17 research outputs found
Modeling systems from partial observations
Modeling systems from collected data faces two main difficulties: the first one concerns the choice of measurable variables that will define the learnt model features, which should be the ones concerned by the addressed physics, optimally neither more nor less than the essential ones. The second one is linked to accessibility to data since, generally, only limited parts of the system are accessible to perform measurements. This work revisits some aspects related to the observation, description, and modeling of systems that are only partially accessible and shows that a model can be defined when the loading in unresolved degrees of freedom remains unaltered in the different experiments
Unraveling the real magnitude of illegal wildlife poisoning to halt cryptic biodiversity loss
Illegal wildlife poisoning is a global threat for biodiversity, yet the magnitude of its impact on ecosystems is largely underestimated as most of poisoning episodes remain undetected. Here, we conducted a large-scale field experiment to better understand the real dimension of the illegal wildlife poisoning in terms of composition and number of species and abundance of impacted individuals, as well as the ecological factors driving it. We used camera traps to monitor simulated poison baits placed in 25 study areas in SW Europe and applied Good–Turing theory to estimate the richness of species of the entire assemblage (observed plus undetected). We recorded 3095 individuals from 39 vertebrate species that consumed 94 % of the baits (N = 590). Yet, using sample completeness to estimate the entire species assemblage yielded a total of 47 species exposed to illegal poisoning. The observed assemblage included different trophic and functional groups (from lizards and snakes to apex species among birds and mammals), as well as a 38 % of threatened and near threatened species (according to Spanish and Portuguese vertebrate red list and UICN list). The size (weight) of the bait outstands as a reliable predictor of the number of species (0–8 species/bait, mean = 2) and individuals (0–99 individuals/bait, mean = 5) susceptible to poisoning. The habitat where the bait was placed modulated the abundance of individuals affected (greater in open than in closed habitats). Type of bait and habitat drove the compositional variation of species. Our approach enables uncover entire species assemblages prone to illegal poisoning and their ecological drivers associated, advancing the understanding of the impact of wildlife poisoning in ecosystemsThis work was supported by the project TOXICO funding by “BBVA
FOUNDATION GRANTS TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TEAMS, CALL
2018”. WWF Spain and SEO/BirdLife provided access to the ANTíDOTO
database of wildlife poisoning in Spain. The Ohio Wesleyan University
supported with logistical material (5 camera-traps). JVLB was supported
by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness
(RYC-2015-18932; CGL2017-87528-R AEI/FEDER EU). JVLB and PMT
were supported by a GRUPIN research grant from the Regional Government of Asturias (AYUD/2021/51314). In Portugal, this study was
financed through the Sentinelas project funded by Fundo Ambiental –
Minist´erio do Ambiente e da Aç˜
ao Clim´
atica. We are grateful to Instituto
da Conservaçao ˜ da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF), Principado de
Asturias, Junta de Castilla y Leon, ´ Xunta de Galicia, Gobierno de Cantabria, Comunidad de Madrid, Junta de Andalucía, Picos de Europa
National Park, Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, Cabaneros ˜ National
Park and Monfragüe National Park for granted permission
Whole-epigenome analysis in multiple myeloma reveals DNA hypermethylation of B cell-specific enhancers
Contains fulltext :
140075.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access
EPIdemiology of Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) : Study protocol for a multicentre, observational trial
More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed each year. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a large variation in the incidence of reported AKI rates. The establishment of an accurate epidemiology of surgery-associated AKI is important for healthcare policy, quality initiatives, clinical trials, as well as for improving guidelines. The objective of the Epidemiology of Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) trial is to prospectively evaluate the epidemiology of AKI after major surgery using the latest Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI. EPIS-AKI is an international prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study including 10 000 patients undergoing major surgery who are subsequently admitted to the ICU or a similar high dependency unit. The primary endpoint is the incidence of AKI within 72 hours after surgery according to the KDIGO criteria. Secondary endpoints include use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality during ICU and hospital stay, length of ICU and hospital stay and major adverse kidney events (combined endpoint consisting of persistent renal dysfunction, RRT and mortality) at day 90. Further, we will evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of postoperative AKI. In an add-on analysis, we will assess urinary biomarkers for early detection of AKI. EPIS-AKI has been approved by the leading Ethics Committee of the Medical Council North Rhine-Westphalia, of the Westphalian Wilhelms-University Münster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site. Results will be disseminated widely and published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and used to design further AKI-related trials. Trial registration number NCT04165369
Shared heritability and functional enrichment across six solid cancers
Quantifying the genetic correlation between cancers can provide important insights into the mechanisms driving cancer etiology. Using genome-wide association study summary statistics across six cancer types based on a total of 296,215 cases and 301,319 controls of European ancestry, here we estimate the pair-wise genetic correlations between breast, colorectal, head/neck, lung, ovary and prostate cancer, and between cancers and 38 other diseases. We observed statistically significant genetic correlations between lung and head/neck cancer (r(g) = 0.57, p = 4.6 x 10(-8)), breast and ovarian cancer (r(g) = 0.24, p = 7 x 10(-5)), breast and lung cancer (r(g) = 0.18, p = 1.5 x 10(-6)) and breast and colorectal cancer (r(g) = 0.15, p = 1.1 x 10(-4)). We also found that multiple cancers are genetically correlated with non-cancer traits including smoking, psychiatric diseases and metabolic characteristics. Functional enrichment analysis revealed a significant excess contribution of conserved and regulatory regions to cancer heritability. Our comprehensive analysis of cross-cancer heritability suggests that solid tumors arising across tissues share in part a common germline genetic basis
L1 Adaptive Control for Marine Structures
Nowadays, many maritime structures require precise dynamic positioning (DP) of the constructive elements that compose them. In addition, the use of preconstructed elements that are later moved to the final location has become widespread. These operations have not been automated with the risks involved in carrying out the complex operations required. To minimize these operational risks and to perform a correct DP of floating structures, a new approach based on the L1 adaptive control technique is proposed. As an example of application, a proposed L1 adaptive controller was implemented in the dynamic positioning of a floating caisson. Several simulations of the system with wave disturbances were carried out, and the results were compared with those obtained by applying other classical and advanced control techniques, such as linear quadratic Gaussian control (LQG) and model predictive control (MPC). It was concluded that the proposed L1 adaptive controller performs correct dynamic positioning and reduces the tension generated on the lines concerning the other advanced control techniques with which it was compared. This reduction in line tension leads to an important improvement due to the possibility of reducing the size of the actuators or reducing their number, with the important economic and safety repercussions that these actions entail