An Analysis of Next Generation Access Networks Deployment in rural areas

Next generation access networks (NGAN) will support a renewed electronic communication market where main opportunities lie in the provision of ubiquitous broadband connectivity, applications and content. From their deployment it is expected a wealth of innovations. Within this framework, the project reviews the variety of NGAN deployment options available for rural environments, derives a simple method for approximate cost calculations, and then discusses and compares the results obtained. Data for Spain are used for practical calculations, but the model is applicable with minor modifications to most of the rural areas of European countries. The final part of the paper is devoted to review the techno-economic implications of a network deployment in a rural environment as well as the adequacy and possible developments of the regulatory framework involve

The relationship between Fairtrade cities

The idea of fair trade is still widely debated. Yet, cities have since 2001 been able to apply for a Fairtrade City certification. In Sweden the initiative has been active since 2006 and today has 65 of its 290 municipalities certified. Proponents claim a municipalities needs to be involved while detractors se the concept as market intervention. The purpose of the thesis is to examine if there were any significant factors in the Swedish cities that became Fairtrade City certified before the year 2014. The hypothesis is that political representation and socioeconomic conditions in the municipalities have significance. The subject of the thesis is: Which factors influenced cities to their Fairtrade City certification? The method used is a qualitative and a quantitative analysis. The theory guiding the study is based on the different views of the trade market and fair trade being a new social movement. The result from the qualitative study finds that a certification is within a municipality’s objectives and that political representation has significance. The quantitative study is overall significant but it does not find significance on political representation. However the tests have a low explanatory value and due to this, the study suggests that one cannot draw any conclusions from the presented results

Estimating the magnetic field strength from magnetograms

A properly calibrated longitudinal magnetograph is an instrument that measures circular polarization and gives an estimation of the magnetic flux density in each observed resolution element. This usually constitutes a lower bound of the field strength in the resolution element, given that it can be made arbitrarily large as long as it occupies a proportionally smaller area of the resolution element and/or becomes more transversal to the observer and still produce the same magnetic signal. Yet, we know that arbitrarily stronger fields are less likely --hG fields are more probable than kG fields, with fields above several kG virtually absent-- and we may even have partial information about its angular distribution. Based on a set of sensible considerations, we derive simple formulae based on a Bayesian analysis to give an improved estimation of the magnetic field strength for magnetographs.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Enhancing neuronal inhibition by cell and gene therapy as a novel treatment for Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a family of heterogeneous and multifactorial neurological disorders, unified by the occurrence of spontaneous recurrent seizures. Overall, it affects 50 million people worldwide of all ages and genders. Available treatments are only symptomatic and have severe side effects, while they also fail to provide adequate seizure control in a third of the patients. Therefore, a cure is yet to be found. In this warrant for novel strategies to treat those refractory patients, this thesis evolved. The two approaches presented here based their goal on increasing inhibitory drive in the epileptic focus to reduce the pathological hyperexcitable neuronal network that characterizes epilepsy, and thus counteract seizures.First, based on evidence of loss and/or alteration of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic interneurons in the epileptic neuronal network, cell-based therapy has been developed and tested in three different scenarios for restoration of the excitatory/inhibitory balance. GABAergic interneurons (hdINs) were generated in vitro from human embryonic stem cells and proved to survive and integrate into both human and rodent epileptic environments. Host neuronal activity could be modulated by light-activation of hdINs using optogenetics. Finally, grafted hdINs were able to reduce the seizure frequency and total time spent in seizures in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), the most common form of refractory epilepsy in adults. However, grafted hdINs failed to improve the pathology in a genetic mouse model of cortical dysplasia-focal epilepsy syndrome associated with autism spectrum disorder, which highlights the diversity of epilepsies and the need for gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the disease.Finally, direct inhibition of principal cells, similar to the one exerted by endogenous inhibitory interneurons, in the chronic epileptic hippocampus by using a chemogenetic approach delivered as gene therapy was also tested. Positive results were observed by decreasing ability to generate action potentials, although further investigation is required to evaluate the efficacy of this approach on seizures.Collectively, the work presented here has moved the field forward in testing two different therapeutic strategies in a TLE model, and also one of them in a genetic epilepsy model

Physical activity and spatial use during school break times in children aged four

Poster de CongresoAnalyze quantity of physical activity and use of space during school break times according to gender, in four-year-old pupils.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

MARMINCA\u27s Experience: Coordinating Humanitarian Demining

Humanitarian demining is an essential component of mine action, which encompasses a series of activities such as mine and UXO removal, technical studies, mapping, the returning of cleared land to the communities, victim assistance, and mine risk education (MRE), among others. Since 1995, the Organization of American States (OAS) has carried out demining programs in Central America, concentrating its efforts in four countries: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. This program has been carried out in the region with the support of donor countries, beneficiary countries, contributing countries and the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB)