Implementation of a neural network-based electromyographic control system for a printed robotic hand

3D printing has revolutionized the manufacturing process reducing costs and time, but only when combined with robotics and electronics, this structures could develop their full potential. In order to improve the available printable hand designs, a control system based on electromyographic (EMG) signals has been implemented, so that different movement patterns can be recognized and replicated in the bionic hand in real time. This control system has been developed in Matlab/ Simulink comprising EMG signal acquisition, feature extraction, dimensionality reduction and pattern recognition through a trained neural-network. Pattern recognition depends on the features used, their dimensions and the time spent in signal processing. Finding balance between this execution time and the input features of the neural network is a crucial step for an optimal classification.Ingeniería Biomédic

¿Influyen las políticas autonómicas en la utilización de la excedencia por cuidado de hijos?

Este artículo analiza el impacto de las políticas implementadas por cinco Comunidades Autónomas —Navarra, Castilla y León, País Vasco, Castilla-La Mancha y La Rioja— en la utilización de la excedencia por cuidado de hijos. Para ello, se plantea un diseño de investigación cuasiexperimental, conocido con el nombre de «dobles diferencias» (difference-in-difference). La investigación está basada en una submuestra extraída de la Muestra Continua de Vidas Laborales (año 2006), compuesta por 94.493 personas que eran titulares del derecho a la excedencia en el periodo 1996-2006. Los resultados reflejan un efecto positivo de las medidas implementadas por Navarra y Castilla y León y confi rman la relevancia de la cuantía económica frente a otras características en su diseño. Sin embargo, ninguna de las políticas tiene incidencia en el uso de la excedencia por parte de los hombres, incluso en el caso de aquellas Comunidades que han establecido discriminaciones positivas en su diseño.This article analyses the impact of the policies implemented by fi ve Autonomous Communities —Navarre, Castile and Leon, the Basque Country, Castile-La Mancha and La Rioja— on parental leave use. The research adopts a quasi-experimental design, which is known in public policy evaluation as difference-in-difference. The analysis is based on a subsample which stems from the «Muestra Continua de Vidas Laborales » (wave 2006), and is comprised of 94,493 people who were entitled to parental leave in the 1996-2006 period. The results show a positive effect of Navarre and Castile and Leon’s policies and confi rm the relevance of benefi t levels versus other design characteristics. However, none of these policies have an effect on men’s use of parental leave, even in the case of those Autonomous Communities that have implemented positive discrimination measures.La autora agradece la financiación recibida del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Plan Nacional de I+D+i, proyecto CSO2010-17811/SOCI) y del Instituto de la Mujer (proyecto IM 43/09) para la elaboración de este trabajo, así como los comentarios realizados por Mª. José González (UPF), Berkay Özcan (LSE) y Libertad González (UPF)

Planta de desalación de agua de mar mediante destilación por membranas

El hecho de que la falta de agua potable en zonas de sequías a menudo corresponda con las zonas donde hay mayor radiación solar, hace que el uso de la técnica de desalación acoplada con el uso de la energía solar, sea especialmente útil. Y además, teniendo en cuenta los beneficios medioambientales que producen las energías renovables, ya que no produce daños considerables al medioambiente, disminuyendo así el uso de combustibles fósiles y la contaminación. Por tanto, en este proyecto se va a utilizar la técnica de desalación mediante destilación por membranas acoplado a un campo solar

El fenómeno Fandom y su impacto en la publicidad

El siguiente trabajo de fin de grado se centra en un amplio estudio sobre como evoluciona el fenómeno fandom y cómo afecta a la publicidad. Después de realizar un pequeño recorrido a través de su historia y como la publicidad se abrió un hueco en dicho fenómeno, se llevará a cabo un análisis sobre el caso de estudio elegido y su competencia. En dicho análisis, se tendrá en cuenta el público objetivo, el posicionamiento en la mente del consumidor, así como su visión acerca del producto. La función final es poder detectar los errores de comunicación, una solución a los mismos y una propuesta de mejora de cara al año 2024.Grado en Publicidad y Relaciones Pública

XMM-Newton X-ray observations of the Carina nebula

We use new XMM-Newton observations to perform a detailed X-ray analysis of the Carina nebula region in the 0.3-12 keV energy range. Our source detection yields 80 discrete X-ray sources, from which about 20 per cent seem not to have optical counterparts. To get an idea of the energy spectrum of these sources, we construct an X-ray.colour-colour diagram using the energy bands 0.3-2, 2-4.5 and 4.5-12 keV. We analyse the spectra of the most intense X-ray sources associated with early-type stars, including the luminous blue variable η Carina and WR25. We show that the X-ray emission from these sources is well fitted by multitemperature model spectra. We detect surprisingly intense X-ray emission at energies above 4 keV for some of the observed early-type stars, especially from CPD-59 2629 (Tr16-22) which presents particularly hard X-ray emission. We detect intense soft X-ray emission, below <2 keV, in HDE 303311, which presents an X-ray excess of about 100 times higher than has been observed in other 05V stars. We use these data to construct the L x/Lbol relation for the 0.3-12 and 3.0-12 keV energy ranges, for all the observed O-type stars, plus η Carina and WR25. Most of the bright stars seem to agree with low metallicity spectral models. The L x/Lbol ratio for O-type stars in the 0.3-12 keV range is well fitted by a constant ≈6.04.87.5 × 10 -7, in fair agreement with the canonical expression L x/Lbol ∼ 2 × 10-7 formerly estimated for the 0.3-2.4 keV energy band. In contrast, the Lx/Lbol relation for the 3.0-12 keV range presents a strong deviation from the canonical relation, with a high dispersion of about four orders of magnitude. We also detect intrinsic X-ray time variability in seven sources, over the time-scale of about 50 h covered by the observations. This includes an X-ray flare of about 2-h duration detected in DETWC Tr16 J104429.2-594143, a source probably not physically associated with the Carina nebula. We discuss the different underlying physical mechanisms that can be responsible for the X-ray emission from early-type stars.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

