Validation of a method for ionospheric electron density reconstruction by means of vertical incidence data during quiet and storm periods

A preliminary validation of the technique developed using the NeQuick ionospheric model and the «effective ionization parameter» Az, based on vertical total electron content data ingestion, was carried out in a previous study. The current study was performed to extend the analyzed conditions and confirm the results. The method to validate this technique is based on a comparison between hourly F2 peak values measured with Vertical Incidence (VI) soundings and those calculated with the new technique. Data corresponding to different hours and seasons (equinox, summer solstice, and winter solstice) during the period 2000-2003 (high and medium solar activity conditions) were compared for all available ionosonde stations. The results show a good agreement between foF2 and hmF2 values obtained with the new technique and measurements from vertical incidence soundings during quiet and storms conditions.European Community Fifth Framework Programm

Worst cases for a one-hop high frequency link

The characterisation of a HF channel by means of monthly electron density profiles can be complemented with a detailed study of radio propagation «worst cases» on situations with extremes conditions of radiopropagation for a given period. These «worst cases» correspond to conditions that can be identified by means of cumulative distributions of the key parameter f0F2. This paper analyses the main parameters of the HF channel: time delay, apogee, elevation angle and transmission frequency with mean and extreme conditions. The method used to characterise the ionospheric channel is based on ray-tracing techniques.National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA)Dr. Moorhead of Neptune Radar Ltd.Gloucester U.

Longitudinal Differences Observed in the Ionospheric F-Region During the Major Geomagnetic Storm of March 31, 2001

A new ionospheric sounding station using a Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosonde (CADI) was established for routine measurements by the “Universidade do Vale do Paraiba (UNIVAP)” at S˜ao Jos´e dos Campos (23.2_ S, 45.9_ W), Brazil, in August 2000. A major geomagnetic storm with gradual commencement at about 01:00 UT was observed on 31 March 2001. In this paper, we present and discuss salient features from the ionospheric sounding measurements carried out at S. J. Campos on the three consecutive UT days 30 March (quiet), 31 March (disturbed) and 1 April (recovery) 2001. During most of the storm period, the foF2 values showed negative phase, whereas during the two storm-time peaks, large F-region height variations were observed. In order to study the longitudinal differences observed in the F-region during the storm, the simultaneous ionospheric sounding measurements carried out at S. J. Campos, El Arenosillo (37.1_ N, 6.7_W), Spain, Okinawa (26.3_ N, 127.8_ E), Japan and Wakkanai (45.5_ N, 141.7_ E), Japan, during the period 30 March–1 April 2001, have been analyzed. A comparison of the observed ionospheric parameters (h0F and foF2) in the two longitudinal zones (1. Japanese and 2. Brazilian-Spanish) shows both similarities and differences associated with the geomagnetic disturbances. Some latitudinal differences are also observed in the two longitudinal zones. In addition, global ionospheric TEC maps from the worldwide network of GPS receivers are presented, showing widespread TEC changes during both the main and recovery phases of the storm. The ionospheric sounding measurements are compared with the ASPEN-TIMEGCM model runs appropriate for the storm conditions. The model results produce better agreement during the quiet period. During the disturbed period, some of the observed F-region height variations are well reproduced by the model results. The model foF2 and TEC results differ considerably during the recovery period and indicate much stronger negative phase at all the stations, particularly at the low-latitude ones

A model assisted ionospheric electron density reconstruction method based on vertical TEC data ingestion

A technique to reconstruct the electron density of the ionosphere starting from total electron content values has been developed using the NeQuick ionospheric electron density model driven by its effective ionization parameter Az. The technique is based on the computation of Az values for a suitable worldwide grid of points. A simple way to obtain relevant Az grids is to use global vertical Total Electron Content (TEC) maps to define for each grid point as Az value, the one that minimizes the difference between the experimental and the modeled vertical TEC. Having a global grid of Az values it is possible to compute the electron density at any point in the ionosphere using NeQuick. As a consequence, slant TEC values for specific ground station to satellite links or ionosphere peak parameter values at any location can be calculated. The results of the comparisons between experimental and reconstructed slant TEC as well as experimental and reconstructed peak parameters values indicate that the proposed reconstruction method can be used to reproduce the observed ionosphere in a realistic way.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

La mentoría en la Escuela Universitaria Politécnica de la Universidad de Sevilla

XVIII Congreso Universitario de Innovación Educativa en las Enseñanzas Técnicas. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales y de Telecomunicación. Universidad de Cantabria : Santander, 6 a 9 de julio de 2010Con el fin de integrar a los alumnos de nuevo ingreso, la Escuela Universitaria Politécnica de la Universidad de Sevilla ha puesto en marcha en el curso 2008-09 un Plan de Acción Tutorial (EUPAT) basado en una red en la que participan el profesorado tutor, alumnado mentor y alumnado tutorizado. En el presente trabajo se resumirá el proceso de formación del alumnado mentor y el trabajo desarrollado por el mismo dentro del Plan de Acción Tutorial. Así mismo, se analizarán las dificultades encontradas durante el transcurso de su formación y realización de la labor de mentoría y el nivel de satisfacción alcanzado. Finalmente, se hará una reflexión sobre las debilidades y los puntos de mejora que se pueden deducir del desarrollo hasta el momento de esta acción tutorialIn order to integrate new students, the Polytechnic School of the University of Seville has launched in the year 2008-09 an Tutorial Action Plan (EUPAT) based on a network involving teachers, mentor students and tutored students. In this paper we resume the formation of mentor students and work developed by the same within the Tutorial Action Plan. Also, analyzing the difficulties encountered during the course of their training and carrying out the work of mentoring and the satisfaction level achieved. Finally, we will reflect on the weaknesses and areas for improvement that can be deducted from the development until the time of this action tutorial

