Design and characterization of a low voltage CMOS ASIC for medical instrumentation

The acquisition of biomedical signals requires analogue to digital converters of high resolution, low voltage of power and low consumption. The solution for this need is the use of new sigma delta conversion architectures such as the one tested in this Bachelor Thesis. This work covers the design of the instrumentation necessary for the operation of Application-Specific Integrated Circuit Sigma Delta Analog-to-Digital Converter (ASIC ADC) that is already manufactured and its integration into a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). It also includes the development of the necessary software that facilitates the accomplishment of the necessary tests and the analysis of the data that will allow to characterize the operation of the fabricated prototype. Finally, the results and conclusions of the project will be described. The ASIC to be tested in this Bachelor Thesis consists of a180-nm Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) bandpass ADC developed to fulfil the specifications of a fully-integrated receiver for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Integrating an integrated CMOS receiver into a single chip will help improve image quality by avoiding the use of many coaxial cables that are used to connect the Radio Frequency (RF) coils to the scanning hardware. The proposal made is a very simple Low-IF receiver characteristics in which a continuous time Low-IF bandpass ADC is the most efficient architecture. The circuit in continuous time replaces the classic filter only thus, an anti-alias filter would be necessary. In addition, the bandpass filter assists in the attenuation of the quantization noise in the bandwidth of interest, while at the same time the stability of the system is easily achieved due to the selected Low-IF.Ingeniería Biomédic

Nuevas estrategias en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la asignatura Experimentación Química II del Grado en Ingeniería Química Industrial

El trabajo realizado durante el desarrollo del ciclo de mejora experimentado en la asignatura Experimentación en Química II se ha centrado en dos pilares fundamentales: 1) Interconexión de los contenidos teórico-prácticos de modo que el conocimiento que se construya sea un conocimiento con cimientos sólidos, constituido por experiencias que se retroalimentan. 2) Implicación del alumno en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. El ciclo de mejora está diseñado con la idea de mantener la motivación y la participación del alumnado a lo largo de este proceso mediante la realización de un trabajo- esfuerzo constante que permita la asimilación de los principios básicos de la asignatura

Fiscalidad en el ámbito inversor. Estudio sobre la vivienda, acciones y criptomonedas

[Resumen]: Existen multitud de activos en los que una persona puede invertir, pero resulta inviable hablar de todos ellos en este trabajo. Por ello se seleccionaron tres: la vivienda, las acciones, y las criptomonedas. El objeto de estudio es hacer una comparativa de los sistemas fiscales de Estados Unidos y Japón con el sistema tributario español (nacional). Este trabajo se va a centrar en la tributación de los siguientes hechos: (1) adquisición, arrendamiento y transmisión onerosa de las viviendas; (2) adquisición, participación en el reparto de beneficios de una sociedad anónima, y transmisión con ánimo de lucro de acciones; (3) adquisición, e intercambio de criptomonedas con otras monedas virtuales y con otras monedas de curso legal. La gran mayoría de rendimientos obtenidos por un inversor particular tributan en el correspondiente Impuesto sobre la Renta de cada país. Existen muchas similitudes entre los tres impuestos análogos; lo que Japón y Estados Unidos denominan como ingresos ordinarios, en España son los rendimientos que van a la base imponible general, aunque existe mucha casuística al respecto. Los tipos a aplicar son distintos y habría que precisar en cada caso cuál es el gravamen concreto, lo que dificulta expresar en pocas líneas esta comparativa de países.[Abstract]: There are a multitude of assets in which a person can invest, but it is not viable to discuss all of them in this paper. For this reason, three were selected: housing, shares and cryptocurrencies. The purpose of the study is to compare the tax systems of the United States and Japan with the Spanish (national) tax system. This paper is going to focus on the taxation of the following facts: (1) acquisition, rental and onerous transfer of real estate; (2) acquisition, participation in the distribution of profits of a corporation, and transfer with profit motive of shares; (3) acquisition, and exchange of cryptocurrencies with other virtual currencies and with other legal tender currencies. The great majority of income obtained by an individual investor is taxed under the corresponding Income Tax of each country. There are many similarities between the three similar taxes; what Japan and the United States call ordinary income, in Spain is the income that goes to the general tax base, although there is a lot of casuistry in this respect. The rates to be applied are different and it would be necessary to specify in each case what the specific tax rate is, making it difficult to express this comparison of countries in a few lines.Traballo fin de grao (UDC.ECO). ADE. Curso 2021/202

El portal "Tecnociencia": un sistema de Información Científica en Ciencia y Tecnología

