Electron probe microanalysis: principles and applications

This article summarizes the basic principles of electron probe microanalysis, with examples of applications in materials science and geology that illustrate the capabilities of the technique.

Advanced optical microscopies for materials: new trends

This article summarizes the new trends of Optical Microscopy applied to Materials, with examples of applications that illustrate the capabilities of thetechnique.

Atomic force microscopy: probing the nanoworld

Atomic Force Microscope and related techniques have played a key role in the development of the nanotechnology revolution that is taking place in science. This paper reviews the basic principles behind the technique and its different operation modes and applications, pointing out research worksperformed in the Nanometric Techniques Unit of the CCiTUB in order to exemplify the vast array of capabilities of these instruments.

Paleomagnetism: principles and applications

This article summarizes the basic principles of Paleomagnetism, with examples of applications in geology that illustrate the capabilities of the technique.

Biomedical and biological applications of scanning electron microscopy

This article summarizes the basic principles of scanning electron microscopy and the capabilities of the technique with different examples ofapplications in biomedical and biological research.

X-ray single crystal and powder diffraction: possibilities and applications

In this article the main possibilities of single crystal and powder diffraction analysis using conventional laboratory x-ray sources are introduced. Several examples of applications with different solid samples and in different fields of applications are shown illustrating the multidisciplinary capabilities of both techniques.

Iowa Emergency Response Plan, October, 2010

The State of Iowa has adopted a multi-hazard approach to managing the consequences of emergency/disaster response. Underlying this approach is the principle that a standard set of generic functional capabilities can be employed to effectively address a wide variety of hazardous conditions and categories of incidents, whether these have a known probability of occurring or are totally unforeseen. Therefore, to the greatest extent possible, the activities described and assigned in this plan are organized along functional lines first, rather than by agency, type of hazard, or type of incident. Contained in this section of the Plan, known as the ―Basic Plan,‖ are instructions, policies, and explanatory information related to many or all of the agencies/entities involved in emergency/ disaster response, as well as information about the legal and administrative foundations for the Plan, the state’s characteristics and significant hazards, lines of succession for the state’s chief executive, plan activation requirements, and the structure of the response organization.

Iowa Strategy for Homeland Security and Emergency Management 2009-2014, August 31, 2009

Address sustainability in all efforts. Sustainability should be at the core of all levels of homeland security and emergency management effort in Iowa. Capabilities need to be built for the long term, and without a sustainability plan in place, projects can quickly deplete uncertain levels of funding. Utilize an all-hazards methodology. Developing capabilities that are effective during a variety of disaster and emergency scenarios represents sound planning and resource management. Enhance capabilities through joint planning, training and exercise. Effective capabilities developed through coordinated planning efforts and an ongoing joint training and exercising program to ensure sustainment of prepared response. Utilize a collaborative approach to build capability. We will utilize whatever partnerships are necessary to build capability in the most effective manner possible. Regional partnerships have been, and will continue to be, in the forefront of the State of Iowa’s efforts to build and enhance capability. Enhance statewide capabilities. Whenever possible, we will identify and augment existing resources to provide statewide capability during a disaster or terrorist attack. Awareness, outreach and education. Open communication is critical to the success of any initiative. All projects implemented will have awareness, education and outreach components to ensure that all stakeholders are informed as to their responsibilities, capabilities and access. Information sharing and a common operating picture. The timely exchange of critical/actionable information is imperative to the success of every operation. The identification of a common operating picture allows decision makers to make informed decisions based on a unified understanding of the events around them.

Advanced light microscopy techniques

This article summarizes the basic principles of light microscopy, with examples of applications in biomedicine that illustrate the capabilities of thetechnique.

Mobile robot experimental modeling and control strategies using sensor fusion

This research work deals with the problem of modeling and design of low level speed controller for the mobile robot PRIM. The main objective is to develop an effective educational, and research tool. On one hand, the interests in using the open mobile platform PRIM consist in integrating several highly related subjects to the automatic control theory in an educational context, by embracing the subjects of communications, signal processing, sensor fusion and hardware design, amongst others. On the other hand, the idea is to implement useful navigation strategies such that the robot can be served as a mobile multimedia information point. It is in this context, when navigation strategies are oriented to goal achievement, that a local model predictive control is attained. Hence, such studies are presented as a very interesting control strategy in order to develop the future capabilities of the system. In this context the research developed includes the visual information as a meaningful source that allows detecting the obstacle position coordinates as well as planning the free obstacle trajectory that should be reached by the robot

A new concept of integrated cardiopulmonary bypass circuit.

