Preliminary design of the autopilot of an autonomous apping wing micro air vehicle

This Bachelor's Thesis studies the implementation of machine learning for the preliminary design of the autopilot of a MAV apping wing vehicle. For this purpose, reinforcement learning is applied in this study through the development of a Q-learning algorithm. Due to the complexity that a apping wing vehicle presents, the aim of this project is to design an autopilot that is able to reach longitudinal control of a vehicle whose aerodynamic model is almost unknown. In order to develop a tool that accounts for complete longitudinal control, intermediate autopilot designs have been carried out so that the introduction of degrees of freedom to the problem has been gradual. Throughout the project, there is special concern about the development of a time and cost effective tool.Ingeniería Aeroespacial (Plan 2010

Influence of obesity on microarchitecture and biomechanical properties in patients with hip fracture.

La obesidad y la osteoporosis (OP) son dos patologías muy prevalentes en nuestra sociedad actual. El efecto de la obesidad sobre la calidad ósea se encuentra en debate en la actualidad. Objetivo: Valorar el efecto del peso corporal sobre la microestructura y las propiedades biomecánicas de hueso trabecular procedente de biopsias de extremidad proximal de fémur de pacientes con fractura de cadera por fragilidad. Material y método: Estudio transversal de 16 pacientes con fractura de cadera. 2 grupos según su IMC: (A) sujetos normopeso y (B) con obesidad. Recogimos biopsias de hueso trabecular de cabeza femoral. Valoramos determinaciones bioquímicas (PTH, 25(OH) vitamina D e IGF-1), marcadores de remodelado óseo (PINP,CTX), masa ósea (DMO cuello y cadera total), microestructura ósea y estudio biomecánico (µCt). El análisis estadístico: t-Student (SPSS 22.0) significación p<0,05. Resultados: Todos los pacientes presentaron DMO de cadera en rango osteoporótico. El grupo de obesos presentó niveles superiores de PTH e inferiores de IGF-1, vitamina D y PINP. No encontramos diferencias en los parámetros relacionados con el metabolismo óseo. El grupo de obesos presentó mejores índices microestructurales alcanzando la significación: mayor volumen óseo (BV/TV: 36,6±12,7 vs. 19,4±11,4%, BS/TV: 5,5±1,1 vs. 3,9±1,3%), mayor número de trabéculas (Tb.N: 1,6±0,4 vs. 1,01±0,4), mayor anchura de trabéculas (Tb.Th: 0,22±0,003 vs. 0,17±0,05) y menor separación trabecular (Tb.Sp: 0,51±0,12 vs. 0,66±0,16). Los parámetros biomecánicos confirman una mayor resistencia del hueso trabecular en pacientes obesos. Conclusión: La obesidad puede ser un factor protector de la calidad ósea en la región femoral y tiene menos efecto sobre la densidad mineral ósea.Obesity and osteoporosis (OP) are two very prevalent diseases in our society today. The effect of obesity on bone quality is currently a subject under discussion. Objective: To assess the effect of body weight on the microstructure and biomechanical properties of trabecular bone biopsies from the proximal end of the femur in patients with hip fracture fragility. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study of 16 patients with hip fracture. The 2 groups are divided according to their BMI: (A) normal weight individuals and (B) those with obesity. We collected biopsies of cancellous bone from the femoral head and assessed biochemical determinations (PTH, 25 (OH) vitamin D and IGF-1), bone remodeling markers (PINP, CTX), bone mass (BMD neck and total hip), bone microstructure and biomechanical study (µCt). Statistical analysis: Student's t test (SPSS 22.0) significance p<0.05. Results: All patients had hip BMD in osteoporotic range. The obese group had higher levels of PTH and lower IGF-1, vitamin D and PINP. We found no differences in the parameters related to bone metabolism. The obese group showed better indices reaching microstructural significance: increased bone volume (BV/TV: 36.6±12.7 vs 19.4±11.4%, BS/TV: 5.5±1.1 vs 3.9±1.3%), higher trabecular number (Tb.N: 1.6±0.4 vs 1,01±0,4), greater trabecular width (Tb.Th: 0.22±0.003 vs 0.17±0.05) and lower trabecular separation (Tb.Sp: 0.51±0.12 vs 0.66±0.16). Biomechanical parameters confirm greater strength of trabecular bone in obese patients. Conclusion: Obesity may be a protective factor of bone quality in the femoral region and has less effect on bone mineral density

Influence of vitamin D on biomechanical microstructure and properties of patients with hip fracture.

