Exploiting graphic processing units parallelism to improve intelligent data acquisition system performance in JET's correlation reflectometer

The performance of intelligent data acquisition systems relies heavily on their processing capabilities and local bus bandwidth, especially in applications with high sample rates or high number of channels. This is the case of the self adaptive sampling rate data acquisition system installed as a pilot experiment in KG8B correlation reflectometer at JET. The system, which is based on the ITMS platform, continuously adapts the sample rate during the acquisition depending on the signal bandwidth. In order to do so it must transfer acquired data to a memory buffer in the host processor and run heavy computational algorithms for each data block. The processing capabilities of the host CPU and the bandwidth of the PXI bus limit the maximum sample rate that can be achieved, therefore limiting the maximum bandwidth of the phenomena that can be studied. Graphic processing units (GPU) are becoming an alternative for speeding up compute intensive kernels of scientific, imaging and simulation applications. However, integrating this technology into data acquisition systems is not a straight forward step, not to mention exploiting their parallelism efficiently. This paper discusses the use of GPUs with new high speed data bus interfaces to improve the performance of the self adaptive sampling rate data acquisition system installed on JET. Integration issues are discussed and performance evaluations are presente

A knowledge management-based conceptual model to improve the level of utilization of ICTs in Mexican SMEs

The current commercial context for the Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is an ever-changing environment that is strongly influenced by the information and communication technologies (ICTs). This has led enterprises to implement these technologies as supportive tools for their business processes. Nevertheless, a vast number of SMEs have not obtained favorable results in implementing ICTs, since the lack of knowledge about the potential and application of these technologies has made this technological implementation activity prevail as an action oriented to the simple acquisition of equipment and informatic systems with a short-term vision without considering a business strategy. The aim of this paper is to perform a literature review that shows evidence of the low utilization of ICTs in SMEs, particularly in the Mexican environment, which leads to proposing a different approach where enterprises consider Knowledge Management (KM) in the implementation of the informatic technology, leading to a conceptual model to ensure human, organizational and relational capital provide the proper capabilities to complement a strategy that implies carrying out a correct acquisition and application of knowledge that contributes to improving the utilization of ICTs in the business processes

Optical filters with fractal transmission spectra based on diffractive optics

The duality between the axial irradiance distribution originated by any circularly symmetric diffracting aperture under monochromatic illumination and its diffracted spectral intensity at a fixed on-axis point under broadband illumination is highlighted and experimentally investigated. Two applications are derived from this basic result. On the one hand, we suggest the use of a broadband source and a spectrometer for a single-shot measurement of the axial response of pupil filters. Second, we implement a spectral filter having a transmission spectrum with a fractal structure of frequencies. Experimental results and potential applications in synthetic spectra designs are provide

In situ decoration of graphene sheets with gold nanoparticles synthetized by pulsed laser ablation in liquids

The demand for nanocomposites of graphene and carbonaceous materials decorated with metallic nanoparticles is increasing on account of their applications in science and technology. Traditionally, the production of graphene-metal assemblies is achieved by the non-environmentally friendly reduction of metallic salts in carbonaceous suspensions. However, precursor residues during nanoparticle growth may reduce their surface activity and promote cross-chemical undesired effects. In this work we present a laser-based alternative to synthesize ligand-free gold nanoparticles that are anchored onto the graphene surface in a single reaction step. Laser radiation is used to generate highly pure nanoparticles from a gold disk surrounded by a graphene oxide suspension. The produced gold nanoparticles are directly immobilized onto the graphene surface. Moreover, the presence of graphene oxide influences the size of the nanoparticles and its interaction with the laser, causes only a slight reduction of the material. This work constitutes a green alternative synthesis of graphene-metal assemblies and a practical methodology that may inspire future developments.The authors thank the financial support from Generalitat Valenciana through the programs PROMETEO-2012-021, AICO/2016/036 and AICO/2015/039, a fellowship (S. Sabater) and a research contract (D. Ventura-Espinosa), the University Jaume I through the projects P1·1B2013-53 and P1.1B2015-09, and the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) through the projects FIS2013-40666-P and CTQ2015-69153-C2-2-R. The authors are also very grateful to the ‘Serveis Centrals d’Instrumentació Científica (SCIC)’ of the University Jaume I for the use of the femtosecond laser and microscopy facilities. We thank S. Solans for his help with XPS analysis and interpretation. R. Torres-Mendieta gratefully acknowledges the Generalitat Valenciana support for a Santiago Grisolia scholarship GRISOLIA/2013/015

Development of a Telemetry and Yield-Mapping System of Olive Harvester

Sensors, communication systems and geo-reference units are required to achieve an optimized management of agricultural inputs with respect to the economic and environmental aspects of olive groves. In this study, three commercial olive harvesters were tracked during two harvesting seasons in Spain and Chile using remote and autonomous equipment that was developed to determine their time efficiency and effective based on canopy shaking for fruit detachment. These harvesters work in intensive/high-density (HD) and super-high-density (SHD) olive orchards. A GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) device was installed to track these harvesters. The GNSS receiver did not affect the driver’s work schedule. Time elements methodology was adapted to the remote data acquisition system. The effective field capacity and field efficiency were investigated. In addition, the field shape, row length, angle between headland alley and row, and row alley width were measured to determinate the optimum orchard design parameters value. The SHD olive harvester showed significant lower effective field capacity values when alley width was less than 4 m. In addition, a yield monitor was developed and installed on a traditional olive harvester to obtain a yield map from the harvested area. The hedge straddle harvester stood out for its highly effective field capacity; nevertheless, a higher field efficiency was provided by a non-integral lateral canopy shaker. All of the measured orchard parameters have influenced machinery yields, whether effective field capacity or field efficiency. A saving of 40% in effective field capacity was achieved with a reduction from 4 m or higher to 3.5 m in alley width for SHD olive harvester. A yield map was plotted using data that were acquired by a yield monitor, reflecting the yield gradient in spite of the larger differences between tree yield

Fractal Generalized Zone Plates

The construction of fractal generalized zone plates (FraGZPs) from a set of periodic diffractive optical elements with circular symmetry is proposed. This allows us to increase the number of foci of a conventional fractal zone plate (FraZP), keeping the self-similarity property within the axial irradiance. The focusing properties of these fractal diffractive optical elements for points not only along but also in the close vicinity of the optical axis are investigated. In both cases analytical expressions for the irradiance are derived. Numerical simulations of the energetic efficiency of FraGZPs under plane wave illumination are carried out. In addition, some effects on the axial irradiance caused by the variation in area of their transparent rings are shown.Comment: Submitted to Optics Express, 200

Short synthesis and anti-rhinoviral activity of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines: the effect of acyl groups at 3-position

Various 2-amino-3-acyl-6-[(E)-1-phenyl-2-N-methylcarbamoylvinyl]-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, structurally related to Enviroxime were prepared to determine the effect of acyl groups on the antirhinoviral activity. A short and efficient means for the construction of the imidazo nucleus as well as biological evaluation of the final compounds are disclosed.This research was supported by a CDTI program (Plan concertado 96/0036) and the Spanish Farma III programme (Ministerio de Industria y Ministerio de Sanidad). We are also grateful to the Lilly Rhinovirus Action Group for their advice and interest in this work

Teaching profession in the discourses of UNESCO, OECD and European Union

Las agendas educativas globales no están exentas de los cambios a nivel económico y social de las últimas décadas. En este contexto, al profesorado se le exige cada vez más y se reconfigura su definición. Al mismo tiempo, los Organismos Internacionales han tenido un importante papel a la hora de implementar políticas docentes en los sistemas educativos mediante diversas recomendaciones plasmadas en documentos que requieren un estudio en profundidad. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo, precisamente, analizar la definición de la profesión docente desde una perspectiva supranacional realizando un estudio comparado entre la UNESCO, la OCDE y la Unión Europea. Se analizan un total de 4.267 citas de 11 documentos con ayuda del software Atlas.ti y la aplicación de un libro de códigos. Los principales resultados evidencian una armonización de la definición de la profesión docente a nivel supranacional centrada en un enfoque sistémico en el que predomina la formación del profesorado y el discurso de la efectividad para determinar los ideales de la profesión. Se concluye señalando que la autonomía y participación, a diferencia de otras profesiones, todavía no es una parte esencial de la identidad docenteAs agendas educacionais globais não estão isentas das mudanças econômicas e sociais das últimas décadas. Nesse contexto, os professores são cada vez mais requisitados e sua definição tem sido reconfigurada. Ao mesmo tempo, as organizações internacionais têm desempenhado um papel importante na implementação de políticas docentes nos sistemas educacionais por meio de várias recomendações contidas em documentos que exigem um estudo aprofundado. Esta pesquisa busca justamente analisar a definição da profissão docente numa perspectiva supranacional, realizando um estudo comparativo entre a UNESCO, a OCDE e a União Europeia. São analisadas 4.267 citações de 11 documentos com o auxílio do software Atlas.ti e do aplicativo de um livro de códigos. Os principais resultados mostram uma harmonização da definição da profissão docente a nível supranacional cen-tralizada numa abordagem sistêmica em que a formação docente e o discurso da eficácia predominam na determinação dos ideais da profissão. A pesquisa conclui indicando que autonomia e participação, diferentemente de outras profissões, ainda não são parte essencial da identidade docente.Palavras-chave: profissão docente; identidade profissional; organizações internacionais; educação comparadaGlobal educational agendas are not exempt from the economic and social changes of recent decades. In this context, teachers are increasingly required and their definition is reconfigured. Inter-national organizations have played an important role in shaping teacher policies in education systems through various recommendations reflected in documents that suggest an in-depth study. The objective of this research is to analyze the definition of the teaching profession from a supranational perspective through a comparative study between UNESCO, OECD and the European Union. A total of 4,267 citations from 11 documents were analyzed with the help of the Atlas.ti software and the application of a Code book. The main results show a harmonization of the definition of the teaching profession at a supranational level centered on a systemic approach in which teacher training and the discourse of effectiveness predominate in determining professional ideals. It concludes by pointing out that autonomy and participation, unlike other professions, is not yet an essential part of teaching identityArtículo elaborado en el marco del proyecto #LobbyingTeachers: Fundamentos teóricos, estructuras políticas y prácticas sociales de las relaciones público-privadas en materia de profesorado en España (Ref. PID2019-104566RA-I00/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033) del Programa Estatal del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de Españ

