Robust impedance active control of flight control devices

This paper focuses on the control of the mechanical impedance of an aircraft yoke. The control architecture involves an inner position servo-loop and an outer loop feedbacking the torque/force measurement to the position reference input through the required admitance model. Two different approaches are presented for the inner position servo-loop design: a classical Proportional-Derivative control and a structured Hinfinity control. These two approaches are compared from the performance/robustness trade off point of view. The performance and robustness indexes are respectively the maximal variation on the required admittance model and the maximal pilot own impedance supported by the closed loop system before to become unstable. These indexes are computed using real mu-analysis. Both approaches are implemented on an experimental test-bed. Analysis and exprimental results with a pilot in the loop confirm that the structured H_infinity$ controller is the best solution

Introducció a l'acústica de la tenora. Part II.

En aquest article es exposada la modelització matemàtica del comportament acústic de la tenora i dels instruments del mateix tipus, desenvolupada al Laboratori de Vibracions de 1'ETSEIB. Aquesta modelització es limita a la columna d'aire de l'interior de l'instrurnent i es refereix al càlcul de la impedància acústica —a la secció on s'acobla amb la canya— a partir de la geometria del tub i dels forats. Els càlculs es basen en la teoria de la propagació d'ones longitudinals amb esmorteiment en tubs cilíndrics i cònics. Horn presenta també un model simplificat previst per al càlcul de les freqüències de ressonància emprant recursos de càlcul reduïts. A partir d'aquest model hom obté resultats generals il•lustratius de la influència en les freqüències de ressonància del truncament del tub principal, de la posició i mida dels forats, i de la variació local del perfil del tub. A 1'últim apartat de 1'article hom fa una introducció a la modelització de 1'instrument complet, en la qual es planteja l'acoblament entre la columna d'aire i la canya. En aquesta modelització, que ha de permetre l'estudi tant del règim estacionari com del transitori, la columna d'aire es caracteritzada per la seva resposta impulsional

Wire scanners and vibrations: models and measurements

The new fast wire scanner foreseen to measure small emittance beams throughout the LHC injector chain will have a wire travelling at a speed of up to 20 m.s-1, with a requested wire position measurement accuracy in the order of a few microns. The vibration of the thin carbon wires used has been identified as one of the major error sources on the wire position accuracy. One of the most challenging and innovative developments in this project has been the work to quantify the effect of wire vibrations and fork deformation. The measurement strategy for the former is based on the piezo resistive effect of the wire itself, while the deflection of the fork supporting the wire has been measured by semiconductor strain gauges. Dynamic models of the wire and fork have been created to predict the behaviour of the fork-wire assembly and will be used for its optimisation. This contribution will discuss the measurement setup and the model development as well as their comparison. In addition it will show that this technology can easily be implemented in current operating devices without major modifications.Postprint (published version

Improvement of antibiotic therapy and ICU survival in severe non-pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia: a matched case-control study

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to compare intensive care unit mortality due to non-pneumococcal severe community-acquired pneumonia between the periods 2000-2002 and 2008-2014, and the impact of the improvement in antibiotic strategies on outcomes. METHODS: This was a matched case-control study enrolling 144 patients with non-pneumococcal severe pneumonia: 72 patients from the 2000-2002 database (CAPUCI I group) were paired with 72 from the 2008-2014 period (CAPUCI II group), matched by the following variables: microorganism, shock at admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, immunocompromise, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and age over 65 years. RESULTS: The most frequent microorganism was methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (22.1%) followed by Legionella pneumophila and Haemophilus influenzae (each 20.7%); prevalence of shock was 59.7%, while 73.6% of patients needed invasive mechanical ventilation. Intensive care unit mortality was significantly lower in the CAPUCI II group (34.7% versus 16.7%; odds ratio (OR) 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64-0.95; p = 0.02). Appropriate therapy according to microorganism was 91.5% in CAPUCI I and 92.7% in CAPUCI II, while combined therapy and early antibiotic treatment were significantly higher in CAPUCI II (76.4 versus 90.3% and 37.5 versus 63.9%; p < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, combined antibiotic therapy (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.07-0.74) and early antibiotic treatment (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.02-0.22) were independently associated with decreased intensive care unit mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In non-pneumococcal severe community-acquired pneumonia , early antibiotic administration and use of combined antibiotic therapy were both associated with increased intensive care unit survival during the study period

La enseñanza de la Toxicología en Farmacia: los seminarios como herramienta para la evaluación continuada

Con la finalidad de adaptarnos al EEES, desarrollamos una herramienta que nos permitiera realizar un proceso de evaluación continua de la asignatura troncal de Toxicología. En el presente trabajo presentamos los resultados de este modelo en el que utilizamos los seminarios como elementos básicos de este proceso. Describimos cómo se estructuran y desarrollan estos seminarios, así como el modelo de evaluación de los mismos. Los seminarios fueron evaluados con una puntuación máxima del 30 % sobre la nota final de la signatura, y la participación en los mismos con un máximo del 10 %. Algunos de estos seminarios incorporaban evaluaciones realizadas antes del desarrollo de los mismos, que denominábamos «pre», y otras justo al final del desarrollo de los mismos, que denominábamos «post». Esta herramienta de evaluación continua se ha mostrado muy eficaz en lo que respecta al grado de participación y preparación de los alumnos. Además, ha supuesto un cambio significativo en el grado de implicación de los profesores, y una mejora de la comunicación alumno-profesor

Zebrafish as a model for developmental toxicity assessment

Podeu consultar el llibre complet a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/67430The zebrafish embryo has emerged as promising alternative model for traditional in vivo developmental toxicological screening due to their advantageous characteristics as their small size and transparency. In this paper, we reviewed the applicability of the zebrafish embryo model in some relevant areas to human t oxicology as developmental toxicity, cardiovascular toxicity and neurotoxicity (behavioral assessment). Despite the promising results, further optimization and testing of more substances as well as a harmonized methodology is needed to streamline the metho ds and make the assay conducive to medium - throughput

Milloria de cumplementació de l'estil Utstein. Incorporació d'un sistema de registre d'audio durant l'aturada cardíaca intrahospitalària

El registre precís de l'aturada cardíaca intrahospitalària seguint les recomanacions segons l'estil Utstein i mesurar els intèrvals de temps entre les diferents accions és difícil. L'estudi demostra que l'ús d'una gravadora amb temporitzador incorporat durant les maniobres de ressussitació cardiopulmonar en l'aturada cardíaca intrahospitalària permet el registre de més ítems per pacients i el càlcul dels intèrvals de temps entre les diferents accions durant les maniobres de reanimació cardiopulmonar de forma precisa i objectiva. Estudi observacional prospectiu entre gener de 2008 i desembre de 2009. S'inclouen pacients hospitalitzats i no hospitalitzats atesos per l'equip d'aturada cardíaca.An accurate audit of in- hospital cardiac arrest following the recommendations according to the Utstein style and measuring time intervals between the different interventions is difficult. The study demonstrates that the use of an audio recording system during in-hospital cardiac arrest resuscitation maneuvers allows the register of more items per patient and permits time intervals between different interventions to be in a accurately and objectively manner. It is a prospective observational study between January 2008 and December 2009. The populations included were hospitalized patients and non-hospitalized patients assited by cardiac arrest team. Include inpatient hospital and treated for cardiac arrest team