Planificación de las Secciones de Vía en Base al Modelado Eléctrico de un Circuito de Vía

Para la planificación de las secciones de un circuito de vía el primer paso es el modelado eléctrico de todos los componentes que forman parte de los distintos tipos de circuitos de vía, que actúan como sistemas de detección de trenes. Para ello se ha desarrollado una herramienta software que permite principalmente calcular las longitudes máximas de aplicación del circuito de vía, simular el paso del tren cuando ocupa y libera el circuito de vía, y realizar un análisis en frecuencia de la respuesta del circuito de vía, facilitando la instalación en el campo de los circuitos de vía que se utilizan actualmente, y disminuyendo el tiempo y los fallos que se producen en dichas instalaciones

Photoplethysmographic Waveform Versus Heart Rate Variability to Identify Low Stress States. Attention Test

Our long-term goal is the development of an automatic identifier of attentional states. In order to accomplish it, we should firstly be able to identify different states based on physiological signals. So, the first aim of this work is to identify the most appropriate features, to detect a subject high performance state. For that, a database of electrocardiographic (ECG) and photopletysmographic (PPG) signals is recorded in two unequivocally defined states (rest and attention task) from up to 50 subjects as a sample of the population. Time and frequency parameters of heart/pulse rate variability have been computed from the ECG/PPG signals respectively. Additionally, the respiratory rate has been estimated from both signals and also six morphological parameters from PPG. In total, twenty six features are obtained for each subject. They provide information about the autonomic nervous system and the physiological response of the subject to an attention demand task. Results show an increase of sympathetic activation when the subjects perform the attention test. The amplitude and width of the PPG pulse were more sensitive that the classical sympathetic markers (normalised power in LF and LF/HF ratio) for identifying this attentional state. State classification accuracy reaches a mean of 89 $\pm$ 2%, a maximum of 93% and a minimum of 85%, in the hundred classifications made by only selecting four parameters extracted from the PPG signal (pulse amplitude, pulse width, pulse downward slope and mean pulse rate). These results suggest that attentional states could be identified by PPG

Sustainable Decision-Making Module: Application to Public Procurement

[EN] Universities are preparing future professionals to face real problems. Sustainable development is a challenge that requires particular attention from educational programs. In their profession, civil engineers address many decisions that can compromise the sustainability of infrastructure. This paper proposes a sustainable decision-making module to promote student competencies relevant to solving real engineering decision-making problems while meeting sustainability criteria. The module is tested in a project management course for a master¿s in Planning and Management in Civil Engineering program. Students were placed in a procurement process scenario with the objective of designing a sustainable decision-making layout for selecting the best construction company to construct a highway. The assessment of the student performance revealed that most students acquired higher-order cognitive skills, and the perception survey showed that this learning method has been widely accepted for developing competencies related to both decision-making and sustainable thinking. This study could serve as an example for engineering education to promote sustainable practices through the active exploration of decision-making in real professional situations.The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Valencian Regional Government (Project No. GV/2018//085) and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, along with European Regional Development Fund (Project No. BIA2017-85098-R).García-Segura, T.; Montalbán-Domingo, L.; Sanz-Benlloch, MA.; Lozano-Torró, A. (2020). Sustainable Decision-Making Module: Application to Public Procurement. Journal of Civil Engineering Education. 146(3):04020004-1-04020004-11. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.2643-9115.000001404020004-104020004-11146

Herramienta de Simulación para el dimensionamiento de líneas ferroviarias electrificadas

Las necesidades del mercado del transporte actual exigen un incremento en la velocidad de circulación de los medios de transporte que realizan trayectos de media y larga distancia. Ésto, el compromiso con el medio ambiente y la saturación del espacio aéreo europeo, dejan ver el porqué del éxito actual de las líneas ferroviarias europeas de alta velocidad y en especial para las líneas de alta velocidad españolas con el titánico plan de inversiones que pronostica un futuro prometedor para este sector. Para alcanzar mayores prestaciones de forma más racional, económica y sistemática, se impone la utilización de herramientas de simulación, basadas en modelos matemáticos, que permitan simular el comportamiento del sistema de forma fiable y económica. Los requerimientos de los ferrocarriles hasta ahora permitía apoyarse en diseños veteranos totalmente probados, sin embargo hoy en día las exigencias son tales que para alcanzar el objetivo se deben utilizar herramientas informáticas dedicadas al estudio del comportamiento eléctrico. La herramienta de simulación, por tanto, permite el cálculo de las características técnicas de la electrificación obteniendo las magnitudes físicas necesarias para evaluar un funcionamiento correcto y dimensionar correctamente los elementos que lo componen

PTGDR gene expression and response to dexamethasone treatment in an in vitro model

[EN]Asthma is a multifactorial pathology influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Glucocorticoid treatment decreases symptoms by regulating genes involved in the inflammatory process through binding to specific DNA sequences. Polymorphisms located in the promoter region of the Prostaglandin D Receptor (PTGDR) gene have been related to asthma. We aimed to analyze the effect of PTGDR promoter haplotypes on gene expression and response to corticosteroid therapy. A549 lung epithelial cells were transfected with vectors carrying four different PTGDR haplotypes (CTCT, CCCC, CCCT and TCCT), and treated with dexamethasone. Different approaches to study the promoter activity (Dual Luciferase Reporter System), gene expression levels (qPCR) and cytokine secretion (Multiplexed Bead-based Flow Cytometric) were used. In addition, in silico analysis was also performed. Cells carrying the TCCT haplotype showed the lowest promoter activity (p-value<0.05) and mRNA expression levels in basal conditions. After dexamethasone treatment, cells carrying the wild-type variant CTCT showed the highest response, and those carrying the TCCT variant the lowest (p-value<0.05) in luciferase assays. Different transcription factor binding patterns were identified in silico. Moreover, differences in cytokine secretion were also found among different promoter haplotypes. Polymorphisms of PTGDR gene influence basal promoter activity and gene expression, as well as the cytokine secretory pattern. Furthermore, an association between these positions and response to corticoid treatment was observed

Patrones topográficos y biomecánicos del queratocono y sus cambios tras tratamiento quirúrgico.

