Acoso psicológico, organización e identidad : análisis desde un foro virtual

Las interacciones que tienen lugar en los foros de discusión de Internet se vienen empleando como fuente de información para el análisis de distintas temáticas sociales. Estos foros constituyen en muchos casos un nexo de (re)unión para las comunidades de afectados por problemas de distinta índole, convirtiéndose así el ciberespacio en un marco referencial para el estudio de los mismos. Por otro lado, la disponibilidad de los discursos íntegros de los participantes en estos foros y el carácter textual de los contenidos incluidos facilitan el empleo de metodologías de tipo cualitativo para el análisis de los fenómenos. En el presente trabajo analizamos el acoso psicológico en el marco de los foros de Internet con el objeto de profundizar en sus implicaciones subjetivas, especialmente los aspectos relacionados con la formulación de las identidades; y en sus implicaciones organizacionales, centrando la atención en las dimensiones estructurales y funcionales.Interactions in internet discussion forums provide data on a variety of social issues. Forums are often a meetingplace for people affected by a given problem; in fact, cyberspace has become a framework of reference in the study of such interaction. The ready availability of the participants' discourse, and the textual nature of the forum's contents, facilitate the use of qualitative methodologies. The present article analyses harassment in internet forums in order to study its subjective implications, specially those aspects related to the formulation of participants' identities. The article also explores the organizational implications of harassment, focusing on its structural and functional dimensions

A precise 90º quadrature OTA-C oscillator tunable in the 50-130-MHz range

We present a very-large-scale integration continuous-time sinusoidal operational transconductance amplifiers quadrature oscillator fabricated in a standard double-poly 0.8-μm CMOS process. The oscillator is tunable in the frequency range from 50 to 130 MHz. The two phases produced by the oscillator show a low-quadrature phase error. A novel current-mode amplitude control scheme is developed that allows for very small amplitudes. Stability of the amplitude control loop is studied as well as design considerations for its optimization. Experimental results are provided

Sensor de humedad del suelo de bajo coste para control de regadíos

This paper presents a low-cost system to measure soil humidity for application in irrigation control. It is based in the simultaneous measurement of the real and imaginary parts of the impedance of a volume of soil comprised between two conducting electrodes. The separation of real and imaginary parts allows for an accurate measurement of water contents even in soils with high salinity. An ASIC is being developed which acts as interface between a capacitive probe and a microcontroller. Satisfactory laboratory tests have been completed on a first prototype. The system will be used to reduce the water consumption in agriculture by determining the optimum volume of water to use.Se presenta un sistema de medida de humedad del suelo para aplicaciones en el control de riegos. Basado en la medida de las componentes real e imaginaria de la impedancia presentada por el volumen de suelo comprendido entre dos electrodos, permite determinar de forma fiable el contenido de humedad incluso en suelos salinos. Se está desarrollando un ASIC que actúa como interfase entre una sonda capacitiva y un microcontrolador y se han completado las pruebas de laboratorio sobre un primer prototipo. El sistema será empleado como medidor de humedad de suelo para regadíos, al objeto de decidir el momento y volumen de agua óptimo a emplear en cada turno de riego, minimizando así el consumo de agua.Fondo Europeo para el Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)Programa Nacional de Tecnologías de Información y las Comunicaciones I+

Four-channel self-compensating single-slope ADC for space environments

A multichannel high-resolution single-slope analogue-to-digital converter (SS ADC) is presented that automatically compensates for process, voltage and temperature variations, as well as for radiation effects, in order to be used in extreme environmental conditions. The design combines an efficient implementation by using a feedback loop that ensures an inherently monotonic and very accurate ramp generation, with high levels of configurability in terms of resolution and conversion rate, as well as input voltage range. The SS ADC was designed in a standard 0.35 μm CMOS technology. Experimental measurements of the performance and stability against radiation and temperature are presented to verify the proposed approach

A Front-End ASIC for a 3-D Magnetometer for Space Applications by Using Anisotropic Magnetoresistors

