Embedded electronic systems driven by run-time reconfigurable hardware

Abstract This doctoral thesis addresses the design of embedded electronic systems based on run-time reconfigurable hardware technology –available through SRAM-based FPGA/SoC devices– aimed at contributing to enhance the life quality of the human beings. This work does research on the conception of the system architecture and the reconfiguration engine that provides to the FPGA the capability of dynamic partial reconfiguration in order to synthesize, by means of hardware/software co-design, a given application partitioned in processing tasks which are multiplexed in time and space, optimizing thus its physical implementation –silicon area, processing time, complexity, flexibility, functional density, cost and power consumption– in comparison with other alternatives based on static hardware (MCU, DSP, GPU, ASSP, ASIC, etc.). The design flow of such technology is evaluated through the prototyping of several engineering applications (control systems, mathematical coprocessors, complex image processors, etc.), showing a high enough level of maturity for its exploitation in the industry.Resumen Esta tesis doctoral abarca el diseño de sistemas electrónicos embebidos basados en tecnología hardware dinámicamente reconfigurable –disponible a través de dispositivos lógicos programables SRAM FPGA/SoC– que contribuyan a la mejora de la calidad de vida de la sociedad. Se investiga la arquitectura del sistema y del motor de reconfiguración que proporcione a la FPGA la capacidad de reconfiguración dinámica parcial de sus recursos programables, con objeto de sintetizar, mediante codiseño hardware/software, una determinada aplicación particionada en tareas multiplexadas en tiempo y en espacio, optimizando así su implementación física –área de silicio, tiempo de procesado, complejidad, flexibilidad, densidad funcional, coste y potencia disipada– comparada con otras alternativas basadas en hardware estático (MCU, DSP, GPU, ASSP, ASIC, etc.). Se evalúa el flujo de diseño de dicha tecnología a través del prototipado de varias aplicaciones de ingeniería (sistemas de control, coprocesadores aritméticos, procesadores de imagen, etc.), evidenciando un nivel de madurez viable ya para su explotación en la industria.Resum Aquesta tesi doctoral està orientada al disseny de sistemes electrònics empotrats basats en tecnologia hardware dinàmicament reconfigurable –disponible mitjançant dispositius lògics programables SRAM FPGA/SoC– que contribueixin a la millora de la qualitat de vida de la societat. S’investiga l’arquitectura del sistema i del motor de reconfiguració que proporcioni a la FPGA la capacitat de reconfiguració dinàmica parcial dels seus recursos programables, amb l’objectiu de sintetitzar, mitjançant codisseny hardware/software, una determinada aplicació particionada en tasques multiplexades en temps i en espai, optimizant així la seva implementació física –àrea de silici, temps de processat, complexitat, flexibilitat, densitat funcional, cost i potència dissipada– comparada amb altres alternatives basades en hardware estàtic (MCU, DSP, GPU, ASSP, ASIC, etc.). S’evalúa el fluxe de disseny d’aquesta tecnologia a través del prototipat de varies aplicacions d’enginyeria (sistemes de control, coprocessadors aritmètics, processadors d’imatge, etc.), demostrant un nivell de maduresa viable ja per a la seva explotació a la indústria

Applications of epidemiology in PRRS control

[ES]: Aunque el síndrome reproductivo y respiratorio porcino (PRRS) fue descrito por primera vez en la década de los 80, en menos de 30 años esta enfermedad ha pasado a convertirse en una de las patologías más importantes para el sector porcino. Los esfuerzos invertidos en este periodo en su investigación han permitido la identificación de su agente causal y de sus ciclos epidemiológicos, así como el desarrollo de nuevas herramientas diagnósticas y vacunas. En la actualidad cualquier programa de lucha frente al virus del PRRS debe estar basado en la combinación de todas las herramientas disponibles con el objetivo fundamental de romper los ciclos de transmisión, para lo cual es imprescindible un adecuado conocimiento de la epidemiología de la enfermedad.[EN]: Even though the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome was first reported in the 80’s, in less than 30 years the disease has become one of the most important diseases affecting the swine industry worldwide. Efforts invested since then in research have allowed the identification of its causative agent and its epidemiological cycles as well as the development of new diagnostic tools and vaccines. Nowadays effective control programs against PRRS virus must be based on the combined used of all available tools with the main aim of disrupting the transmission cycles; an adequate knowledge of the epidemiology of the disease is cornerstone to achieve this goal.Peer Reviewe

Depredación de Timon lepidus por gato asilvestrado

La financiación de estos trabajos ha sido posible gracias a los proyectos “Interacciones ecológicas en comunidades de carnívoros ibéricos” (CGL2009-10741, financiado por el Plan Nacional de I+D y fondos FEDER) y “Hunting for sustainability” (HUNT, financiado por la Comisión Europea dentro del 7º Programa Marco para Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico).Peer Reviewe

Leishmania infantum in free-ranging hares, Spain, 2004-2010

Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) were recently deemed responsible for an outbreak of human leishmaniasis affecting metropolitan Madrid, Spain. However, the reservoir potential of hares in Europe is poorly known. We report a retrospective survey on Leishmania infantum, the causal agent of zoonotic endemic leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean basin, infection status of Iberian, European (Le. europaeus) and Broom (Le. castroviejoi) hares in Spain. Spleen samples from 94 hares were tested by polymerase chain reaction. Sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays were performed on positive samples and RFLP patterns compared with those of strains reported in the scientific literature. DNA prevalence in hare spleen samples was 43.6% (95% confidence interval: 33.6-53.6). In all six regions studied at least one positive sample was found. RFLP revealed existence of specific hare strains of L. infantum differing from those reported in wild carnivores in Spain. The widespread presence of L. infantum in the most abundant Spanish hare species and the recent evidence of the ability of naturally infected hares to transmit the pathogen to Phlebotomus perniciosus, its main vector in the western Mediterranean, suggest that hares may have an unexpected role in the epidemiology of L. infantum in Spain.This study is a contribution to project POII09-0141-8176 (JCCM and EU-FEDER) and EU grants ANTIGONE (278976) and APHAEA (EMIDA ERA-NET). F. Ruiz-Fon acknowledges a Juan de la Cierva contract (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad).Peer Reviewe

Plan de empresa para la puesta en marcha de una asesoría fiscal, financiera y contable en Valencia

[ES] Estudio de la viabilidad económica de un proyecto de empresa basado en la mecánica de trabajo tradicional de una asesoría fiscal y contable, pero con un valor diferencial y gratuito de servicios de mejora para el cliente. El objetivo fundamental será la permanencia y crecimiento dentro de un mercado muy especializado y con una competencia muy fuerte, donde las empresas se diferencian por precio y alcance del servicio.[EN] Study of the economic viability of an Enterprise Project based on the mechanics of the traditional work of a tax and accounting advice, but with a differential and free value enhancement services to the customer. The main objective is the retention and growth within a niche market and a strong competition, where firms differ in price and scope of service.[CA] Estudi de la viabilitat económica d’un projecte d’empresa basat en la mecánica de treball tradicional d’una assessoria fiscal y comptable, però amb un valor diferencial i gratuït de servicis de millora per al client. L’objectiu fonamental serà la permanencia i creixement dins d’un mercat molt especialitzat i amb una competencia molt forta, on les empreses es diferencien per preu i abast del servei.Fons Peña, F. (2014). Plan de empresa para la puesta en marcha de una asesoría fiscal, financiera y contable en Valencia. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/43300.Archivo delegad

Drought-Reliefs and Partisanship

Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UABWe combine a model of symmetric information with selfish and office-motivated politicians and an Regression Discontinuity Design analysis based on close municipal elections to study partisan bias in the allocation of drought aid relief in Brazil. We identify a novel pattern of distributive politics whereby partisan bias materializes only before municipal elections, while it disappears before presidential elections. Furthermore, before mayoral elections, it fades for extreme (high or low) aridity levels while persisting for moderate levels. Our empirical results show that in this case alignment increases the probability of receiving aid relief by a factor of two (equivalent to 18.1 percentage points)

Assessment of the capacity of a pyrophosphate-based mouth rinse to inhibit the formation of supragingival dental calculus. a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial

This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of an anti-calculus mouth rinse and its possible adverse effects on the mucosa and teeth. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial included 40 patients with treated and managed periodontal disease, all with a history of rapid calculus formation. Patients used a pyrophosphate-based test mouth rinse (B) or a placebo (A). A range of parameters were measured for: saliva (saliva flow, pH and chemical composition); calculus (Volpe-Manhold [V-M] index, weight, and volume); adverse effects on mucosa and teeth; and the patients? subjective perceptive of mouth rinse efficacy. The test mouth rinse B produced reductions in urea, uric acid, and phosphorous, calcium, saliva flow, and increases in pH. V-M index and calculus weight decreased after using the test mouth rinse. Calculus volume decreased with both mouth rinses. No changes to the mucosa or teeth were observed. Patients perceived that the test mouth rinse was more effective. The test/B and placebo mouth rinses both modified certain parameters in saliva composition, particularly reductions in urea, uric acid, and phosphorous. Calcium tended to increase after using the test-B mouth rinse. The results did not demonstrate the anticalculus efficacy of the pyrophosphate-based mouth rinse or positive effects on saliva flow or composition. This field requires further research, as no product has been developed that prevents calculus formation completely

Wild boar: an increasing concern for Aujeszky's disease control in pigs?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The goal of this study was describing the temporal evolution of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) contact prevalence among Eurasian wild boar (<it>Sus scrofa</it>) populations under different management regimes and contact likelihoods with domestic pigs. Given the recent increase in wild boar abundance throughout Europe, we hypothesized that wild boar contact with ADV would remain stable in time even after significant reduction of ADV prevalence in domestic pigs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sera from 1659 wild boar were collected from 2000 to 2010 within 6 areas of the Iberian Peninsula and tested for the presence of antibodies against ADV by ELISA. According to sampling date, wild boar were grouped into three time periods. ADV prevalence was compared through period both globally and by geographic area. Overall seroprevalence for the ten-year study period was 49.6 ± 2.4%. The highest seroprevalence was recorded in areas with intense wild boar management. The annual proportion of positive wild boar sampling sites remained stable through the study period, while the percentage of domestic pig AD positive counties decreased from 70% in 2003 to 1.7% in 2010.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Results presented herein confirmed our hypothesis that ADV would remain almost stable in wild boar populations. This evidences the increasing risk wild boar pose in the final stages of ADV eradication in pigs and for wildlife conservation.</p

Bluetongue virus serotypes 1 and 4 in red deer, Spain

We studied the potential of red deer as bluetongue maintenance hosts and sentinels. Deer maintained detectable bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 4 RNA for 1 year after the virus was cleared from livestock. However, the virus was not transmitted to yearlings. BTV serotype 1 RNA was detected in red deer immediately after its first detection in cattle.This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Natural, Rural and Marine Environment (RASVE 274/2007, and an agreement between Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales (OAPN), Dirección General de Recursos Agricolas y Ganaderos (DGRAG), and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC). F.R.-F. is supported by a postdoctoral contract of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III of the Spanish government.Peer Reviewe