Fraction-like ratings from preferential voting

A method is given for resolving a matrix of preference scores into a well-specfied mixture of options. This is done in agreement with several desirable properties, including the continuity of the mixing proportions with respect to the preference scores and a condition of compatibility with the Condorcet-Smith majority principle. These properties are achieved by combining the classical rating method of Zermelo with a projection procedure introduced in previous papers of the same authors

Electrostática y EAO : una experiencia de simulación

In this work the inclusion of educational software in the teaching of physics is analyzed. The program used corresponds to the computer simulation of electrostatic fields, and it was applied to students of first year of universitary level in a Faculty of Chemistry

Combined effect of steel fibres and steel rebars on impact resistance of high performance concrete

The investigation on the impact properties of normal concrete (NC)and reinforced concrete (RC) specimens, steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) specimens and RC+SFRC specimens with different steel fibres dosages were carried out with the drop-weight impact test recommended by ACI Committee 544. The results indicate that the number of blows to final failure greatly increased by addition of steel fibres. Moreover, the combination of steel fibres and steel rebars demonstrates a significant positive composite effect on the impact resistance, which results on the improvement in impact toughness of concrete specimens. In view of the variation of impact test results, the two-parameter Weibull distribution was adopted to analyze the experimental data. It is proved that the probabilistic distribution of the blows to first crack and to final failure of six types of samples are approximately two-parameter Weibull distribution.Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant No.50578026)Financial support provided by the Research Center of Mathematics of the University of Minho through the FCT Pluriannual Funding Progra

Corner contributions to holographic entanglement entropy

The entanglement entropy of three-dimensional conformal field theories contains a universal contribution coming from corners in the entangling surface. We study these contributions in a holographic framework and, in particular, we consider the effects of higher curvature interactions in the bulk gravity theory. We find that for all of our holographic models, the corner contribution is only modified by an overall factor but the functional dependence on the opening angle is not modified by the new gravitational interactions. We also compare the dependence of the corner term on the new gravitational couplings to that for a number of other physical quantities, and we show that the ratio of the corner contribution over the central charge appearing in the two-point function of the stress tensor is a universal function for all of the holographic theories studied here. Comparing this holographic result to the analogous functions for free CFT's, we find fairly good agreement across the full range of the opening angle. However, there is a precise match in the limit where the entangling surface becomes smooth, i.e., the angle approaches $\pi$, and we conjecture the corresponding ratio is a universal constant for all three-dimensional conformal field theories. In this paper, we expand on the holographic calculations in our previous letter arXiv:1505.04804, where this conjecture was first introduced.Comment: 62 pages, 6 figures, 1 table; v2: minor modifications to match published version, typos fixe

Identification of a hypoxia-regulated miRNA signature in bladder cancer and a role for miR-145 in hypoxia-dependent apoptosis

Background: Hypoxia leads to the stabilisation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factor that drives the expression of target genes including microRNAs (miRNAs). MicroRNAs are known to regulate many genes involved in tumourigenesis. The aim of this study was to identify hypoxia-regulated miRNAs (HRMs) in bladder cancer and investigate their functional significance. Methods: Bladder cancer cell lines were exposed to normoxic and hypoxic conditions and interrogated for the expression of 384 miRNAs by qPCR. Functional studies were carried out using siRNA-mediated gene knockdown and chromatin immunoprecipitations. Apoptosis was quantified by annexin V staining and flow cytometry. Results: The HRM signature for NMI bladder cancer lines includes miR-210, miR-193b, miR-145, miR-125-3p, miR-708 and miR-517a. The most hypoxia-upregulated miRNA was miR-145. The miR-145 was a direct target of HIF-1a and two hypoxia response elements were identified within the promoter region of the gene. Finally, the hypoxic upregulation of miR-145 contributed to increased apoptosis in RT4 cells. Conclusions: We have demonstrated the hypoxic regulation of a number of miRNAs in bladder cancer. We have shown that miR- 145 is a novel, robust and direct HIF target gene that in turn leads to increased cell death in NMI bladder cancer cell lines

Feasibility and effects of enhanced recovery vs. conventional care after emergency colon surgery for patients with left colon perforation

The impact of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programme in emergency colorectal surgery has not yet been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and the results of patients included in an ERAS protocol following emergency colon surgery for left colon perforation. For this purpose, patients with a low to moderate risk of mortality, according to a Peritonitis Severity Score (PSS), and treated with an ERAS protocol (ERAS group) after emergency surgery for left colon perforation were compared for a period of 40 months (March 2014–June 2017) with a control group of patients treated with conventional care (CC group) during the 38 months prior to implementation of the new ERAS protocol (January 2011–February 2014). The main endpoint was 90-day postoperative morbidity according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. Secondary endpoints included length of postoperative hospital stay, 90-day readmission rate, protocol compliance and mortality. Fifty patients were included in the study, 29 in the ERAS group and 21 in the CC group. There were no significant differences between the groups in the demographic data or in the operative characteristics. A reduction in the incidence of postoperative complications (20.7% vs. 38%; p > 0.05) and in the postoperative hospital stay (7.7 + /- 3.85 vs. 10.9 + /- 5.6 days; p = 0.009) were observed in the ERAS group. The 90-day readmission rate did not differ significantly between the two groups (2 vs. 1). No 90-day mortality was observed in either group. The ERAS group showed better results than the CC group in protocol compliance. We conclude that ERAS protocols are feasible and help to reduce morbidity and length of hospital stay without adversely affecting the rate of readmission or mortality