Using the piezoelectric backscatter signal for remote sensing of neural signals

In recent studies, various methods to sense neural signals are used and new methods for remote sensing of neural signals are being developed. However, there are still major difficulties in building long-term implantable neural interface systems that can reliably record neural activity and serve as the basis of brain-machine interfaces (BMI). Therefore, this research is conducted to design a remote neural sensing system that is based on modulation of the backscatter signal from a piezoelectric element by the neural signals. The hypothesis is that if the neural signal is detected with a simple amplifier and the output of this amplifier is connected in parallel to a piezoelectric element, the backscattered signal from the piezoelectric element should be modulated by the neural signal amplitudes. To this end, the echo signal from the piezoelectric element is analyzed and the effect of a load resistor is demonstrated. And then, an electronic circuit to implement the modulation function is simulated on the computer and constructed. The experimental results support the main hypothesis of the project

MONROE-Nettest: A Configurable Tool for Dissecting Speed Measurements in Mobile Broadband Networks

As the demand for mobile connectivity continues to grow, there is a strong need to evaluate the performance of Mobile Broadband (MBB) networks. In the last years, mobile "speed", quantified most commonly by data rate, gained popularity as the widely accepted metric to describe their performance. However, there is a lack of consensus on how mobile speed should be measured. In this paper, we design and implement MONROE-Nettest to dissect mobile speed measurements, and investigate the effect of different factors on speed measurements in the complex mobile ecosystem. MONROE-Nettest is built as an Experiment as a Service (EaaS) on top of the MONROE platform, an open dedicated platform for experimentation in operational MBB networks. Using MONROE-Nettest, we conduct a large scale measurement campaign and quantify the effects of measurement duration, number of TCP flows, and server location on measured downlink data rate in 6 operational MBB networks in Europe. Our results indicate that differences in parameter configuration can significantly affect the measurement results. We provide the complete MONROE-Nettest toolset as open source and our measurements as open data.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, submitted to INFOCOM CNERT Workshop 201

Refrigerate

I just wanted to share my experience of burnout since beginning medical school. Given how widespread and common burnout is in the medical field, I felt like there would be many people who could relate to my experience. If my experience could help or even comfort anyone by the fact that they are not alone in the feelings that arise from burnout, it would make this piece worth the effort of writing for me. If anything else, I hope any readers can enjoy reading about the experience of a brand new medical student

KEABSAHAN, KEPASTIAN HUKUM DAN PERLINDUNGAN HUKUM ATAS PERWAKAFAN YANG TIDAK TERCATAT ( STUDI KASUS PRAKTEK PERWAKAFAN TANAH DI KECAMATAN SUKAMULIA)

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah Untuk mengetahui keabsahan Perwakafan tanah yang dilakukan di Kecamatan Sukamulia dan Untuk mengetahui Kepastian hukum dan perlindungan hukum atas tanah  wakaf yang tidak tercatat. Metode yang digunakana adalah normatif-empiris yaitu mengkaji tentang implementasi hukum normatif (undang-undang) dalam aksinya pada setiap peristiwa hukum tertentu yang terjadi dalam suatu masyarakat. hasil dari penelitian ini adalah menurut hukum islam wakaf yang tidak tercatat adalah sah selama memenuhi rukun dan syatat dalam wakaf, sedangkan menurut hukum postif wakaf harus tercatat sebagai syarat telah terjadinya perwakafan, selanjutnya pendaftaran tanah wakaf adalah element penting dalam mempperoleh kepastian dan perllindungan hukum atas tanah wakaf. Kedepepan semua pihak diharapkan memiliki pemahaman yang benar tentang tata cara dan proses berwakaf yang baik dan benar, dimana wakaf bukan hanya yang ada dalam hukum islam tetapi menerapkan juga aturan hukum positif, serta peran serta semua pihak untuk aktif dalam melakukan pensertifikatan tanah wakaf harus  dilakukan. Kata Kunci : Wakaf, Hukum Islam, Hukum Positif, Pendaftara

Los indicios forenses de las actividades furtivas en arqueología terrestre

La mayoría de las causas judiciales incoadas por actividades arqueofurtivas en España se desestiman o archivan por falta de indicios. En el artículo se relacionan y comentan una gran variedad de indicios, materiales y conductuales, vinculables a actividades arqueofurtivas, utilizables tanto en la investigación del delito como ante los tribunales. Se concluye que el motivo no es la falta de indicios sino que éstos no se recolectan o analizan debidamente, siendo imprescindible la modificación o creación de protocolos para regularizar la situaciónMost court cases brought by archaeological looting in Spain are dismissed or filed for lack of evidence. The article listed and discussed a variety of evidences, materials and behavioral, linkable to archaeological looting activities, usable both criminal investigation and in court. We conclude that the reason is not lack of evidence but they are not properly collected or analyzed, the modification or creation of protocols being necessary to regularize the situatio

Effects Of Self-efficacy On Students Academic Performance

Earlier researches show effects of self-efficacy on students learning and achievement. Self-efficacy has operationally defined as ones belief that people can successfully perform a given task. The main purpose of the paper is to discuss how self-efficacy developed and the way it influences students academic performance in addition to social interaction with peers. A scenario was given to Pakistani schools student by solving mathematical problems. Present study was designed to study the impact of self-efficacy on 15 boys, students of the 5th grade of a local school. Hagues (1990) Urdu Self-efficacy scale was administered. It was found that students with high self-efficacy obtained higher scores on 50 mathematical problems test. Further, content analysis of interviewees responses showed that students with high self-efficacy planned to study complex subjects in future. A cross-cultural study is strongly recommended in this issue that determines the students future. Keyword: Self-efficacy, Mathematical problems, Pakistani students, Complex course

