Lab on fiber technology: a nanospectroscopic approach for biochemical sensing

169 p.Hoy en día, gracias al uso de fibras ópticas, el desarrollo de sensores bioquímicos económicos y de altas prestaciones capaces de realizar medidas en tiempo real es posible, modificando esta tecnología por la tradicional basada en equipamientos caros, grandes y complejos. Por esta razón, en esta tesis hemos desarrollado un sensor mediante nanopartículas de oro inmovilizadas en la cara de una fibra óptica. El sensor que proponemos combina las ventajas de las fibras ópticas con el efecto plasmón de las nanopartículas, que proporcionan gran sensibilidad a cambios en el medio externo. Sin embargo, la mayor novedad que esta tesis proporciona es el uso de la nano-espectroscopia. Esta técnica se basa en hacer coincidir las frecuencias de resonancia de las nanopartículas con el elemento bioquímico que se quiera detectar, consiguiendo altos niveles de selectividad y sensibilidad, en contraposición con los métodos convencionales que se basan en medir cambios en longitud de onda de la frecuencia de resonancia de las nanopartículas. Para demostrar la validez de la nano-espectroscopia en la punta de una fibra óptica, se han realizado medidas para detectar iones de cobre (II) y Citocromo c, consiguiendo unos límites de detección varios órdenes de magnitud por debajo de los sensores basados en nano-espectroscopia mediante microscopios. Además, esta tesis contribuye también a un mayor entendimientodel proceso de inmovilización de las nanopartículas en la fibra óptica gracias a la amplia caracterizaciónque se ha realizado

Lab on fiber technology: a nanospectroscopic approach for biochemical sensing

169 p.Hoy en día, gracias al uso de fibras ópticas, el desarrollo de sensores bioquímicos económicos y de altas prestaciones capaces de realizar medidas en tiempo real es posible, modificando esta tecnología por la tradicional basada en equipamientos caros, grandes y complejos. Por esta razón, en esta tesis hemos desarrollado un sensor mediante nanopartículas de oro inmovilizadas en la cara de una fibra óptica. El sensor que proponemos combina las ventajas de las fibras ópticas con el efecto plasmón de las nanopartículas, que proporcionan gran sensibilidad a cambios en el medio externo. Sin embargo, la mayor novedad que esta tesis proporciona es el uso de la nano-espectroscopia. Esta técnica se basa en hacer coincidir las frecuencias de resonancia de las nanopartículas con el elemento bioquímico que se quiera detectar, consiguiendo altos niveles de selectividad y sensibilidad, en contraposición con los métodos convencionales que se basan en medir cambios en longitud de onda de la frecuencia de resonancia de las nanopartículas. Para demostrar la validez de la nano-espectroscopia en la punta de una fibra óptica, se han realizado medidas para detectar iones de cobre (II) y Citocromo c, consiguiendo unos límites de detección varios órdenes de magnitud por debajo de los sensores basados en nano-espectroscopia mediante microscopios. Además, esta tesis contribuye también a un mayor entendimientodel proceso de inmovilización de las nanopartículas en la fibra óptica gracias a la amplia caracterizaciónque se ha realizado

Policy and Environmental Implications of Photovoltaic Systems in Farming in Southeast Spain: Can Greenhouses Reduce the Greenhouse Effect?

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have grown in popularity in the farming sector, primarily because land area and farm structures themselves, such as greenhouses, can be exploited for this purpose, and, moreover, because farms tend to be located in rural areas far from energy production plants. In Spain, despite being a country with enormous potential for this renewable energy source, little is being done to exploit it, and policies of recent years have even restricted its implementation. These factors constitute an obstacle, both for achieving environmental commitments and for socioeconomic development. This study proposes the installation of PV systems on greenhouses in southeast Spain, the location with the highest concentration of greenhouses in Europe. Following a sensitivity analysis, it is estimated that the utilization of this technology in the self-consumption scenario at farm level produces increased profitability for farms, which can range from 0.88% (worst scenario) to 52.78% (most favorable scenario). Regarding the Spanish environmental policy, the results obtained demonstrate that the impact of applying this technology mounted on greenhouses would bring the country 38% closer to reaching the 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) target. Furthermore, it would make it possible to nearly achieve the official commitment of 20% renewable energies by 2020. Additionally, it would have considerable effects on the regional socioeconomy, with increases in job creation and contribution to gross domestic product (GDP)/R&D (Research and Development), allowing greater profitability in agrifood activities throughout the entire region

Game-related statistics that discriminated winning and losing teams from the spanish mens professional basketball teams

