Microinductive signal conditioning with resonant differential filters: high-sensitivity biodetection applications

Inductive-based devices integrated with Si technology for biodetection applications are characterized, using simple resonant differential filter configurations. This has allowed the corroboration of the viability of the proposed circuits, which are characterized by their very high simplicity, for microinductive signal conditioning in high-sensitivity sensor devices. The simulation of these simple circuits predicts sensitivities of the differential output voltage which can achieve values in the range of 0.1-1 V/nH, depending on the coil parameters. These very high-sensitivity values open the possibility for the experimental detection of extremely small inductance changes in the devices. For real microinductive devices, both series resistance and parasitic capacitive components contribute to the decrease of the differential circuit sensitivity. Nevertheless, measurements performed using micro-coils fabricated with relatively high series resistance and coupling parasitic effects have allowed detection of changes in the range of 2 nH. which are compatible with biodetection applications with estimated detection limits below the picomolarity range.

Integrated random processes exhibiting long tails, finite moments, and power-law spectra

A dynamical model based on a continuous addition of colored shot noises is presented. The resulting process is colored and non-Gaussian. A general expression for the characteristic function of the process is obtained, which, after a scaling assumption, takes on a form that is the basis of the results derived in the rest of the paper. One of these is an expansion for the cumulants, which are all finite, subject to mild conditions on the functions defining the process. This is in contrast with the Lévy distribution¿which can be obtained from our model in certain limits¿which has no finite moments. The evaluation of the spectral density and the form of the probability density function in the tails of the distribution shows that the model exhibits a power-law spectrum and long tails in a natural way. A careful analysis of the characteristic function shows that it may be separated into a part representing a Lévy process together with another part representing the deviation of our model from the Lévy process. This

Analog circuit for real-time computation of respiratory mechanical impedance in sleep studies

The aim of this work was to develop a low-cost circuit for real-time analog computation of the respiratory mechanical impedance in sleep studies. The practical performance of the circuit was tested in six patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The impedance signal provided by the analog circuit was compared with the impedance calculated simultaneously with a conventional computerized system. We concluded that the low-cost analog circuit developed could be a useful tool for facilitating the real-time assessment of airway obstruction in routine sleep studies.

El circuit comercial de Barcino: reflexions al voltant de les marques amfòriques

Barcino és encara avui una ciutat romana poc coneguda de la província Tarraconense, que segons la majoria d¿especialistes fou fundada per raons polítiques. Malgrat això, una anàlisi detallada de les característiques econòmiques suggereixen que es va crear com a resultat de necessitats comercials, ja que es localitzava en una de les millors zones portuàries del NE de la península. L¿article present pretén reconstruir tot el circuit comercial de Barcino a partir de les nombroses estampilles d¿àmfores trobades en les excavacions. Aquestes marques comercials no solament evidencien una pròspera producció de vi en l¿àrea, sinó també la corresponent demanda externa

International Equity on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and World Levels: an integrated analysis through distributive welfare indices

Up until now, analyses of the international distribution of pollutant emissions have not paid sufficient attention to the implications that, in terms of social welfare, the combined evolution of the global world average entails. In this context, this paper proposes the use of environmental welfare indices, taken and adapted from the literature on social welfare and inequality, in order to make a comprehensive examination of the international equity factor and the mean factor in this field. The proposed methodology is implemented empirically in order to explore the evolution in distributive-based environmental welfare on a global level for the three main pollutants with greenhouse gas effects: CO2, CH4 and NO, both globally and for selected years during the period of 1990- 2005. The main results found are as follows: firstly, typically, the environmental welfare associated with the overall greenhouse gases decreased significantly over the period, due primarily to the role of CO2; secondly, in contrast, the global welfare associated with CH4 and NO improved; and thirdly, typically, the evolutions can be attributed to a greater extent to the mean component than to the distributive component, although there are exceptions. These results would seem to be relevant in policy terms. JEL codes: D39; Q43; Q56. Keywords: environmental welfare: greenhouse gases; environmental equity.

Confirmatory factor analysis of an integrated model of psycopathology assessed with MMPI-2-RF and the MCMI-III

We presented an integrated hierarchical model of psychopathology that more accurately captures empirical patterns of comorbidity between clinical syndromes and personality disorders.In order to verify the structural validity of the model proposed, this study aimed to analyze the convergence between the Restructured Clinical (RC) scales and Personality scales (PSY-5) of the MMPI-2-RF and the Clinical Syndrome and Personality Disorder scales of the MCMI-III.The MMPI-2-RF and MCMI-III were administered to a clinical sample of 377 outpatients (167 men and 210 women).The structural hypothesiswas assessed by using a Confirmatory Factor Analytic design with four common superordinate factors. An independent-cluster-basis solution was proposed based on maximum likelihood estimation and the application of several fit indices.The fit of the proposed model can be considered as good and more so if we take into account its complexity.

On the thermal noise introduced by a resistor in a circuit

Comentari sobre l'article publicat anteriorment pels mateixos autors: Vargas, M; Pallás, R; The seemingly paradoxical noise behaviour some active circuits. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. 1994, vol. 43, núm. 5, p. 764-767

Error probability in synchronous digital circuits due to power supply noise

This paper presents a probabilistic approach to model the problem of power supply voltage fluctuations. Error probability calculations are shown for some 90-nm technology digital circuits.The analysis here considered gives the timing violation error probability as a new design quality factor in front of conventional techniques that assume the full perfection of the circuit. The evaluation of the error bound can be useful for new design paradigms where retry and self-recoveringtechniques are being applied to the design of high performance processors. The method here described allows to evaluate the performance of these techniques by means of calculating the expected error probability in terms of power supply distribution quality.