This paper presents an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) aimed for an alternative design of a digital 3-D magnetometer for space applications, with a significant reduction in mass and volume while maintaining a high sensitivity. The proposed system uses magnetic field sensors based on anisotropic magnetoresistances and a rad-hard mixed-signal ASIC designed in a standard 0.35 μm CMOS technology. The ASIC performs sensor-signal conditioning and analogue-to-digital conversion, and handles calibration tasks, system configuration, and communication with the outside. The proposed system provides high sensitivity to low magnetic fields, down to 3 nT, while offering a small and reliable solution under extreme environmental conditions in terms of radiation and temperature.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación AYA2011-29967-C05-05, AYA2009-14212-C05-04, AYA2008-06420-C04-0

OWLs: A mixed-signal ASIC for optical wire-less links in space instruments

This paper describes the design of a mixed-signal ASIC for space application and the techniques employed for radiation hardening and temperature effects compensation. The work is part of a planned long-term effort and collaboration between "Instituto de Microelectrónica de Sevilla (IMSE)", "Universidad de Sevilla (US)", and "Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)" aimed to consolidate a group of experienced mixed-signal space-ASIC designers. The initiative is partially funded by the Spanish National Research Program. The ASIC performs the function of an optical digital transceiver for diffuse-light intra-satellite optical communications. It has been designed in a 0.35μm CMOS technology from austriamicrosystems (ams). The chip has been manufactured and verified from a functional perspective. Radiation characterization is planned for the third quarter of 2012. Power- and temperature-stress tests, as well as life-tests are also planned for this next quarter, and will be carried out by Alter Technology TÜV Nord S.A.U. Given the previous characterization of the technology [1] and the hardening techniques employed in the design and layout, radiation is not expected to be a problem. The specified environmental limits are a pedestal hard limit of 50KRads with the goal of maximizing TID tolerance, SEU and SET LET-thresholds above 70MeV/(mg/cm2), and latchup free behavior up to the same LET limit. Concerning temperature, the specified operation range is from -90 to +125ºC, while the non-operating temperature range is from -135 to +150ºC.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN) MEIGA AYA2009-14212-C05-04, AYA2008-06420-C04-0

Multiple health behaviour change primary care intervention for smoking cessation, physical activity and healthy diet in adults 45 to 75 years old (EIRA study): a hybrid effectiveness-implementation cluster randomised trial

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a) a Multiple Health Behaviour Change (MHBC) intervention on reducing smoking, increasing physical activity and adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern in people aged 45–75 years compared to usual care; and b) an implementation strategy. Methods: A cluster randomised effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial-type 2 with two parallel groups was conducted in 25 Spanish Primary Health Care (PHC) centres (3062 participants): 12 centres (1481 participants) were randomised to the intervention and 13 (1581 participants) to the control group (usual care). The intervention was based on the Transtheoretical Model and focused on all target behaviours using individual, group and community approaches. PHC professionals made it during routine care. The implementation strategy was based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Data were analysed using generalised linear mixed models, accounting for clustering. A mixed-methods data analysis was used to evaluate implementation outcomes (adoption, acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility and fidelity) and determinants of implementation success. Results: 14.5% of participants in the intervention group and 8.9% in the usual care group showed a positive change in two or all the target behaviours. Intervention was more effective in promoting dietary behaviour change (31.9% vs 21.4%). The overall adoption rate by professionals was 48.7%. Early and final appropriateness were perceived by professionals as moderate. Early acceptability was high, whereas final acceptability was only moderate. Initial and final acceptability as perceived by the participants was high, and appropriateness moderate. Consent and recruitment rates were 82.0% and 65.5%, respectively, intervention uptake was 89.5% and completion rate 74.7%. The global value of the percentage of approaches with fidelity =50% was 16.7%. Eight CFIR constructs distinguished between high and low implementation, five corresponding to the Inner Setting domain. Conclusions: Compared to usual care, the EIRA intervention was more effective in promoting MHBC and dietary behaviour change. Implementation outcomes were satisfactory except for the fidelity to the planned intervention, which was low. The organisational and structural contexts of the centres proved to be significant determinants of implementation effectiveness. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03136211. Registered 2 May 2017, “retrospectively registered”. © 2021, The Author(s)

