Inteligencia Artificial aplicada a nanofotónica.

En la actualidad, son indiscutibles los beneficios que el uso de la Inteligencia Artificial (IA) puede aportar en la resolución de los problemas cada más complejos que presenta el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías físicas. En este trabajo se busca introducir a los conceptos básicos sobre los que se sustentan los algoritmos de aprendizaje automático, poniendo especial énfasis en las estructuras de redes neuronales y su aplicación en problemas de nanofotónica tomando como referencia el modelo mínimo de la EOT (Extraordinary Optical Transmission).<br /

The Skills of Rich and Poor Country Workers

We use information on the occupation choices and earnings of immigrants to measure differences in specific skills between workers from rich and poor countries. We have several findings. First, the skills which rich country workers specialize in mirror the skills which high-income individuals specialize in. Second, rich country workers have the greatest advantage in skills related to the ability to generate ideas (like creativity and critical thinking) rather than scientific or technical knowledge. Third, the skills in which rich country workers have the greatest advantage align closely with the skills used in management occupations. Fourth, workers from rich countries are more varied in their skills (e.g., what one Canadian is good at is different from what another Canadian is). These findings do not appear to be accounted for by the non-randomness of immigration or mismeasurement of skills. Overall, our results suggest that rich country workers have skills particularly well-adapted to production processes involving the coordinated efforts of large groups of people

Propuesta didáctica para Funciones en 3º ESO Matemáticas orientadas a las Enseñanzas Académicas

En el presente Trabajo Fin de Máster se expone una propuesta didáctica para la enseñanza del concepto de función, formas de representación y características generales en el curso 3º de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO) en la asignatura “Matemáticas orientadas a las Enseñanzas Académicas”. En primer lugar, se ofrece una contextualización del objeto matemático dentro del currículo oficial vigente en el curso escolar 2021-2022 recogido en la ORDEN ECD/489/2016, de 26 de mayo del 2016. Asimismo, se realiza un recorrido por el origen y la evolución histórica del concepto de función, llegando hasta el estado actual de la enseñanza-aprendizaje de mano del análisis de tres libros de texto de editoriales ampliamente extendidas en los institutos españoles. El estudio de las dificultades y los errores asociados a los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje nos permitirá diseñar una propuesta didáctica que tenga como núcleo la razón de ser de las funciones y ponga de manifiesto su importancia para la formación de los estudiantes frente a los retos de la sociedad actual: la capacidad de modelizar fenómenos físicos y de la vida cotidiana para la obtención de información, realización de predicciones y toma de decisiones. La propuesta recoge los diferentes campos de problemas, técnicas y tecnologías a tratar, así como las actividades a trabajar durante el transcurso de la unidad didáctica, la metodología para su implementación en el aula, la secuenciación y la evaluación.<br /

Microstructural, chemical, and mechanical characterization of extruded Al-Cu-Li rods

This work investigates the influence of the alloying elements in rods of the alloys Al-Cu-Li produced by novel powder metallurgy routes. In the first route, the powders were mixed and uniaxial cold-pressed, followed by hot extrusion to produce 5 mm diameter rods. The second route introduced an intermediate step of heat treatment that was carried out at 525 ºC for 1 h in a pure N2 atmosphere before the extrusion. This was done to evaluate the importance of homogenization of the alloying elements during the heat treatment, as well as the tendency to form new phases in the extruded rods. The obtained rods were characterized by SEM, EBSD, Vickers micro-hardness, chemical composition (ICP-OES), and tensile tests. The results obtained showed that the alloy 1 (AA2060) presents a more homogeneous microstructure than alloy 2 (AA2196), and it is observed the benefit of Mg addition, which improves the microstructure after HT. The EBSD analysis showed a typical preferential orientation of a duplex fiber texture. The ICP-OES analysis reports losses of Li and Mg for both alloys. Regarding to the measurement of hardness, the results were very different depending on the alloy and the HT prior to the extrusion process.Paula Rodriguez Gonzalez reports financial support was provided by the Regional Government of Madrid through the project ADITIMAT-CM (Ref. S2018/NMT-4411) and by the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Read & Publish Agreement CRUE-CSIC 2023)