The Internet portal Tecnociencia is presented as an example of an initiative carried out by public administrations in order to enhance the dissemination and transfer of scientific and technological information to the whole society with a Spanish and, to a lesser extent, European scope. The structure of the website, its thematic channels and the different information resources that have been gathered —references and individual contents, and services— are presentedSe presenta el portal Tecnociencia como ejemplo de una iniciativa llevada a cabo por la administración para potenciar la difusión y la transferencia de resultados del trabajo científico y tecnológico llevado a cabo en España y en menor medida en el ámbito europeo, a todos los sectores de la sociedad. Se muestra la estructura del portal, los canales temáticos y los diferentes recursos de información referencial, contenidos singulares y servicios que se ofrecen a los usuarios. (A

Glycomimetic-based pharmacological chaperones for lysosomal storage disorders: lessons from Gaucher, GM1-gangliosidosis and Fabry diseases

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are often caused by mutations that destabilize native folding and impair the trafficking of enzymes, leading to premature endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation, deficiencies of specific hydrolytic functions and aberrant storage of metabolites in the lysosomes. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and substrate reduction therapy (SRT) are available for a few of these conditions, but most remain orphan. A main difficulty is that virtually all LSDs involve neurological decline and neither proteins nor the current SRT drugs can cross the blood–brain barrier. Twenty years ago a new therapeutic paradigm better suited for neuropathic LSDs was launched, namely pharmacological chaperone (PC) therapy. PCs are small molecules capable of binding to the mutant protein at the ER, inducing proper folding, restoring trafficking and increasing enzyme activity and substrate processing in the lysosome. In many LSDs the mutated protein is a glycosidase and the accumulated substrate is an oligo- or polysaccharide or a glycoconjugate, e.g. a glycosphingolipid. Although it might appear counterintuitive, substrate analogues (glycomimetics) behaving as competitive glycosidase inhibitors are good candidates to perform PC tasks. The advancements in the knowledge of the molecular basis of LSDs, including enzyme structures, binding modes, trafficking pathways and substrate processing mechanisms, have been put forward to optimize PC selectivity and efficacy. Moreover, the chemical versatility of glycomimetics and the variety of structures at hand allow simultaneous optimization of chaperone and pharmacokinetic properties. In this Feature Article we review the advancements made in this field in the last few years and the future outlook through the lessons taught by three archetypical LSDs: Gaucher disease, GM1-gangliosidosis and Fabry disease.The Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO, contract numbers SAF2013-44021-R and CTQ2015-64425-C2-1-R), the Junta de Andalucía (contract number FQM-1467), and the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7-People-2012-CIG), grant agreement number 333594 (to E. M. S. F., Marie Curie Reintegration Grant) are acknowledged. Cofinancing from the European Regional Development Funds (FEDER and FSE) is also thanked.We acknowledge support by the CSIC Open Access Publication Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI).Peer reviewe

Regulation of bistability in the std fimbrial operon of Salmonella enterica by DNA adenine methylation and transcription factors HdfR, StdE and StdF

Bistable expression of the Salmonella enterica std operon is controlled by an AND logic gate involving three transcriptional activators: the LysR-type factor HdfR and the StdE and StdF regulators encoded by the std operon itself. StdE activates transcription of the hdfR gene, and StdF activates std transcription together with HdfR. Binding of HdfR upstream of the std promoter is hindered by methylation of GATC sites located within the upstream activating sequence (UAS). Epigenetic control by Dam methylation thus antagonizes formation of the StdE-StdF-HdfR loop and tilts the std switch toward the StdOFF state. In turn, HdfR binding hinders methylation of the UAS, permitting activation of the StdE-StdF-HdfR loop and concomitant formation of StdON cells. Bistability is thus the outcome of competition between DNA adenine methylation and the StdE-StdF-HdfR activator loop.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades [BIO2016–75235-P

Probing Tyrosine Nitration with a Small TbIII-Metallopeptide

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG[Abstract] Tyrosine nitration, a post-translational modification (PTM) that takes place under nitrosative stress conditions, occurs through a non-enzymatic peroxynitrite-mediated reaction. Although protein nitration has long been considered an irreversible PTM involved in nitrosative stress-associated diseases, it has also been suggested to be a regulatory mechanism of signal transduction. Therefore, the development of tools that help to understand this protein modification is of great interest. Herein, we explore a TbIII-chelating metallopeptide to monitor tyrosine nitration. The luminescence of this probe decreases significantly between its non-nitrated and nitrated states, and this reduction in the luminescence intensity is directly related to the degree of tyrosine nitration after treatment with peroxynitrite. Remarkably, the luminescence intensity changes after nitration are not affected in the presence of complex biological media, which makes it a promising tool for understanding this protein modification.We are thankful for the funding received from the MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ERDF A way of making Europe (CTQ2017-89166-R and PID2019-104626GBI00), the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Universidade, Xunta de Galicia (ED431C 2018/39, ED431B 2020/52, ED431 C 2022/39, and 508/2020), and the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 851179). R.S.F. thanks the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Universidade, Xunta de Galicia for her PhD fellowship (ED481A-2020/008). E.P. thanks the MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ESF Investing in your future for her Ramón y Cajal contract (RYC2019-027199-I). Funding for open access charge: Universidade da Coruña/CISUGXunta de Galicia; ED431C 2018/39Xunta de Galicia; ED431B 2020/52Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2022/39Xunta de Galicia; ED481A-2020/00

