IDENTIFICATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL DISTRICTS: THE CASE OF SPAIN

In recent years, several contributions have been focused on a new sort of productive systems that share some characteristics with Marshallian industrial districts. These contributions have analysed the competitiveness of these new areas and how have been promoted by policy makers. In this line, the Marshallian concept of industrial district has been increasingly related to high technology and innovation in order to analysis technological districts or clusters. The aim of this research is to show how these new areas have characteristics are not similar to those shown by traditional industrial districts. Therefore, framework and techniques for analysis that have been traditionally used for industrial districts must be adapted for identifying technological districts. Specifically, some reflections about the framework analysis of sector and spatial units are introduced in the first part of this research as well as those techniques that can be useful to identify and analyse technological districts. Next, the analysis is focused on the identification of technological districts in Spain. A multivariate analysis will be applied to calculate a synthetic index that will be used to identify those areas with a high degree of specialization in high and medium technology activities. This synthetic index will collect data about those technological activities that are involved not only in manufacturing but also in activities of innovation and R&D. Until now, there have been not many attempts to identify technological clusters through the application of quantitative methodologies; therefore, the purpose of this research is to contribute to the enhancement of knowledge about these areas in Spain. Keywords: technological districts, clusters, location, spatial agglomerations.

Client Applications and Server-Side Docker for Management of RNASeq and/or VariantSeq Workflows and Pipelines of the GPRO Suite

The GPRO suite is an in-progress bioinformatic project for -omics data analysis. As part of the continued growth of this project, we introduce a client- and server-side solution for comparative transcriptomics and analysis of variants. The client-side consists of two Java applications called 'RNASeq' and 'VariantSeq' to manage pipelines and workflows based on the most common command line interface tools for RNA-seq and Variant-seq analysis, respectively. As such, 'RNASeq' and 'VariantSeq' are coupled with a Linux server infrastructure (named GPRO Server-Side) that hosts all dependencies of each application (scripts, databases, and command line interface software). Implementation of the Server-Side requires a Linux operating system, PHP, SQL, Python, bash scripting, and third-party software. The GPRO Server-Side can be installed, via a Docker container, in the user's PC under any operating system or on remote servers, as a cloud solution. 'RNASeq' and 'VariantSeq' are both available as desktop (RCP compilation) and web (RAP compilation) applications. Each application has two execution modes: a step-by-step mode enables each step of the workflow to be executed independently, and a pipeline mode allows all steps to be run sequentially. 'RNASeq' and 'VariantSeq' also feature an experimental, online support system called GENIE that consists of a virtual (chatbot) assistant and a pipeline jobs panel coupled with an expert system. The chatbot can troubleshoot issues with the usage of each tool, the pipeline jobs panel provides information about the status of each computational job executed in the GPRO Server-Side, while the expert system provides the user with a potential recommendation to identify or fix failed analyses. Our solution is a ready-to-use topic specific platform that combines the user-friendliness, robustness, and security of desktop software, with the efficiency of cloud/web applications to manage pipelines and workflows based on command line interface software

Predictive Power of the "Trigger Tool" for the detection of adverse events in general surgery: a multicenter observational validation study

Background In spite of the global implementation of standardized surgical safety checklists and evidence-based practices, general surgery remains associated with a high residual risk of preventable perioperative complications and adverse events. This study was designed to validate the hypothesis that a new “Trigger Tool” represents a sensitive predictor of adverse events in general surgery. Methods An observational multicenter validation study was performed among 31 hospitals in Spain. The previously described “Trigger Tool” based on 40 specific triggers was applied to validate the predictive power of predicting adverse events in the perioperative care of surgical patients. A prediction model was used by means of a binary logistic regression analysis. Results The prevalence of adverse events among a total of 1,132 surgical cases included in this study was 31.53%. The “Trigger Tool” had a sensitivity and specificity of 86.27% and 79.55% respectively for predicting these adverse events. A total of 12 selected triggers of overall 40 triggers were identified for optimizing the predictive power of the “Trigger Tool”. Conclusions The “Trigger Tool” has a high predictive capacity for predicting adverse events in surgical procedures. We recommend a revision of the original 40 triggers to 12 selected triggers to optimize the predictive power of this tool, which will have to be validated in future studies

Effectiveness of Fosfomycin for the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Bacteremic Urinary Tract Infections

