Numerical modeling and measurement by pulsed television holography of ultrasonic displacement maps in plates with through-thickness defects

We present a novel numerical modeling of ultrasonic Lamb and Rayleigh wave propagation and scattering by through-thickness defects like holes and slots in homogeneous plates, and its experimental verification in both near and far field by a self-developed pulsed TV holography system. In contrast to rigorous vectorial formulation of elasticity theory, our model is based on the 2-D scalar wave equation over the plate surface, with specific boundary conditions in the defects and plate edges. The experimental data include complex amplitude maps of the out-of-plane displacements of the plate surface, obtained by a two-step spatiotemporal Fourier transform method. We find a fair match between the numerical and experimental results, which allows for quantitative characterization of the defects

Twenty years of change in higher education: achievements, failures and pending challenges. Homage to Miguel Ángel Zabalza

[ES] Han pasado ya algo más de 20 años desde que los ministros de educación europeos firmaron la Declaración de Bolonia (1999). Era la respuesta europea a una exigencia mundial de transformación de la educación superior, que todavía no ha culminado. Han sido veinte años vertiginosos, en los que las universidades han hecho un gran esfuerzo por volver a diseñar sus titulaciones desde presupuestos nuevos y cambiar la cultura docente del profesorado. Veinte años era un buen motivo para llamar a hacer balance, máxime cuando coincidía con la jubilación de uno de los protagonistas más destacados de este proceso, tanto en España como en América Latina: nuestro compañero y antiguo director de esta revista, Miguel Ángel Zabalza.Paricio Royo, J.; Fernández March, A.; Trillo Alonso, F. (2020). Veinte años de cambio en la educación superior: logros, fracasos y retos pendientes. Homenaje a Miguel Ángel Zabalza. REDU. Revista de Docencia Universitaria. 18(1):9-15. https://doi.org/10.4995/redu.2020.13713OJS91518

Modelling for characterizing defects in plates using two-dimensional maps of instantaneous ultrasonic out-of-plane displacement obtained by pulsed TV-holography

It has been demonstrated that non-destructive inspection of plates can be performed by using two-dimensional maps of instantaneous out-of-plane displacements obtained with a self-developed pulsed TV-holography system. Specifically, the interaction of guided elastic waves with defects produces scattering patterns that contain information about the defects (position, dimensions, orientation, etc.). For quantitative characterization on this basis, modeling of the wave propagation and interaction with the defects is necessary. In fact, the development of models for scattering of waves in plates is yet an active research field in which the most reliable approach is usually based on the rigorous formulation of elasticity theory. By contrast, in this work the capability of a simple two-dimensional scalar model for obtaining a quantitative description of the output two-dimensional maps associated to artificial defects in plates is studied. Some experiments recording the interaction of narrowband Rayleigh waves with artificial defects in aluminum plates are presented, in which the acoustic field is obtained from the TV-holography optical phase-change maps by means of a specially developed two-step spatio-temporal Fourier transform method. For the modeling, harmonic regime and free-stress boundary conditions are assumed. Comparisons between experimental and simulated maps are included for defects with different shapes

Decrease of virulence for BALB/c mice produced by continuous subculturing of Nocardia brasiliensis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Subculturing has been extensively used to attenuate human pathogens. In this work we studied the effect of continuous subculturing of <it>Nocardia brasiliensis </it>HUJEG-1 on virulence in a murine model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>Nocardia brasiliensis </it>HUJEG-1 was subcultured up to 130 times on brain heart infusion over four years. BALB/c mice were inoculated in the right foot pad with the bacteria subcultured 0, 40, 80, 100 and 130 times (T₀, T₄₀, T₈₀T₁₀₀and T₁₃₀). The induction of resistance was tested by using T₁₃₀to inoculate a group of mice followed by challenge with T0 12 weeks later. Biopsies were taken from the newly infected foot-pad and immunostained with antibodies against CD4, CD8 and CD14 in order to analyze the in situ immunological changes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When using T₄₀, T₈₀T₁₀₀and T₁₃₀as inoculums we observed lesions in 10, 5, 0 and 0 percent of the animals, respectively, at the end of 12 weeks. In contrast, their controls produced mycetoma in 80, 80, 70 and 60% of the inoculated animals. When studying the protection of T₁₃₀, we observed a partial resistance to the infection. Immunostaining revealed an intense CD4+ lymphocytic and macrophage infiltrate in healing lesions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>After 130 in vitro passages of <it>N. brasiliensis </it>HUJEG-1 a severe decrease in its virulence was observed. Immunization of BALB/c mice, with these attenuated cells, produced a state of partial resistance to infection with the non-subcultured isolate.</p

Unraveling the effect of silent, intronic and missense mutations on VWF splicing: contribution of next generation sequencing in the study of mRNA

Large studies in von Willebrand disease patients, including Spanish and Portuguese registries, led to identification of >250 different mutations. It is a challenge to determine the pathogenic effect of potential splice site mutations on VWF mRNA. This study aimed to elucidate the true effects of 18 mutations on VWF mRNA processing, investigate the contribution of next-generation sequencing to in vivo mRNA study in von Willebrand disease, and compare the findings with in silico prediction. RNA extracted from patient platelets and leukocytes was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced using Sanger and next generation sequencing techniques. Eight mutations affected VWF splicing: c.1533+1G>A, c.5664+2T>C and c.546G>A (p.=) prompted exon skipping; c.3223-7_3236dup and c.7082-2A>G resulted in activation of cryptic sites; c.3379+1G>A and c.7473G>A (p.=) demonstrated both molecular pathogenic mechanisms simultaneously; and the p.Cys370Tyr missense mutation generated two aberrant transcripts. Of note, the complete effect of 3 mutations was provided by next generation sequencing alone because of low expression of the aberrant transcripts. In the remaining 10 mutations, no effect was elucidated in the experiments. However, the differential findings obtained in platelets and leukocytes provided substantial evidence that 4 of these would have an effect on VWF levels. In this first report using next generation sequencing technology to unravel the effects of VWF mutations on splicing, the technique yielded valuable information. Our data bring to light the importance of studying the effect of synonymous and missense mutations on VWF splicing to improve the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms behind von Willebrand disease.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Unraveling the effect of silent, intronic and missense mutations on VWF splicing: contribution of next generation sequencing in the study of mRNA

