The balance between cognitive and non-cognitive aspects of students’ well-being: a quantitative analysis

The objective of this work is to determine which students’ characteristics (of the 8th grade Spanish students) allow them finding a balance among different dimensions of well-being. Firstly, in order to measure the students’ well-being, we built four synthetic indexes related to anxiety, motivation, belonging to the educational centre and bullying. Then, different models are estimated using as explained variables those indexes and condition on students’ sociodemographic characteristics, use of ICTs, hours of study and a proxy for maturity. Based upon the estimated parameters a multiobjective problem is defined; the problem is solved with multiobjective programing using an achievement scalarazing function. The results allow to characterize the profile of those students who achieve an optimal balance among the different aspects of well-being evaluated, which may be used to design educational policies aimed at improving simultaneously cognitive and non-cognitive measures of students performance.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Herramientas Bioinformáticas en el Laboratorio de Proteómica CSIC/UAB

Comunicaciones a congreso

Towards a framework to combine multiobjective optimization and econometrics and an application in economics of education

Acknowledgements. This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project PID2020-115429GB-I00), by the Andalusian Regional Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University (PAI group SEJ-532 and project UMA18-FEDERJA-024, also supported by FEDER funding), and by the University of Malaga (project B1-2020 18). Sandra Gonzalez-Gallardo is recipient of a research contract within “Ayudas para la Recualificación del Sistema Universitario Español, Modalidad Margarita Salas”, financiado por la Unión Europea – NextGenerationEU.In this paper, we propose a theoretical framework that combines econometric and multiobjective programming methodologies to help researchers to identify and achieve optimal solutions to socio-economic and management problems. Sometimes, it is important to analyse which combination of values of the explanatory variables -in an econometric model- would imply the simultaneous achievement of the best values of the response variables. In such situations, if certain degree of conflict is observed among the response variables, we propose to formulate a multiobjective optimization problem based on the conclusions obtained from a regression analysis. Subsequently, the application of multiobjective optimization techniques allows gaining a better insight about the conflicting relation between the response variables, and how a balanced “optimal” situation among them could be achieved. This piece of information can be hardly extracted just by econometric techniques. An application in the field of economics of education, related to the analysis of the students’ well-being as a way to improve their academic performance, demonstrates the potential of our proposal.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project PID2020-115429GB-I00)Andalusian Regional Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University (PAI group SEJ-532 and project UMA18-FEDERJA-024, also supported by FEDER funding)University of Malaga (project B1-2020 18)“Ayudas para la Recualificación del Sistema Universitario Español, Modalidad Margarita Salas”, financiado por la Unión Europea – NextGenerationE

Plataforma elevadora de ayuda a la bipedestación

En las últimas décadas, la calidad de vida de muchas personas con discapacidad ha mejorado, existiendo en el mercado más dispositivos que favorecen la accesibilidad e independencia a ciertas personas con discapacidades motoras. En este proyecto nos centramos en estudiar el caso de un chico de 15 años, Darío, con una enfermedad conocida como diplejía espástica. Esta enfermedad le afecta al tronco y a sus extremidades inferiores por lo que dificulta el poder realizar la bipedestación por sus propios medios. El objetivo de este proyecto es mejorar la calidad de vida de Darío, con un mecanismo que pueda utilizar de manera autónoma y que sea accesible a su silla de ruedas, con el fin de que no tenga que necesitar ayuda de otras personas. Si tiene éxito, hay potencialmente muchos niños y adultos que podrían beneficiarse del estudio que se ha llevado a cabo y el prototipo que ha sido diseñado por nosotros. Los métodos utilizados para obtener el diseño del prototipo han sido los siguientes: Investigación, analizando los productos que hay actualmente en el mercado para poder comparar precios y especificaciones con el fin de realizar una lluvia de ideas para los posibles diseños. Desarrollo y diseño: utilizando las herramientas a través de los programas de dibujo Autocad 2016 y NX 9.0, hemos creado varios prototipos hasta obtener el más adecuado. Cálculos, hemos realizado los cálculos tanto analíticamente como experimentalmente (a través de NX 9.0), para poder compararlos entre ellos y así decidir si el diseño del mecanismo es correcto. Por último, nos gustaría agradecer a nuestra tutora de proyecto Marta Musté Rodríguez y al profesor Juan José Aliau Pons, la ayuda dada durante la realización de nuestro proyecto, aportándonos muchos conocimientos. También nos gustaría agradecer a Darío y su fisioterapeuta, la colaboración a la hora de tomar medidas y definir especificaciones para el diseño del mecanismo

High-Resolution Optical Thickness Measurement Based on Electro-Optic Dual-Optical Frequency Comb Sources

We propose an optical thickness measurement device based on electro-optic dual-optical frequency combs (dual-OFCs). Optical frequency combs (OFCs) are light sources that provide an optical signal consisting of many equidistant monochromatic tones. In this paper, we present an agile dual-OFC architecture with adjustable frequency separation of the comb modes and total frequency span, allowing high-resolution measurements of the thickness of transparent thick samples. This architecture is based on a single continuous-wave laser diode and external electro-optic devices to implement the dual-comb sensor, allowing easy control of the optical spectrum of the interrogation source (dual-OFC). As it is characteristic of dual-OFC systems, the optical transmittance function of the sample (etalon) is directly translated to the radiofrequency domain, where detection, demodulation, and processing of signals are performed. The shift in the complexity of implementation from the optical to the electronic domain yields many advantages, as acquisition and signal processing are made independently on the optical characteristics of the sample (thickness).This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under the RTC-2015-4205-4 Salicar and TEC-2014-52147-R Mossi grants

Scutoids are a geometrical solution to three-dimensional packing of epithelia

As animals develop, tissue bending contributes to shape the organs into complex three-dimensional structures. However, the architecture and packing of curved epithelia remains largely unknown. Here we show by means of mathematical modelling that cells in bent epithelia can undergo intercalations along the apico-basal axis. This phenomenon forces cells to have different neighbours in their basal and apical surfaces. As a consequence, epithelial cells adopt a novel shape that we term “scutoid”. The detailed analysis of diverse tissues confirms that generation of apico-basal intercalations between cells is a common feature during morphogenesis. Using biophysical arguments, we propose that scutoids make possible the minimization of the tissue energy and stabilize three-dimensional packing. Hence, we conclude that scutoids are one of nature's solutions to achieve epithelial bending. Our findings pave the way to understand the three-dimensional organization of epithelial organs.España Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología BFU2013-48988-C2-1-P and BFU2016-8079

Modulation of the chaperone DnaK allosterism by the nucleotide exchange factor GrpE

10 p.-6 fig.Hsp70 chaperones comprise two domains, the nucleotide-binding domain (Hsp70NBD), responsible for structural and functional changes in the chaperone, and the substrate-binding domain (Hsp70SBD), involved in substrate interaction. Substrate binding and release in Hsp70 is controlled by the nucleotide state of DnaKNBD, with ATP inducing the open, substrate-receptive DnaKSBD conformation, whereas ADP forces its closure. DnaK cycles between the two conformations through interaction with two cofactors, the Hsp40 co-chaperones (DnaJ in Escherichia coli) induce the ADP state, and the nucleotide exchange factors (GrpE in E. coli) induce the ATP state. X-ray crystallography showed that the GrpE dimer is a nucleotide exchange factor that works by interaction of one of its monomers with DnaKNBD. DnaKSBD location in this complex is debated; there is evidence that it interacts with the GrpE N-terminal disordered region, far from DnaKNBD. Although we confirmed this interaction using biochemical and biophysical techniques, our EM-based three-dimensional reconstruction of the DnaK-GrpE complex located DnaKSBD near DnaKNBD. This apparent discrepancy between the functional and structural results is explained by our finding that the tail region of the GrpE dimer in the DnaK-GrpE complex bends and its tip contacts DnaKSBD, whereas the DnaKNBD-DnaKSBD linker contacts the GrpE helical region. We suggest that these interactions define a more complex role for GrpE in the control of DnaK function.This work was supported in part by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Innovation Grants BFU2013-44202 (to J. M. V.), SAF2011-22988 (to O. L.), and BFU2013-47059 (to A. M.), Madrid Regional Government Grants S2013/MIT-2807 (to J. M. V.) and S2010/BMD-2316 (to O. L.), and Basque Government Grant IT709-13 (to A. M.).Peer reviewe

Classification of skin phenotypes caused by diabetes mellitus using complex scattering parameters in the millimeter-wave frequency range

The pathological skin phenotype caused by hyperglycemia is an important indicator for the progress of diabetes mellitus. An early detection of diabetes assures an early intervention to regulate the carbohydrate metabolism. In this publication a non-invasive detection principle based on the measurement of complex scattering parameters in the millimeter-wave frequency range is presented. The measurement principle provides evidence of the applicability for the identification of different glycemic states in animal models. The method proposed here can be used to predict diabetes status in animal models and is interesting for application on humans in view of safeness of millimeter-wave radiation. Furthermore the complex scattering parameters give important information about the anatomic varieties between the analyzed skin samples of the different mice strains. In contrast to other methods, our approach is less sensitive to skin variations between animals

Expression Patterns of Irx Genes in the Developing Chick Inner Ear

© 2016 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.This document is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ This document is the Accepted version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Brain Structure and Function. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-016-1326-6The vertebrate inner ear is a complex three-dimensional sensorial structure with auditory and vestibular functions. The molecular patterning of the developing otic epithelium creates various positional identities, consequently leading to the stereotyped specification of each neurosensory and non-sensory element of the membranous labyrinth. The Iroquois (Iro/Irx) genes, clustered in two groups (A: Irx1, Irx2, and Irx4; and B: Irx3, Irx5, and Irx6), encode for transcriptional factors involved directly in numerous patterning processes of embryonic tissues in many phyla. This work presents a detailed study of the expression patterns of these six Irx genes during chick inner ear development, paying particular attention to the axial specification of the otic anlagen. The Irx genes seem to play different roles at different embryonic periods. At the otic vesicle stage (HH18), all the genes of each cluster are expressed identically. Both clusters A and B seem involved in the specification of the lateral and posterior portions of the otic anlagen. Cluster B seems to regulate a larger area than cluster A, including the presumptive territory of the endolymphatic apparatus. Both clusters seem also to be involved in neurogenic events. At stages HH24/25-HH27, combinations of IrxA and IrxB genes participate in the specification of most sensory patches and some non-sensory components of the otic epithelium. At stage HH34, the six Irx genes show divergent patterns of expression, leading to the final specification of the membranous labyrinth, as well as to cell differentiation