The purpose of the present study was to analyse men’s basketball competitions, trying to identify which game-related statistics allow to discriminate winning and losing teams. The sample used corresponded to 306 games from the 2004– 2005 Regular Season of the Spanish Men’s Professional League. The game-related statistics gathered were: 2 and 3 points field-goals (both successful and unsuccessful), free-throws (both successful and unsuccessful), offensive and defensive rebounds, blocks, assists, fouls, turnovers and steals. The data were analysed in two groups: balanced games (final score differences equal or below 12 points) and unbalanced games (final score differences above 12 points). Discriminant analysis allowed to conclude the following: (i) in balanced games, the variable that best differentiate both groups were the defensive rebounds; (ii) in unbalanced games, the variables that discriminate between both groups were the successful 2 points field-goals, the defensive rebounds and the assists; and (iii) in all games, the statistical analysis identified two variables that discriminate winning and losing teams (defensive rebounds and assists). The defensive rebounds were the only game-related statistic that discriminates both groups in all performed analysis. Coaches and players should be aware of these different profiles in order to increase knowledge about game cognitive and motor solicitation and, therefore, to enhance specificity at the time of practice and game planning

Conventional Industrial Robotics Applied to the Process of Tomato Grafting Using the Splicing Technique

Horticultural grafting is routinely performed manually, demanding a high degree of concentration and requiring operators to withstand extreme humidity and temperature conditions. This article presents the results derived from adapting the splicing technique for tomato grafting, characterized by the coordinated work of two conventional anthropomorphic industrial robots with the support of low-cost passive auxiliary units for the transportation, handling, and conditioning of the seedlings. This work provides a new approach to improve the efficiency of tomato grafting. Six test rates were analyzed, which allowed the system to be evaluated across 900 grafted units, with gradual increases in the speed of robots work, operating from 80 grafts/hour to over 300 grafts/hour. The results obtained show that a higher number of grafts per hour than the number manually performed by skilled workers could be reached easily, with success rates of approximately 90% for working speeds around 210–240 grafts/hour

Game location influences basketball players performance across playing positions.

Home advantage in sport has been the subject of much empirical work, although the 3 causes underlying this effect are still unclear. In team sports such as Basketball, available 4 literature has analyzed home versus away performances at a team level. The present study 5 investigated the presence of home advantage at the level of the individual player’s position. It 6 also attempted to identify a subset of game-related statistics that could discriminate home and 7 away performances according to each player’s position. To achieve these aims, archival data 8 were obtained from 225 games for the 2004-2005 Euroleague. Players were subdivided so 9 that the “point guards” and “offguards” were pooled as guards (n=493), the “small forwards” 10 and “power forwards” were grouped as forwards (n=485) and the centres (n=233). A 2x3 11 (game location: home and away; playing position: guards, forwards and centres) factorial 12 MANOVA followed by a discriminant analysis was performed. For the guards, the 13 discriminant function was significant and the game-related statistics that differentiated most 14 home and away performances were the successful two point field-goals, defensive rebounds, 15 assists, steals, blocks and committed fouls. The forwards’ home and away performances were 16 discriminated by successful free-throws, assists, steals, blocks and committed fouls. The 17 function for centres was non significant. Results suggested a differential effect of home 18 advantage in basketball players by role in the team, with guards from home teams playing 19 more assertively, whereas in away teams forwards played more assertively. These results 20 provide initial evidence to support a position specific approach when preparing for home and 21 away games in team sports

Analysis of shooting effectiveness and decision-making during shooting according to basket height modifications at the youth stage

The aim of the present study was to identify the effect of a basketball unit of work that modifies the height of the hoop on the shooting effectiveness, the shooting decision-making process, and the ball possessions ending with a shot. The study was a cuasiexperiment with control and experimental groups measured pre and post intervention. The basketball unit of work was composed of 10 lessons that were applied to a sample of 74 students (14 years old). Control group received the lessons with the regular height of the basket (3.05m) and the experimental group received the lessons with variations in the height of the basket according to each task. The evaluation task was a 3 vs. 3 game situation. The results showed that experimental group increased the number of shots, the shooting effectiveness, as well as the decision-making process related to shooting action. The results enhance the need to modify and adapt the basketball height to the tasks and exercises specificity, and then to improve the shooting efficiency and effectiveness.El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificar el efecto de una unidad didáctica de baloncesto en la que se modifica la altura del aro sobre la efectividad de tiro, el proceso de toma de toma de decisiones, y el número de fases de ataque que finalizan en lanzamiento. El estudio fue estudio cuasi-experimental con grupo control y experimental medidos antes y después de la intervención. La unidad didáctica de baloncesto se compone de 10 sesiones que se aplicaron a una muestra de 74 estudiantes (14 años). El grupo control recibió las sesiones con la canasta a una altura normal de (3.05m) y el grupo experimental recibió las sesiones con variaciones en la altura de la canasta de acuerdo a cada tarea. La tarea de evaluación era una situación de juego 3 vs 3. Los resultados mostraron que el grupo experimental aumentó el número de lanzamientos, el número de fases de ataque que finalizan en lanzamiento, así como el proceso de toma de decisiones relacionadas con el lanzamiento. Los resultados señalan la necesidad de modificar y adaptar la altura de baloncesto a las tareas y ejercicios, para mejorar la eficiencia y eficacia del lanzamiento en baloncesto

