Le giare da conservazione nella Siria occidentale: elementi di continuita' e di innovazione nel Bronzo Antico I-III (3200-2400 a.C.)

L’elaborato si focalizza sulle caratteristiche delle giare da conservazione rinvenute in varie regioni della Siria occidentale nel corso della prima metà del III millennio a.C. Dall’osservazione dei differenti corpora è possibile notare come il Bronzo Antico I-II si caratterizzi per una maggiore regionalizzazione rispetto al periodo tardo calcolitico, sebbene i punti di contatto siano evidenti soprattutto nella morfologia di alcune giare e nella diffusione della Reserved Slip Ware. Il Bronzo Antico III vede invece crescere alcuni centri urbani non solo per dimensioni ma anche in complessità sociale. La comparsa e la diffusione di nuove classi ceramiche, quali la Pattern Combed Ware, la Brittle Orange Ware e la Euphrates Banded Ware, vanno a sottolineare una maggiore differenziazione tra regione e regione rispetto al periodo precedente e un intensificarsi dei contatti tra la costa, la Siria nord-occidentale, la zona eufratica e l’Anatolia sud-orientale. Parallelamente a questo processo, la ceramica comune, nello specifico le giare da conservazione, mostra ancora alcuni elementi propri del repertorio morfologico ceramico dei periodi precedenti. In conclusione i periodi che seguono l’età tardo calcolitica si caratterizzano per una crescente regionalizzazione, sebbene non sia sempre riscontrabile nelle giare da conservazione che si mantengono per alcuni aspetti conservative lungo tutto l’arco della prima metà del III millennio a.C

Offset-calibration with Time-Domain Comparators Using Inversion-mode Varactors

This paper presents a differential time-domain comparator formed by two voltage controlled delay lines, one per input terminal, and a binary phase detector for comparison solving. The propagation delay through the respective lines can be adjusted with a set of digitally-controlled inversion-mode varactors. These varactors provide tuning capabilities to the comparator; feature which can be exploited for offset calibration. This is demonstrated with the implementation of a differential 10-bit SAR-ADC. The design, fabricated in a 0.18μm CMOS process, includes an automatic mechanism for adjusting the capacitance of the varactors in order to calibrate the offset of the whole converter. Correct functionality was measured in all samples.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2016-80923-POffice of Naval Research (USA) N0001414135

Novos restos de Notosuchus terrestris Woodward, 1896 (Crocodyliformes: Mesoeucrocodylia) do Cretáceo Superior de Neuquén, Patagônia, Argentina

New materials of Notosuchus terrestris are here described. They were found on Bajo de la Carpa Formation outcrops, near the Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén City. Descriptions were based on five specimens, one of them the only specimen of Notosuchus with postcranial remains articulated to the skull. As in Sphagesaurus, it presents triangular teeth in cross-section and oblique molariforms with worn facet surface. As in Mariliasuchus, it possesses procumbent mandibular incisiform teeth and, like in other notosuchians and basal crocodyliforms, it was able of proal mandibular movement. The centra of cervical vertebrae possess ventral keel as in Chimaerasuchus. Elongated cervical neural spines and suprapostzygapophyseal laminae in cervicodorsal vertebrae are observed. The scapular dorsal end is greatly enlarged, while the coracoid ventromedial process end is moderately developed. The dorsal surface of the ilium is lateromedially wide with a greatly expanded acetabular roof and a prominent anteromedial process in the femoral shaft. Based on diverse cranial and postcranial characters, we infer that Notosuchus possessed facial and perioral musculature well developed and an herbivore diet, confirming the suggestions of previous authors. Notosuchus represents, based on phylogenetic studies, the sister taxon of Mariliasuchus and the monophyly of Notosuchia is demonstrated. Paleobiogeographycally, the occurrence of Chimaerasuchus in China evidences the faunistic interchange between Gondwana and Central Asia during the Early Cretaceous.Novos materiais de Notosuchus terrestris são aqui descritos. Eles provêm de afloramentos da Formação Bajo de la Carpa, localizados próximos à Universidad Nacional del Comahue, na cidade de Neuquén. As descrições foram baseadas em cinco exemplares, um deles o único espécime de Notosuchus com restos pós-cranianos articulados ao crânio. Como em Sphagesaurus, N. terrestris apresenta dentes triangulares em seção cruzada e molariformes oblíquos com superfície da faceta com desgaste. Como em Mariliasuchus, a espécie possui dentes mandibulares incisiformes procumbentes e, como em outros notossúquios e crocodiliformes basais, era possível realizar o movimento antero-posterior mandibular. Os centros das vértebras cervicais possuem uma quilha ventral como em Chimaerasuchus. Espinhos neurais cervicais alongados e lâminas suprapószigapofiseais em vértebras cérvico-dorsais são observados. A extremidade escapular dorsal é amplamente alargada, enquanto a extremidade do processo ventro-medial do coracóide é pouco desenvolvida. A superfície dorsal do ilium é larga látero-medialmente com um teto acetabular amplamente expandido e processo ântero-medial proeminente na diáfise femoral. Baseado em diversos caracteres cranianos e pós-cranianos, infere-se que Notosuchus apresentava grande desenvolvimento da musculatura facial e perioral e tinha uma dieta herbívora, confirmando o que foi sugerido anteriormente por outros autores. Notosuchus representa, baseado em estudos filogenéticos, o táxon irmão de Mariliasuchus e a monofilia de Notosuchia é demonstrada. Paleobiogeograficamente, a ocorrência de Chimaerasuchus na China evidencia o intercâmbio faunístico entre o Gondwana e a Ásia Central durante o Cretáceo Inferior.Fil: Fiorelli, Lucas Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Paleontológico Lago Barreales; ArgentinaFil: Calvo, Jorge. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Paleontológico Lago Barreales; Argentin

