8 formas difusas y una localizada, siendo la rodilla la localización más frecuente (7 casos). El tratamiento realizado en todos los casos fue sinovectomía abierta anterior, asociando sinoviortesis con Y90 en uno de los casos. Se detectó un caso de recidiva, localizado en la rodilla, que requirió la realización de una segunda sinovectomía abierta. Un paciente requirió una artroplastia total de rodilla a los 3 años de la sinovectomía. El principal problema es su alta tasa de recidivas debido a la dificultad para una sinovectomía completa del tejido afectado.Pigmented villonodular synovitis (SVNP) is a benign proliferative disorder, locally aggressive of the synovium, characterized by haemosiderin deposits, and affects the knee most often and young adults patients. Between 1985 and 2007, 9 patients with SVNP were treated in our service, 8 diffusse forms and one localized, and most frequent location was the knee (7 cases). Anterior open synovectomy was the treatment in all cases, combined with Y 90 synoviorthesis in one of cases. One case of recurrence was detected, involving the knee, and second open synovectomy was required. One patient required a total knee arthroplasty within 3 years after the synovectomy. Its high rate of recurrence is the main problem due to difficulty to complete synovectomy of the affected tissue

Entrevista a Dña. Clara Sanz López, secretaria general de Formación Profesional del Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional de España

Clara Sanz López[1] es diplomada en Magisterio, licenciada en Historia y máster en Orientación profesional. Su carrera profesional muestra una larga y amplia trayectoria que le ha permitido tener una extensa experiencia como profesora de educación primaria, educación secundaria, inspectora de educación y profesora asociada universitaria. Ha desempeñado puestos como asesora del Programa de Educación compensatoria, asesora de formación permanente, asesora en programas educativos y relaciones interinstitucionales, jefa del Departamento de Orientación, jefa de Área de Orientación profesional en el MECD, coordinadora del Área de Evaluación de la Comunidad de Madrid, y directora general de Formación Profesional. Actualmente desempeña el puesto de Secretaria General de Formación Profesional. [1] Datos obtenidos del portal de transparencia, la página web del Ministerio de EyFP y la página personal de LinkedIn

Towards the integration and automation of the design process for domestic drinking-water and sewerage systems with BIM

The use of building information modelling (BIM) in construction projects is expanding, and its usability throughout building lifecycles, from planning and construction to operation and maintenance, is gaining increasing proof. In the design of domestic drinking-water and sewerage systems (DDWSSs), BIM focuses on coordinating disciplines and their design. Despite studies promoting BIM environments for DDWSSs that take into account the regulatory frameworks of corresponding countries, these efforts do not include the use of parametric tools that enhance the efficiency of the design process. Therefore, engineers still use conventional 2D design, which requires many rounds of iteration, and manual work is also generally still used. In this research, we developed and validated an intuitive methodology for solving a specific DDWSS problem, using a design science research method (DSRM) as an applied science approach. This was addressed by developing an artefact and validating it through two case studies. The obtained solution combines BIM models and parametric tools to automate the manual activities of the traditional design method. This article aims to bring abstract BIM concepts into practice and encourage researchers and engineers to adopt BIM for DDWSSs.This research was funded by Proyecto VRIEA-PUCV, grant number 039.427/2021, and the Grants for the Promotion of Research in the Department of Civil and Building Engineering, UCLM. This research was also funded by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness provided through the research project BIA2013-47290-R, BIA2017-86811-C2-1-R and BIA2017-86811-C2-2-R. All these projects were funded with FEDER funds.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Complicaciones vasculares tras cateterismo cardíaco

Objetivos: Establecer la incidencia de complicaciones vasculares tras un cateterismo cardíaco y determinar los factores que influyen en la aparición de los mismos. Material y métodos: Revisión retrospectiva de los 3723 cateterismos cardíacos realizados en nuestro hospital durante un período de 50 meses. Se recogieron 32 traumatismos vasculares, distribuidos entre pseudoaneurismas, hematomas o hemorragias incoercibles, fístulas arteriovenosas e isquemias agudas por trombosis arterial. Se realizó un analisis estadístico mediante tablas de contingencia (método de Jicuadrado, con corrección de Yates). Resultados: La incidencia anual de traumatismos vasculares se encuentra alrededor del 1 %. La incidencia de traumatismos tras un cateterismo terapéutico es ligeramente superior a la incidencia tras un cateterismo diagnóstico, sin presentar diferencias significativas. La edad media del grupo de pacientes con traumatismo vascular (grupo estudio) es de 64'2 ± 1 '9 años, ligeramente superior a la edad media del grupo sin traumatismo vascular (grupo control) (61 '1 - 0'2 años). En ambos grupos predominaban los varones, pero en el grupo estudio dicho predominio es sensi blemente inferior (p 0'012) . En el grupo estudio la incidencia de pacientes obesos es superior con respecto al grupo control (p 0'024). El abordaje por vía humeral (p 0'03), el diametro de cateter mayor al 8F (p 0'001) Y la anticoagulación tras el cateterismo (p<0'001) son factores favorecedores par la aparición de un traumatismo vascular tras un cateterismo cardíaco

