A Precise Electrical Disturbance Generator for Neural Network Training with Real Level Output

Power Quality is defined as the study of the quality of electric power lines. The detection and classification of the different disturbances which cause power quality problems is a difficult task which requires a high level of engineering expertise. Thus, neural networks are usually a good choice for the detection and classification of these disturbances. This paper describes a powerful tool, developed by the Institute for Natural Resources and Agrobiology at the Scientific Research Council (CSIC) and the Electronic Technology Department at the University of Seville, which generates electrical patterns of disturbances for the training of neural networks for PQ tasks. This system has been expanded to other applications (as comparative test between PQ meters, or test of effects of power-line disturbances on equipment) through the addition of a specifically developed high fidelity power amplifier, which allows the generation of disturbed signals at real levels.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología DPI2006-15467-C02-0

Signature of the transversal coherence length in high-order harmonic generation

It is well known that high-order harmonic generation (HHG) from extended targets differs substantially from that of isolated atoms. Phase matching during propagation plays a major role in defining the extent of the spatial regions in the target that contribute constructively to the final yield. Typically, the understanding of this process is simplified by considering phase-matching effects along the field propagation axis, defining a longitudinal coherence length. In this paper we explore the role of phase matching in the transverse direction. The definition of a transversal coherence length appears fundamental to understanding propagation of harmonics generated by focalized laser beams. We present experimental results—-supported by theory—in which transversal phase matching plays the leading role in the macroscopic HHG.We acknowledge technical support from Oscar Varela, Juan Hernández Toro, and Cruz Méndez. We acknowledge support by a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the EU Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, under REA Grant Agreement No. 328334. We acknowledge support from Junta de Castilla y León (Consejería de Educación and Fondo Social Europeo and Projects No. SA002B08 and No. SA116U13), Spanish MINECO (Grant No. FIS2009-09522, Consolider Program SAUUL CSD2007-00013, and Ramón y Cajal Program), and Centro de Láseres Pulsados, CLP

Electricity clustering framework for automatic classification of customer loads

Clustering in energy markets is a top topic with high significance on expert and intelligent systems. The main impact of is paper is the proposal of a new clustering framework for the automatic classification of electricity customers’ loads. An automatic selection of the clustering classification algorithm is also highlighted. Finally, new customers can be assigned to a predefined set of clusters in the classificationphase. The computation time of the proposed framework is less than that of previous classification tech- niques, which enables the processing of a complete electric company sample in a matter of minutes on a personal computer. The high accuracy of the predicted classification results verifies the performance of the clustering technique. This classification phase is of significant assistance in interpreting the results, and the simplicity of the clustering phase is sufficient to demonstrate the quality of the complete mining framework.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2013-40767-RMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad IDI- 2015004

Compounding process optimization for recycled materials using machine learning algorithms

The sustainable manufacturing of goods is one of the factors to minimize natural resource depletion and CO2 emissions. In the last decade a big effort has been done to transition from linear economy to circular economy. This transition requires to implement re-manufacturing processes into the current industrial manufacturing framework, replacing the sourcing of raw materials by re-manufacturing technologies. However, this transition is very challenging since it requires the transformation of the companies and more specially their processes, from traditional to circular. To speed up this transformation, the use of tools provided by the 4th industrial revolution are crucial. In particular, the use of artificial intelligence techniques enables the optimization of the re-manufacturing processes and make those optimizations available to all the stakeholders. This paper presents an optimization system for re-manufacturing of recycled fiber through compounding processes with materials that come from composite waste or end of life of products. The proposed approach has been trained with the data collected from several experiments carried out with a compounding machine under different specifications, fiber reinforcement grades, and output material properties. The system will allow to set up a compounding machine for different types of reinforced plastics needless of setting point experiments. The algorithms have been tested with previously unseen scenarios and they have proved to be efficient for giving the optimal material characteristics.This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 873111 (DIGIPRIME)

Evaluación bioeconómica del cambio en la selectividad de un arte de pesca: el caso de una flota mono-específica afectada por la obligación de desembarque

The European Union Common Fisheries Policy has established a discard ban, which states that fish below a reference size cannot be sold directly for human consumption. In a fishing effort-regulated fishery, the discard ban can result in extra handling, storing and landing costs. In an output-regulated fishery, this policy might also limit the effort levels as all the catches count against the quota. In both cases, this regulation can reduce the economic performance of the companies, even in single-species fisheries. A possible solution is to increase the mesh size, thus retaining fewer small individuals. To study this option, a bioeconomic simulation of a change in the gear selectivity from 100- to 120-mm minimum mesh size (MMS) was performed. The results show that the private perspective (profits) does not change. Furthermore, due to the lower retention of 120 mm MMS, the efficiency of a fishing day was reduced by 5% and 2.5%, from the point of view of capital and labour productivity, respectively. In contrast, gross revenues increased by 1.5% and crew compensation by 2%. Given a societal benefit of this change in the mesh size, this gain could be re-distributed to provide an incentive for selectivity improvements.La Política Pesquera Común de la Unión Europa ha introducido la prohibición de descartar, estableciendo que todo pescado por debajo de una talla de referencia no puede ser vendido para consumo humano directo. En una pesquería regulada a través de limitaciones del esfuerzo de pesca, la prohibición de descartar puede generar sobrecostes de manipulación, almacenamiento y desembarque adicionales. En una pesquería regulada a través de límites en las capturas, esta política podría incluso limitar los niveles de esfuerzo ya que todas las capturas deben ser deducidas de la cuota. En ambos casos, esta regulación puede reducir el resultado económico de las empresas, incluso en el caso de una pesquería mono-específica. Una posible solución sería aumentar el tamaño mínimo de la malla, y así reducir la retención de los individuos más pequeños. Con el fin de estudiar esta opción, se ha realizado una simulación bioeconómica de un cambio en el tamaño mínimo de la malla de 100 a 120-mm. Los resultados muestran cómo la perspectiva económica privada (beneficios) no varía. Más aun, debido a la menor retención de la malla de 120 mm, la eficiencia de un día de pesca se ve reducida en un 5% y en un 2.5%, desde el punto de vista de la productividad del capital y del trabajo, respectivamente. Por el contrario, los beneficios brutos aumentan un 1.5% y la remuneración al trabajo en un 2%. Debido a la existencia de un beneficio social, la ganancia podría ser redistribuida para así ofrecer un incentivo a esta mejora de la selectividad

