Spike-based VITE control with Dynamic Vision Sensor applied to an Arm Robot.

Spike-based motor control is very important in the field of robotics and also for the neuromorphic engineering community to bridge the gap between sensing / processing devices and motor control without losing the spike philosophy that enhances speed response and reduces power consumption. This paper shows an accurate neuro-inspired spike-based system composed of a DVS retina, a visual processing system that detects and tracks objects, and a SVITE motor control, where everything follows the spike-based philosophy. The control system is a spike version of the neuroinspired open loop VITE control algorithm implemented in a couple of FPGA boards: the first one runs the algorithm and the second one drives the motors with spikes. The robotic platform is a low cost arm with four degrees of freedom.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2009-10639-C04-02/01Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2012-37868-C04-02/0

Remolición del color de lodos provenientes de la industria texAspergillus sp., Lodo, Textil, Colorantes, Industria textil Textile industrytil por Aspergillus sp

The fungus Aspergillus sp was isolated from wastewater of the dying processes of the Colombian textile industry and it was used for azo, reactive, and disperses dye degradation. The biodegradation was done for a 10% dilution of initial sludge without any additional compounds and without initial pH control. The treatment with this microorganism provided an effi ciency of 80.55 % due to dye adsorption, besides it shown a pH decrease from 7.52 to 3.83 in 9 days.El hongo Aspergillus sp fue aislado del agua residual del procesode tintura de una Industria textil colombiana y utilizado para la degradación de colorantes azo, reactivos y dispersos; biodegradación que fue realizada para una dilución al 10% del lodo sin adición de ningún tipo de nutriente y sin ajuste de pH inicial. El tratamiento con este microorganismo proporcionó una efi ciencia de 80.55% debido a la adsorción de los colorantes, además presentó una disminución del pH desde 7.52 hasta 3.83 en un período de 9 días

Tendencies in medical publications

AbstractObjectivesTo describe the trends of research design in publications from high-impact medical journals.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted by searching the 2011 electronic publications of the journals: New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet, British Medical Journal, and Annals of Internal Medicine. Studies were classified as primary and secondary. The journal impact factor was taken from the Journal Citation Report website. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and interpret the data.ResultsWe analyzed 1130 publications: 804 primary and 326 secondary studies, which represented 71.2% and 28.8% of the total publications, respectively. Among the primary studies, randomized clinical trials (30.4%) were the most prevalent, followed by cohort studies (21.9%) and case reports (9.0%).ConclusionsThese findings can have implications in Evidence-Based Medicine programs. Literature review should focus on reviewing secondary articles first, then experimental studies and finally, observational studies

Study of the near infrared spectroscopy response to thiabendazole levels lower than the maximum residue limit on intact orange

[SPA] En la unión europea, todos los alimentos están sujetos a un límite máximo de residuos de plaguicidas (lmr) para evitar riesgos sobre la salud. El tiabendazol es un fungicida comúnmente aplicado en centrales hortofrutícolas, fijando un lmr de 5ppm en naranjas. En el presente trabajo, se estudió la viabilidad de aplicación de la espectroscopia de infrarrojo cercano (NIRS), obteniendo predicciones de tiabendazol sobre naranja intacta sobre niveles inferiores al LMR (0,2-3,9ppm). El colectivo experimental lo constituían naranjas lavadas con aplicación de tiabendazol en el agua de lavado, y naranjas a las que además se les aplicaron ceras. Se emplearon 3 estrategias para adquirir la información espectral: seis espectros obtenidos sobre puntos ecuatoriales, dos espectros obtenidos sobre la región de la base (extremo distal), y ocho espectros, suma de los anteriores. En el desarrollo de los modelos se emplearon regresiones múltiples PLS, utilizando 112 muestras con espectros del ecuador, e idénticos valores con la suma de la base y ecuador, descendiendo a 77 muestras, con los espectros de la base. Asimismo, se ensayaron combinaciones de tratamientos de derivadas y corrección de radiación dispersa sobre la señal espectroscópica. Según los resultados, los espectros del extremo distal (base) no fueron adecuados para predecir los niveles de tiabendazol planteados. En cambio, los modelos obtenidos con espectros del ecuador, o suma del ecuador y base, fueron válidos y similares. Los errores en calibración fueron ETC=0,3-0,36ppm, obteniendo un R2=0,83-0,79 respectivamente. La validación externa obtuvo unos valores de ETP=0,33-0,36ppm, y R2=0,85-0,73. De este modo, la tecnología NIRS permite cuantificar con buena precisión niveles de tiabendazol inferiores al LMR sobre naranja intacta. [ENG] In the European Union all food is subject to Maximun Residue Limit (MRL) to avoid health risks. Thiabendazole is a fungicide commonly applied in horticultural preparation centre, with a MRL of 5ppm in oranges. In the present study, the viability of near infrared spectroscopy has been studied, obtaining predictions of thiabendazole on intact oranges of lower levels of MRL (0,2-3,9ppm). The first experimental group of oranges was washed in water containing thiabendazole. The second group, were also treated with waxes. In order to obtain spectral information, three strategies were used: six spectra were obtained at equatorial points, two spectra were obtained on the base regions (distal extreme), and eight spectra, sum of the previous. There were used Modified Partial Least Squared Regressions (MPLSR) to develop the models, using 112 samples with the equatorial spectra, and identical values with the sum of the base region and equator, descending to 77 samples, with the base region spectra. Likewise, derivative treatment combinations and scatter corrections were practiced on the spectroscopy signal. It was concluded that the spectra on the base region were not adequate to predict the thiabendazole levels evaluated. On the other hand, that ones obtained with spectra on the equator, or sum of equator and base were high-quality. Calibration errors were SEC=0,3- 0,36ppm with R2=0,85-0,73 respectively. So that, NIRS technology is an accurate tool to quantify the thiabendazole levels lower than MRL on intact orange.Este trabajo ha sido financiado con los fondos del proyecto INIA, RTA 2005-00043-00-00