Pentafluorosulfanyl (SF(5)) as a superior (19)F magnetic resonance reporter group: signal detection and biological activity of teriflunomide derivatives

Fluorine ((19)F) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is severely limited by a low signal-to noise ratio (SNR), and tapping it for (19)F drug detection in vivo still poses a significant challenge. However, it bears the potential for label-free theranostic imaging. Recently, we detected the fluorinated dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor teriflunomide (TF) noninvasively in an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS) using (19)F MR spectroscopy (MRS). In the present study, we probed distinct modifications to the CF(3) group of TF to improve its SNR. This revealed SF(5) as a superior alternative to the CF(3) group. The value of the SF(5) bioisostere as a (19)F MRI reporter group within a biological or pharmacological context is by far underexplored. Here, we compared the biological and pharmacological activities of different TF derivatives and their (19)F MR properties (chemical shift and relaxation times). The (19)F MR SNR efficiency of three MRI methods revealed that SF(5)-substituted TF has the highest (19)F MR SNR efficiency in combination with an ultrashort echo-time (UTE) MRI method. Chemical modifications did not reduce pharmacological or biological activity as shown in the in vitro dihydroorotate dehydrogenase enzyme and T cell proliferation assays. Instead, SF(5)-substituted TF showed an improved capacity to inhibit T cell proliferation, indicating better anti-inflammatory activity and its suitability as a viable bioisostere in this context. This study proposes SF(5) as a novel superior (19)F MR reporter group for the MS drug teriflunomide

Dosimetric Calibration of Radiochromic Film For Laser-accelerated Proton Beams

[Otros] When an ultra-intense and ultra-short laser pulse interacts with solid matter a fraction of the laser pulse can be converted into kinetic energy of a beam of charged particles. Radiochromic film (RCF), widely used as radiation detector in the field of conventional radiotherapy, can be used as detector for laser-accelerated protons. If used in stack configuration it is a useful and versatile tool to obtain 2D spatial distribution and energetic information of proton beams. In order to obtain dosimetric information from RCF it must be properly calibrated. Irradiating film pieces under well known conditions allows us to establish a relation between the optical density (OD) of the radiochromic film, which is measured through a flat bed scanner operating in transmission mode, and the deposited energy in the active layer. A calibration curve over a large dynamic range (3 orders of magnitude) has been obtained for few MeV protons. Our calibration process has been performed at the Spanish National Accelerator Center at Sevilla. We have irradiated several areas of a single RCF with a constant 50 pA beam current and fixed 4 MeV energy from a 3 MV tandem accelerator. We have calculated the deposited energy in the films under the same conditions. We demonstrate that this technique can be used to measure the spectrum and total energy of a laser-accelerated mixed-energy proton beam. This detector has been calibrated for a near future application at the Center of Pulsed, Ultra-short, Ultra-intense Lasers (CLPU) at Salamanca (Spain). We present the calibration procedure and results, the design optimization, and a comparison with similar experiments.Project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and co-funded with FEDERs funds within the INNPACTO 2011 program. This work was supported by the Spanish Plan Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica, Desarrollo e InnovacionTecnologica (I+D+i) under Grant No. FIS2010-21216-CO2-01 and the Valencian Local Government under Grants PROMETEOII/2013/010 and ISIC 2011/013.Bellido, P.; Seimetz, M.; Soriano, A.; Huertas, C.; García Lopez, J.; Jimenez-Ramos, MC.; Fernandez, B.... (2013). Dosimetric Calibration of Radiochromic Film For Laser-accelerated Proton Beams. IEEE. 20-23. https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.2013.6829806S202