Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting - Sources and Techniques

Energy harvesting technology is attracting huge attention and holds a promising future for generating electrical power. This process offers various environmentally friendly alternative energy sources. Especially, radio frequency (RF) energy has interesting key attributes that make it very attractive for low-power consumer electronics and wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Ambient RF energy could be provided by commercial RF broadcasting stations such as TV, GSM, Wi-Fi, or radar. In this study, particular attention is given to radio frequency energy harvesting (RFEH) as a green technology, which is very suitable for overcoming problems related to wireless sensor nodes located in harsh environments or inaccessible places. The aim of this paper is to review the progress achievements, the current approaches, and the future directions in the field of RF harvesting energy. Therefore, our aim is to provide RF energy harvesting techniques that open the possibility to power directly electronics or recharge secondary batteries. As a result, this overview is expected to lead to relevant techniques for developing an efficient RF energy harvesting system

Heterozygosity decrease in wild boar mating system. A case of outbreeding avoidance?

In sexually reproducing organisms, the specific combinations of parental alleles can have important consequences on offspring viability and fitness. Accordingly, genetic relationship between mates can be used as a criterion for mate choice. Here, we used microsatellite genetic markers to estimate the genetic relationship between mating pairs in the wild boar, Sus scrofa. Males, females and foetuses proceeding from Portugal, Spain and Hungary were genotyped using 14 microsatellite markers. The genetic relationship between mates was estimated using different measures of foetus heterozygosity. We found that the observed heterozygosity of foetuses was lower than that expected under random mating. This result occurred mainly when Sd2 (relatedness of parental genomes) was used as the heterozygosity measure. After simulations, we concluded that the observed low heterozygosity was possibly due to outbreeding avoidance. Outbreeding avoidance based on genetically different genomes might play an important role in species evolution and its genetic conservation

La evaluación del abuso sexual en personas con discapacidad intelectual: proceso de construcción y validación de un instrumento de autoinforme

People with functional diversity have certain limitations in the functioning of their daily life, which makes them dependent on their primary caregivers, leaving their bodies exposed to them. In addition, they have fewer resources to detect and defend themselves against abuse. These factors, among others, make them a group vulnerable to sexual abuse. But in the detection of potential victims, we find limitations in comprehension and literacy, which makes questioning the reliability of the information obtained. The objective of this study is the development of a reliable and valid instrument adapted to the characteristics of people with functional diversity and allows the detection of cases of sexual abuse. In order to do so, the construction-validation process of the scale has been carried out in two phases, generating, in each of them, different versions that have been applied to two groups of participants. It details the analysis that the group of experts has made from the two pilot applications and the consequent modifications derived from these analyzes. In the first phase the version applies to 20 participants and in the second to 150. The final version has a reliability of .91. The study has shown the complexity of developing an instrument for assessing sexual abuse for people with intellectual disabilities because of the limitations of understanding inherent in the collective, stressing the importance of having the contributions of professionals who work daily with them.Las personas con diversidad funcional presentan ciertas limitaciones en el funcionamiento desu día a día, lo que les convierten en dependientes de sus cuidadores principales, quedando su cuerpo expuesto a ellos. Además, presentan menos recursos para detectar y defenderse ante situaciones de abuso. Estos factores, entre otros, hacen que se conviertan en un colectivo vulnerable al abuso sexual. Pero en la detección de las víctimas potenciales, nos encontramos con limitaciones en comprensión y lectoescritura, lo que hace cuestionar la fiabilidad de la información obtenida. El objetivo de este estudio, es la elaboración de un instrumento fiable y válido que se adapte a las características de las personas con diversidad funcional, y posibilite la detección de casos de abuso sexual. Para ello, el proceso de construcción-validación de la escala se ha realizado en dos fases generándose, en cada una de ellas, diferentes versiones que se han aplicado a dos grupos de participantes.Se detalla el análisis que el grupo de expertos ha realizado a partir de las dos aplicacionespiloto y las consecuentes modificaciones derivadas de dichos análisis. En la primera fase la versión se aplica a 20 participantes y en la segunda a 150. La versión final cuenta con una fiabilidad de .91.El estudio ha mostrado la complejidad que supone elaborar un instrumento de evaluación del abuso sexual para personas con discapacidad intelectual por las limitaciones de comprensión inherentes al colectivo, remarcando la importancia de contar con las aportaciones de profesionales que trabajan diariamente con ellos

Males and Females Contribute Unequally to Offspring Genetic Diversity in the Polygynandrous Mating System of Wild Boar