Arc-parallel vs back-arc extension in the Western Gibraltar arc : is the Gibraltar forearc still active?

Extremely tight arcs, framed within the Eurasia-Africa convergence region, developed during the Neogene on both sides of the western Mediterranean. A complex interplate deformation zone has been invoked to explain their structural trend-line patterns, the shortening directions and the development of back-arc basins. Updated structural and kinematic maps, combined with earthquake data covering the complete hinge zone of the western Gibraltar arc help us to explore the mode of strain partitioning from 25My ago to present. During the Miocene, the strain partitioning pattern showed arc-perpendicular shortening in the active orogenic wedge -assessed from the radial pattern of tectonic transport directions- accompained by subhorizontal stretching. Structures accommodating stretching fall into two categories on the basis of their space distribution and their relationships with the structural trend-line pattern: i) arc-parallel stretching structures in the external wedge (mainly normal faults and conjugate strike-slip faults); and ii) extensional faults developed in the hinterland zone in which transport directions are centripetal towards the Alborán back-arc basin. Pliocene to Recent deformational structures together with focal solutions from crustal earthquakes (n=167; 1.

Jaw biodynamic data for 24 patients with chronic unilateral temporomandibular disorder

This study assessed 24 adult patients, suffering from severe chronic unilateral pain diagnosed as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder (TMD). The full dentate patients had normal occlusion and had never received an occlusal therapy, i.e., were with natural dental evolution/maturation. The following functional and dynamic factors were assessed: (1) chewing function; (2) TMJ remodeling or the condylar path (CP); and (3) lateral jaw motion or lateral guidance (LG). CPs were assessed using conventional axiography, and LG was assessed by K7 jaw tracking. Seventeen (71%) of the 24 (100%) patients consistently showed a habitual chewing side. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) of the CP angles was 47.90 (9.24) degrees. The mean (SD) of the LG angles was 42.95 (11.78) degrees. Data collection emerged from the conception of a new TMD paradigm where the affected side could be the habitual chewing side, the side with flatter lateral jaw motion or the side with an increased CP angle. These data may lead to improved diagnosis, therapy plans and evolution in TMD patients

Preventing and addressing the stress reactions of health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19: Development of a digital platform (Be + against COVID)

