In Situ Detection of Leakages in Partition Elements through SONAH and Beamforming Techniques

Airborne sound insulation in buildings, whether in fixed partition elements, like partitions or party walls, or mobile elements, like doors or screens, is always related to the performance of the weakest element involved. In situ assessment of airborne sound insulation in building elements can be carried out by pressure techniques or sound intensity techniques. Sound pressure techniques are very quick but fail to discriminate the sound insulation contribution of each building element involved. Sound intensity techniques, on the other hand, allow to determine the sound transmission of each element and also to discriminate indirect transmissions up to a certain degree. In order to find areas with high sound transmission, such as leakages or weakened regions, a large number of measurements on the building element surface have to be performed. Moreover, the sound intensity technique is very time-consuming, because it is necessary to carry out the measurement in each grid point defined. This chapter describes the use of beamforming and SONAH techniques to detect areas with lower airborne sound insulation in a building element. These techniques unify the advantages of both, pressure and sound intensity techniques, allowing the quick visualization of leakages or weakened areas of different building elements

La Ingeniería Divertida: Gravity Challenge.

La competición se utiliza en muchos entornos educativos, especialmente en el ámbito anglosajón, como medio para contribuir al desarrollo de las habilidades de los alumnos, aspecto este que se encuentra íntimamente ligado a la adquisición de determinadas competencias profesionales. En el sector de la ingeniería y arquitectura resulta de gran importancia y por ello, la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid ha organizado durante el curso 2006‐07 un conjunto de competiciones de estudiantes muy diversas. Una de estas competiciones es la denominada GRAVITY CHALLENGE, en la que los equipos participantes se enfrentaban al reto de lanzar un huevo desde una altura de 15 metros y conseguir que aterrice en el suelo sin romperse. Los equipos ganadores serían aquellos que lograsen este objetivo de la forma más creativa. En este trabajo se describe el procedimiento seguido para la organización de esta competición en la que participaron 27 equipos de distintas universidades. También se presentan los resultados y se hace una reflexión sobre los objetivos formativos que consideramos alcanzados

Structural and functional response of toad urinary bladder to LiCl

AbstractStructural and functional response of toad urinary bladder to LiCl. The physiological and morphological response of toad urinary bladder was examined during mucosal exposure of LiCl both with and without vasopressin (VP). With 20 or 100 mU/ml of VP in the serosal bath there was a decrease in Jv between the first and second VP stimulation in LiCl-treated bladders (VP20, -14 ± 6%; VP100, -16 ± 5%) that was not different from that observed without LiCl (VP20, -8 ± 3%, P = NS). However, with 1 mU/ml of VP, a significant decrease in Jv was evident in LiCl-treated (-30 ± 10%) versus control sacs (+6 ± 8%; P < 0.02). At all VP concentrations tested, a significant decrease in SCC and PD was observed between the first stimulation without LiCl and the second stimulation with LiCl. Both osmotic (Pf) and diffusional water permeability (Pd) were increased significantly with 11 mM LiCl only, while neither basal nor VP-stimulated urea permeability (Pu) was affected. Morphological changes paralleled the physiological alterations induced by LiCl. These data demonstrate that LiCl interferes with the osmotic response of the toad bladder to low concentrations of VP, and increases both Pf and Pd while leaving Pu unaffected. These findings coupled with the cell swelling and intracellular vacuolization suggest the presence of a defect in transepithelial water movement somewhere beyond the apical membrane of the granular cell exposed to LiCl.Réponse structurelle et fonctionnelle de la vessie de crapaud au LiCl. La réponse physiologique et morphologique de la vessie de crapaud a été examinée pendant exposition de la muqueuse à du LiCl en présence ou en l'absence de vasopressine (VP). Pour 20 ou 100 mU/ml de VP dans le bain séreux, il y avait une diminution de Jv entre la première et la seconde stimulation par VP dans les vessies traitées par le LiCl (VP20, -14 ± 6%; VP100, -16 ± 5%), qui n'étaient pas différentes de celles observées sans LiCl (VP20, -8 ± 3%; P = NS). Cependant, avec 1 mU/ml de VP, une diminution significative de Jv était évidente dans les sacs traités au LiCl (-30 ± 10%) par rapport aux sacs contrôles (+6 ± 8%; P < 0,02). Pour toutes les concentrations de VP testées, une diminution significative du SCC et de PD a été observée entre la première stimulation sans LiCl, et la seconde stimulation avec LiCl. Les perméabilités osmotiques (Pf) et diffusionnelles (Pd) à l'eau étaient augmentées significativement avec 11 mM de LiCl seulement tandis que la perméabilité à l'urée basale ou stimulée par la VP (Pu) n'était pas affectée. Des modifications morphologiques allaient de pair avec les altérations physiologiques induites par le LiCl. Ces données démontrent que LiCl interfère avec la réponse osmotique de la vessie de crapaud pour de faibles concentrations de VP, augmente Pf et Pd, mais laisse Pu inchangé. Ces résultats, couplés avec le gonflement cellulaire et la vacuolisation intracellulaire suggèrent la présence d'un défaut du mouvement transépithélial d'eau quelque part au delà de la membrane apicale de la cellule granulaire exposée au LiCl