Libros del Viejo Mundo para casos del Nuevo. Alonso de la Vera Cruz, lector: uso y anotación del libro impreso en los conventos misioneros novohispanos

After underlining the key role played by libraries in Latin American missionary convents, the article focuses on the figure of one very special reader and annotator of books, the Augustinian friar Alonso de la Vera Cruz, who established some of the first libraries in the New World. We identify and study, for the first time, some of the books which Vera Cruz read and annotated in Tiripetío (Michoacán) and other Novohispanic convents, characterizing and classifying his abundant marginalia. This analysis allows us, in turn, to follow in detail the transition between reading, annotation and writing, understood as part of complex processes of cultural translation of normative criteria.Tras subrayar el papel fundamental que ocuparon las bibliotecas conventuales en los conventos misioneros americanos, el artículo se concentra en la figura de un lector y anotador de libros muy particular, el fraile agustino Alonso de la Vera Cruz, organizador de algunas de las primeras bibliotecas en el Nuevo Mundo. Se identifican y estudian, por primera vez, diversos libros con los que trabajó en Tiripetío (Michoacán) y otros conventos novohispanos, caracterizando y clasificando sus abundantes marginalia. Este análisis nos permite, a su vez, seguir al detalle la transición entre la lectura, la anotación y la escritura, entendidas como partes de complejos procesos de traducción cultural de criterios normativos

Random Generation of Arbitrary Waveforms for Emulating Three-Phase Systems

This paper describes an apparatus for generating a signal representative of steady-state and transient disturbances in three-phase waveforms of an ac electrical system as described in IEEE Std 1159-09. It can be configured as a synthesizer of randomly distorted signals for different applications: for testing the effects of disturbed grid on equipment and to generate patterns of electrical disturbances for the training of artificial neural networks, which are used for measuring power quality tasks. For the first purpose, voltage and current amplifiers are added in the output stage, which allows the generation of disturbed signals at grid level.Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología DPI2006-15467-C02-01Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología DPI2006-15467-C02-0

Molecular mechanisms and cellular events involved in the neuroprotective actions of estradiol. Analysis of sex differences

Estradiol, either from peripheral or central origin, activates multiple molecular neuroprotective and neuroreparative responses that, being mediated by estrogen receptors or by estrogen receptor independent mechanisms, are initiated at the membrane, the cytoplasm or the cell nucleus of neural cells. Estrogen-dependent signaling regulates a variety of cellular events, such as intracellular Ca2+ levels, mitochondrial respiratory capacity, ATP production, mitochondrial membrane potential, autophagy and apoptosis. In turn, these molecular and cellular actions of estradiol are integrated by neurons and non-neuronal cells to generate different tissue protective responses, decreasing blood-brain barrier permeability, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and excitotoxicity and promoting synaptic plasticity, axonal growth, neurogenesis, remyelination and neuroregeneration. Recent findings indicate that the neuroprotective and neuroreparative actions of estradiol are different in males and females and further research is necessary to fully elucidate the causes for this sex difference

Monolithic All-Solid-State High-Voltage Li-Metal Thin-Film Rechargeable Battery

The substitution of an organic liquid electrolyte with lithium-conducting solid materials is a promising approach to overcome the limitations associated with conventional lithium-ion batteries. These constraints include a reduced electrochemical stability window, high toxicity, flammability, and the formation of lithium dendrites. In this way, all-solid-state batteries present themselves as ideal candidates for improving energy density, environmental friendliness, and safety. In particular, all-solid-state configurations allow the introduction of compact, lightweight, high-energy-density batteries, suitable for low-power applications, known as thin-film batteries. Moreover, solid electrolytes typically offer wide electrochemical stability windows, enabling the integration of high-voltage cathodes and permitting the fabrication of higher-energy-density batteries. A high-voltage, all-solid-state lithium-ion thin-film battery composed of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode, a LiPON solid electrolyte, and a lithium metal anode has been deposited layer by layer on low-cost stainless-steel current collector substrates. The structural and electrochemical properties of each electroactive component of the battery had been analyzed separately prior to the full cell implementation. In addition to a study of the internal solid–solid interface, comparing them was done with two similar cells assembled using conventional lithium foil, one with thin-film solid electrolyte and another one with thin-film solid electrolyte plus a droplet of LP30 liquid electrolyte. The thin-film all-solid state cell developed in this work delivered 80.5 mAh g–1 in the first cycle at C/20 and after a C-rate test of 25 cycles at C/10, C/5, C/2, and 1C and stabilized its capacity at around 70 mAh g–1 for another 12 cycles prior to the start of its degradation. This cell reached gravimetric and volumetric energy densities of 333 Wh kg–1 and 1,212 Wh l–1, respectively. Overall, this cell showed a better performance than its counterparts assembled with Li foil, highlighting the importance of the battery interface control.The authors acknowledge the financial support from European H2020 project MONBASA (Monolithic Batteries for Spaceship Applications, grant no. 687561) and Basque Government through Elkartek 2017 program with the project Elkartek CICe2017-L4