Singularities and n-dimensional black holes in torsion theories

In this work we have studied the singular behaviour of gravitational theories with non symmetric connections. For this purpose we introduce a new criteria for the appearance of singularities based on the existence of black/white hole regions of arbitrary codimension defined inside a spacetime of arbitrary dimension. We discuss this prescription by increasing the complexity of the particular torsion theory under study. In this sense, we start with Teleparallel Gravity, then we analyse Einstein-Cartan theory, and finally dynamical torsion models

Remote Sensing of Cell-Culture Assays

This chapter describes a full system developed to perform the remote sensing of cell-culture experiments from any access point with internet connection. The proposed system allows the real-time monitoring of cell assays thanks to bioimpedance measurement circuits developed to count the number of cell present in a culture. Cell-culture characterization is performed through the measurement of the increasing bioimpedance parameter over time. The circuit implementation is based on the oscillation-based test (OBT) methodology. Bioimpedance of cell cultures is measured in terms of the oscillation parameters (frequency, amplitude, phase, etc.) and used as empirical markers to carry out an appropriate interpretation in terms of cell size identification, cell counting, cell growth, growth rhythm, etc. The device is capable of managing the whole sensing task and performs wireless communication through a Bluetooth module. Data are interpreted and displayed on a computer or a mobile phone through a web application. The system has its practical application in drug development processes, offering a label-free, high-throughput, and high-content screening method for cellular research, avoiding the classical end-point techniques and a significant workload and cost material reduction

EVO+ Implantable Collamer Lens KS-aquaPORT Location, Stability, and Impact on Quality of Vision and Life

Purpose: To determine the longitudinal variation in the KS-aquaPORT central hole location of the phakic EVO+I Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) (STAAR Surgical) and analyze its influence on visual performance, quality of vision (QoV), and quality of life (QoL). Methods: A prospective study was performed including 36 patients who had EVO+ ICL implantation. The KS-aquaPORT central hole location (Cartesian and polar coordinates) was determined with respect to the pupil center and visual axis. The effect of time (6-month follow-up) on central hole location was analyzed using linear mixed models. The effect of the KS-aquaPORT location on visual performance, QoV, and QoL parameters was assessed with multivariate regression models. Results: With respect to the visual axis, no significant changes in KS-aquaPORT location were found during follow-up. With respect to the pupil center, the X-coordinate and radius of KS-aquaPORT location showed modest, but significant (P ≤ .05) differences between 1-week and 3-month postoperative visits, and between 1-week and 6-month visits. X-coordinate variation was significant (P = .022) between 1-and 6-month visits. With respect to the visual axis, greater KS-aquaPORT decentration was associated with worse visual acuity (X-coordinate: P = .004; radius: P = .006), and inferior decentration with longer xenon-type glare photostress recovery time (P = .021). With respect to the pupil center, a lower radius was associated with better QoV scores (P ≤ .01) and temporal decentration produced higher ring-shaped dysphotopsia (P = .007). Conclusions: EVO+ ICL KS-aquaPORT location appears to be clinically stable up to 6 months postoperatively. A central location of the EVO+ ICL KS-aquaPORT hole is preferred because it allows reduced perception of dysphotopic phenomena that can result in better QoV.This study was supported in part by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Instituto de Salud Carlos III) through Research Projects RETICS RD16/008/0001 (Oftared); EM-P was supported by Junta de Castilla y León and European Social Fund (EDU/1100/2017)

Effect of the EVO+ Visian Phakic Implantable Collamer Lens on Visual Performance and Quality of Vision and Life