Semi-empirical model of MOST and passive devices focused on narrowband RF blocks

This paper presents a semi-empirical modeling of MOST and passive elements to be used in narrowband radiofrequency blocks for nanometer technologies. This model is based on a small set of look-up tables (LUTs) obtained via electrical simulations. The MOST description is valid for all-inversion regions of MOST and the data is extracted as function of the gm=ID characteristic; for the passive devices the LUTs include a simplified model of the element and its principal parasitic at the working frequency f0. These semi-empirical models are validated by designing a set of 2.4-GHz LNAs and 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz VCOs in three different MOST inversion regions

The first “Protosuchian” (Archosauria: Crocodyliformes) from the Cretaceous (Santonian) of Gondwana

El primer “protosuquio” (Archosauria: Crocodyliformes) del Cretácico (Santoniano) de Gondwana. Los restos de “protosuquios” del Cretácico provienen, a excepción del “crocodyliforme de Las Hoyas” del Cretácico Inferior de España, exclusivamente de Asia Central: Zaraasuchus, Gobiosuchus, Zosuchus y Artzosuchus del Cretácico Superior de Mongolia; Tagarosuchus del Cretácico Inferior del sur de Siberia; Edentosuchus, Sichuanosuchus y Shantungosuchus del Cretácico Inferior de China. Aquí reportamos un nuevo taxón de crocodyliforme basal, Neuquensuchus universitas gen.nov., sp.nov., de la provincia de Neuquén, Argentina, correspondiente a la Formación Bajo de la Carpa, representando el primer y único “protosuquio” del Cretácico de Gondwana. Los materiales fragmentarios y articulados corresponden a una especie esbelta y delgada, con extremidades largas y delgadas. Al igual que en Shantungosuchus, los centros cervicales son alargados, con una quilla ventral prominente y parapófisis anteroventrales bien desarrolladas. Como en los crocodyliformes basales, Neuquensuchus posee dos vértebras sacras. Además, una hoja escapular muy expandida, con un puente acromial bien desarrollado y el borde posterior similar a Sichuanosuchus. La cresta deltopectoral pronunciada en el húmero es equivalente a la de Sichuanosuchus y al igual que este, la diáfisis es circular, alargada y delgada con el cóndilo medial mayor que el lateral. Asimismo, las proporciones del radio y la úlna son similares a Sichuanosuchus. Como este, el pubis es alargado, muy delgado en su sección media y poco expandido distalmente. El fémur, tibia y fíbula son alargados y similares a otros crocodyliformes no derivados. Además de representar el primer “protosuquio” cretácico de Gondwana, su presencia fuera de Asia y Europa durante el Cretácico ofrece nueva evidencia de un evento de dispersión pre-Albiano entre Gondwana y Asia Central a través de Europa.The remains of “protosuchians” from the Cretaceous come, to exception of “Las Hoyas crocodyliform” from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain, exclusively of Central Asia: Zaraasuchus, Gobiosuchus, Zosuchus, and Artzosuchus from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia; Tagarosuchus from Lower Cretaceous of Southern Siberia; Edentosuchus, Sichuanosuchus, and Shantungosuchus from Lower Cretaceous of China. We report a new basal crocodyliform taxon, Neuquensuchus universitas gen.nov., sp.nov., from Neuquén Province, Argentina, belonging to Bajo de la Carpa Formation, representing the first and only “protosuchian” from the Cretaceous of Gondwana. The articulated and fragmentary materials belonged to a willowy, slender species, with very long and thin extremities. As in Shantungosuchus, the cervical centers are lengthened, with prominent ventral keel and well developed anteroventral parapophyses. As in basal crocodylomorphs, it possesses two sacral vertebrae. Also, a much enlarged scapular blade, with well developed acromial ridge and the posterior edge similar to Sichuanosuchus. The pronounced deltopectoral crest in the complete humerus is equivalent to Sichuanosuchus and as this, a circular, elongated and thin shaft with the medial condyle longer than the lateral one. Also, the complete ulna and radius is similar in their proportions to Sichuanosuchus. As this, the pubis is lengthened, very thin in the half section and not very expanded distally. The femur, tibia and fibula are elongated and similar to other non-derivated crocodyliforms. Besides representing the first Cretaceous “protosuchian” of Gondwana, the occurrence of these outside of Asia and Europe during the Cretaceous offers new evidence of pre-Albian dispersion between Gondwana and Central Asia through Europe.Fil: Fiorelli, Lucas Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Calvo, Jorge Orlando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Paleontológico Lago Barreales; Argentin