Artrodesis de rodilla por fracaso de la artroplatsia total

Veintiuna artrodesis de rodilla fueron realizadas en nuestro Servicio en los últimos 20 años. Se realiza un estudio retrospectivo con un seguimiento medio de 10 años. Las razones para la artrodesis fueron en 12 ocasiones (57%) infección de la artroplastia total, y en los 9 casos restantes (43%) aflojamiento aséptico. La artrodesis se realizó mediante fijación externa en un solo plano en 11 casos (52%), en biplano se colocó en 7 (33%), 2 casos con placas a compresión (9,5%) y el caso restante mediante un clavo intramedular (5%). La fusión después del procedimiento inicial se obtuvo solamente en 12 pacientes (57%) y añadiendo procedimientos adicionales totalizamos 19 rodillas fusionadas (90%). Las complicaciones encontradas fueron: 9 pseudoartrosis, 2 infecciones en el trayecto de las fichas, 2 roturas del material de fijación, una infección persistente que llevó a la amputación, y una parálisis del nervio ciático poplíteo externo.A total of 21 knee arthrodesis performed in the last 20 years was reviewed with an average follow-up of 10 years. Arthrodesis was performed following deep infection in 12 cases (57%) and aseptic loosening of the prostheses in the remaining 9 cases. TH artrodesis were performed using one-plane external fixation in 11 cases, two-planes external fixation in 7, compression plates in 2, intramedular nailing in only 12 patients. Using additional procedures we obtained 19 fused knees (90 %). The complications in this series were: Psuedarthrosis (9 cases), infection of the fixator pins (2 cases), infection of the fixator pins (2 cases), and broken osteosybrtesis components (2 cases), severe deep infection with final amputation of the limb (1 case), and CPE injury (1 case)

Severe Deoxygenation Event Caused by the 2011 Eruption of the Submarine Volcano Tagoro (El Hierro, Canary Islands)

The shallow, near-shore submarine volcano Tagoro erupted in October 2011 at the Mar de las Calmas marine reserve, south of El Hierro island. The injection of lava into the ocean had its strongest episode during November 2011 and lasted until March 2012. During this time, in situ measurements of dissolved oxygen were carried out, using a continuous oxygen sensor constantly calibrated with water samples. A severe deoxygenation was observed in the area, particularly during October-November 2011, which was one of the main causes of the high mortality observed among the local marine ecosystem. The measured O2 concentrations were as low as 7.71 µmol kg-1, which represents a -96% decrease with respect to unaffected waters. The oxygen depletion was found in the first 250 m of the water column, with peaks between 70-120 m depth. The deoxygenated plume covered an area of at least 464 km2, distributed particularly south and south-west of the volcano, with occasional patches found north of the island. The oxygen levels were also monitored through the following years, during the degassing stage of the volcano, when oxygen depletion was no longer observed. Additionally, during the eruption, an island-generated anticyclonic eddy interacted with the volcanic plume and transported it for at least 80 km, where the O2 measurements still showed a -8% decrease after mixing and dilution. This feature draws attention to the permanence and transport of volcanic plumes far away from their source and long after the emission.En prens