Purpose: To assess the effect of EVO+ (V5) Visian implantable collamer lens implantation on mesopic visual performance, quality of vision (QoV), and quality of life (QoL). Design: Prospective interventional case series. Methods: Thirty-six eyes of 36 participants who underwent EVO+ implantation for myopia were evaluated preoperatively and at postoperative visits at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months. Visual acuity (VA) and mesopic contrast sensitivity (CS) with and without halogen- and xenon-type glare sources were evaluated at each visit. Subjective QoV was assessed with the QoV questionnaire and QoL assessed with the Quality of Life Impact of Refractive Correction (QIRC) questionnaire at each visit. Ring-shaped dysphotopsia was also assessed at each postoperative visit. Linear, cumulative link and logit mixed models were fitted to analyze the effect of the EVO+. Results: Following EVO+ implantation, VA significantly (P ≤ .012) improved at the 4 postoperative visits. Mesopic CS progressively improved at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively (P ≤ .012). Halogen glare CS decreased at 1 week and halogen and xenon glare CS improved at 6 months (P ≤ .016). Photostress recovery time after halogen glare improved at 3 and 6 months (P ≤ .004). QoV scores improved at 1 week and 3 and 6 months (P ≤ .001). QIRC scores improved postoperatively (P < .001). Ring-shaped dysphotopsia decreased at 3 and 6 months (P ≤ .007). Conclusions: EVO+ implantation provides good mesopic visual performance, QoV, and QoL during up to 6 months follow-up. Some activities performed under mesopic conditions with glare sources may be affected during the first postoperative week. Ring-shaped dysphotopsia is negligibly bothersome 6 months after surgery.This study was supported in part by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Instituto de Salud Carlos III) through Research Projects RETICS RD16/008/0001 (Oftared); EM-P was supported by Junta de Castilla y León and European Social Fund (EDU/1100/2017)

Effect of central hole location in phakic intraocular lenses on visual function under progressive headlight glare sources

Purpose: To analyze the effect of the central hole location in the V4c implantable collamer lens (ICL) on the quality of vision, including progressive headlight glare simulation and quality of life. Setting: IOBA-Eye Institute, Valladolid, Spain. Design: Case series. Methods: The central hole location was determined by slitlamp and dual Scheimpflug imaging for 6 months or more postoperatively. The visual acuity, mesopic contrast sensitivity, halogen glare contrast sensitivity, xenon glare contrast sensitivity, photostress recovery time after glare, de Boer scale, and Quality of Life Impact of Refractive Correction (QIRC) questionnaire results were evaluated. Multiple regression models were used to analyze the effect of the central hole location on parameters using the pupil center and visual axis as references based on Cartesian and polar coordinates. Results: The safety index was 1.13 and the efficacy index, 1.12. Under all testing circumstances, central hole decentration did not affect the visual acuity or contrast sensitivity. With the visual axis as a reference, worse QIRC values were associated with greater upward central hole displacement (P = .03) and a lower polar angle value (P = .008); also, halogen glare discomfort was greater with a higher radius (P = .04). Using the pupil center as a reference, greater nasal central hole decentration was associated with longer xenon glare photostress recovery time (P = .002). Conclusions: Implantation of the ICL with a central hole yielded excellent visual outcomes, even under increasing glare sources, regardless of the hole's location. However, hole decentration might affect patient-perceived quality of life, bothersome halogen glare, and longer xenon glare photostress recovery time. Such complaints after the early postoperative period might be managed with discrete ICL centration if the central hole is decentered upward or nasally.This study was supported in part by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Instituto de Salud Carlos III) through Research Projects RETICS RD16/008/0001 (Oftared); EM-P was supported by Junta de Castilla y León and European Social Fund (EDU/1100/2017)

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION MECHANICS OF MATERIALS BASED HYBRID FIBER NATURAL WOOD AND RESIN BIOPOXY

La presente investigación se realiza, con la finalidad de obtener y caracterizar el comportamiento mecánico de materiales híbridos, constituidos de láminas de madera con biocompuestos conformados entre bioresina, modificando el refuerzo fibroso de tipo natural como el lino, yute y fique. La etapa de preparación de los materiales híbridos se llevó a cabo, mediante el proceso de infusión en vacío, utilizada en la preparación de materiales compuestos convencionales. Para la caracterización mecánica se probaron cinco formulaciones, combinando para cada sistema el tipo de fibra bajo la norma ASTM D3039. Los resultados arrojaron una mayor eficiencia de las propiedades mecánicas como el módulo y la resistencia a la tracción en los sistemas que contenían refuerzo de fibra con láminas de roble, siendo el sistema con yute/roble con el mejor rendimiento mecánico. Se estimó la densidad por medio del método de desplazamiento. Los valores evidenciaron un incremento de la densidad para las combinaciones que contenían refuerzo de fibra/roble. Igualmente, remarcar que las densidades más próximas a la resina sin refuerzo se consiguieron para que el sistema fique/roble