Aprender evaluando

En este trabajo se expone una experiencia llevada a cabo en un IES de la provincia de Toledo que se desarrolla con el alumnado de la Formación Profesional Básica del centro. El objetivo es proponer un sistema de evaluación formativa al profesorado que imparte dichas enseñanzas. Para ello se diseña y pone en práctica un instrumento de recogida de información de diferentes aspectos que tienen que ver con el alumnado y otros elementos del proceso de enseñanza- aprendizaje

Uso pedagógico de las TIC

Muchos son los estudios que se ha realizado sobre la utilización de las TIC en las aulas, y muchas las conclusiones analizadas, pero quizá lo que falte sea elaborar un marco explicativo con el que estudiar las estrategias que deberían llevarse a cabo para que la incorporación de las TIC resulte ser un elemento motor de una verdadera innovación en las aulas. El aumento del número de docentes que utilizan las TIC es una realidad, aunque no tanto así el hecho de que esa inclusión suponga una mejora pedagógica en las prácticas docentes, pues no se cambian los objetivos, metodologías, técnicas de evaluación, etc. La inclusión de las TIC debe conllevar la introducción a su vez de enfoques pedagógicos adaptados a las necesidades de aprendizaje que aparezcan en el aula. Es decir, que las TIC estén al servicio del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, aportando herramientas con las que el docente pueda realizar una verdadera educación adaptada a los diversos estilos cognitivos y de aprendizaje de los alumnos. Cada alumno aprende, organiza y estructura el conocimiento de forma diferente, de ahí la necesidad de ajustar los procesos de aprendizaje a esas características o rasgos que marcan nuestro estilo cognitivo, y es en esta tarea donde las TIC tienen un papel fundamental como recurso facilitador que permite la flexibilidad en ritmos de aprendizaje, la utilización de recursos multimedia, una mayor interacción en el aula entre alumnos y con el profesor, etc. La figura del profesor se presenta primordial en este reto, ya que la motivación, expectativa, conocimiento y actitud del mismo determinará la forma en la que se lleve a cabo esa inclusión en las aulas. Analizaremos en el trabajo los diferentes tipos de recursos basados en las TIC y su aplicación en la utilización de prácticas y metodologías más innovadoras

Microclimate accounts for demographic, morphological and reproductive differentiation of two neighbour peripheral populations of the canopy-forming Fucus guiryi

Demography, reproductive ecology and thermal regime of Fucus guiryi from the Strait of Gibraltar was monitored between 2018-2019, at two populations ca. 7 km apart (Tarifa and Guadalmesí, South Spain). Due to its peripheral and southern range distribution, they are characterized by low population density and minimum length of reproductive individuals, shorter individuals, and higher individual bushiness in comparison to their northern counterparts. Significant interactions were detected among populations and sampling locations and related to local environmental conditions. Tarifa population had higher population density, cover, extent, and more aggregated individuals, while Guadalmesí had a patchier distribution. Outside the canopies of F. guiryi in Tarifa there is a plethora of biota growing on the numerous protruding rocks, leading to varying microhabitats, while at Guadalmesí, there is only barnacle-covered bare rock. Accordingly, specimens from Tarifa had greater mean and maximum individual lengths, a higher minimum length of reproductive individuals, a greater proportion of mature receptacles and higher individual bushiness. Thermal regime and wave exposure confirmed that F. guiryi from Guadalmesí is exposed to higher disruptive stress due to higher summer temperatures, which is less buffered due to its distribution. Between summer and fall 2018, high summer air temperatures, exceeding overall mean historical records, caused the breakage of apical fronds at Guadalmesí, disrupting the expected parallel seasonal dynamics. Thallus height declined towards the upper intertidal limits to a similar extent in both populations. Canopies of F. guiryi ameliorated understory microclimatic conditions, by reducing the temperature in 5-7ºC and surface irradiance by 10-16%. Demographic, morphological and reproduction-related variables from these populations consistently “fit in” the core to edge trends reported along Portuguese Iberian coasts.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec