Proyecto de vivienda para comunidad Shipibo Konibo de Cantagallo

Este proyecto contempla mejorar la calidad de vida, la integración social y cultural para la comunidad Shipibo Konibo de Cantagallo, mediante el desarrollo de un conjunto habitacional que responda ante las necesidades propias de los pobladores y un master plan para la integración de este terreno al resto del centro histórico de Lima

Polymeric Shape-Memory Micro-Patterned Surface for Switching Wettability with Temperature

An innovative method to switch the wettability of a micropatterned polymeric surface by thermally induced shape memory effect is presented. For this purpose, first polycyclooctene (PCO) is crosslinked with dycumil peroxide (DCP) and its melting temperature, which corresponds with the switching transition temperature (Ttrans), is measured by Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) in tension mode. Later, the shape memory behavior of the bulk material is analyzed under different experimental conditions employing a cyclic thermomechanical analysis (TMA). Finally, after creating shape memory micropillars by laser ablation of crosslinked thermo-active polycyclooctene (PCO), shape memory response and associated effect on water contact angle is analyzed. Thus, deformed micropillars cause lower contact angle on the surface from reduced roughness, but the original hydrophobicity is restored by thermally induced recovery of the original surface structureThe authors thank the Basque Country Government for financial support (Ayudas para apoyar las actividades de los grupos de investigacion del sistema universitario vasco, IT718-13). Technical and human support provided by SGIKER (UPV/EHU, MICINN, GV/EJ, ERDF and ESF) is gratefully acknowledged

Comparison of meteorological and satellite-based drought indices as yield predictors of Spanish cereals

In the context of global warming, as drought episodes become increasingly frequent, it is crucial to accurately measure the impacts of droughts on the overall performance of agrosystems. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of meteorological drought indices against satellite-based agronomical drought indices as crop yield explanatory factors in statistical models calibrated at a local scale. The analysis is conducted in Spain using a spatially detailed, 12-year (2003–2015) dataset on crop yields, including different types of cereals. Yields and drought indices were spatially aggregated at the agricultural district level. The Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI), computed at different temporal aggregation levels, and two satellite-based drought indices, the Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) and the Temperature Condition Index (TCI), were used to characterise the dynamics of drought severity conditions in the study area. Models resting on satellite-based indices showed higher performance in explaining yield levels as well as yield anomalies for all the crops evaluated. In particular, VCI/TCI models of winter wheat and barley were able to explain 70% and 40% of annual crop yield level and crop yield anomaly variability, respectively. We also observed gains in explanatory power when models for climate zones (instead of models at the national scale) were considered. All the results were cross-validated on subsamples of the whole dataset and on models fitted to individual agricultural districts and their predictive accuracy was assessed with a real-time forecasting exercise. Results from this study highlight the potential for including satellite-based drought indices in agricultural decision support systems (e.g. agricultural drought early warning systems, crop yield forecasting models or water resource management tools) complementing meteorological drought indices derived from precipitation grids

Investigation of EBT3 radiochromic film’s response to humidity

Purpose: The aim of this work is to investigate the effects of immersing EBT3 radiochromic film in water and to evaluate its contribution to the total uncertainty in dose determination. Materials and methods: We used 3 cm 9 3 cm EBT3 radiochromic films irradiated in the range of 0–70 Gy to study the impact of water immersion on the change in net optical density. These films were placed in a water container for a period of 24 h. The net optical density was measured before (0 h) and after of the immersion in water (1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h). The absorbance spectrum of the EBT3 radiochromic film was measured at 0 h and 24 h after immersion in water. The uncertainty in dose determination due to the effects of keeping the EBT3 radiochromic film submerged in water at 0, 1, and 24 h were recorded in the red, green, and blue channels. Results: We observed an increase in the net optical density as an effect on the film due to its immersion in water. The penetration of the water at the edges of the radiochromic film was observed to be a function of time during which the film remained in the water. On the other hand, the penetration of water at the edges of the film was found to be independent of irradiation dose. Conclusions: EBT3 radiochromic film is found more resistant to water penetration through the edges than its predecessors. However, there is evidence that suggest that liquid water damage the Nylon cover layer of the film by changing its optical properties. Therefore, it is recommended to build a new calibration curve for radiochromic films for a specific situation involving dose measurements in liquid water.UAEMex INN

Mutational screening of the USH2A gene in Spanish USH patients reveals 23 novel pathogenic mutations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Usher Syndrome type II (USH2) is an autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by moderate to severe hearing impairment and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Among the three genes implicated, mutations in the <it>USH2A </it>gene account for 74-90% of the USH2 cases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To identify the genetic cause of the disease and determine the frequency of <it>USH2A </it>mutations in a cohort of 88 unrelated USH Spanish patients, we carried out a mutation screening of the 72 coding exons of this gene by direct sequencing. Moreover, we performed functional minigene studies for those changes that were predicted to affect splicing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>As a result, a total of 144 DNA sequence variants were identified. Based upon previous studies, allele frequencies, segregation analysis, bioinformatics' predictions and <it>in vitro </it>experiments, 37 variants (23 of them novel) were classified as pathogenic mutations.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This report provide a wide spectrum of <it>USH2A </it>mutations and clinical features, including atypical Usher syndrome phenotypes resembling Usher syndrome type I. Considering only the patients clearly diagnosed with Usher syndrome type II, and results obtained in this and previous studies, we can state that mutations in <it>USH2A </it>are responsible for 76.1% of USH2 disease in patients of Spanish origin.</p