El queratocono (QT) es la ectasia corneal más frecuente, aun así, es una patología con poca incidencia a nivel global. Generalmente, se caracteriza por una protusión cónica y astigmatismo corneal irregular y muy elevado, junto con miopía. La biomecánica corneal, en estos casos, se ve considerablemente afectada. Existen varios métodos de tratamiento, como: métodos ópticos, crosslinking corneal, anillos intraestromales o queratoplastia. En una muestra de 16 ojos con QT avanzado, se han estudiado los cambios producidos en la topografía y en la biomecánica corneal, tras someterlos a una cirugía de implante de anillos intraestromales. Para ello, es necesario el uso de instrumentos como Pentacam y Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA). Concluyendo, en que este tratamiento normaliza la estructura corneal y aumenta la agudeza visual de lo sujetos.<br /

Functional analysis of the Phycomyces carRA gene encoding the enzymes phytoene synthase and lycopene cyclase.

[EN] Phycomyces carRA gene encodes a protein with two domains. Domain R is characterized by red carR mutants that accumulate lycopene. Domain A is characterized by white carA mutants that do not accumulate significant amounts of carotenoids. The carRA-encoded protein was identified as the lycopene cyclase and phytoene synthase enzyme by sequence homology with other proteins. However, no direct data showing the function of this protein have been reported so far. Different Mucor circinelloides mutants altered at the phytoene synthase, the lycopene cyclase or both activities were transformed with the Phycomyces carRA gene. Fully transcribed carRA mRNA molecules were detected by Northern assays in the transformants and the correct processing of the carRA messenger was verified by RT-PCR. These results showed that Phycomyces carRA gene was correctly expressed in Mucor. Carotenoids analysis in these transformants showed the presence of ß-carotene, absent in the untransformed strains, providing functional evidence that the Phycomyces carRA gene complements the M. circinelloides mutations. Co-transformation of the carRA cDNA in E. coli with different combinations of the carotenoid structural genes from Erwinia uredovora was also performed. Newly formed carotenoids were accumulated showing that the Phycomyces CarRA protein does contain lycopene cyclase and phytoene synthase activities. The heterologous expression of the carRA gene and the functional complementation of the mentioned activities are not very efficient in E. coli. However, the simultaneous presence of both carRA and carB gene products from Phycomyces increases the efficiency of these enzymes, presumably due to an interaction mechanism

Diameter and taper variability of gutta-percha cones adapted to TruNatomyTM and RotateTM rotary file systems

Evaluate the discrepancy in diameter and taper between adapted gutta-percha cones for TruNatomyTM 26.04 (TRU04), RotateTM 25.04 (ROT04) and 25.06 (ROT06) systems and their reference files. A sample of 60 gutta-percha cones and 15 rotary files was select

Protein-DNA interactions in the promoter region of the Phycomyces carB and carRA genes correlate with the kinetics of their mRNA accumulation in response to light.

[EN] Carotene biosynthesis in Phycomyces is photoinducible and carried out by phytoene dehydrogenase (encoded by carB) and a bifunctional enzyme possessing lycopene cyclase and phytoene synthase activities (carRA). A light pulse followed by periods of darkness produced similar biphasic responses in the expression of the carB and carRA genes, indicating their coordinated regulation. Specific binding complexes were formed between the carB-carRA intergenic region and protein extracts from wild type mycelia grown in the dark or 8min after irradiation. These two conditions correspond to the points at which the expression of both genes is minimal, suggesting that these binding complexes are involved in the down-regulation of photocarotenogenesis in Phycomyces. Protein extracts from carotene mutants failed to form the dark retardation complex, suggesting a role of these genes in the regulation of photocarotenogenesis. In contrast, protein extracts from phototropic mutants formed dark retardation complexes identical to that of the wild type.Junta de Castilla y León; Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia/FEDE

Modulation of the Serum Cytokine Expression Pattern in Hymenoptera Allergic Patients Treated with Specific Venom Immunotherapy

[EN] Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is an adequate model to explore the immune mechanisms underlying this type of treatment. We have investigated the use of protein arrays to detect variations in the levels of cytokines in patients receiving VIT. In the present study we selected 11 non-atopic patients with systemic reactions after Hymenoptera sting that received VIT during at least three years. In order to evaluate the success of VIT all of them should have tolerated a sting field after VIT. Serum samples were obtained before initiating VIT and after at least three years of successful VIT. We analyzed 42 serum proteins corresponding to a Th1/Th2 panel using protein array methodology. We observed a significant increase of Interleukin 10, Myeloid Macrophage Colony Stimulation Factor, Macrophage Derived Chemokine, Interleukin 1-α, Vascular Endothelial Growing Factor and Stem Cell Factor serum levels after successful VIT. We discuss the usefulness and normalization of this array method to analyze cytokines and other serum proteins. Monitoring these serum cytokines could help to predict the response and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying immunotherapy.Fundación para la Investigación de la Sociedad Española de Alergología e Inmunología Clínic