Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems

VOCABULARY: APPROACH DELAYS

Plasmids pBR322 and pUC18/19

pBR322

pBR322, developed in 1977, is a foundational plasmid in molecular biology. Key features include:

• Size: ~4,361 base pairs (bp)
• Origin of Replication: Allows independent replication within bacteria.
• Selection Markers:
  • ampR: Confers ampicillin resistance.
  • tetR: Confers tetracycline resistance.
• Cloning Sites: Multiple sites for inserting foreign DNA.
• Applications: Gene cloning, expression, and manipulation.

pUC18/19

pUC18/19, derived from pBR322 in the early 1980s, simplifies cloning. Key features include:

• Size: ~2,686 bp
• Origin of Replication: High-copy-number pMB1 ori for increased yield.
• Selection Marker:
  • lacZ: Beta-galactosidase gene; enables blue/white screening for insert identification.
• Cloning Sites: Multiple cloning

Competitiveness and Trade

Nominal Exchange Rates

When our currency's value increases, our competitiveness decreases, and importations increase in relative terms.

Price Levels

• Our Country: If prices in our country increase, our exports decrease, and imports increase.
• Foreign Country: If prices in foreign countries increase, our competitiveness increases, benefiting our exports, and our imports decrease.

Foreign Exchange Market

• Price Determination: The exchange rate between countries is established based on supply and demand.
• Hedging: Protection against currency fluctuations, safeguarding investors and businesses from losses due to currency appreciation or depreciation.
• International Finance: Countries can lend and borrow money by converting currencies.

Load Signal and Parameters

We load the signal we need.

load('tecla_piano.mat');

We calculate the sampling period and the number of samples.

Ts = 1/fs;
N = length(data);
n = 0:N-1;
nTs = n * Ts;

Set the number of frequency points which generate the spectrums. We also generate the frequency vector.

nFFT = 2 * fs;
f = (0:nFFT-1) * fs/(nFFT-1);

Time Domain Signal Representation

We represent the input signal in the time domain.

figure;
plot(nTs,data);
title('Input signal, TIME domain');
xlabel('nT_{S} (s)');
ylabel('data[nT_{S}] (V)');
grid on;

Signal Spectrum Analysis

We calculate and observe the spectrum of the signal. From the magnitude spectrum, we decide that we want to filter the signal up to 1000 Hz and we want to remove it completely from 1500 Hz up.... Continue reading "FIR Low-Pass Filter Design with Window Method" »

Forward Exchange (EUR/SEK):

x = Exchange rate * (1 + SEK interest rate) / (1 + EUR interest rate).

CAP: Establishes an upper limit on interest rates. Floor: Establishes a lower limit on interest rates. EBITDA: Higher than net income. ROE: Return on Equity. For the equity the company provides, it generates an operating income of X annually.

Theoretical Semiannual Euribor:

(1 + First-half rate) * (1 + Second-half rate) = (1 + Annual rate).

Nominal Exchange Rate: (Nominal Exchange Rate * Domestic Price Level) / Foreign Price Level.

Spot Market: Notional amount * (1 / Current exchange rate - 1 / Initial exchange rate). Positive value means that in 9 months the spot market will be more expensive.

FXA (Foreign Exchange Agreement): Notional amount * (1... Continue reading "Understanding Forex, Financial Ratios, and Country Competitiveness" »

Vocabulary

Prefixes

• re/over/under: overeat, reshape, overspend, overproduce, undercook, redesign, resend
• anti/inter/multi/over/pro: inter/over/proactive, multicolored, prodemocracy, overeat, multiethnic, intergalactic, antiglobalization, multi/international, overproduce, multipurpose, antisocial, overspend, multistorey, anti/protechnology
• Negative prefixes: disobedient, disorganized, illegal, illiterate, immoral, impatient, inadequate, incredible, irrelevant, irresponsible, unbelievable, unhelpful, unsafe.

Other

• Inspired: inspirado
• Innovative: innovado
• Replaced: reemplazado
• Discover: descubierto
• Developed: desenvolvido
• Invented: inventado
• Observed: observado
• Researched: buscado
• Created: creado
• Designed: diseñado
• Adapted: adaptado
• Genre of films: adventure,

Santa Maria degli Angeli (Florence)

(Demolished after 3 years)

• Blended integration and relation of elements.
• Centralized floorplan: Representing an aesthetic ideal and an expression of the order of the universe – absolute symmetry.
• Surrounded by a world of well-proportioned beauty.
• Relation with Villa Rotonda; centralized building as a key urban form.

Michelozzo: Palazzo Medici (Florence)

• An urban palace where the facade is an important aspect.
• The wall treatment softens and smooths in the upper levels, representing the wealth of the Medici family.
• Exterior conveys solemnity, giving higher status to the city as well.
• Features a very heavy cornice at the top.

Leon Battista Alberti: Theory and Practice

• Had extensive contact with Florentine Humanists; friend

Performance Metrics

• Elapsed Time: Represents overall system performance. It is the total time taken to complete a task.
• User CPU Time: Indicates CPU performance. It is the time the task actively runs on the CPU, excluding idle time.
• CPU Time: The time the CPU spends executing instructions, either from the task or the operating system, excluding idle time.
• Clock Speed: 1 MHz equals 1 million clock cycles per second. 1 GHz equals 1 billion clock cycles per second.
• Response Time: Equivalent to execution time.
• Throughput: Equivalent to bandwidth.
• Performance Comparison: (PerfA) / (PerfB) = (ExecTimeB) / (ExecTimeA) = n

Impact of Processor Upgrades

• Replacing a processor with a faster one decreases response time and increases throughput.
• Adding an additional

Reported Speech

Types of Reported Speech

Yes/No Questions

Structure: S + reporting verb + if/whether + S + past tense verb

Example: He asked if he was late.

Wh- Questions

Structure: S + reporting verb + wh-word + S + past tense verb

Example: He asked where he had left his keys.

Orders and Requests

Structure: S + reporting verb + object + (not) + to + infinitive

Note: Use "told" for orders.

Example: He told me to be quiet.

Suggestions

Structure 1: S + suggest (tense) + (not) + verb-ing

Structure 2: S + suggest + that + S + should + infinitive

Example: She suggested going for a walk.

Reporting Verbs

Verbs followed by "to + infinitive"

Examples: agree, offer, refuse, promise, threaten

Example: We agreed not to buy a car.

Additional verbs with object: advise, invite,... Continue reading "Reported Speech: A Comprehensive Guide with Examples" »