Monitoring an archaeotogical excavation using photogrammetry and digital elevation models (DEMS) : the case study of Barranco Leon in Orce (Granada, Spain)

In this paper, we describe and discuss emergent digital technologies employed for monitoring the excavations at the archaeological site of Barranco Leon (Granada, Spain) between 2017 and 2020. The method entails the following material requirements: a total station, a conventional camera, a computer and a software that integrates photogrammetry algorithms; in terms of human resources, the presence of an engineer for the first day of the excavation to set up the methodological process and trained excavation staff to perform said method on a daily basis is necessary. Here we present the daily workflow for monitoring archaeological excavations introduced at the site, followed by an estimation of the costs and a summary of the results obtained. The method introduced here is based on the height difference of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) computed on successive days using photogrammetric techniques. It is a non-invasive method, which requires less than 8% of the economic resources of the excavation and can be carried out in less than 15 minutes. This allows the excavation director to have an accurate and visual idea of the excavation process in order to make appropriate decisions. In addition, from the results obtained in the method (differences in DEM of every two days), other derived results can be obtained such as the exact location of the archaeological remains extracted based on their size. These features highlight the relevance and applicability of this approach to a wide range of archaeological sites.Peer reviewe

Are Major Repeater Patients Addicted to Suicidal Behavior?

The literature provides support for the hypothesis that some major repeaters (individuals with \u3e=5 lifetime suicide attempts) are addicted to suicidal behavior (SB). This study explores whether major repeaters are addicted to SB or not using 7 criteria: tolerance (Criterion 1), withdrawal (Criterion 2), loss of control (Criterion 3), problems in quitting/cutting down (Criterion 4), much time spent using (Criterion 5), substantial reduction in activities (Criterion 6), and adverse physiological/physical consequences (Criterion 7). Total dependence on SB was indicated by the presence of 3 or more of the 7 criteria in the last 12 months. This cross-sectional study at Puerta de Hierro University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) recruited 118 suicide attempters including 8 major repeaters (7%, 8/118), who were all females. The association between each SB addiction criterion, physiological dependence and total dependence with major repeater status was tested for significance and for effect size with odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals. As hypothesized, major repeaters met significantly higher frequency of criteria for total dependence on SB, OR=62.9 (6.4-615). A backward stepwise logistic regression model was used to provide an OR between major repeater status and total dependence status corrected by confounding variables. Age, panic disorder without agoraphobia, borderline personality disorder, history of psychiatric inpatient admission, and total dependence on SB were introduced as independent variables with major repeater status as the dependent variable. The model selected total dependence and age as the remaining significant variables in the last step. Accordingly, major repeaters appear to be addicted to SB

CAR T cell therapy in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: Insights from mathematical models

Immunotherapies use components of the patient immune system to selectively target cancer cells. The use of CAR T cells to treat B-cell malignancies --leukaemias and lymphomas-- is one of the most successful examples, with many patients experiencing long-lasting complete responses to this therapy. This treatment works by extracting the patient's T cells and adding them the CAR group, which enables them to recognize and target cells carrying the antigen CD19+, that is expressed in these haematological tumors. Here we put forward a mathematical model describing the time response of leukaemias to the injection of CAR T-cells. The model accounts for mature and progenitor B-cells, tumor cells, CAR T cells and side effects by incorporating the main biological processes involved. The model explains the early post-injection dynamics of the different compartments and the fact that the number of CAR T cells injected does not critically affect the treatment outcome. An explicit formula is found that provides the maximum CAR T cell expansion in-vivo and the severity of side effects. Our mathematical model captures other known features of the response to this immunotherapy. It also predicts that CD19+ tumor relapses could be the result of the competition between tumor and CAR T cells analogous to predator-prey dynamics. We discuss this fact on the light of available evidences and the possibility of controlling relapses by early re-challenging of the tumor with stored CAR T cells

Final version of the software running operationally for the demonstration

This report includes the description and the manuals (both at User and Administrator level) for the OSPAC service and its application

Hypokalemia as a sensitive biomarker of disease severity and the requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation requirement in COVID-19 pneumonia: A case series of 306 Mediterranean patients

Objectives: Serum levels of potassium (K+) appear to be significantly lower in severe cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the clinical significance of this is unknown. The objective was to investigate whether hypokalemia acts as a biomarker of severity in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia and is associated with major clinical outcomes.Methods: A retrospective cohort study of inpatients with COVID-19 pneumonia (March 3 to May 2, 2020) was performed. Patients were categorized according to nadir levels of K+ in the first 72 h of admission: hypokalemia (K+ ≤3.5 mmol/l) and normokalemia (K+ >3.5 mmol/l). The main outcomes were all-cause mortality and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV); these were analyzed by multiple logistic regression (odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI)).Results: Three hundred and six patients were enrolled. Ninety-four patients (30.7%) had hypokalemia and these patients showed significantly higher comorbidity (Charlson comorbidity index ≥3, 30.0% vs 16.3%; p = 0.02) and CURB65 scores (median (interquartile range): 1.5 (0.0-3.0) vs 1.0 (0.0-2.0); p = 0.04), as well as higher levels of some inflammatory parameters at baseline. After adjustment for confounders, hypokalemia was independently associated with requiring IMV during the admission (OR 8.98, 95% CI 2.54-31.74). Mortality was 15.0% (n = 46) and was not influenced by low K+. Hypokalemia was associated with longer hospital and ICU stays.Conclusions: Hypokalemia is prevalent in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Hypokalemia is an independent predictor of IMV requirement and seems to be a sensitive biomarker of severe progression of COVID-19