Large studies in von Willebrand disease patients, including Spanish and Portuguese registries, led to the identification of >250 different mutations. It is a challenge to determine the pathogenic effect of potential splice site mutations on VWF mRNA. This study aimed to elucidate the true effects of 18 mutations on VWF mRNA processing, investigate the contribution of next-generation sequencing to in vivo mRNA study in von Willebrand disease, and compare the findings with in silico prediction. RNA extracted from patient platelets and leukocytes was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced using Sanger and next generation sequencing techniques. Eight mutations affected VWF splicing: c.1533+1G>A, c.5664+2T>C and c.546G>A (p.=) prompted exon skipping; c.3223-7_3236dup and c.7082-2A>G resulted in activation of cryptic sites; c.3379+1G>A and c.7437G>A) demonstrated both molecular pathogenic mechanisms simultaneously; and the p.Cys370Tyr missense mutation generated two aberrant transcripts. Of note, the complete effect of three mutations was provided by next generation sequencing alone because of low expression of the aberrant transcripts. In the remaining 10 mutations, no effect was elucidated in the experiments. However, the differential findings obtained in platelets and leukocytes provided substantial evidence that four of these would have an effect on VWF levels. In this first report using next generation sequencing technology to unravel the effects of VWF mutations on splicing, the technique yielded valuable information. Our data bring to light the importance of studying the effect of synonymous and missense mutations on VWF splicing to improve the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms behind von Willebrand disease. clinicaltrials.gov identifier:02869074

Evaluación formativa y de calidad de la competencia genérica "comunicación eficaz oral y escrita" en titulaciones técnicas

[SPA] En este trabajo, hemos llevado a cabo la evaluación de una actividad formativa enmarcada dentro de la competencia genérica “comunicación eficaz oral y escrita” con el fin de comprobar si el proceso evaluativo propuesto cumple con los estándares de calidad definidos por expertos y agencias de evaluación. La búsqueda e implementación de modelos de evaluación coherentes con los resultados esperados del aprendizaje y orientados a la calidad van a ser claves en los futuros procesos de acreditación de los títulos universitarios ya que, si están bien diseñados permitirán verificar la consecución de las competencias descritas en el perfil de formación de los Grados. En este artículo, tras definir los criterios de calidad evaluativa, se comenta la estructura curricular de dicha competencia genérica y del proceso de selección de la rúbrica empleada. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de manifiesto la importancia del proceso de planificación, divulgación y retroalimentación para satisfacer los criterios de adecuación, autenticidad, transparencia, viabilidad y carácter formativo de la evaluación. En relación con la validez y fiabilidad del proceso de evaluación, se plantean una serie de posibles estrategias para la mejora de ambos parámetros. [ENG] This paper reports the design and test of an evaluation tool for formative activities in the field of the generic competence "Effective written and oral communication". The agreement of the evaluative results with the standards defined by experts and quality assurance agencies is discussed. The importance of defining evaluation tools that are coherent with the expected learning outcomes relies on the necessity to verify the achievement of the competences defined in Graduate programs. We define the quality criteria for the evaluation of the generic competence and therefore its curriculum structure and the selection of the adequate rubric for evaluation. The results obtained state the importance of the planning, circulation and feedback of the evaluation process, in order to assure the requirements for adequacy, authenticity, transparency, viability and formative character. Finally, some strategies are proposed in order to improve the validity and reliability of these evaluation tools

Amphilimus- vs. zotarolimus-eluting stents in patients with diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease: the SUGAR trial

Aim: Patients with diabetes mellitus are at high risk of adverse events after percutaneous revascularization, with no differences in outcomes between most contemporary drug-eluting stents. The Cre8 EVO stent releases a formulation of sirolimus with an amphiphilic carrier from laser-dug wells, and has shown clinical benefits in diabetes. We aimed to compare Cre8 EVO stents to Resolute Onyx stents (a contemporary polymer-based zotarolimus-eluting stent) in patients with diabetes. Methods and results: We did an investigator-initiated, randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial at 23 sites in Spain. Eligible patients had diabetes and required percutaneous coronary intervention. A total of 1175 patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive Cre8 EVO or Resolute Onyx stents. The primary endpoint was target-lesion failure, defined as a composite of cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, and clinically indicated target-lesion revascularization at 1-year follow-up. The trial had a non-inferiority design with a 4% margin for the primary endpoint. A superiority analysis was planned if non-inferiority was confirmed. There were 106 primary events, 42 (7.2%) in the Cre8 EVO group and 64 (10.9%) in the Resolute Onyx group [hazard ratio (HR) 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44 to 0.96; pnon-inferiority <0.001; psuperiority = 0.030]. Among the secondary endpoints, Cre8 EVO stents had significantly lower rate than Resolute Onyx stents of target-vessel failure (7.5% vs 11.1%, HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.99; p = 0.042). Probable or definite stent thrombosis and all-cause death were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions: In patients with diabetes, Cre8 EVO stents were non-inferior to Resolute Onyx stents with regard to target-lesion failure composite outcome. An exploratory analysis for superiority at 1 year suggests that the Cre8 EVO stents might be superior to Resolute Onyx stents with regard to the same outcome