Influence of gap junction dynamics on the stability of reentrant waves in cadiac tissue

Constant conductances are often assumed when model- ing cardiac tissue. However experimental evidences have shown that gap junctions (GJ) actually connect adjacent cardiac myocytes. These GJ are complex proteins of the connexin family (Cx40; Cx43; Cx45 are the most common in human). These GJ modify the conductances between cardiac cell through a dynamical process. The aim of this study is to develop a bidomain model of the cardiac tis- sue where the dynamics of the connexins is also included. In particular we will compare the differences associated with the use of a monodomain versus bidomain formula- tion in inducing intra-cellular conductance variations. We have found that the monodomain formulation gives con- ductance variations a factor four to five larger with respect to the bidomain formulationPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

ESTUDIO Y DISEÑO DE UN ESCUADRÓN DE CABALLERÍA AEROLANZABLE

Este estudio y diseño pretende elaborar una propuesta de una orgánica para un Escuadrón de Caballería Aerolanzable (ECAL), que se incorporará al Regimiento de Caballería (RC) Lusitania 8 complementando las capacidades de sus Escuadrones Ligeros Acorazados (ELAC), para poder participar en las misiones de la Brigada Paracaidista (BRIPAC) en las que actualmente, con sus medios y unidades, es incapaz de participar eficazmente. Además, este escuadrón se montará sobre la base del vehículo seleccionado en el Trabajo de Fin de Grado “Estudio para la adquisición de un Vehículo Aerotransportable de Exploración de Caballería (VAEC)” del Teniente Antonio López Añón: VAMTAC ST5. El ST5 ya en dotación del Ejército de Tierra (ET) proporcionará al ECAL entre otras cosas una reducción considerable de la cadena logística y un enorme ahorro en costes. Para realizar la orgánica se divide el trabajo en 9 secciones agrupadas en 3 grandes bloques: Análisis de la situación inicial y definición de requisitos del ECAL, Propuesta de orgánica para el escuadrón y Refutación de la orgánica y análisis de la adecuación a los requisitos. En el primer bloque donde se encuentran las secciones 1 y 2, se presenta el trabajo y se analiza la situación inicial mediante una revisión bibliográfica, además, se plantean los requisitos necesarios para la orgánica mediante una análisis de Debilidades, Amenazas, Fortalezas y Oportunidades (DAFO), un análisis para Corregir, Afrontar, Mantener y Explotar (CAME) el DAFO y la definición de ciertas estrategias a seguir.En el segundo bloque que incluye las secciones 3, 4 y 5, mediante la ayuda de 2 grupos de expertos se materializa la propuesta para el ECAL que cumpla lo definido en el primer bloque.En tercer y último bloque que contiene las secciones 6, 7 y 8, se realizan un análisis logístico, un análisis económico y la propuesta de un futuro Grupo de Caballería Paracaidista (GCPAC) donde se encuadre orgánicamente el ECAL diseñado.Finalmente, se presentan en las últimas secciones las conclusiones obtenidas, las líneas futuras de trabajo y las referencias bibliográficas.Como principales conclusiones, la orgánica propuesta permitirá al ECAL ser lanzado con los medios de aerotransporte y lanzamiento paracaidista de la Fuerzas Armadas (FAS) Españolas pudiendo participar en los diferentes escalones de las operaciones aerotransportadas, así como también las dotará de una capacidad presente en nuestros ejércitos aliados (OTAN) y desconocida hasta ahora en España: la Caballería Paracaidista.<br /

Gene therapy in the management of oral cancer: Review of the literature

Gene therapy essentially consists of introducing specific genetic material into target cells without producing toxic effects on surrounding tissue. Advances over recent decades in the surgical, radiotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic treatment of oral cancer patients have not produced a significant improvement in patient survival. Increasing interest is being shown in developing novel therapies to reverse oral epithelial dysplastic lesions. This review provides an update on transfer techniques, therapeutic strategies, and the clinical applications and limitations of gene therapy in the management of oral cancer and precancer. We highlight the combination of gene therapy with chemotherapy (e.g., 5-Fluoracil) and immunotherapy, given the promising results obtained in the use of adenovirus to act at altered gene level (e.g., p53). Other techniques such as suicide gene therapy, use of oncolytic viruses or the use of antisense RNA have shown positive although very preliminary results. Therefore, further research into these promising gene therapy techniques is required to assess their true efficacy and safety in the management of these lesions

Influence of gap junction dynamics on the stability of reentrant waves in cardiac tissue