Aplicação de tecnologias limpas para o aproveitamento integral das sementes de urucum (Bixa orellana L.) de reduzido teor lipídico

Orientadores: Maria Angela de Almeida Meireles Petenate, Tânia Forster-CarneiroTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de AlimentosResumo: As sementes de urucum (Bixa orellana L.) são amplamente exploradas a nível industrial para obtenção do pigmento que possui aplicações em produtos alimentícios, cosméticos, têxteis, etc. Atualmente em escala industrial são utilizadas técnicas rudimentares e ineficientes para o aproveitamento sustentável das sementes de urucum. A extração com fluido supercrítico (SFE) usando CO2 como solvente foi usada para separar a fração lipídica rica em tocotrienóis das sementes de urucum, processo do qual foi obtida a matéria-prima desta pesquisa. Nesta tese foi estudada a influência de processos que envolvem tecnologias limpas na composição desta matéria-prima residuária, que apresenta potencial para usos futuros. Inicialmente foi realizada a hidrólise ácida sobre as sementes de urucum in natura e sobre os resíduos dos processos de extração (SFE e Soxhlet) das sementes, junto com outras matérias primas (ginseng brasileiro e fibra de palma prensada) com o objetivo de se estudar a influência desses processos na estrutura dessas matérias primas para a produção de açúcares. A comparação morfológica dos materiais vegetais foi observada mediante a técnica de microscopia eletrônica; por meio da hidrólise foi verificada a influência da concentração de ácido na concentração resultante de açúcares obtidos em função do tempo de reação. As técnicas de extração servem como um pré-tratamento para a modificação da estrutura vegetal por favorecer a exposição de substratos para processos de conversão da biomassa lignocelulósica. A aplicação da tecnologia de extração com líquidos pressurizados foi estudada paralelamente para a obtenção de antocianinas usando como matéria-prima a polpa congelada de açaí. Extratos com maior concentração de antocianinas foram atribuídos à mistura de etanol e água, e a presença de ácido cítrico. Foi verificado que a temperatura e a pressão estudadas não exerceram influência relevante na concentração de antocianinas. Os resultados obtidos sugerem trabalhos futuros que aumentem a proporção de água no solvente. As sementes foram moídas e separadas em função do diâmetro de partícula (dp) para estudos destinados a quantificação de bixina e dos polímeros presentes. Da fração das partículas de menor tamanho (dp ? 300 µm) foi verificada uma concentração relevante de bixina, fazendo com que estas partículas fossem direcionadas para a obtenção de extratos com maior pureza deste pigmento a partir da extração com etanol a baixa pressão. Dos resultados obtidos com as partículas maiores (dp ? 300 µm) foi verificado que essas partículas mantêm um conteúdo não relevante de bixina, mas sim uma concentração importante de amido, proteína e material lignocelulósico; fazendo com que estas partículas fossem destinadas a tratamento hidrotérmico modificando a estrutura da matéria-prima visando aplicações na indústria. A aplicação das tecnologias limpas utilizadas neste trabalho conduz ao total aproveitamento das sementes de urucum residuária da extração com CO2 supercrítico, por contribuir com a obtenção de novos produtos que podem ser incorporados para aplicações futurasAbstract: Annatto seeds (Bixa orellana L.) are widely used industrially for obtaining a pigment with application in food, cosmetics and textiles, among others. Currently in an industrial scale are used rudimentary and inefficient techniques that do not allow the sustainable use of annatto seeds. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used to obtain the raw material in this study. The lipid fraction rich in tocotrienols from annatto seeds was extracted using SFE and CO2 as a solvent. This thesis studied the influence in the composition of this residual material of processes that involves the use of clean technologies in order to create a potential use for this material. Initially the acid hydrolysis of annatto seeds and its residue from extraction processes (SFE and Soxhlet) was performed, together with other raw materials (Brazilian ginseng and palm pressed fiber) for the purpose of studying the influence of extraction processes in the structure of these raw materials for the production of sugars. Morphological comparison of plant materials was observed by electron microscopy technique; by acid hydrolysis was evaluated the influence of acid concentration in the production of sugars obtained as a function of reaction time. The extraction technique serves as a pretreatment to modify the plant structure, enabling the exposure of substrate for lignocellulosic conversion. The application of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) technology was studied in parallel for obtaining anthocyanins extracts from frozen pulp of acai. Extracts with higher concentration of anthocyanins were produced using a mixture of ethanol and water, without use of citric acid. Temperature and pressure did not exert a significant influence in the concentration of anthocyanins. The results suggest further studies increasing the proportion of water in the solvent. The seeds were milled and separated according to the diameter of particle (dp) for studies to quantify of bixin and polymers present. On the fraction of small particles size (dp ? 300 µm) was observed a significant concentration of bixin. These particles were directed to obtain extracts with higher purity from this pigment using the low pressure solvent extraction (LPSE) with ethanol. On the results obtained with larger particles (dp ? 300 µm), it was observed that these particles have not a bixin relevant content, but a significant concentration of starch, protein and lignocellulosic material; destining these particles to an hydrothermal treatment designed to modify the vegetal structure of raw material aiming applications in industry. The application of clean technologies used in this work leads to the total use of semi-defatted annatto seeds, residue from supercritical extraction with CO2, for contributing to obtain new products that can be incorporated for future applicationsDoutoradoEngenharia de AlimentosDoutora em Engenharia de Alimentos5532116CAPE