Disseny d’un circuit analògic reconfigurable

En l’actualitat, l’electrònica digital s’està apoderant de la majoria de camps de desenvolupament, ja que ofereix un gran ventall de possibilitats que permeten fer front a gran quantitat de problemàtiques. Poc a Poc s’ha anat prescindint el màxim possible de l’electrònica analògica i en el seu lloc s’han utilitzat sistemes microprocessats, PLDs o qualsevol altre dispositiu digital, que proporciona beneficis enlluernadors davant la fatigosa tasca d’implementar una solució analògica.Tot i aquesta tendència, és inevitable la utilització de l’electrònica analògica, ja que el mon que ens envolta és l’entorn en el que han de proporcionar servei els diferents dissenys que es realitzen, i aquest entorn no és discret sinó continu. Partint d’aquest punt ben conegut hem de ser conscients que com a mínim els filtres d’entrada i sortida de senyal juntament amb els convertidors D/A A/D mai desapareixeran.Així doncs, aquests circuits analògics, de la mateixa forma que els digitals, han de sercomprovats un cop dissenyats, és en aquest apartat on el nostre projecte desenvoluparà un paper protagonista, ja que serà la eina que ha de permetre obtenir les diferents senyals característiques d’un determinat circuit, per posteriorment realitzar els tests que determinaran si es compleix el rang de correcte funcionament, i en cas de no complir, poder concretar quin paràmetre és el causant del defecte

Systems medicine and integrated care to combat chronic noncommunicable diseases

We propose an innovative, integrated, cost-effective health system to combat major non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular, chronic respiratory, metabolic, rheumatologic and neurologic disorders and cancers, which together are the predominant health problem of the 21st century. This proposed holistic strategy involves comprehensive patient-centered integrated care and multi-scale, multi-modal and multi-level systems approaches to tackle NCDs as a common group of diseases. Rather than studying each disease individually, it will take into account their intertwined gene-environment, socio-economic interactions and co-morbidities that lead to individual-specific complex phenotypes. It will implement a road map for predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory (P4) medicine based on a robust and extensive knowledge management infrastructure that contains individual patient information. It will be supported by strategic partnerships involving all stakeholders, including general practitioners associated with patient-centered care. This systems medicine strategy, which will take a holistic approach to disease, is designed to allow the results to be used globally, taking into account the needs and specificities of local economies and health systems.

El circuit comercial de Barcino: reflexions al voltant de les marques amfòriques

Barcino és encara avui una ciutat romana poc coneguda de la província Tarraconense, que segons la majoria d’especialistes fou fundada per raons polítiques. Malgrat això, una anàlisi detallada de les característiques econòmiques suggereixen que es va crear com a resultat de necessitats comercials, ja que es localitzava en una de les millors zones portuàries del NE de la península. L’article present pretén reconstruir tot el circuit comercial de Barcino a partir de les nombroses estampilles d’àmfores trobades en les excavacions. Aquestes marques comercials no solament evidencien una pròspera producció de vi en l’àrea, sinó també la corresponent demanda externa.

Disseny de circuit de proves de traçabilitat amb rfid

ITENE és un institut tecnològic de recerca situat a Paterna (València). Té una plantapilot especialitzada en logística on les empreses que ho vulguin (mitjançant convenis,en règim de lloguer, etc.), poden utilitzar les instal•lacions (magatzem intel•ligent,aplicacions RFID, etc.), per provar els seus productes i simular processos de logística itraçabilitat.En aquesta planta s'ha detectat la necessitat de poder provar nous productes cometiquetes, detectors i processadors equipats amb tecnologia RFID (Identificació perRadiofreqüència). Aquesta tecnologia consisteix en passar informació que conté unaetiqueta “intel•ligent” cap a un terminal (PC) mitjançant uns detectors que, perproximitat, poden llegir la informació. Per exemple, quan un camió ple de mercaderiesprèviament etiquetades, passa per un pòrtic amb detectors RFID, es genera unainformació que passa directament a un terminal. Al moment es pot saber què porta elcamió, quantitat, color, mides, etc. Si això es combina amb un ERP, es pot descomptarde l'estoc en temps real. De fet s'utilitza per moltes aplicacions logística, control deprocessos de fabricació, traçabilitat de productes, etc.Per aquest motiu, ITENE, mitjançant el contacte de AIFOS SOLUTIONS S.L (empresaespecialitzada en RFID) ha encarregat un sistema de transportadors de banda per provarnoves solucions.L'objecte del present projecte consisteix en el disseny i automatització d'un sistema de 4cintes transportadores 2 elevadors per tal de fer un circuit tancat per moure caixes en un“bucle” de forma automàtica. L'objectiu és “llençar” caixes plenes de productes (etiquetats amb RFID) mitjançant untransportador equipat amb un pòrtic que té instal•lats diversos detectors de radiofreqüència,i poder-ne provar la correcta detecció a diferents velocitats. Un “buffer” s'encarrega desubministrar les caixes d'una en una que, un cop acabat el circuit, tornen al lloc d'on hansortit. Per donar un producte per bo, es realitzen tests de diverses hores i se n'obté unaestadística de lectures bones/dolentes. Si la ràtio és la desitjada es dóna per bo elproducte.Per aconseguir un disseny correcte s'ha utilitzat diferents eines CAD per dimensionar elsistema de transportadors i els seus elements. Tota l'aplicació està realitzada en 3Dmitjançant el software AutoCAD 3D. L'abast d'aquest projecte inclourà la solució mecànica i pneumàtica del sistema, aixícom el seu muntatge i tot el referent a les normes de seguretat per tal que el sistemacompleixi la normativa referida a la seguretat de màquines