Where in the cell is our cargo? Current methods to study intracellular cytosolic localization

NOTICE: This is the Accepted Version of the following article: Méndez Ardoy, A., Lostalé-Seijo, I., & Montenegro, J. (2018). Where in the cell is our cargo? Current methods to study intracellular cytosolic localization. Chembiochem. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201800390 © 2018 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, WeinheimThe internalization and delivery of active substances into cells is a field of growing interest for chemical biology and therapeutics. As we move from small‐molecule based drugs towards bigger cargos, such as antibodies, enzymes, nucleases or nucleic acids, the development of efficient delivery systems becomes critical for their practical application. Different strategies and synthetic carriers have been developed including cationic lipids, gold nanoparticles, polymers, cell‐penetrating peptides, protein surface modification, etc. However, all these methodologies still present limitations related to the precise targeting of the different intracellular compartments and, in particular, the difficult access to the cellular cytosol. Additionally, the precise quantification of the cellular uptake of a molecule is not enough to demonstrate delivery and/or functional activity. Therefore, methods to determine the cellular distribution of cargos and carriers are of critical importance to identify the barriers that are blocking the activity. In this mini‐review, we survey the different techniques that can be currently used to track and monitor the subcellular localization of the synthetic molecules that we deliver inside cellsWe acknowledge funding from the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) [CTQ2014-59646-R, SAF2017-89890-R], the Xunta de Galicia (ED431G/09, ED431C 2017/25 and 2016-AD031) and the ERDF. A. M.-A. received a MCIF from the EC (GLYCONANOPEP-750248). J. M. received a Ramón y Cajal (RYC-2013-13784), an ERC Starting Investigator Grant (DYNAP-677786) and a Young Investigator Grant from the Human Frontier Science Research Program (RGY0066/2017)S

Control of postharvest diseases in berries through edible coatings and bacterial probiotics

The world’s population is growing, which requires more resources, including food. Some necessary foods, such as berries, are very perishable fresh products that suffer contamination by pathogens, generating great economic losses. Various physical and chemical strategies have been used to mitigate these losses over the years, including the use of pesticides. However, the negative impact on the environment and human health of these chemical products has aroused interest in the development of other control methods. Biocontrol is one of these innovative strategies, in which various biological control agents can be used, including bacteria probiotics. Probiotics act as antagonists of fungal pathogens by competition for space and nutrients, production of secondary metabolites, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), lytic enzymes, and activation of plant defenses. On the other hand, there are materials in which protection against pathogens has been seen, such as edible coatings, since they have components, such as chitosan, with antimicrobial properties. In addition, probiotics can be used in conjunction with other elements such as edible coatings, resulting from a new control strategy against post-harvest diseases. This review compiles studies that use probiotics and/or edible coatings as a method of reducing post-harvest diseases, specifically, in berries.Grants for the Recualification of the Spanish University System for 2021-2023, Public University of Navarra; Recualification Modality; Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU (J.P. beneficiary). Open access funding provided by Universidad Pública de Navarra.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Valorization of berries’ agro-industrial waste in the development of biodegradable pectin-based films for fresh Salmon (Salmo salar) shelf-life monitoring

The healthy properties of berries are known; however, red fruits are very perishable, generating large losses in production and marketing. Nonetheless, these wastes can be revalued and used. The main objective of this study was the development of biodegradable pectin films with berry agro-industrial waste extracts to monitor salmon shelf-life. The obtained extracts from blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries wastes were evaluated in terms of flavonols, phenols and anthocyanins contents, and antioxidant capacity. Then, pectin films with the extracts of different berries were developed and characterized. The results showed that the blueberry extract film was thicker (0.248 mm), darker (L* = 61.42), and opaquer (17.71%), while the highest density (1.477 g/cm3 )was shown by the raspberry films. The results also showed that blueberries were the best for further application due to their composition in bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, and color change at different pHs. The salmon samples wrapped in blueberry films showed lower values of pH and deterioration of fish during storage compared to the control and pectin samples. This study contributes to the valorization of berries agro-industrial waste by the development of eco-friendly films that can be used in the future as intelligent food packaging materials contributing to the extension of food shelf-life as a sustainable packaging alternative.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio