Characterisation of electrical power systems based on electrical curves and their properties

[Abstract]: Due to the proliferation of renewable energy systems, the study of voltage and frequency stability is a crucial aspect. Recently, this problem has been approached from a purely geometrical point of view with interesting results. The present work investigates the properties of the so-called electrical curves described by arbitrary voltage or current vectors in Euclidean spaces. Through the invariants of these curves, certain indices can be constructed to detect abnormal operation or irregular characteristics in electrical power systems. Different scenarios and examples have been solved in this work to support the proposed theory

Improvement of learning through European educational projects

Proceedings TEEM 2020: Eighth International Conference on Technological Ecosystems for Enhancing Multiculturality.[EN]The purpose of this article is to set out the research plan for the doctoral thesis, which deals with the definition of a methodological guide for the successful use of digital technologies in education, especially in eLearning, taking as a reference European educational projects that have been successful in achieving an improvement in the teaching and learning process. We live in an increasingly digital society that requires citizens to be prepared to adapt to the needs of the moment and to solve the problems that arise. For this to be possible, the education system must be prepared to adequately train future citizens who will join a changing labor market. To this end, teachers must be trained and know how to carry out efficient educational projects that allow them to make the most of the potential of ICT in the classroom or in distance education. The situation experienced during the 2019-2020 school year with the COVID-19 pandemic has tested the education system and its ability to adapt to a situation where the use of distance education was required and where ICT was very much needed in most of the cases to bring education to the homes. These factors make it very necessary to work for a better teaching professionalization. Therefore, the main objective of this PhD work is to enable teachers to design their projects, involving electronic learning, in a more effective way. To achieve this, what better than to use the educational projects compiled in the Erasmus+ results platform, which allow the analysis of project typology, outcomes, topics and to see those that have been catalogued as a good practice or success story. This database will be a key tool to gather information together with the collaboration of the main actors of those projects that have been successful. A methodological guide would allow teachers and teacher trainers to know the key factors that help to achieve a good design of educational projects and allow an optimal use of ICT resources and the greatest impact on the teaching-learning process

Diagnostic Accuracy of Anthropometric Markers of Obesity for Prediabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Prediabetes is a significant public health concern due to its high risk of progressing to diabetes. Anthropometric measures of obesity, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) have been demonstrated as key risk factors in the development of prediabetes. However, there is a lack of clarity on the diagnostic accuracy and cut-off points of these measures. Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of these anthropometric measures for their most effective use in identifying prediabetes. Methodology: A systematic review (SR) with metanalysis of observational studies was carried out. The search was conducted in four databases: Pubmed/Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and EMBASE. For the meta-analysis, sensitivity and specificity, together with their 95% confidence intervals (CI 95%) were calculated. Results: Among all the manuscripts chosen for review, we had four cross-sectional studies, and three were classified as cohort studies. The forest plots showed the combined sensitivity and specificity for both cross-sectional and cohort studies. For cross-sectional studies, the values were as follows: BMI had a sensitivity of 0.63 and specificity of 0.56, WC had a sensitivity of 0.59 and specificity of 0.58, and WHtR had a sensitivity of 0.63 and specificity of 0.73. In the cohort studies, the combined sensitivity and specificity were: BMI at 0.70 and 0.45, WC at 0.68 and 0.56, and WHtR at 0.68 and 0.56, respectively. All values are provided with 95% confidence intervals. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of BMI, WC, and WHtR in identifying prediabetes. The results showed variations in sensitivity and specificity, with WHtR having the highest specificity in cross-sectional studies and BMI having improved sensitivity in cohort studies

Utilidad diagnóstica de la prueba de riesgo de la Asociación Americana de Diabetes para prediabetes y diabetes. Una revisión sistemática y metaanálisis

Introducción. Dado el aumento de los casos de prediabetes y diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) a nivel mundial, y al poco acceso de análisis de laboratorio en varios lugares, es necesario contar con la implementación de un método de detección simple, rápido y sin laboratorio: la prueba de riesgo de la Asociación Americana de Diabetes (ADA): el ADA test risk score (ADATRS). Objetivo. Realizar una revisión sistemática (RS) con metaanálisis sobre la utilidad diagnóstica del ADATRS para prediabetes y DM2. Materiales. RS con metaanálisis de estudios de pruebas diagnósticas. Se realizó la búsqueda en cuatro bases de datos: PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science y EMBASE. Se obtuvieron los verdadero positivos, verdaderos negativos, falsos positivos y falsos negativos de cada estudio. Se construyeron tablas de 2×2 con base en la información del artículo o de los autores. Así, se presentaron diagramas de bosque con un intervalo de confianza al 95% (IC 95%), tanto de la sensibilidad como especificidad en conjunto del ADATRS para ambos eventos de interés. Resultados. Los diagramas de bosque revelaron que la sensibilidad y especificidad para prediabetes fueron 0,91 (IC95%: 0,82–0,96) y 0,52 (IC95%: 0,36–0,67), respectivamente. Mientras que, para DM2, la sensibilidad y especificidad, combinados fueron 0,85 (IC95%: 0,71–0,93) y 0,56 (IC95%: 0,47–0,65), respectivamente. Conclusiones. Nuestra revisión sistemática y metanálisis de la literatura actual sugiere que el ADATRS puede ser útil como método de cribado para prediabetes y DM2, dado su alta sensibilidad. Sin embargo, existe mucha heterogeneidad y pocos estudios aun al respecto; por lo tanto, se necesitan más trabajos de investigación en diferentes poblaciones y con métodos más estandarizados para finalmente determinar la importancia clínica de este cuestionario como herramienta de cribado o diagnóstico para la prediabetes o DM2