Electrodeposition of Co-Sb Thick Films and their Thermoelectric Properties in DMSO

Póster presentado en la 11th European Conference on Thermoelectrics (ECT2013), celebrada en Noordwijk (Holanda) del 18 al 20 de noviembre de 2013.In the last decade there has been an increasingly interest in the Skutterudites in the field of thermoelectricity 1. This interest is based on the fact that the highest performance of this material happens at 400ºC, which makes it ideal for multiple applications as energy harvesting devices. Generally, most of the actual compounds working under these conditions are unstable or presents a low figure of merit 2. However, Skutterudites have usually good values of the power factor, but also they offer the possibility of an enhancement of their efficiency due to the reduction of the thermal conductivity via doping the structure 3 or filling of the voids 3 of the structure with heavy atoms. Nevertheless, to obtain the right phase by electrodeposition is still not a solve question. 4 This work deals the electrodeposition of Skutterudite (CoSb3). We have been able to grow CoSb3 films via electrochemical deposition in an organic solvent (DMSO). After studying different parameters such as temperature, stirring, time of deposition or potential, we have been able to obtain quite homogeneously films with 1:3 ratio. For the first time, thermoelectric properties have been measured in different labs, to measure the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity of the films in plane, and using a Seebeck microprobe system, to measure and make a map of the Seebeck coefficient in cross-plane. We determine the Seebeck coefficient to be -12 µV/K in plane and -37 µV/K out of plane, and an electrical conductivity of around 9 S/cm in plane.The research work is supported by the European Commission under FP7-NEXTEC project, Grant # 263167 [FP7/2011-2013].Peer Reviewe

Tailoring the thermoelectric properties of Skutterudites by nanocomposites

Póster presentado en la 34th Annual International Conference on Thermoelectrics (ICT) y en la 13th European Conference on Thermoelectrics(ECT), celebradas en Dresden del 28 de junio al 2 de julio de 2015.Skutterudites have attracted great attention for their promising potential on thermoelectric applications, such as harvesting the heat generated in industrial processes and automotive operations. To improve their thermoelectric figure of merit ,emphasis has gone into modifying the band structure through doping to enhance the Power Factor and reducing thermal conductivity through increasing phonon scattering by filling and in-situ nanocomposites formation.Depending on the nature of the nanoinclusions and the proportion in the matrix, it is possible to tailor the thermoelectric properties. In this work, different concentrations of oxides were included in a one-step synthesis mechanism, obtaining the Skutterudite phase with nanoinclusions and therefore, achieving lower thermal conductivities than those reported in literature.Peer Reviewe

Dependence of Induced Biological Damage on the Energy Distribution and Intensity of Clinical Intra-Operative Radiotherapy Electron Beams

The survival fraction of epithelial HaCaT cells was analysed to assess the biological damage caused by intraoperative radiotherapy electron beams with varying energy spectra and intensities. These conditions were achieved by irradiating the cells at different depths in water using nominal 6 MeV electron beams while consistently delivering a dose of 5 Gy to the cell layer. Furthermore, a Monte Carlo simulation of the entire irradiation procedure was performed to evaluate the molecular damage in terms of molecular dissociations induced by the radiation. A significant agreement was found between the molecular damage predicted by the simulation and the damage derived from the analysis of the survival fraction. In both cases, a linear relationship was evident, indicating a clear tendency for increased damage as the averaged incident electron energy and intensity decreased for a constant absorbed dose, lowering the dose rate. This trend suggests that the radiation may have a more pronounced impact on surrounding healthy tissues than initially anticipated. However, it is crucial to conduct additional experiments with different target geometries to confirm this tendency and quantify the extent of this effect