Dendrites and conformal symmetry

Progress toward characterization of structural and biophysical properties of neural dendrites together with recent findings emphasizing their role in neural computation, has propelled growing interest in refining existing theoretical models of electrical propagation in dendrites while advocating novel analytic tools. In this paper we focus on the cable equation describing electric propagation in dendrites with different geometry. When the geometry is cylindrical we show that the cable equation is invariant under the Schr\"odinger group and by using the dendrite parameters, a representation of the Schr\"odinger algebra is provided. Furthermore, when the geometry profile is parabolic we show that the cable equation is equivalent to the Schr\"odinger equation for the 1-dimensional free particle, which is invariant under the Schr\"odinger group. Moreover, we show that there is a family of dendrite geometries for which the cable equation is equivalent to the Schr\"odinger equation for the 1-dimensional conformal quantum mechanics.Comment: 19 page

CLIC Background Studies and optimization of the innermost tracker elements

The harsh machine background at the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) forms a strong constraint on the design of the innermost part of the tracker. For the CLIC Conceptual Design Report, the detector concepts developed for the International Linear Collider (ILC) were adapted to the CLIC environment. We present the new layout for the Vertex Detector and the Forward Tracking Disks of the CLIC detector concepts, as well as the background levels in these detectors. We also study the dependence of the background rates on technology parameters like thickness of the active layer and detection threshold.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, LCWS 201

La nueva directiva audiovisual: perspectiva legal

The European Parliament approved on 2 October 2018 the text of the Audiovisual Communication Services Directive. In the absence of a final procedure (its formal approval by the Council), its promulgation is imminent. At the beginning of June 2018 the negotiation phase between the three European co-legislators (Commission, Parliament and Council) was concluded; this political agreement supposes de facto its approval. The publication of the aforementioned legal Instrument, which is part of the set of initiatives of the Digital Single Market, anticipates a huge impact on the audiovisual sector that we approach from a legal perspective.El Parlamento Europeo ha aprobado el 2 de octubre de 2018 el texto de la Directiva de Servicios de Comunicación Audiovisual. A falta de un último trámite (su aprobación formal por parte del Consejo), su promulgación es inminente. A principios de junio de 2018 concluyó la fase de negociaciones entre los tres colegisladores europeos (Comisión, Parlamento y Consejo); este acuerdo político supone su aprobación de facto. La publicación de este Instrumento normativo, que se enmarca en el conjunto de iniciativas del Mercado Único Digital, anticipa un enorme impacto en el sector audiovisual al que nos aproximamos desde una perspectiva jurídica

Geiger-Mode Avalanche Photodiodes in Particle Detection

It is well known that avalanche photodiodes operated in the Geiger mode above the breakdown voltage offer a virtually infinite sensitivity and time accuracy in the picosecond range that can be used for single photon detection. However, their performance in particle detection remains still unexplored. In this contribution, we are going to expose the different steps that we have taken in order to prove the efficiency of Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes in the aforementioned field. In particular, we will present an array of pixels of 1mmx1mm fabricated with a standard CMOS technology for characterization in a test beam.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, Proceedings of LCWS1

No effect of subthalamic deep brain stimulation on metacognition in Parkinson’s disease

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) is a powerful treatment in Parkinson’s disease (PD), which provides a positive effect on motor symptoms although the way it operates on high cognitive processes such as metacognition remains unclear. To address this issue, we recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) of PD patients treated with STN-DBS that performed a reversal learning (RL) paradigm endowed with metacognitive self-assessment. We considered two stimulation conditions, namely DBS-ON (stimulation on) and DBS-OFF (stimulation off), and focused our EEG-analysis on the frontal brain region due to its involvement on high cognitive processes. We found a trend towards a significant difference in RL ability between stimulation conditions. STN-DBS showed no effect on metacognition, although a significant association between accuracy and decision confidence level held for DBS OFF, but not in the case of DBS ON. In summary, our study revealed no significant effect of STN-DBS on RL or metacognition

Aprovechamiento de barros procedentes de central de áridos para la elaboración de piezas cerámicas porosas

Aggregates (gravel and sand) are, after water, the Earth’s second most used natural resource, representing about 50% of all consumed mineral resources. Aggregate production generates a large quantity of waste from the aggregate washing process. This waste is made up of suspended solids – sludge – which has a great environmental impact. It is deposited in huge troughs because of the impossibility of discharging it directly into rivers. Many plants have incorporated decanters and filter presses to separate the solid from the liquid fraction. This paper evaluates the possibility of exploiting the solid fraction (i.e. sludge) in the manufacture of fired clay bricks. The added value of these bricks is, on the one hand, the exploitation of sludge as a currently useless waste product, and on the other, the use of this sludge to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of conventional fired clay bricks.Los áridos son la segunda materia prima más consumida en la Tierra después del agua, representando alrededor del 50% de todos los recursos minerales consumidos. El proceso de elaboración de estos áridos genera una gran cantidad de residuos procedentes de su lavado. Se trata de partículas sólidas en suspensión – lodos – de gran impacto ambiental, que se depositan en grandes charcas ante la imposibilidad de verterlos directamente al rio. Muchas empresas han incorporado decantadores y filtros de prensa para separar la fracción solida de la líquida. El presente trabajo evalúa la posibilidad de utilizar la fracción sólida, es decir el barro, para la fabricación de piezas cerámicas. El valor añadido de estas piezas es por un lado el aprovechamiento del barro como producto residual, que en estos momentos es desechable, y por otro, conseguir que este barro mejore las propiedades físico-mecánicas de la cerámica convencional

Impact of low-interest credits on business R&D expenditures: Spanish firms and CDTI loans for R&D projects

Our objective is to estimate the effect of low-interest loans for R&D projects on business R&D. We take into account that the participation of firms in this kind of public programme probably depends on the same characteristics that determine their investment decisions. We also consider the possibility of persistence in R&D expenditures over time. The estimations provide evidence of the effectiveness of low-interest loans, being the stimulus effect larger for SMEs than for large firms and also higher for manufacturing than for services. Participants are approximately 25 percentage points more likely to self-finance their R&D investments than non-supported firms. The effect is quite relevant if we consider that the probability of self-financing R&D activities is 53.2 percentage points higher when the firm has invested in R&D activities in the previous year. This result suggests that firms can be induced persistently to perform R&D activities by means of loans

Impact of low-interest credits on business R&D expenditures: Spanish firms and CDTI loans for R&D projects

Our objective is to estimate the effect of low-interest loans for R&D projects on business R&D. We take into account that the participation of firms in this kind of public programme probably depends on the same characteristics that determine their investment decisions. We also consider the possibility of persistence in R&D expenditures over time. The estimations provide evidence of the effectiveness of low-interest loans, being the stimulus effect larger for SMEs than for large firms and also higher for manufacturing than for services. Participants are approximately 25 percentage points more likely to self-finance their R&D investments than non-supported firms. The effect is quite relevant if we consider that the probability of self-financing R&D activities is 53.2 percentage points higher when the firm has invested in R&D activities in the previous year. This result suggests that firms can be induced persistently to perform R&D activities by means of loans