Characterization of Implanted Stents through Neointimal Tissue Bioimpedance Simulations

This work describes how is possible the definition of the light hole or lumen in implanted stents affected by restenosis processes using the BioImpedance (BI) as biomarker. The main approach is based on the fact that neointimal tissues implied in restenosis can be detected and measured thanks to their respective conductivity and dielectric properties. For this goal, it is proposed a four-electrode setup for bioimpedance measurement. The influence of the several involved tissues in restenosis: fat, muscle, fiber, endothelium and blood, have been studied at several frequencies, validating the setup and illustrating the sensitivity of each one. Finally, a real example using a standard stent, has been analyzed for stable and vulnerable plaques in restenosis test cases, demonstrating that the proposed method is useful for the stent obstruction test. Bioimpedance simulation test has been performed using the electric physics module in COMSOL Multiphysics®.Junta de Andalucía 2017/TIC-17

Laparoscopic diaphragmatic plication for paralysis posterior to trauma. Case report

Diaphragmatic paralysis is a pathology characterized by the elevation of a plastic and inactive atrophic diaphragm, followed by an injury to the spinal column or to the phrenic nerve. Because it involves the phrenic nerve, it is often associated with an injury at its exit in the spinal cord at the radicular level, at the conduct or in the peripheral nerve. Clinical case: A 50-year-old male patient with a history of thoracic trauma and diagnosis of unstable thorax is admitted for progressive dyspnea in the following 8 months. Diaphragmatic paralysis is diagnosed and a laparoscopic diaphragmatic plicature is performed. Patient improved his clinical status by 29%. Discussion: The consequences of the elevation of a hemidiaphragm can be respiratory, causing hypoxemia and decreases in the ventilation---perfusion ratio. This procedure is considered a corrective surgery from the morphological and functional point of view. Conclusions: Our patient’s clinical status improved according to the Saint George respiratory questionnaire, thanks to an improved perfusion of the basal lung expansion. Laparoscopic diaphragmatic plicature is a safe procedure associated with a minimal hospital stay, and more cases need to be reported. This is the procedure of choice in our institution

Examination of WRF-ARW experiments using different planetary boundary layer parameterizations to study the rapid intensification and trajectory of Hurricane Otto 2016

Hurricane Otto (2016) was characterised by remarkable meteorological features of relevance for the scientific community and society. Scientifically, among the most important attributes of Otto is that it underwent a rapid intensification (RI) process. For society, this cyclone severely impacted Costa Rica and Nicaragua, leaving enormous economic losses and many fatalities. In this study, a set of three numerical simulations are performed to examine the skill of model estimations in reproducing RI and trajectory of Hurricane Otto by comparing the results of a global model to a regional model using three different planetary boundary layer parameterizations (PBL). The objective is to set the basis for future studies that analyse the physical reasons why a particular simulation (associated with a certain model setup) performs better than others in terms of reproducing RI and trajectory. We use the regional model Weather Research and Forecasting—Advanced Research WRF (WRF-ARW) with boundary and initial conditions provided by the Global Forecast System (GFS) analysis (horizontal resolution of 0.5 degrees). The PBL used are the Medium Range Forecast, the Mellor-Yamada-Janjic (MYJ), and the Yonsei University (YSU) parameterizations. The regional model is run in three static domains with horizontal grid spacing of 27, 9 and 3 km, the latter covering the spacial extent of Otto during the simulation period. WRF-ARW results improve the GFS forecast, in almost every aspect evaluated in this study, particularly, the simulated trajectories in WRF-ARW show a better representation of the cyclone path and movement compared to GFS. Even though the MYJ experiment was the only one that exhibited an abrupt 24-h change in the storm’s surface wind, close to the 25-knot threshold, the YSU scheme presented the fastest intensification, closest to reality. View Full-TextUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Físic