Metabolically Obese Normal-Weight Phenotype as a Risk Factor for High Blood Pressure: A Five-Year Cohort

"Background: The metabolically obese normal-weight (MONW) phenotype has been considered a risk factor for different chronic diseases, but its role in high blood pressure (HBP) is still unclear. The aim of the study is to determine if the MONW phenotype constitutes a risk factor for hypertension in Peruvian adults belonging to a 5-year cohort. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. A secondary analysis from the database of the PERU MIGRANT study was carried out from the MONW and non-MONW cohorts; after a 5-year follow-up, the appearance of HBP was evaluated in the subjects of both cohorts. To assess the strength and magnitude of the association, a Poisson regression model (crude and adjusted) with robust variance was used. The measure of association was the relative risk (RR). Results: The incidence of HBP was 11.30%. In the multivariable analysis, subjects with the MONW phenotype had a 2.879-fold risk of presenting HBP in 5 years compared with those who were not MONW at the beginning of the study; this was adjusted for categorized age, sex, group, and state of smoker and alcohol drinker (RR: 2.055; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.118 - 3.777; P = 0.020). Conclusions: The presence of the MONW phenotype doubled the incidence of HBP, even after adjusting for other covariates. However, studies in this field should continue. If these findings are confirmed, it should be considered that presenting an adequate weight for height should not be interpreted as a condition free of metabolic alterations, so screening for hypertension should be carried out regardless of w

The Fruit Intake–Adiposity Paradox: Findings from a Peruvian Cross-Sectional Study

"Due to the increase in obesity worldwide, international organizations have promoted the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, as part of which fruit consumption stands out. However, there are controversies regarding the role of fruit consumption in mitigating this disease. The objective of the present study was to analyze the association between fruit intake and body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in a representative sample of Peruvians. This is an analytical cross-sectional study. Secondary data analysis was conducted using information from the Demographic and Health Survey of Peru (2019–2021). The outcome variables were BMI and WC. The exploratory variable was fruit intake, which was expressed in three different presentations: portion, salad, and juice. A generalized linear model of the Gaussian family and identity link function were performed to obtain the crude and adjusted beta coefficients. A total of 98,741 subjects were included in the study. Females comprised 54.4% of the sample. In the multivariate analysis, for each serving of fruit intake, the BMI decreased by 0.15 kg/m2 (β = −0.15; 95% CI −0.24 to −0.07), while the WC was reduced by 0.40 cm (β = −0.40; 95% CI −0.52 to −0.27). A negative association between fruit salad intake and WC was found (β = −0.28; 95% CI −0.56 to −0.01). No statistically significant association between fruit salad intake and BMI was found. In the case of fruit juice, for each glass of juice consumed, the BMI increased by 0.27 kg/m2 (β = 0.27; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.40), while the WC increased by 0.40 cm (β = 0.40; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.60). Fruit intake per serving is negatively related to general body adiposity and central fat distribution, while fruit salad intake is negatively related to central distribution adiposity. However, the consumption of fruit in the form of juices is positively associated with a significant increase in BMI and WC.

The Fruit Intake–Adiposity Paradox: Findings from a Peruvian Cross-Sectional Study

Due to the increase in obesity worldwide, international organizations have promoted the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, as part of which fruit consumption stands out. However, there are controversies regarding the role of fruit consumption in mitigating this disease. The objective of the present study was to analyze the association between fruit intake and body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in a representative sample of Peruvians. This is an analytical cross-sectional study. Secondary data analysis was conducted using information from the Demographic and Health Survey of Peru (2019–2021). The outcome variables were BMI and WC. The exploratory variable was fruit intake, which was expressed in three different presentations: portion, salad, and juice. A generalized linear model of the Gaussian family and identity link function were performed to obtain the crude and adjusted beta coefficients. A total of 98,741 subjects were included in the study. Females comprised 54.4% of the sample. In the multivariate analysis, for each serving of fruit intake, the BMI decreased by 0.15 kg/m2 (β = −0.15; 95% CI −0.24 to −0.07), while the WC was reduced by 0.40 cm (β = −0.40; 95% CI −0.52 to −0.27). A negative association between fruit salad intake and WC was found (β = −0.28; 95% CI −0.56 to −0.01). No statistically significant association between fruit salad intake and BMI was found. In the case of fruit juice, for each glass of juice consumed, the BMI increased by 0.27 kg/m2 (β = 0.27; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.40), while the WC increased by 0.40 cm (β = 0.40; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.60). Fruit intake per serving is negatively related to general body adiposity and central fat distribution, while fruit salad intake is negatively related to central distribution adiposity. However, the consumption of fruit in the form of juices is positively associated with a significant increase in BMI and WC