Diseño de un detector de contaminación superficial de alfas de alta sensibilidad

La detección de eventos poco probables, tales como la desintegración doble beta sin neutrinos o partículas más allá del Modelo Estándar candidatas a materia oscura como los WIMPs, requiere el uso de detectores de bajo fondo. Con el objetivo de reducir la presencia del fondo causado por los rayos cósmicos y la radiación superficial, los experimentos que buscan detectar este tipo de eventos raros suelen situarse en laboratorios subterráneos. No obstante, incluso a cientos de metros de profundidad existe una fuente de radiación difícil de eliminar: el radón (Rn). La contaminación producida por este elemento, tanto ambiental como superficial, supone un reto para la mejora de la sensibilidad alcanzable en experimentos de bajo fondo.El objetivo de este trabajo es diseñar un detector de partículas alfa de alta sensibilidad que permita identificar la presencia de Rn y su progenie depositados sobre superficies de materiales. Por un lado, nos centraremos en el estudio del comportamiento que tendría un prototipo inicial del detector utilizando el entorno de simulación REST. Por el otro, seguiremos el proceso de puesta a punto del detector en el laboratorio y valoraremos los primeros resultados experimentales. Finalmente, abordaremos las posibles futuras modificaciones y analizaremos las conclusiones extraíbles de las pruebas realizadas.<br /

Effectiveness of mRNA vaccine boosters against infection with the SARS-CoV-2 omicron (B.1.1.529) variant in Spain: a nationwide cohort study

Factor de impacto: 25,71 Q1Background: The omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV-2 has increased capacity to elude immunity and cause breakthrough infections. The aim of this study was to estimate the effectiveness of mRNA-based vaccine boosters (third dose) against infection with the omicron variant by age, sex, time since complete vaccination, type of primary vaccine, and type of booster. Methods: In this nationwide cohort study, we linked data from three nationwide population registries in Spain (Vaccination Registry, Laboratory Results Registry, and National Health System registry) to select community-dwelling individuals aged 40 years or older, who completed their primary vaccine schedule at least 3 months before the start of follow-up, and had not tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 since the start of the pandemic. On each day between Jan 3, and Feb 6, 2022, we matched individuals who received a booster mRNA vaccine and controls of the same sex, age group, postal code, type of vaccine, time since primary vaccination, and number of previous tests. We estimated risk of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared groups using risk ratios (RR) and risk differences. Vaccine effectiveness was calculated as one minus RR. Findings: Between Jan 3, and Feb 6, 2022, 3 111 159 matched pairs were included in our study. Overall, the estimated effectiveness from day 7 to 34 after a booster was 51·3% (95% CI 50·2-52·4). Estimated effectiveness was 52·5% (51·3-53·7) for an mRNA-1273 booster and 46·2% (43·5-48·7) for a BNT162b2 booster. Effectiveness was 58·6% (55·5-61·6) if primary vaccination had been with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca), 55·3% (52·3-58·2) with mRNA-1273 (Moderna), 49·7% (48·3-51·1) with BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech), and 48·0% (42·5-53·7) with Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen). Estimated effectiveness was 43·6% (40·0-47·1) when the booster was administered between 151 days and 180 days after complete vaccination and 52·2% (51·0-53·3) if administered more than 180 days after primary scheduled completion. Interpretation: Booster mRNA vaccine-doses were moderately effective in preventing infection with the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 for over a month after administration, which indicates their suitability as a strategy to limit the health effects of COVID-19 in periods of omicron variant domination. Estimated effectiveness was higher for mRNA-1273 compared with BNT162b2 and increased with time between completed primary vaccination and booster.S

G protein–coupled receptor 21 in macrophages: An in vitro study

GPR21 is an orphan and constitutively active receptor belonging to the superfamily of G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). GPR21 couples to the Gq family of G proteins and is markedly expressed in macrophages. Studies of GPR21 knock-out mice indicated that GPR21 may be involved in promoting macrophage migration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of GPR21 in human macrophages, analyzing (i) its involvement in cell migration and cytokine release and (ii) the consequence of its pharmacological inhibition by using the inverse agonist GRA2. THP-1 cells were activated and differentiated into either M1 or M2 macrophages. GPR21 expression was evaluated at gene and protein level, the signalling pathway was investigated by an IP1 assay, and cytokine release by ELISA. Cell migration was detected by the Boyden chamber migration assay, performed on macrophages derived from both the THP-1 cell line and human peripheral blood monocytes. In addition, we compared the effect of the pharmacological inhibition of GPR21 with the effect of the treatment with a specific GPR21 siRNA to downregulate the receptor expression, thus confirming that GRA2 acts as an inverse agonist of GPR21. GRA2 does not affect cell viability at the tested concentrations, but significantly reduces the release of TNF-α and IL-1β from M1 macrophages. The analysis of the migratory ability highlighted opposite effects of GRA2 on M1 and M2 macrophages since it decreased M1, while it promoted M2 cell migration. Therefore, the pharmacological inhibition of GPR21 could be of interest for pathological conditions characterized by low grade chronic inflammation

Effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths in elderly long-term care facility residents, Spain, weeks 53 2020 to 13 2021

Residents in long-term care facilities (LTCF) experienced a large morbidity and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain and were prioritised for early COVID-19 vaccination. We used the screening method and population-based data sources to obtain estimates of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness for elderly LTCF residents. The estimates were 71% (95% CI: 56-82%), 88% (95% CI: 75-95%), and 97% (95% CI: 92-99%), against SARS-CoV-2 infections (symptomatic and asymptomatic), and COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths, respectively.S

Innovación Social en Latinoamérica

A lo largo de su historia las naciones latinoamericanas han enfrentado los problemas sociales desde el paradigma asistencialista donde la comunidad afectada por uno o más problemas sociales desempeña un rol pasivo y cuyo impacto es insuficiente. En este contexto, la Innovación Social emerge como nueva perspectiva que intenta cambiar dicho paradigma a través de la cocreación de iniciativas más eficientes, efectivas e inclusivas. Sin embargo, la literatura sobre este tema es todavía escasa en la región. Asimismo, la investigación y la formación de expertos en el área no es una prioridad, aunque paulatinamente comienza a considerarse un campo de acción. Este libro entrega una revisión del estado del arte de la Innovación Social en América Latina a través de diferentes artículos escritos por expertos latinoamericanos, además de la colaboración de autores europeos cuyos aportes amplían la visión sobre la temática en cuestión. De esta manera, el lector podrá encontrar información sobre el concepto y su aplicación práctica en el contexto regional, junto con algunos ejemplos internacionales que le permitan formarse una idea de la importancia de su difusión e implementación. La información acá contenida será de gran ayuda para docentes, investigadores, políticos, profesionales, emprendedores, voluntarios, dirigentes sociales, líderes comunitarios y todos aquellos interesados en la Innovación Social y sus alcances

IgE allergy diagnostics and other relevant tests in allergy, a World Allergy Organization position paper

Currently, testing for immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization is the cornerstone of diagnostic evaluation in suspected allergic conditions. This review provides a thorough and updated critical appraisal of the most frequently used diagnostic tests, both in vivo and in vitro. It discusses skin tests, challenges, and serological and cellular in vitro tests, and provides an overview of indications, advantages and disadvantages of each in conditions such as respiratory, food, venom, drug, and occupational allergy. Skin prick testing remains the first line approach in most instances; the added value of serum specific IgE to whole allergen extracts or components, as well as the role of basophil activation tests, is evaluated. Unproven, non-validated, diagnostic tests are also discussed. Throughout the review, the reader must bear in mind the relevance of differentiating between sensitization and allergy; the latter entails not only allergic sensitization, but also clinically relevant symptoms triggered by the culprit allergen