Reliability-based structural assessment of historical masonry arch bridges: The case study of Cernadela bridge

Nowadays, several historical masonry arch bridges present a deficient state of conservation due to degradation processes induced by natural or human actions. Usually, these constructions have significant economic, cultural, and heritage value. Therefore, they shall be thoroughly assessed to verify their structural integrity and safety condition. For this purpose, reliability-based structural assessments are typically performed. However, the associated outcomes (i.e., reliability index and probability of failure) highly rely on the accuracy of the structural parameters uncertainty quantification. This work presents a study regarding the influence of the scattering of the arches' thickness dimensions in the load-carrying capacity assessment of the Cernadela Bridge, a historical stone bridge located in Galicia, Spain. The study first involved a comprehensive experimental campaign to characterize the outer and inner bridge geometry through geomatic techniques, i.e., terrestrial laser scanning and ground penetrating radar. Subsequently, a limit analysis model was developed, considering only the arches' outer (visible) data. From this initial structural assessment, a reliability index of 2.38 was obtained. The influence of the uncertain structural parameters, both geometric features and material properties, in the collapse load was investigated through a global variance-based sensitivity analysis (i.e., Sobol' indices) complemented by a surrogate modeling strategy based on the Kriging approach. Finally, the measured inner geometry of the arches was introduced in the computational model through Bayesian inference procedures. Thus, two new structural assessments were performed: first, by considering the updated distributions of all arches thicknesses, and second, by considering only the updated distributions of the non-influential ones. Reliability indexes of 1.51 and 2.33 were derived, thus highlighting the importance of a proper uncertainty quantification process and the relevance of the sensitivity analysis outcomes to identify the critical parameters on the bridge mechanical response.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. TED2021-130497A-I00Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. RYC2019-026604-

Proyecto de nueva planta residencia de la 3ª edad, en Cuellar (Segovia)

Como Proyecto de Fin de Carrera de los alumnos pertenecientes al grupo M27 de la Escuela Universitaria de Arquitectura Técnica de Madrid, se va a efectuar el proceso de construcción de un inmueble de nueva planta, así como el análisis constructivo y patológico de la edificación actual, situada en la C/ Nueva, 4 de la localidad de Cuellar (Segovia). Tanto la rehabilitación como la nueva edificación se ajustarán en todo caso a lo establecido por la normativa vigente. El objetivo de este proyecto es el de construir un complejo institucional para uso como centro residencial y de ocio de la tercera edad. Previa a la construcción del inmueble de nueva planta, en la parcela existía un edificio destinado a uso residencial en la primera planta, y comercial e industrial en la planta baja, como puede verse en la documentación catastral. Debido a su deteriorado estado de conservación, se decidió demolerlo el edificio en su totalidad y realizar una construcción de nueva planta

Yearly evolution of organ damage markers in diabetes or metabolic syndrome: data from the LOD-DIABETES study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cardiovascular disease morbidity-mortality is greater in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the yearly evolution of organ damage markers in diabetes or metabolic syndrome, and to analyze the associated factors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An observational prospective study was carried out in the primary care setting, involving 112 patients: 68 diabetics and 44 subjects with metabolic syndrome, subjected to 12 months of follow-up. Measurements: traditional cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, blood glucose, lipids, smoking, body mass index (BMI) and) and non-traditional risk factors (waist circumference, hsC Reactive Protein and fibrinogen); subclinical vascular (carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity and ankle/brachial index), cardiac (Cornell voltage-duration product), renal organ damage (creatinine, glomerular filtration and albumin/creatinine index), and antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At baseline, the diabetics presented a mean age of 59.9 years, versus 55.2 years in the subjects with metabolic syndrome (p = 0.03). Diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were lower among the patients with diabetes, while blood glucose and HbA1c, as well as antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drug use, were greater. At evaluation after one year, the diabetics showed a decrease in BMI (-0.39), diastolic blood pressure (-3.59), and an increase in fibrinogen (30.23 mg/dL), ankle/brachial index (0.07) and the number of patients with ankle/brachial index pathologic decreased in 6. In turn, the patients with metabolic syndrome showed an increase in HDL-cholesterol (1-91 mg/dL), fibrinogen (25.54 mg/dL), Cornell voltage-duration product (184.22 mm/ms), ankle/brachial index (0.05) and the use of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs, and a reduction in serum glucose (3.74 mg/dL), HOMA, systolic (-6.76 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (-3.29 mmHg), and pulse wave velocity (-0.72 m/s). The variable that best predicted a decrease in pulse wave velocity in subjects with metabolic syndrome was seen to be an increase in antihypertensive drug use.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The annual assessment of cardiovascular risk factors and the decrease in pulse wave velocity was more favorable in the patients with metabolic syndrome, probably influenced by the increased percentage of subjects treated with antihypertensive and lipid lowering drugs in this group.</p

