Mass spectrometry coupled to imaging techniques: The better the view the greater the challenge

These are definitively exciting times for membrane lipid researchers. Once considered just as the cell membrane building blocks, the important role these lipids play is steadily being acknowledged. The improvement occurred in mass spectrometry techniques (MS) allows the establishment of the precise lipid composition of biological extracts. However, to fully understand the biological function of each individual lipid species, we need to know its spatial distribution and dynamics. In the past 10 years, the field has experienced a profound revolution thanks to the development of MS-based techniques allowing lipid imaging (MSI). Images reveal and verify what many lipid researchers had already shown by different means, but none as convincing as an image: each cell type presents a specific lipid composition, which is highly sensitive to its physiological and pathological state. While these techniques will help to place membrane lipids in the position they deserve, they also open the black box containing all the unknown regulatory mechanisms accounting for such tailored lipid composition. Thus, these results urges to different disciplines to redefine their paradigm of study by including the complexity revealed by the MSI techniques.

Extracción de servicios TS en receptor profesional de DVB-T2.

[Es]Este documento explica el procedimiento seguido para desarrollar la última etapa de un decodificador de DVB-T2, que consiste en la extracción de un archivo de vídeo desde un archivo binario resultante del resto del decodificador. Este decodificador se trata del software de un receptor desarrollado por el departamento de TSR (Tratamiento de Señal y Radiocomunicaciones) de la Escuela de Ingenieros de Bilbao en el año 2010. Dicho software es capaz de analizar la señal recibida de DVB-T2 para calcular la tasa de errores y conocer otros parámetros relevantes como el tipo de modulación utilizado. No obstante, para analizar de manera subjetiva las mejoras de DVB-T2 e incluso para determinar de qué manera afectan los errores a la calidad de la imagen es necesario visualizar el video transmitido. Por esta razón se ha comenzado un proyecto en el que el objetivo es programar un nuevo software que proporcione un archivo que contenga el video en cuestión. Este software se ha programado en lenguaje del programa Matlab, y toma el fichero resultante del receptor como entrada, para procesarlo y obtener uno nuevo con el vídeo. De modo que una vez programado y probado para su corrección, se aplica a continuación del receptor del departamento TSR. Una vez obtenido el vídeo es posible comparar la calidad de la imagen con diferentes tasas de error en la comunicación, simulando transmisiones en diferentes ámbitos cada uno con su correspondiente ruido. De esta manera, se estima con muy alta precisión el comportamiento de una transmisión real dependiendo de la climatología y otros factores que afecten a la relación señal a ruido.

Brand image and lexicographic analysis: an application to shopping malls

[EN] The concept of image in its different aspects is very important in today s society as well as in the business management field. Some authors reports that most of the studies that measure image do not take into account neither previous theoretical and conceptual models nor other possible empirical evidence alternatives. Given this need, a research regarding the concept of brand image applied to shopping malls was conducted based on the conceptual model of the consumer cognitive response in order to empirically explore and contrast it. For this reason, a survey was applied to 420 consumers in five shopping malls in Bogotá, achieving a database of 3.749 cases. The results show attribute-shopping mall associations expressed in unique, differentiated, and notorious vocabulary obtained applying lexicometric and multivariate analysis techniques. Attribute-shopping mall associations such as spacious , good location , good variety of stores , and the existence of movie theaters . Finally, this research aims to potentially improve the management of shopping malls and increase their attractiveness and customer loyalty by applying the development of service quality systems, integral communication, segmentation, and positioning.