The maintenance of genetic diversity across generations depends on both the number of reproducing males and females. Variance in reproductive success, multiple paternity and litter size can all affect the relative contributions of male and female parents to genetic variation of progeny. The mating system of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) has been described as polygynous, although evidence of multiple paternity in litters has been found. Using 14 microsatellite markers, we evaluated the contribution of males and females to genetic variation in the next generation in independent wild boar populations from the Iberian Peninsula and Hungary. Genetic contributions of males and females were obtained by distinguishing the paternal and maternal genetic component inherited by the progeny. We found that the paternally inherited genetic component of progeny was more diverse than the maternally inherited component. Simulations showed that this finding might be due to a sampling bias. However, after controlling for the bias by fitting both the genetic diversity in the adult population and the number of reproductive individuals in the models, paternally inherited genotypes remained more diverse than those inherited maternally. Our results suggest new insights into how promiscuous mating systems can help maintain genetic variation

Sexual Relationships in Hispanic Countries: a Literature Review

This is a pre-print of an article published in Current Sexual Health Reports. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-020-00272-6Purpose of Review: Sexuality is a complex dimension for which culture seems to play an important role, particularly in countries that are more traditional. This review summarizes the knowledge about sexual relationships in Hispanic countries, considering sexual debut, attitudes, behaviors, and satisfaction. Recent Findings: In line with the literature reviewed, the sexual double standard seems to be continuing to influence sexual relationships. Some countries show more open expressions of sexuality based on the level of gender inequality or sexualized context, and within countries, variables such as religious commitment, family characteristics, and access to resources may play important roles in sexuality. Summary: Future research, policies, and interventions should consider these specific characteristics, including these forms of expression of sexuality, in the adjustment of cross-cultural and cross-national strategies

Oxidative Stress in Wild Boars Naturally and Experimentally Infected with Mycobacterium bovis

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS-RNS) are important defence substances involved in the immune response against pathogens. An excessive increase in ROS-RNS, however, can damage the organism causing oxidative stress (OS). The organism is able to neutralise OS by the production of antioxidant enzymes (AE); hence, tissue damage is the result of an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant status. Though some work has been carried out in humans, there is a lack of information about the oxidant/antioxidant status in the presence of tuberculosis (TB) in wild reservoirs. In the Mediterranean Basin, wild boar (Sus scrofa) is the main reservoir of TB. Wild boar showing severe TB have an increased risk to Mycobacterium spp. shedding, leading to pathogen spreading and persistence. If OS is greater in these individuals, oxidant/antioxidant balance in TB-affected boars could be used as a biomarker of disease severity. The present work had a two-fold objective: i) to study the effects of bovine TB on different OS biomarkers (namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalasa (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)) in wild boar experimentally challenged with Mycobacterium bovis, and ii) to explore the role of body weight, sex, population and season in explaining the observed variability of OS indicators in two populations of free-ranging wild boar where TB is common. For the first objective, a partial least squares regression (PLSR) approach was used whereas, recursive partitioning with regression tree models (RTM) were applied for the second. A negative relationship between antioxidant enzymes and bovine TB (the more severe lesions, the lower the concentration of antioxidant biomarkers) was observed in experimentally infected animals. The final PLSR model retained the GPX, SOD and GR biomarkers and showed that 17.6% of the observed variability of antioxidant capacity was significantly correlated with the PLSR X's component represented by both disease status and the age of boars. In the samples from free-ranging wild boar, however, the environmental factors were more relevant to the observed variability of the OS biomarkers than the TB itself. For each OS biomarker, each RTM was defined as a maximum by one node due to the population effect. Along the same lines, the ad hoc tree regression on boars from the population with a higher prevalence of severe TB confirmed that disease status was not the main factor explaining the observed variability in OS biomarkers. It was concluded that oxidative damage caused by TB is significant, but can only be detected in the absence of environmental variation in wild boar

Severity of bovine tuberculosis is associated with co-infection with common pathogens in wild boar