OBJECTIVE: Standard cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits with their large surface area and volume contribute to postoperative systemic inflammatory reaction and hemodilution. In order to minimize these problems a new approach has been developed resulting in a single disposable, compact arterio-venous loop, which has integral kinetic-assist pumping, oxygenating, air removal, and gross filtration capabilities (CardioVention Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA). The impact of this system on gas exchange capacity, blood elements and hemolysis is compared to that of a conventional circuit in a model of prolonged perfusion. METHODS: Twelve calves (mean body weight: 72.2+/-3.7 kg) were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass for 6 h with a flow of 5 l/min, and randomly assigned to the CardioVention system (n=6) or a standard CPB circuit (n=6). A standard battery of blood samples was taken before bypass and throughout bypass. Analysis of variance was used for comparison. RESULTS: The hematocrit remained stable throughout the experiment in the CardioVention group, whereas it dropped in the standard group in the early phase of perfusion. When normalized for prebypass values, both profiles differed significantly (P<0.01). Both O2 and CO2 transfers were significantly improved in the CardioVention group (P=0.04 and P<0.001, respectively). There was a slightly higher pressure drop in the CardioVention group but no single value exceeded 112 mmHg. No hemolysis could be detected in either group with all free plasma Hb values below 15 mg/l. Thrombocyte count, when corrected by hematocrit and normalized by prebypass values, exhibited an increased drop in the standard group (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: The CardioVention system with its concept of limited priming volume and exposed foreign surface area, improves gas exchange probably because of the absence of detectable hemodilution, and appears to limit the decrease in the thrombocyte count which may be ascribed to the reduced surface. Despite the volume and surface constraints, no hemolysis could be detected throughout the 6 h full-flow perfusion period.

Transferència científica a l'Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals : anàlisi de la vinculació universitat - societat

Aquest projecte ha estat impulsat per l’Observatori de la Divulgació de la Ciència (ODC) de la UAB i dut a terme a l’Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA). Està emmarcat dins el marc del nou Programa Europeu Horizon 2020 i més específicament dels conceptes establerts per la RRI. L’objectiu d’aquest projecte és analitzar la comunicació científica que duu a terme l’ICTA cap a al societat i conèixer la filosofia, els incentius i la motivació de l’ICTA i els seus investigadors per donar a conèixer la seva recerca a la ciutadania. L’anàlisi de la comunicació de l’ICTA consta d’un anàlisi del contingut de la pàgina web del centre de recerca, una entrevista feta a la directora de l’institut i un qüestionari realitzat a 14 investigadors Les formes de comunicació que més utilitzen són els articles científics en revistes dirigides a públic acadèmic. Respecte la comunicació no acadèmica, s’ha pogut observar que la majoria dels investigadors, tot i la manca de facilitats realitzaven activitats per interès personal, molts cops però, no comuniquen la seva recerca, principalment perquè tenen altres tasques de docència, de recerca i gestió per atendre. Hi ha una minoria que es refereix a la comunicació científica com un “estil essencialment vocacional”. Per tal d’impulsar i promoure una estratègia contínua i efectiva de comunicació científica cal definir un pla de comunicació a nivell institucional que contribueixi a millorar les capacitats divulgatives, comunicatives i educatives de l’ICTA per tal d’ajudar a les persones que hi fan recerca a apropar la seva tasca a la societat a la que pertanyen.

Issue review : narrowband mandate and state agency communications systems.

The federal government mandated that all non-federal public safety license holders on the frequencies ranging from 150 to 512 megahertz reduce their operating bandwidth from 25 kilohertz to 12.5 kilohertz. Narrowband channels must update their operating licenses by January 1, 2013. Failure to do so will result in the loss of communication capabilities and fines. This issue review analyzes the impact to state agencies of the federal mandate requiring all two-way radio systems and some paging networks, including those used by public-safety agencies, to meet the new narrowband requirements by January 1, 2013. This issue review does not address the impact to local communications systems.

Com influeixen les arts en el desenvolupament cognitiu

La influència de les arts en el desenvolupament cognitiu, és el tema d’aquest Treball de Final de Grau. La recerca ha consistit en descobrir i conèixer quines són les capacitats que es desperten en la nostra ment al relacionar-nos amb les arts plàstiques. Diversos psicòlegs experts en el desenvolupament cognitiu i professionals de les arts, són els que han permès aprofundir en la identificació d’algunes de les capacitats que la cognició desenvolupa amb l’ajuda de l’art. La realització d’una intervenció educativa amb infants d’escola bressol i la mirada profunda d’un projecte educatiu d’una escola, han deixat observar la realitat del què passa quan es realitzen propostes artístiques, quines són les parts de la ment que es desperten durant el procés. Per saber si les arts són avantatjoses o no en la nostra evolució, s’ha elaborat una comparació minuciosa entre els arguments i explicacions dels autors consultats, la pròpia vivència al centre de pràctiques i el projecte educatiu d’una escola.

On Automatic Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease based on Spontaneous Speech Analysis and Emotional Temperature

Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent form of progressive degenerative dementia; it has a high socio-economic impact in Western countries. Therefore it is one of the most active research areas today. Alzheimer's is sometimes diagnosed by excluding other dementias, and definitive confirmation is only obtained through a post-mortem study of the brain tissue of the patient. The work presented here is part of a larger study that aims to identify novel technologies and biomarkers for early Alzheimer's disease detection, and it focuses on evaluating the suitability of a new approach for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease by non-invasive methods. The purpose is to examine, in a pilot study, the potential of applying Machine Learning algorithms to speech features obtained from suspected Alzheimer sufferers in order help diagnose this disease and determine its degree of severity. Two human capabilities relevant in communication have been analyzed for feature selection: Spontaneous Speech and Emotional Response. The experimental results obtained were very satisfactory and promising for the early diagnosis and classification of Alzheimer’s disease patients.