Background: COVID-19 became a major public health concern in March 2020. Due to the high rate of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in a short time, health care workers and other involved staff are subjected to a large workload and high emotional distress. Objective: The objective of this study is to develop a digital tool to provide support resources that might prevent and consider acute stress reactions in health care workers and other support staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The contents of the digital platform were created through an evidence-based review and consensus conference. The website was built using the Google Blogger tool. The Android version of the app was developed in the Java and XML languages using Android Studio version 3.6, and the iOS version was developed in the Swift language using Xcode version 11.5. The app was evaluated externally by the Andalusian Agency for Healthcare Quality. Results: We detected the needs and pressing situations of frontline health care workers, and then, we proposed a serial of recommendations and support resources to address them. These resources were redesigned using the feedback received. A website in three different languages (Spanish, English, and Portuguese) and a mobile app were developed with these contents, and the AppSaludable Quality Seal was granted to the app. A specific self-report scale to measure acute stress and additional tools were included to support the health care workforce. This instrument has been used in several Latin American countries and has been adapted considering cultural differences. The resources section of the website was the most visited with 18, 516 out of 68, 913 (26.9%) visits, and the “Self-Report Acute Stress Scale” was the most visited resource with 6468 out of 18, 516 (34.9%) visits. Conclusions: The Be + against COVID platform (website and app) was developed and launched to offer a pool of recommendations and support resources, which were specifically designed to protect the psychological well-being and the work morale of health care workers. This is an original initiative different from the usual psychological assistance hotlines

Microwave-induced covalent functionalization of few-layer graphene with arynes under solvent-free conditions

A non-conventional modification of exfoliated few-layer graphene (FLG) with different arynes under microwave (MW) irradiation and solvent-free conditions is reported. The described approach allows reaching fast, efficient and mild covalent functionalization of FLG.M. P. is the recipient of the AXA Chair (2016-2023). This work was supported by the EU H2020-Adhoc-2014-20 Graphene Core1 (no. 696656)S

Ultrasonic monitoring of iberian fat crystallization during cold storage

[EN] The aim of this work was to evaluate the use of ultrasonic measurements to characterize the crystallization process and to assess the textural changes of Iberian fat and Iberian ham during cold storage. The ultrasonic velocity was measured in two types of Iberian fats (Montanera and Cebo) during cold storage (0, 2, 5, 7 and 10 ºC) and in vacuum packaged Iberian ham stored at 6ºC for 120 days. The fatty acid profile, thermal behaviour and textural properties of fat were determined. The ultrasonic velocity and textural measurements showed a two step increase during cold storage, which was related with the separate crystallization of two fractions of triglycerides. It was observed that the harder the fat, the higher the ultrasonic velocity. Likewise, Cebo fat resulted harder than Montanera due to a higher content of saturated triglycerides. The ultrasonic velocity in Iberian ham showed an average increase of 55 m/s after 120 days of cold storage due to fat crystallization. Thus, non-destructive ultrasonic technique could be a reliable method to follow the crystallization of fats and to monitor the changes in the textural properties of Iberian ham during cold storage.Corona Jimenez, E.; García Pérez, JV.; Santacatalina Bonet, JV.; Peña Cerveró, R.; Benedito Fort, JJ. (2012). Ultrasonic monitoring of iberian fat crystallization during cold storage. IOP: Materials Science and Engineering. 42:9-12. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/42/1/012035S91242Niñoles, L., Clemente, G., Ventanas, S., & Benedito, J. (2007). Quality assessment of Iberian pigs through backfat ultrasound characterization and fatty acid composition. Meat Science, 76(1), 102-111. doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2006.10.018Santacatalina, J. V., Garcia-Perez, J. V., & Benedito, E. C., J. (2011). Ultrasonic monitoring of lard crystallization during storage. Food Research International, 44(1), 146-155. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2010.10.048Himawan, C., Starov, V. M., & Stapley, A. G. F. (2006). Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of fat crystallization. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 122(1-3), 3-33. doi:10.1016/j.cis.2006.06.01

Powerful Radio Sources in the Southern Sky. III. First Results of the Optical Spectroscopic Campaign

We recently built the G4Jy-3CRE catalog of extragalactic radio sources. This catalog lists 264 powerful radio sources selected with similar criteria to those of the revised Third Cambridge Catalog, but visible from the Southern Hemisphere. A literature search revealed that 119 sources in the G4Jy-3CRE catalog (i.e., 45%) lack a firm spectroscopic redshift measurement. Here, we present a campaign aimed at acquiring optical spectra of G4Jy-3CRE sources and measuring their redshifts. We used single-slit observations obtained with the Víctor Blanco Telescope, the New Technology Telescope, the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope, and the 2.1 m telescope of the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional at San Pedro Mártir, Mexico. In addition, we analyzed Very Large Telescope/MUSE archival observations. From these observations, we report the spectra and redshifts of 93 sources, 42 of which are the first optical spectra and redshift determinations for the respective sources. With our new data, approximately 71% of the sources in the G4Jy-3CRE catalog now have firm spectroscopic redshift measurements. This data set will be the basis of our future analysis of the optical properties of the G4Jy-3CRE catalog