Firm and industry effects on small, medium-sized and large firms’ performance

This paper examines whether or not the relative importance of the firm and industry effects in explaining performance variations is the same regardless of the firm size. In relation to size, we think that there has been particular neglect of studying medium-sized firms separately from SMEs in general. That is why we study separately large, medium-sized and small firms. We also contribute to knowledge on the firm-industry debate testing empirically both effects distinguishing the firms by size according to a standard classification in the EU. Our results show that the performances of large and small firms are mainly explained by the firm effect, albeit for different reasons, while the performance of medium-sized firms is explained primarily by the industry effect

Docker security in web simulation tools: a layered approach

International Conference on Wireless Networks and Mobile Communication (EUIWNMC), 26/08/2021-27/08/2021, Marrakesh, Marruecos.In this work, container security issues and strengths are studied using Docker as the main implementation. First, the container infrastructure is described and compared against the traditional approach of virtual machines. Secondly, the Docker containers security is discussed by the different infrastructure layers that compose them and different solutions are proposed to try to decrease the attack surface over this kind of applications.Universidad de Alcal

Texture analysis in gel electrophoresis images using an integrative kernel-based approach

[Abstract] Texture information could be used in proteomics to improve the quality of the image analysis of proteins separated on a gel. In order to evaluate the best technique to identify relevant textures, we use several different kernel-based machine learning techniques to classify proteins in 2-DE images into spot and noise. We evaluate the classification accuracy of each of these techniques with proteins extracted from ten 2-DE images of different types of tissues and different experimental conditions. We found that the best classification model was FSMKL, a data integration method using multiple kernel learning, which achieved AUROC values above 95% while using a reduced number of features. This technique allows us to increment the interpretability of the complex combinations of textures and to weight the importance of each particular feature in the final model. In particular the Inverse Difference Moment exhibited the highest discriminating power. A higher value can be associated with an homogeneous structure as this feature describes the homogeneity; the larger the value, the more symmetric. The final model is performed by the combination of different groups of textural features. Here we demonstrated the feasibility of combining different groups of textures in 2-DE image analysis for spot detection.Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI13/00280United Kingdom. Medical Research Council; G10000427, MC_UU_12013/8Galicia. Consellería de Economía e Industria; 10SIN105004P

Noise Profile Categorization for Noise Mapping in Cities: The Case of Cuenca (Spain)

According to the European Law, noise maps in cities have to be worked out and updated every 5 years. Because of this, it is interesting to establish new methodologies to develop and update the noise maps in a more efficient way. Although there are specific standards to carry out noise maps and a good practice guide was defined, there is not a common procedure in the definition of the noise map. In each research, a specific methodology is defined based on the experience of the researchers and the characteristics of the town. In this work, a methodology based on a street typology classification is proposed to be applied to noise maps. This methodology allows allocation of the mean power and the temporal behavior to each street from its characteristics and the time profiles measured with semi-permanent noise monitoring systems. The methodology was developed, tested, and validated in the city of Cuenca (Spain) and the results obtained are shown in this chapter

Towards a real-time susceptibility assessment of rainfall-induced shallow landslides on a regional scale