Characterization of HMGB1/2 Interactome in Prostate Cancer by Yeast Two Hybrid Approach: Potential Pathobiological Implications

High mobility group box B (HMGB) proteins are pivotal in the development of cancer. Although the proteomics of prostate cancer (PCa) cells has been reported, the involvement of HMGB proteins and their interactome in PCa is an unexplored field of considerable interest. We describe herein the results of the first HMGB1/HMGB2 interactome approach to PCa. Libraries constructed from the PCa cell line, PC-3, and from patients' PCa primary tumor have been screened by the yeast 2-hybrid approach (Y2H) using HMGB1 and HMGB2 baits. Functional significance of this PCa HMGB interactome has been validated through expression and prognosis data available on public databases. Copy number alterations (CNA) affecting these newly described HMGB interactome components are more frequent in the most aggressive forms of PCa: those of neuroendocrine origin or castration-resistant PCa. Concordantly, adenocarcinoma PCa samples showing CNA in these genes are also associated with the worse prognosis. These findings open the way to their potential use as discriminatory biomarkers between high and low risk patients. Gene expression of a selected set of these interactome components has been analyzed by qPCR after HMGB1 and HMGB2 silencing. The data show that HMGB1 and HMGB2 control the expression of several of their interactome partners, which might contribute to the orchestrated action of these proteins in PCa

¿Cómo perciben hoy los estudiantes los procesos de evaluación en la Universidad? Un estudio comparativo

La percepción del estudiante sobre la evaluación debe ser uno de los principales factores a contemplar en el avance de la investigación evaluativa en Educación Superior. Con el objetivo de conocer si esta percepción varía en función del grado (estando ante una percepción totalmente condicionada por la formación), o si el grado no guarda relación, se plantea una investigación como parte del proyecto de innovación docente ID2022/232 - Innovación en Procedimientos de evaluación de resultados de aprendizaje con soporte tecnológico y atención a criterios de inclusión (E-RAINCLUYE) que trata de determinar si el grado estudiado influye en dicha percepción. La muestra está compuesta por 210 estudiantes de varios grados de educación de la Universidad de Salamanca que han dado respuesta a un cuestionario propuesto por Gil-Flores (2012) de 9 dimensiones y 55 ítems. Los resultados muestran una percepción media-alta sobre la calidad de la evaluación, y solamente diferencias significativas en dos de las nueve dimensiones planteadas

La imagen y la narrativa como herramientas para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia. Departamento de Sucre y Bolívar

A lo largo del curso se ha trabajado de manera conjunta un tema que ha sido de gran relevancia e importancia en nuestro país como lo es la violencia armada, pero que a raíz de los diferentes contextos en los que estos se han desarrollado, se le ha dado por ende un abordaje diferente a cada uno de ellos. Es importante recalcar que la violencia ha sido hoy por hoy un recurrente en la vida de aquellas familias que han sido sacadas o vulneradas de sus comunidades, pueblos, veredas, municipios y demás, y que por ende han hecho parte del olvido de las generaciones que han estado inmiscuidos como entes territoriales, gubernamentales y nacionales que han estado a cargo de las políticas públicas quienes son los encargados de darle un mejor manejo a esta problemática, cabe destacar que la violencia no es sólo física, hay violencia social, económica, familiar, sexual, entre otras. En este apartado se evidencia el caso de Camilo y el caso de Peñas Coloradas, relatos de vidas que dan cuentan de la poca colaboración o ayuda del estado, vulneración de derechos, falta de recursos, olvido, desalojos de tierras, víctimas de la violencia, perdida de propósito de vida y bienestar psicológico, dolor, desesperanza, pero sobre todo sobrevivientes de una situación que marca su vida por un hecho traumático. Los relatos de violencias le permiten al psicólogo realizar un abordaje psicosocial, estableciendo estrategias desde, la narrativa, lo subjetivo, lo simbólico y la memoria herramientas pertinentes para mejorar hechos traumáticos.Throughout the course, a topic that has been of great relevance and importance in our country, such as armed violence, has been worked on jointly, but as a result of the different contexts in which these have been developed, it has been therefore given a different approach to each of them. It is important to emphasize that violence has today been a recurring feature in the lives of those families that have been removed or violated from their communities, towns, villages, municipalities, and others, and that therefore have been part of the oblivion of the generations that They have been involved as territorial entities, governments and nationals that have been in charge of public policies who are in charge of giving better management to this problem, it should be noted that violence is not only physical, there is social, economic, family violence, sex, among others. In this section we will work with a particular case and it is the case of Camilo and the case of Peñas Coloradas, which was established by its own inhabitants without receiving collaboration or help from the state, but which unfortunately was condemned and censored for collaborating in a way directly and indirectly with a group outside the law, in this case (La Guerrilla), they were also told to market the drug and take advantage of it for their economic development. The stories of violence allow the psychologist to carry out a psychosocial approach, present strategies from the narrative, the subjective, the symbolic and memory, relevant tools to improve traumatic events