LC-VCO design optimization methodology based on the gm/ID ratio for nanometer CMOS technologies

In this paper, an LC voltage-controlled oscillator (LC-VCO) design optimization methodology based on the gm/ID technique and on the exploration of all inversion regions of the MOS transistor (MOST) is presented. An in-depth study of the compromises between phase noise and current consumption permits optimization of the design for given specifications. Semiempirical models of MOSTs and inductors, obtained by simulation, jointly with analytical phase noise models, allow to get a design space map where the design tradeoffs are easily identified. Four LC-VCO designs in different inversion regions in a 90-nm CMOS process are obtained with the proposed methodology and verified with electrical simulations. Finally, the implementation and measurements are presented for a 2.4-GHz VCO operating in moderate inversion. The designed VCO draws 440 μA from a 1.2-V power supply and presents a phase noise of -106.2 dBc/Hz at 400 kHz from the carrier

A High TCMRR, Inherently Charge Balanced Bidirectional Front-End for Multichannel Closed-Loop Neuromodulation

This paper describes a multichannel bidirectional front-end for implantable closed-loop neuromodulation. Stimulation artefacts are reduced by way of a 4-channel H-bridge current source sharing stimulator front-end that minimizes residual charge drops in the electrodes via topology-inherent charge balancing. A 4-channel chopper front-end is capable of multichannel recording in the presence of artefacts as a result of its high total common-mode rejection ratio (TCMRR) that accounts for CMRR degradation due to electrode mismatch. Experimental verification of a prototype fabricated in a standard 180 nm process shows a stimulator front-end with 0.059% charge balance and 0.275 nA DC current error. The recording front-end consumes 3.24 µW, tolerates common-mode interference up to 1 Vpp and shows a TCMRR > 66 dB for 500 mVpp inputs.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2016-80923-POffice of Naval Research (USA) N00014111031

A 76nW, 4kS/s 10-bit SAR ADC with offset cancellation for biomedical applications

This paper presents a 10-bit fully-differential rail-to-rail successive approximation (SAR) ADC designed for biomedical applications. The ADC, fabricated in a 180nm HV CMOS technology, features low switching energy consumption and employs a time-domain comparator which includes an offset cancellation mechanism. The power dissipated by the ADC is 76.2nW at 4kS/s and achieves 9.5 ENOB.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2012-33634Office of Naval Research (USA) N0001414135

A new coupling solution for G3-PLC employment in MV smart grids

This paper proposes a new coupling solution for transmitting narrowband multicarrier power line communication (PLC) signals over medium voltage (MV) power lines. The proposed system is based on an innovative PLC coupling principle, patented by the authors, which exploits the capacitive divider embedded in voltage detecting systems (VDS) already installed inside the MV switchboard. Thus, no dedicated couplers have to be installed and no switchboard modifications or energy interruptions are needed. This allows a significant cost reduction of MV PLC implementation. A first prototype of the proposed coupling system was presented in previous papers: it had a 15 kHz bandwidth useful to couple single carrier PSK modulated PLC signals with a center frequency from 50–200 kHz. In this paper, a new prototype is developed with a larger bandwidth, up to 164 kHz, thus allowing to couple multicarrier G3-PLC signals using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) digital modulation. This modulation ensures a more robust communication even in harsh power line channels. In the paper, the new coupling system design is described in detail. A new procedure is presented for tuning the coupling system parameters at first installation in a generic MV switchboard. Finally, laboratory and in-field experimental test results are reported and discussed. The coupling performances are evaluated measuring the throughput and success rate in the case of both 18 and 36 subcarriers, in one of the different tone masks standardized for the FCC-above CENELEC band (that is, from 154.6875–487.5 kHz). The experimental results show an efficient behavior of the proposed coupler allowing a two-way communication of G3-PLC OFDM signals on MV networks

The relationships between vitamin K and cognition: a review of current evidence

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble nutrient discovered in 1935 and its role in blood coagulation has been thoroughly explored. In recent years, studies conducted in vitro and on animals highlighted vitamin K involvement in brain cells development and survival. In particular, vitamin K seems to have an antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effect mediated by the activation of Growth Arrest Specific Gene 6 and Protein S. Moreover, this vitamin is involved in sphingolipids metabolism, a class of lipids that participate in the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of brain cells. An altered expression in sphingolipids profile has been related to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. This review stems from a growing interest in the role of vitamin K in brain functions, especially in cognition, also in view of an expected increase of prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. It collects recent researches that show interesting, even though not definitive, evidence of a direct correlation between vitamin K levels and cognitive performance. Moreover, vitamin K antagonists, used worldwide as oral anticoagulants, according to recent studies may have a negative influence on cognitive domains such as visual memory, verbal fluency and brain volume. The aim of this review is to analyze the evidence of clinical studies carried out up to date on the relationship between vitamin K intake and cognitive performances. The involvement of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in declining cognitive performances is also addressed separately