Analysis of shooting effectiveness in elite basketball according to match status

The aim of the present study was to identify the importance of performance indicators to predict shooting effectiveness in basketball according to match status. The sample was composed by 510 shots corresponding to n=10 games randomly selected from the FIBA Basketball World Cup (Turkey, 2010). The effects of the predictor variables on successful shots according to match status were analysed using Binomial Logistic Regressions. Results from balanced match status context allowed identifying significant interactions with shooting zone and previous action zones. On the other hand, results from unbalanced match status context allowed identifying interactions with passes used, shooting zone, and possession duration. The results showed no interaction with game period situational variable. The present findings allow improving coaches' plan and tasks that involve game constraints of the identified game scenarios.El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificar la importancia de los indicadores de rendimiento que permiten predecir la efectividad del lanzamiento en baloncesto en función del marcador parcial de juego. La muestra estaba compuesta por 510 lanzamientos correspondientes a 10 partidos seleccionados de manera aleatoria del Campeonato del Mundo de baloncesto (FIBA, Turquía, 2010). Los efectos de las variables predictoras en el éxito del lanzamiento se analizaron utilizando la regresión logística binomial. Los resultados con marcadores equilibrados identificaron interacciones significativas con la zona de tiro y la zona de juego de la acción previa al lanzamiento. Por otro lado, los resultados de los marcadores desequilibrados mostraron interacciones significativas con los pases utilizados, la zona de tiro y la duración de la posesión. Los resultados no mostraron interacciones significativas con la variable situacional periodo de juego. Los resultados obtenidos permiten mejorar el diseño de tareas de entrenamiento y control de competición mediante la modificación de las variables de juego en base a los resultados obtenidos

Study of the defensive performance indicators in peak performance basketball

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the different defensive performance indicators in basketball, analyzing the difference in relation to success (efficacious or non-efficacious defenses) and the game result (win or loss). All halfcourt offenses (n=1045) from the quarterfinal, semifinal, consolation game, and final of the 2008 Olympics Games were analyzed. In each defense phase, the following variables were analyzed with regard to the team on defense: (1) Type of defense used, (2) Pressure in offense transition, (3) Defensive switches, (4) Helping on defense, (5) Inside passes, (6) Degree of opposition when shooting, (7) Points allowed, (8) Final result of the game, and (9) Defensive efficacy. The most significant results show that: : a) the type of defense that was most used was quarter-court man-on-man (man-on-man at 6.25m), but the one that was most efficacious was the half-court zone defense; b) transition pressure was used in 23.83% of the game phases; c) defensive switches were done in 7.85% of the game phases; d) helping on defense was used in 60% of the game phases; e) inside passes were taken in 30.9% of the game phases; f) 38.9% of the shots were done with high opposition; and g) points were scored in 42.28% of the game phases, such that winning teams allowed the opponent to score in 38.81% of the game phases, and losing teams in 45.77%

Modelización automática de problemas de redes de distribución mediante tecnología JAVA

Esta comunicación presenta un programa informático desarrollado para el tratamiento gráfico de problemas de redes de distribución y su modelización de forma automática en los lenguajes de algunos de los programas de investigación operativa más conocidos y utilizados. El programa ha sido desarrollado utilizando el lenguaje de programación Java, por lo que puede ser utilizado a través de Internet. Mediante una interfase gráfica muy intuitiva, el usuario puede diseñar la red de transporte, estableciendo los valores de los diferentes parámetros del problema y variando determinadas características del mismo. Una vez diseñada la topología de la red, el software genera código fuente que puede ser utilizado directamente en programas tales como Lindo, Lingo, Gams, Mathematica,... Igualmente, tiene la posibilidad de generar un documento LaTeX con la explicación del modelo obtenido