Valorar niveles séricos de 25-hidroxivitamina D -25(OH)D-, hormonas con influencia sobre el metabolismo óseo (parathormona -PTH- y factor de crecimiento insulínico -IGF-I-), marcadores de remodelado óseo (MRO) (telopéptido carboxilo-terminal del colágeno tipo I -β-CTX- y propéptido aminoterminal del procolágeno tipo I -PINP-), densidad mineral ósea (DMO), microestructura y biomecánica de cuello de fémur, en pacientes con fractura de cadera osteoporótica (OP) vs. pacientes artrósicos (OA). Material y métodos: Estudio observacional transversal de 29 pacientes OP y 14 OA, edad ≥50 años. Cuantificamos niveles séricos hormonales y MRO (inmunoensayo), DMO de cadera (DXA), microestructura (micro-CT) y biomecánica (ensayos de compresión uniaxial, sistema IGFA). Análisis estadístico (SPSS 20.0.) Resultados: Los pacientes OP presentaron niveles inferiores de 25(OH)D (p=0,02) y DMO de cadera (p<0,05), y superiores de PTH (p=0,029) y de β-CTX (p=0,04). Los niveles de 25(OH)D se correlacionaron positivamente con IGF-I (p=0,04) y negativamente con β-CTX (p=0,003). Los valores de PTH se correlacionaron negativamente con DMO de cadera (p=0,0005) y positivamente con la separación trabecular (Tb.Th) (p=0,006). Los pacientes con niveles de 25(OH)D <20 ng/mL presentaron niveles mayores de β-CTX (p=0,006), menores de IGF-I (p=0,007) y Tb.Th (p=0,04). Conclusiones: Los niveles de vitamina D son bajos en población anciana, sobre todo en pacientes con fractura de cadera osteoporótica. Además, en estos pacientes existen niveles elevados de PTH y MRO y descendidos de DMO. Los pacientes cuyos niveles de 25(OH)D son inferiores a 20 ng/mL presentan un remodelado óseo más elevado, con menores niveles de IGF-I y alteraciones de la estructura ósea (Tb.Th) que puedan estar en relación con un mayor riesgo de fracturas.To assess serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-25 (OH) D-hormones with influence on bone metabolism (parathormone -PTH- and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I), bone remodeling markers (BRM) (carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I-β-CTX- and amino-peptide pro-peptide of procollagen type I -PINP), bone mineral density (BMD), microstructure and biomechanics of the femoral neck, in patients with osteoporotic hip fracture (OH) versus arthritic patients (OA). Material and methods: A cross-sectional observational study of 29 OH and 14 OA, age ≥50 years. We quantified hormonal serum levels and BRM (immunoassay), hip BMD (DXA), microstructure (micro-CT) and biomechanics (uniaxial compression tests, IGFA system). Analysis (SPSS 20.0.) Results: OH patients had lower levels of 25(OH)D (p=0.02) and hip BMD (p<0.05), and higher PTH (p=0.029) and β-CTX (p=0.04). Levels of 25(OH)D correlated positively with IGF-I (p=0.04) and negatively with β-CTX (p=0.003). The PTH values were correlated negatively with hip BMD (p=0.0005) and positively with trabecular thickness (TbTh) (p=0.006). Patients with 25(OH)D <20 ng/mL presented higher levels of β-CTX (p=0.006), lower IGF-I (p=0.007) and TbTh (p=0.04). Conclusions: Vitamin D levels are low in the elderly population, especially in patients with osteoporotic hip fracture. These patients also presented raised levels of PTH and BRM and descended from BMD. Patients whose 25(OH)D levels are below 20 ng/mL present higher bone remodeling, with lower levels of IGF-I and alterations of the bone structure (TbTh) that may be linked to a greater risk of fractures

The influence of macroeconomic factors on personal income distribution in developing countries: a parametric modelling approach

This article examines the influence of macroeconomic factors on personal income distribution in developing countries using a parametric modelling approach. The technique is based on the selection and estimation of a theoretical parametric model (a Dagum distribution) which fits accurately to the empirical income distributions of the countries examined. The parameters of the model specifically related to inequality are subsequently used as dependent variables in econometric models in order to examine the impact that certain macroeconomic variables (GDP growth, inflation, employment and real interest rates) have on inequality. The results reveal that GDP growth, employment rate and real interest rate are the macroeconomic factors with greater impact in shaping personal income distribution in developing countries.This study benefits from funding support of the projects CSO2011-29943-C03-02 of the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte and ECO2012-32178 of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain and of the Instituto de Estudios Fiscales

La modelización paramétrica de las distribuciones salariales

En este artículo se modeliza mediante modelos paramétricos la distribución salarial en España a partir de los microdatos de la Encuesta de Estructura Salarial. La evidencia obtenida corrobora que, de forma similar a otros ámbitos de análisis en la literatura económica, estas técnicas de modelización son también apropiadas y útiles en el caso de las distribuciones salariales. Entre los principales hallazgos destaca asimismo el hecho de que la distribución beta generalizada de segunda especie es el modelo teórico que mejor se ajusta a la distribución salarial empírica de la economía española.In this article the wage distribution in Spain is modelled using parametric models and microdata from the Encuesta de Estructura Salarial. Our evidence corroborates that, as in other areas in the economic literature, these modelling techniques are also appropriate and useful in the case of wage distributions. An additional noteworthy finding is that the generalized beta distribution of the second kind is the theoretical model that better fits the empirical wage distribution of the Spanish economy.Este trabajo se ha beneficiado de la financiación procedente de los proyectos ECO2012-32178 del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad y CSO2011-29943-C03-02 del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte

Multidimensional measurement of precarious employment using hedonic weights: Evidence from Spain

This article examines the evolution of employment precariousness in Spain based on a new method of constructing multidimensional precarious measures. This methodology resembles the one proposed by Alkire and Foster (2007, 2011) for multidimensional poverty in the framework of the counting approach. The main novelty of the approach adopted resides in the use of hedonic weights derived from the subjective evaluation by employees for the selection of the different dimensions of jobs that make up multidimensional precariousness and the quantification of their relative influence. The evidence obtained reveals that the precariousness of employment created in Spain has intensified significantly in recent years and that the strong temporary nature of employment is the most salient component of this precariousness from a multidimensional perspective.This work was supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Agencia Estatal de Investigación, AEI) and ERDF (European Union) under grant CSO2017‐86474‐R, by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under grants CSO2014-55780-C3-2-P and ECO2016-77900-P and by the Autonomous Community of Madrid and European Commission (Project S2015/HUM-3416-DEPOPOR-CM)

A stochastic dominance approach to evaluating pro-poor growth—An application to the Spanish case

Producción CientíficaIn this paper, we analyze, in a novel way, the nature of economic growth in Spain after the Great Recession, in relation to its effect on poverty reduction. We use a statistical test to analyze the pro-poorness nature of economic growth using a stochastic dominance approach, not used in this context so far. We decompose changes in the difference in generalized Lorenz ordinates into a growth effect and an inequality effect and apply this to formal Spanish income data statistical tests based on dominance methods. We found that growth was pro-poor in Spain as a whole between 2013 and 2017. As regards regional growth effects, we conclude that growth was weakly pro-poor in seven of Spain’s 17 regions, it was neither pro-poor nor anti-poor in nine regions, and only weakly anti-poor in one region.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (project ECO2016-77900-P)Consejería de Educación, Cultura y Deportes de Castilla-La Mancha (project SBPLY/19/180501/000132)Comunidad de Madrid (project H2019/HUM-5793-OPINBI

Personalized rule-based closed-loop control algorithm for type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes-mellitus implies a life-threatening absolute insulin deficiency. Artificial pancreas (CGM sensor, insulin pump and control algorithm) is promising to outperform current open-loop therapies

In Times of Crisis, a New Category of Social Assistance User: The Example of Jerez de la Frontera

The economic crisis produced increases in levels of poverty and a worsening in social welfare for the population of Jerez de la Frontera. The objective of this research is, therefore, to deepen our understanding of poverty in this particular municipality and determine if the crisis affected the characteristics of social services users and their territorial distribution in the city. This has involved the use of stratified sampling techniques and a questionnaire applied to the population under analysis. The results confirm the existence of a new category of social assistance claimant, as well as new regional areas affected by poverty.14 página