The Fruit Intake–Adiposity Paradox: Findings from a Peruvian Cross-Sectional Study

"Due to the increase in obesity worldwide, international organizations have promoted the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, as part of which fruit consumption stands out. However, there are controversies regarding the role of fruit consumption in mitigating this disease. The objective of the present study was to analyze the association between fruit intake and body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in a representative sample of Peruvians. This is an analytical cross-sectional study. Secondary data analysis was conducted using information from the Demographic and Health Survey of Peru (2019–2021). The outcome variables were BMI and WC. The exploratory variable was fruit intake, which was expressed in three different presentations: portion, salad, and juice. A generalized linear model of the Gaussian family and identity link function were performed to obtain the crude and adjusted beta coefficients. A total of 98,741 subjects were included in the study. Females comprised 54.4% of the sample. In the multivariate analysis, for each serving of fruit intake, the BMI decreased by 0.15 kg/m2 (β = −0.15; 95% CI −0.24 to −0.07), while the WC was reduced by 0.40 cm (β = −0.40; 95% CI −0.52 to −0.27). A negative association between fruit salad intake and WC was found (β = −0.28; 95% CI −0.56 to −0.01). No statistically significant association between fruit salad intake and BMI was found. In the case of fruit juice, for each glass of juice consumed, the BMI increased by 0.27 kg/m2 (β = 0.27; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.40), while the WC increased by 0.40 cm (β = 0.40; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.60). Fruit intake per serving is negatively related to general body adiposity and central fat distribution, while fruit salad intake is negatively related to central distribution adiposity. However, the consumption of fruit in the form of juices is positively associated with a significant increase in BMI and WC.

BRIVA-LIFE–A multicenter retrospective study of the long-term use of brivaracetam in clinical practice

Objectives: Evaluate long-term effectiveness and tolerability of brivaracetam in clinical practice in patients with focal epilepsy. Materials and Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study. Patients aged =16 years were started on brivaracetam from November 2016 to June 2017 and followed over 1 year. Data were obtained from medical records at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment initiation for evaluation of safety- and seizure-related outcomes. Results: A total of 575 patients were included in analyses; most had been treated with =4 lifetime antiepileptic drugs. Target dosage was achieved by 30.6% of patients on the first day. Analysis of primary variables at 12 months revealed that mean reduction in seizure frequency was 36.0%, 39.7% of patients were =50% responders and 17.5% were seizure-free. Seizure-freedom was achieved by 37.5% of patients aged =65 years. Incidence of adverse events (AEs) and psychiatric AEs (PAEs) was 39.8% and 14.3%, respectively, and discontinuation due to these was 8.9% and 3.7%, respectively. Somnolence, irritability, and dizziness were the most frequently reported AEs. At baseline, 228 (39.7%) patients were being treated with levetiracetam; most switched to brivaracetam (dose ratio 1:10-15). Among those who switched because of PAEs (n = 53), 9 (17%) reported PAEs on brivaracetam, and 3 (5.7%) discontinued because of PAEs. Tolerability was not highly affected among patients with learning disability or psychiatric comorbidity. Conclusions: In a large population of patients with predominantly drug-resistant epilepsy, brivaracetam was effective and well-tolerated; no unexpected AEs occurred over 1 year, and the incidence of PAEs was lower compared with levetiracetam

Single hadron response measurement and calorimeter jet energy scale uncertainty with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

The uncertainty on the calorimeter energy response to jets of particles is derived for the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). First, the calorimeter response to single isolated charged hadrons is measured and compared to the Monte Carlo simulation using proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of sqrt(s) = 900 GeV and 7 TeV collected during 2009 and 2010. Then, using the decay of K_s and Lambda particles, the calorimeter response to specific types of particles (positively and negatively charged pions, protons, and anti-protons) is measured and compared to the Monte Carlo predictions. Finally, the jet energy scale uncertainty is determined by propagating the response uncertainty for single charged and neutral particles to jets. The response uncertainty is 2-5% for central isolated hadrons and 1-3% for the final calorimeter jet energy scale.Comment: 24 pages plus author list (36 pages total), 23 figures, 1 table, submitted to European Physical Journal