Co-infections with parasites or viruses drive tuberculosis dynamics in humans, but little is known about their effects in other non-human hosts. This work aims to investigate the relationship between Mycobacterium bovis infection and other pathogens in wild boar (Sus scrofa), a recognized reservoir of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Mediterranean ecosystems. For this purpose, it has been assessed whether contacts with common concomitant pathogens are associated with the development of severe bTB lesions in 165 wild boar from mid-western Spain. The presence of bTB lesions affecting only one anatomic location (cervical lymph nodes), or more severe patterns affecting more than one location (mainly cervical lymph nodes and lungs), was assessed in infected animals. In addition, the existence of contacts with other pathogens such as porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), swine influenza virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis and Metastrongylus spp, was evaluated by means of serological, microbiological and parasitological techniques. The existence of contacts with a structured community of pathogens in wild boar infected by M. bovis was statistically investigated by null models. Association between this community of pathogens and bTB severity was examined using a Partial Least Squares regression approach. Results showed that adult wild boar infected by M. bovis had contacted with some specific, non-random pathogen combinations. Contact with PCV2, ADV and infection by Metastrongylus spp, was positively correlated to tuberculosis severity. Therefore, measures against these concomitant pathogens such as vaccination or deworming, might be useful in tuberculosis control programmes in the wild boar. However, given the unexpected consequences of altering any community of organisms, further research should evaluate the impact of such measures under controlled conditions. Furthermore, more research including other important pathogens, such as gastro-intestinal nematodes, will be necessary to complete this picture

La evaluación de la sexualidad de las personas con discapacidad intelectual: construcción y descripción de una entrevista semiestructurada

Although people with intellectual disabilities experience the same need for intimacy as the rest, a series of social barriers impede the expression of their sexuality, encouraging them to be perceived as asexual beings. For this reason, for a long time the voices of people with disabilities have not been heard, which means that there is currently a shortage of assessment tools to explore the different aspects of sexuality of this group, taking into account its limitations in literacy and understanding. The objective of this study is to prepare a reliable and valid semi-structured interview that takes into account the characteristics of people with intellectual disabilities and enables the evaluation of their sexual behaviour. This instrument, which has been administered to 360 people with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities between 19 and 55 years old, is made up of 34 items (26 with a closed response and 8 with an open response) grouped into 4 dimensions: sexual behaviour (19 items), preventive behaviours (3 items), information received on sexuality (6 items) and experiences of sexual abuse (6 items). In the process of constructing-validating this interview, a group of experts was involved who analysed its format and content in different phases. The final version has an acceptable reliability ( ✔ =.73). This study has shown not only the complexity of preparing a semi-structured interview to explore different aspects of the sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities, but also the importance of the professionals in charge of its application having the necessary training.Si bien las personas con discapacidad intelectual experimentan la misma necesidad de intimidad que el resto, una serie de barreras sociales impiden la expresión de su sexualidad alentando a que se les perciba como seres asexuales. Por ello, durante mucho tiempo las voces de las personas con discapacidad no han sido escuchadas, lo que conlleva que actualmente exista una escasez de herramientas de evaluación para explorar los diferentes aspectos de la sexualidad de este colectivo teniendo en cuenta sus limitaciones en lectoescritura y comprensión. El objetivo de este estudio es la elaboración de una entrevista semiestructurada fiable y válida que contemple las características de las personas con discapacidad intelectual y posibilite la evaluación de su conducta sexual. Este instrumento, que ha sido administrado a 360 personas con discapacidad intelectual leve o moderada de entre 19 y 55 años, está formado por 34 ítems (26 de respuesta cerrada y 8 de respuesta abierta) agrupados en 4 dimensiones: comportamientos sexuales (19 ítems), conductas preventivas (3 ítems), información recibida sobre sexualidad (6 ítems) y experiencias de abuso sexual (6 ítems). En el proceso de construcción-validación de esta entrevista se ha visto implicado un grupo de expertos que analizaron su formato y contenido en diferentes fases. La versión final cuenta con una fiabilidad aceptable (✔ = .73). El presente estudio ha mostrado no solo la complejidad que supone elaborar una entrevista semiestructurada para explorar diferentes aspectos de la sexualidad de las personas con discapacidad intelectual, sino también la importancia de que los profesionales encargados de su aplicación cuenten con la formación necesaria

Habitat and reproductive phenology of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the western Iberian Peninsula

We examined the reproductive phenology of wild boar populations in four regions of the western Iberian Peninsula during the 1999/2000 hunting season (October-February). To estimate conception dates and birth distribution frequencies, we used foetal weights. Regions differed significantly, and we detected a relationship between region and birth distribution frequencies. Throughout the year, food availability had a major influence on the distribution of farrowing. Although a short period of high food availability leads to highly synchronous births, even in relatively harsh environmental conditions, adult females that exploit low-quality food items appear to be able to give birth at any time of the year.PAMAF program - project PCNA/BIA/184/96PRAXIS program - grant XXI-BD/13394/9