IMPORTANCE The consumption of broad-spectrum drugs has increased as a consequence of the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli. Finding alternatives for these infections is critical, for which some neglected drugs may be an option. OBJECTIVE To determine whether fosfomycin is noninferior to ceftriaxone or meropenem in the targeted treatment of bacteremic urinary tract infections (bUTIs) due to MDR E coli. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This multicenter, randomized, pragmatic, open clinical trial was conducted at 22 Spanish hospitals from June 2014 to December 2018. Eligible participants were adult patients with bacteremic urinary tract infections due to MDR E coli; 161 of 1578 screened patients were randomized and followed up for 60 days. Data were analyzed in May 2021. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized 1 to 1 to receive intravenous fosfomycin disodium at 4 g every 6 hours (70 participants) or a comparator (ceftriaxone or meropenem if resistant; 73 participants) with the option to switch to oral fosfomycin trometamol for the fosfomycin group or an active oral drug or pa renteral ertapenem for the comparator group after 4 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was clinical and microbiological cure (CMC) 5 to 7 days after finalization of treatment; a noninferiority margin of 7% was considered. RESULTS Among 143 patients in the modified intention-to-treat population (median [IQR] age, 72 [62-81] years; 73 [51.0%] women), 48 of 70 patients (68.6%) treated with fosfomycin and 57 of 73 patients (78.1%) treated with comparators reached CMC (risk difference, -9.4 percentage points; 1-sided 95% CI, -21.5 to infinity percentage points; P = .10). While clinical or microbiological failure occurred among 10 patients (14.3%) treated with fosfomycin and 14 patients (19.7%) treated with comparators (risk difference, -5.4 percentage points; 1-sided 95% CI. -infinity to 4.9; percentage points; P = .19), an increased rate of adverse event-related discontinuations occurred with fosfomycin vs comparators (6 discontinuations [8.5%] vs 0 discontinuations; P = .006). In an exploratory analysis among a subset of 38 patients who underwent rectal colonization studies, patients treated with fosfomycin acquired a new ceftriaxone-resistant or meropenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria at a decreased rate compared with patients treated with comparators (0 of 21 patients vs 4 of 17 patients [23.5%]; 1-sided P = .01). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study found that fosfomycin did not demonstrate noninferiority to comparators as targeted treatment of bUTI from MDR E coli; this was due to an increased rate of adverse event-related discontinuations. This finding suggests that fosfomycin may be considered for selected patients with these infections

Spatiotemporal Characteristics of the Largest HIV-1 CRF02_AG Outbreak in Spain: Evidence for Onward Transmissions

Background and Aim: The circulating recombinant form 02_AG (CRF02_AG) is the predominant clade among the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) non-Bs with a prevalence of 5.97% (95% Confidence Interval-CI: 5.41–6.57%) across Spain. Our aim was to estimate the levels of regional clustering for CRF02_AG and the spatiotemporal characteristics of the largest CRF02_AG subepidemic in Spain.Methods: We studied 396 CRF02_AG sequences obtained from HIV-1 diagnosed patients during 2000–2014 from 10 autonomous communities of Spain. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the 391 CRF02_AG sequences along with all globally sampled CRF02_AG sequences (N = 3,302) as references. Phylodynamic and phylogeographic analysis was performed to the largest CRF02_AG monophyletic cluster by a Bayesian method in BEAST v1.8.0 and by reconstructing ancestral states using the criterion of parsimony in Mesquite v3.4, respectively.Results: The HIV-1 CRF02_AG prevalence differed across Spanish autonomous communities we sampled from (p < 0.001). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 52.7% of the CRF02_AG sequences formed 56 monophyletic clusters, with a range of 2–79 sequences. The CRF02_AG regional dispersal differed across Spain (p = 0.003), as suggested by monophyletic clustering. For the largest monophyletic cluster (subepidemic) (N = 79), 49.4% of the clustered sequences originated from Madrid, while most sequences (51.9%) had been obtained from men having sex with men (MSM). Molecular clock analysis suggested that the origin (tMRCA) of the CRF02_AG subepidemic was in 2002 (median estimate; 95% Highest Posterior Density-HPD interval: 1999–2004). Additionally, we found significant clustering within the CRF02_AG subepidemic according to the ethnic origin.Conclusion: CRF02_AG has been introduced as a result of multiple introductions in Spain, following regional dispersal in several cases. We showed that CRF02_AG transmissions were mostly due to regional dispersal in Spain. The hot-spot for the largest CRF02_AG regional subepidemic in Spain was in Madrid associated with MSM transmission risk group. The existence of subepidemics suggest that several spillovers occurred from Madrid to other areas. CRF02_AG sequences from Hispanics were clustered in a separate subclade suggesting no linkage between the local and Hispanic subepidemics

Geological and Archaeological effects of the AD 1504 Carmona Earthquake (Guadalquivir valley, South Spain): preliminary data on probable seismic sources