Abstract. In the framework of landslide risk management, it appears relevant to assess, both in space and in time, the triggering of rainfall-induced shallow landslides, in order to prevent damages due to these kind of disasters. In this context, the use of real-time landslide early warning systems has been attracting more and more attention from the scientific community. This paper deals with the application, on a regional scale, of two physically-based stability models: SLIP (Shallow Landslides Instability Prediction) and TRIGRS (Transient Rainfall Infiltration and Grid-based Regional Slope-stability analysis). A back analysis of some recent case-histories of soil slips which occurred in the territory of the central Emilian Apennine, Emilia Romagna Region (Northern Italy) is carried out and the main results are shown. The study area is described from geological and climatic viewpoints. The acquisition of geospatial information regarding the topography, the soil properties and the local landslide inventory is also explained. The paper outlines the main features of the SLIP model and the basic assumptions of TRIGRS. Particular attention is devoted to the discussion of the input data, which have been stored and managed through a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. Results of the SLIP model on a regional scale, over a one year time interval, are finally presented. The results predicted by the SLIP model are analysed both in terms of safety factor (Fs) maps, corresponding to particular rainfall events, and in terms of time-varying percentage of unstable areas over the considered time interval. The paper compares observed landslide localizations with those predicted by the SLIP model. A further quantitative comparison between SLIP and TRIGRS, both applied to the most important event occurred during the analysed period, is presented. The limits of the SLIP model, mainly due to some restrictions of simplifying the physically based relationships, are analysed in detail. Although an improvement, in terms of spatial accuracy, is needed, thanks to the fast calculation and the satisfactory temporal prediction of landslides, the SLIP model applied on the study area shows certain potential as a landslides forecasting tool on a regional scale

Liver X Receptor Activation with an Intranasal Polymer Therapeutic Prevents Cognitive Decline without Altering Lipid Levels

The progressive accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) in specific areas of the brain is a common prelude to late-onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although activation of liver X receptors (LXR) with agonists decreases Aβ levels and ameliorates contextual memory deficit, concomitant hypercholesterolemia/hypertriglyceridemia limits their clinical application. DMHCA (N,N-dimethyl-3β-hydroxycholenamide) is an LXR partial agonist that, despite inducing the expression of apolipoprotein E (main responsible of Aβ drainage from the brain) without increasing cholesterol/triglyceride levels, shows nil activity in vivo because of a low solubility and inability to cross the blood brain barrier. Herein, we describe a polymer therapeutic for the delivery of DMHCA. The covalent incorporation of DMHCA into a PEG-dendritic scaffold via carboxylate esters produces an amphiphilic copolymer that efficiently self-assembles into nanometric micelles that exert a biological effect in primary cultures of the central nervous system (CNS) and experimental animals using the intranasal route. After CNS biodistribution and effective doses of DMHCA micelles were determined in nontransgenic mice, a transgenic AD-like mouse model of cerebral amyloidosis was treated with the micelles for 21 days. The benefits of the treatment included prevention of memory deterioration and a significant reduction of hippocampal Aβ oligomers without affecting plasma lipid levels. These results represent a proof of principle for further clinical developments of DMHCA delivery systems.Fil: Navas Guimaraes, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Medicas. Instituto de Investigacion En Ciencias Biomedicas.; ArgentinaFil: Lopez Blanco, Roi. Universidad de Santiago de Compostela; EspañaFil: Correa, Juan. Universidad de Santiago de Compostela; EspañaFil: Fernandez Villamarin, Marcos. Universidad de Santiago de Compostela; EspañaFil: Bistue Millon, Maria Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Medicas. Instituto de Investigacion En Ciencias Biomedicas.; ArgentinaFil: Martino Adami, Pamela Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Morelli, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Kumar, Vijay. University of Colorado; Estados UnidosFil: Wempe, Michael F.. University of Colorado; Estados UnidosFil: Cuello, A. C.. McGill University; CanadáFil: Fernandez Megia, Eduardo. Universidad de Santiago de Compostela; EspañaFil: Bruno, Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Medicas. Instituto de Investigacion En Ciencias Biomedicas.; Argentin

Manufacturing Methods Based on Planar Circuits

Manufacture of hybrid 3D-planar circuits, especially those incorporating empty waveguides on substrates, can benefit from most standardized planar fabrication processes, although they are not exactly the same. For this reason, planar circuit manufacturing methods must be adapted to the requirements of these new circuits. Through numerous fabrications and successful designs, several enhancing strategies have been established to improve all the manufacturing phases to achieve better results. They all have been proved in the following substrate-integrated technologies for the manufacturing of microwave devices: ESIW, ESICL, continuous profile, and microstrip. Thanks to these improvements, good-quality prototypes such as transitions, filters, circulators, couplers, antennas, among others, have been fabricated. Throughout the next chapter, these strategies applied along the manufacturing process will be explained: from the first manufacturing phase to the final welding of the whole circuit and taking into account external elements such as wires that may be present in these structures. For this purpose, some devices that have been published will be used as examples