Glycemic markers and relation with arterial stiffness in Caucasian subjects of the MARK study

[EN]BACKGROUND: Effect of prediabetes and normal glucose on arterial stiffness remains controversial. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial glucose (PG) and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in Caucasian adults. The secondary aim was to analyse this relationship by glycaemic status. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Primary care. Participants: 2,233 subjects, 35-74 years. Measures: FPG (mg/dL) and HbA1c (%) of all subjects were measured using standard automated enzymatic methods. PG (mg/dL) was self-measured at home two hours after meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for one day using an Accu-chek ® glucometer. CAVI was measured using a VaSera VS-1500® device (Fukuda Denshi), and baPWV was calculated using a validated equation. RESULTS: CAVI and baPWV values were significantly higher in subjects with diabetes mellitus than in glucose normal and prediabetes groups (p<0.001). FPG, PG and HbA1c were positively associated with CAVI and baPWV. The β regression coefficient for: HbA1c was 0.112 (CI 95% 0.068 to 0.155) with CAVI, 0.266 (CI 95% 0.172 to 0.359) with baPWV; for PG was 0.006 (CI 95% 0.004 to 0.009 and for FPG was 0.005 (CI 95% 0.002 to 0.008) with baPWV; and for PG was 0.002 (CI 95% 0.001 to 0.003) and 0.003 (CI 95% 0.002 to 0.004) with CAVI (p<0.01 in all cases). When analysing by hyperglycaemic status, FPG, PG and HbA1c were positively associated with CAVI and baPWV in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: FPG, PG and HbA1c show a positive association with CAVI and baPWV, in Caucasian adults with intermediate cardiovascular risk factors. When analysing by hyperglycaemic status, the association is only maintained in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Qué necesitan los estudiantes de Periodismo para su inserción laboral. Análisis de la demanda del mercado laboral de las empresas de comunicación.

PIMCD nº 176, realizado por el grupo Research and Learning of Media and Communications Management. Investigación y Enseñanza de la Gestión de los Medios y la Comunicación (MediaCom UCM) www.ccinf.es/mediacom/Primera fase de trabajo para fijar descriptores que identifiquen comportamientos formativos de entrada en el mercado laboral. En esta fase se han encontrado 442 oferentes de contratos en prácticas para estudiantes de Periodismo. Los datos obtenidos se articulan de acuerdo a dos subsecciones: sectores empresariales y empresas; a su vez, cada subsector, atendiendo al índice de recepción de alumnos y la descripción cualitativa de los puestos.Depto. de Periodismo y Comunicación GlobalFac. de Ciencias de la InformaciónFALSEsubmitte

KAP1 regulates endogenous retroviruses in adult human cells and contributes to innate immune control

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) have accumulated in vertebrate genomes and contribute to the complexity of gene regulation. KAP1 represses ERVs during development by its recruitment to their repetitive sequences through KRAB zinc-finger proteins (KZNFs), but little is known about the regulation of ERVs in adult tissues. We observed that KAP1 repression of HERVK14C was conserved in differentiated human cells and performed KAP1 knockout to obtain an overview of KAP1 function. Our results show that KAP1 represses ERVs (including HERV-T and HERV-S) and ZNF genes, both of which overlap with KAP1 binding sites and H3K9me3 in multiple cell types. Furthermore, this pathway is functionally conserved in adult human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Cytosine methylation that acts on KAP1 regulated loci is necessary to prevent an interferon response, and KAP1-depletion leads to activation of some interferon-stimulated genes. Finally, loss of KAP1 leads to a decrease in H3K9me3 enrichment at ERVs and ZNF genes and an RNA-sensing response mediated through MAVS signaling. These data indicate that the KAP1-KZNF pathway contributes to genome stability and innate immune control in adult human cells