[ES] Los datos publicados por Bonsor (1918) sobre los efectos del terremoto de 1504 AD (X MSK) en Carmona (Sevilla, Sur de España) constituye el primer informe arqueosismológico que se publica en una revista científica española. El presente trabajo analiza y revisa los datos aportados por Bonsor a la luz de la escala macrosísmica ESI-07. La mayoría de los daños registrados en el antiguo Alcázar de Carmona pueden ser atribuidos a importantes fenómenos de deslizamientos de las calcarenitas neógenas del escarpe de Los Alcores. Grietas de longitud hectométrica y anchura métrica, deslizamientos de c. 800.000 m3 y caídas de bloques individuales de dimensiones entre 10-500 m3 indican intensidades mínimas de VIII-IX ESI-07 en la ciudad de Carmona. El area macrosísmica afectada por efectos ambientales cosísmicos puede evaluarse en unos 1300 km2, dentro de la cual se identifican dos zonas dentro de la llanura aluvial del Guadalquivir de entre 180-200 km2 en las que los procesos de liquefacción y subsidencia fueron ampliamente documentados en los sectores de Sevilla-Alcalá del Rio y Cantillana-Palma del Rio. Los procesos de licuefacción se documentaron a distancias epicentrales máximas de unos 40 km. Oleajes anómalos del río y procesos de inundación permanente también se documentan en las proximidades de Sevilla. Los importantes daños documentados en las poblaciones situadas en la llanura de inundación del Guadalquivir y efectos ambientales relacionados pueden ser atribuidos a un claro “efecto sitio” tal y como demuestra la ocurrencia de similares procesos en esta misma zona durante el terremoto de Lisboa de 1755 AD que se sintió con intensidades VIII-IX MSK. La localización del epicentro macrosísmico catalogado por el IGN (3 km SE Carmona) no coincide con las orientaciones de los daños (aprox. N-S) y distribución de los efectos ambientales (NNW de Carmona). Por el contrario algunos de los accidentes tectónicos situados al Norte de Carmona en el valle del Guadalquivir podrían explicarlos mejor. Estas estructuras incluyen la controvertida Falla del Guadalquivir (NE-SW) así como la prolongación bajo el relleno Neógeno-Cuaternario de los accidentes paleozoicos de dirección NW-SE en el entorno de Tocina y Alcoléa del Río.[EN] Data reported by George Bonsor (1918) about damage in the City of Carmona (Sevilla, South Spain) triggered by the AD 1504 Earthquake (X MSK) constitutes the first archaeoseismological report published in the Spanish scientific literature. This work analyses and updates de Bonsor's data using the ESI-07 Intensity Scale. Most of the described damage at the ancient Arab Castle of Carmona can be attributed to large landslide events in the Late Neogene calcarenites of "Los Alcores Scarp". Large open cracks of hectometric length and metric width, landslides of c. 800,000 m3 and rockfalls involving individual blocks of 10-500 m3 indicate a minimum IX ESI-07 intensity at Carmona. Within the macroseismic area of about 1300 km2, two areas within the Guadalquivir river floodplain around 180-200 km2 are identified where liquefaction processes and lateral spreading were widely documented between Sevilla-Alcalá del Rio and Cantillana-Palma del Rio. Liquefaction processes occurred at maximum distances of c. 40 km from the macroseismic epicentre. Anomalous waves and permanent flooding of the riverbanks was also documented in the vicinity of Sevilla city. Severely damaged localities within the Guadalquivir river floodplain and related earthquake environmental effects can be attributed to site effects; in this zone, well documented far-field effects were caused by the AD 1755 Lisbon earthquake due to maximum intensities of VIII-IX MSK. The location of the macroseismic epicentre considered in the IGN Catalogue (3 km SE of Carmona) does not match with the documented damage orientation (nearly N-S), but suspect faults within the Guadalquivir valley North of Carmona can account for the documented damage. These structures include the controversial NE-SW Guadalquivir Fault and the prolongation of NW-SE Palaeozoic faults beneath the Neogene and Quaternary sedimentary fill between Tocina and Alcolea del Río, and should both be considered as potential seismic sources for the AD 1504 eventThis work has been funded by the MINECO research projects CGL2012-37281-C02.01 (USAL) and CGL2012- 33430 (CSIC). This is a contribution of the INQUA Focus Group on Paleoseismology, Active Tectonics and Archaeoseismology and the QTECT-AEQUA Working Group.Peer reviewe

Cell Geometry Optimization for Dipole Kick Correction in a High-Frequency IH Structure

Given the asymmetry in the stem configuration of an IH-DTL structure, an electric dipole component is always present between drift tubes, and it is especially significant for reduced dimensions in high-frequency regimes. Here we study the effect of different modifications of the drift tubes geometry of a 750 MHz IH-DTL to eliminate the impact of the dipole component in the transverse beam dynamics. Tracking simulations through a single cell are also performed to assess the outcomes in particle’s trajectory offset and angle

Effect of High-Magnetic Field Region Geometry on the Efficiency of a 750 MHz IH Structure

High frequency structures generally translate to high efficiency performances thanks to reduced surfaces of the inner cavity. Two round-profiles geometry and some variations of two important parameters of a 750 MHz IH-DTL are proposed in this paper in order to improve shunt impedance performance regarding an existing solution with flat-walled cavity developed by CERN. The proposed designs are shaped such that they guarantee an easy connection of RF and vacuum auxiliaries. Electromagnetic simulations are checked with CST Microwave Studio