Protagonismo del mentor en una actividad tutorial de carácter multidisciplinar en Ingeniería

XIX Congreso Universitario de Innovación Educativa en las Enseñanzas Técnicas : Barcelona, 6 a 8 de julio de 2011En la Escuela Politécnica Superior (EPS) de la Universidad de Sevilla se ha trabajado, por tercer curso consecutivo, en un Plan de Acción Tutorial desarrollado por 16 profesores tutores y 20 alumnos mentores de 5 titulaciones de Ingeniería Técnica. El objetivo perseguido en este curso ha sido potenciar actividades que han surgido del propio albedrío de los alumnos mentores, lo que ha dado como resultado la realización de una serie de actividades de mentoría motivadas y dirigidas desde el principio por los alumnos mentores. La actividad conjunta de todos ellos ha llevado a organizar unos subgrupos de mentorías en función de determinadas características del alumnado de primer curso (deportistas, trabajadores, becarios de otras universidades…), a realizar reuniones presenciales de mentores para puesta a punto de estas actividades así como de puesta al día de los resultados que se iban consiguiendo, además de organizar una segunda captación de mentorizados tras las notas del primer cuatrimestre, y la protagonización de una Jornada de Mentoría al final del curso.A third edition with 16 tutorial lecturers and 20 tutorial students from five different degrees (Technical Engineering of the Polytechnical School, EPS, at University of Seville) in a Tutorial Plan development, has been prepared. During the present year, the main characteristic has been a serial of mentoring actions motivated and directed by these mentors. This activity has been organized considering several subgroups of mentoring depending on special characteristics in first year students (sportsplayers, workers, grant holders from other universities…), moreover the organization of a second recruiting of new students after the first term marks, updating meetings for mentors only, and to be main figures in a Congress on Mentoring at the end of the academic year

Aplicaciones en la investigación ionosférica de datos procedentes de sondeos de incidencia vertical y receptores GPS

En la actualidad, existen diversos Centros de Datos Ionósfericos accesibles a través de Internet. Uno de estos centros ha sido desarrollado por la Universidad de Massachusetts-Lowell. El conjunto de características ionosféricas (foF2, foF1, M(3000)F2, etc) junto con los perfiles de densidad electrónica provenientes de un elevado número de digisondas extendidas por todo el mundo, están disponibles on-line mediante el software diseñado por este Centro. Una visión complementaria de la Ionosfera se puede obtener mediante observaciones recogidas por la red mundial de receptores GPS. A través de estas dos fuentes de datos es posible desarrollar numerosos estudios y permiten abrir una gama amplia de aplicaciones. En este trabajo se abordan de forma resumida algunas investigaciones realizadas recientemente a partir de estos datos por los autores de este artículo

Reflections on Content to be Included in the "Basic Electronics" Proficiency of Industrial Engineering degrees

Industrial Engineering degree course syllabuses include a series of basic, common skills which must be acquired by those studying for any of the five qualifications that can be obtained in the subject. This paper presents a reflection on the content which should be included in the subject that cover the proficiency “Basic Electronics”, analysing the content of the subjects taught to develop skills in this field in some Spanish universities and detailing the subject content offered by the “Escuela Politécnica Superior” (Advanced Polytechnic School) at the University of SevilleJunta de Andalucía P08-TIC-03674European Commission FP7-ICT- 2009-4Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2010-16870/MI

Artificial Intelligence in Pregnancy: A Scoping Review

Artificial Intelligence has been widely applied to a majority of research areas, including health and medicine. Certain complications or disorders that can appear during pregnancy can endanger the life of both mother and fetus. There is enough scientific literature to support the idea that emotional aspects can be a relevant risk factor in pregnancy (such as anxiety, stress or depression, for instance). This paper presents a scoping review of the scientific literature from the past 12 years (2008-2020) to identify which methodologies, techniques, algorithms and frameworks are used in Artificial Intelligence and Affective Computing for pregnancy health and well-being. The methodology proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, in conjunction with PRISMA-ScR framework has been used to create this review. Despite the relevance that emotional status can have as a risk factor during pregnancy, one of the main findings of this study is that there is still not a significant amount of literature on automatic analysis of emotion. Health enhancement and well-being for pregnant women can be achieved with artificial intelligence or affective computing based devices, hence future work on this topic is strongly suggested.The authors would like to thank Sergio Díaz and Pablo Pérez for taking the time to read this article and for proposing some improvements. They would also like to thank University of Seville Library staff for their support during the document search phase