Constant conductances are often assumed when model- ing cardiac tissue. However experimental evidences have shown that gap junctions (GJ) actually connect adjacent cardiac myocytes. These GJ are complex proteins of the connexin family (Cx40; Cx43; Cx45 are the most common in human). These GJ modify the conductances between cardiac cell through a dynamical process. The aim of this study is to develop a bidomain model of the cardiac tis- sue where the dynamics of the connexins is also included. In particular we will compare the differences associated with the use of a monodomain versus bidomain formula- tion in inducing intra-cellular conductance variations. We have found that the monodomain formulation gives con- ductance variations a factor four to five larger with respect to the bidomain formulation.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Analysis and design of the central stack for the SMART tokamak

© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).The SMall Aspect Ratio Tokamak (SMART) is a new spherical machine that is currently under construction at the University of Seville aimed at exploring negative vs positive triangularity prospects in Spherical Tokamaks (ST). The operation of SMART will cover three phases, with toroidal fields Bϕ ≤ 1 T, inductive plasma currents up to Ip = 500 kA and a pulse length up to 500 ms, for a plasma with R = 0.4 m, a = 0.25 m and a wide range of shaping configurations (aspect ratio, 1.4 < R/a < 3, elongation, κ ≤ 3, and average triangularity, -0.6 ≤ δ ≤ 0.6). The magnet system of the tokamak is composed by 12 Toroidal Field Coils (TFC), 8 Poloidal Field Coils (PFC) and a Central Solenoid (CS). With such operating conditions, the design of the central stack, usually a critical part in spherical tokamaks due to space limitations, presents notable challenges. The current SMART central stack has been designed to operate up to phase 2 and it comprises the inner legs of the TFC, surrounded by the CS, two supporting rings, a central pole and a pedestal. To achieve the plasma parameters of this phase (Bϕ=0.4 T with inductive Ip up to 200 kA), the high currents required, combined with the low aspect-ratio of the machine lead to high forces on the conductors that represent an engineering challenge. The loads expected in the central stack are a centring force up to 1.5 MN and a twisting torque up to 7.4 kNm. This work describes the design of the central stack and its mechanical validation with a multiphysics finite element assessment. Using a combined electromagnetic and mechanical assessment, it is shown that the SMART central stack will meet the physics requirements in phase 2.This work received funding from the Fondo Europeo de Desarollo Regional (FEDER) by the European Commission under grant agreement numbers IE17–5670 and US-15570. .Peer reviewe

Criterios de diseño para locales de Primaria y Secundaria polidocentes completos y usos compartidos

Provee criterios y herramientas para diseño de la infraestructura educativa de este tipo de locales, agrupados por características técnicas (instalaciones, materiales, acabados, u otras) y procesos pedagógicos similares, con el objetivo de definir modelos de espacios mínimos aceptables que respondan también de manera adecuada a las condiciones climáticas de cada zona del país en aras del mejoramiento del servicio educativo, que no depende solamente de estos temas, sino que también está directamente relacionado con el mejoramiento de las prácticas pedagógicas, y con el mejoramiento de la organización y gestión

Beyond ‘BRICS’: ten theses on South–South cooperation in the twenty-first century

Grounded in a review of past and present academic South–South cooperation literatures, this article advances ten theses that problematise empirical, theoretical, conceptual and methodological issues essential to discussions of South–South cooperation in the 21st century. This endeavour is motivated by the perceived undermining, especially in the contemporary Anglophone academic South–South cooperation literature, of the emancipatory potential historically associated with South–South cooperation. By drawing on the interventionist South–South cooperation agendas of ‘left’-leaning Latin America-Caribbean governments, the article seeks to establish a dialogue between social science theories and less ‘visible’ analyses from academic (semi)peripheries. The ten theses culminate in an exploration of the potential of South–South cooperation to promote ‘alternative’ development

Study of Drilled Holes after a Cryogenic Machining in Glass Fiber-Reinforced Composites

Glass fiber-reinforced composites are widely used in industry, with machining operations frequently performed, drilling, in particular, for later assembly. Although there is a smaller increase in temperature during drilling in composites than in metals, further cooling of the tool can produce improvements in some variables, such as thrust force, diameter, or surface roughness. This has been seen in studies where lower temperatures were achieved by cooling compressed air, reaching around −20 °C in plates of polyether-ether-ketone and polyamide, reinforced with glass fiber at 30% (PEEK-GF30 and PA-GF30, respectively). This paper analyzes the results of cryogenic drilling in plates of PEEK-GF30 and PA-GF30, specifically assessing thrust forces, diameter, and average surface roughness. The experimental methodology was carried out by monitoring thrust forces during cryogenic drilling using a piezoelectric dynamometer, measuring diameters with a coordinate measurement machine, and assessing surface quality with a roughness profilometer. During the cutting, the temperature of the cutting tool achieved a temperature near −120 °C from cooling with liquid nitrogen. Conducting an analytical and statistical study allowed us to determine the relationships between the measured variables and cutting conditions. Our results showed that cooling the tool during the drilling processes improved results of the cutting process