Democracy and Inquiry in the Post-Truth Era: A pragmatist Solution

Post-truth has become a commonplace strategy. No longer are objective facts viewed as having evidentiary value; scientific knowledge is on a par with emotions or personal beliefs. We intend to show that in the context of post-truth, those proffering and receiving an assertion do not care about the truth-value of the assertion or about the best way to gather evidence concerning it. Such attitudes raise several questions about how relativism can be a corrupting influence in contemporary democracies. We will analyse Steve Fuller’s use of the term «post-truth» – especially, the political connotations about epistemic democracy that he highlights. Instead, we offer a pragmatist defence of the truth and an alternative meaning of epistemic democracy

Relaxin-3 projection on serotonergic centers in the rat brain

Treball Final de Màster Universitari en Investigació en Cervell i Conducta (Pla de 2021). SBT024. Curs: 2021/2022The modulation of cognitive and emotional systems depends on ascending subcortical connections on telencephalic structures including projections arising from catecholaminergic, serotoninergic and peptidergic centers. Relaxin-3 (RLN3) is a neuropeptide that is mainly produced in the nucleus incertus (NI) of the pontine tegmentum. Although the raphe nuclei, the major centers containing serotonin (5HT) neurons, receive fibers arising from the NI, the interactions of RLN3 with the 5HT system have only been studied in postnatal development. We hypothesize that the 5HT system interacts with the relaxinergic system. We aim to understand the anatomical substrate of RLN3 projection on the raphe nuclei in rats. For this purpose, quadruple immunofluorescence has been performed to analyze the anatomical relationships of RLN3, vesicular glutamate transporter (vGlut2), vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT) and 5HT. In this study, we have quantified the number of possible RLN3 contacts on 5HT-positive structures and the number of these contacts associated with GABAergic and glutamatergic projections. Preliminary results point to the effective occurrence of a high proportion of RLN3 fibers containing vGlut2 markers and contacting with 5HT-positive cells, a smaller proportion being associated with vGAT. Moreover, the majority of 5HT neurons are also vGluT2-positive. Preliminary data indicate, therefore, a relevant role of the RLN3 system in the functionality of 5HT systems.La modulació dels sistemes cognitius i emocionals depenen de les connexions subcorticals ascendents a les estructures telencefàliques, incloses les projeccions que sorgeixen dels centres catecolaminèrgics, serotoninèrgics i peptidèrgics. La relaxina-3 (RLN3) és un neuropèptid que es produeix principalment al nucli incertus (NI) del tegment pontí. Tot i que els nuclis del rafe, els principals centres que contenen neurones de serotonina (5HT), reben fibres procedents del NI, les interaccions de la RLN3 amb el sistema 5HT només s'han estudiat en el desenvolupament postnatal. La nostra hipòtesi és que el sistema 5HT interactua amb el sistema relaxinèrgic. El nostre objectiu és comprendre el substrat anatòmic de la projecció de RLN3 sobre els nuclis del rafe en rates. Per això, s'ha realitzat una immunofluorescència quàdruple per analitzar les relacions anatòmiques de RLN3, del transportador vesicular de glutamat (vGlut2), del transportador vesicular de GABA (vGAT) i de 5HT. En aquest estudi hem quantificat el nombre de possibles contactes de RLN3 en estructures positives a la 5HT i el nombre d'aquests contactes associats a projeccions GABAèrgiques i glutamatèrgiques. Els resultats preliminars apunten a l'ocurrència efectiva d'una alta proporció de fibres RLN3 que contenen marcadors vGlut2 i que contacten amb cèl·lules 5HT-positives, i una proporció menor és associada a vGAT. A més, la majoria de les neurones 5HT són també vGluT2-positives. Les dades preliminars indiquen, per tant, un paper rellevant del sistema RLN3 a la funcionalitat dels sistemes 5HT.La modulación de los sistemas cognitivos y emocionales depende de las conexiones subcorticales ascendentes en las estructuras telencefálicas, incluidas las proyecciones que surgen de los centros catecolaminérgicos, serotoninérgicos y peptidérgicos. La relaxina-3 (RLN3) es un neuropéptido que se produce principalmente en el núcleo incertus (NI) del tegmento pontino. Aunque los núcleos del rafe, los principales centros que contienen neuronas de serotonina (5HT), reciben fibras procedentes del NI, las interacciones de la RLN3 con el sistema 5HT sólo se han estudiado en el desarrollo postnatal. Nuestra hipótesis es que el sistema 5HT interactúa con el sistema relaxinérgico. Nuestro objetivo es comprender el sustrato anatómico de la proyección de RLN3 sobre los núcleos del rafe en ratas. Para ello, se ha realizado una inmunofluorescencia cuádruple para analizar las relaciones anatómicas de RLN3, del transportador vesicular de glutamato (vGlut2), del transportador vesicular de GABA (vGAT) y de 5HT. En este estudio, hemos cuantificado el número de posibles contactos de RLN3 en estructuras positivas a la 5HT y el número de estos contactos asociados a proyecciones GABAérgicas y glutamatérgicas. Los resultados preliminares apuntan a la ocurrencia efectiva de una alta proporción de fibras RLN3 que contienen marcadores vGlut2 y que contactan con células 5HT-positivas, estando una proporción menor asociada a vGAT. Además, la mayoría de las neuronas 5HT son también vGluT2-positivas. Los datos preliminares indican, por tanto, un papel relevante del sistema RLN3 en la funcionalidad de los sistemas 5HT

Distributed Ledger Technologies for Managing Heterogenous Computing and Sensing Systems at the Edge

The increased popularity of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, ranging from simple sensors to powerful embedded computers, has created the need for solutions capable of processing and storing information near those assets. Edge Computing (EC) has become a staple architecture when designing solutions for IoT, as it optimizes the workload and capacity of systems dependent of the Cloud, by placing the required computing power near to where the information is being produced and consumed. An issue with these solutions, is that reaching consensus regarding the state of the network becomes more challenging as they scale in size. Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) can be described as a network of distributed databases that incorporate cryptography and algorithms to reach consensus among the participants. DLT has gained traction over the past years, particularly due to the popularity of Blockchain, the most well-known type of DLT implementation. In addition to the capability of reaching consensus, another key concept that brings EC and DLT together, is the reliability and trust that the latter offers through transparent and traceable transactions. In this thesis, we present the design and development of a proof-of-concept system that uses DLT Smart Contracts (SC) as the core for efficiently selecting Edge Nodes for offloading services. We present the experiments conducted to demonstrate the efficacy of the system and our conclusions regarding the usage of Hyperledger Fabric for managing systems at the edge

Determining the accuracy in image supervised classification problems

A large number of accuracy measures for crisp supervised classification have been developed in supervised image classification literature. Overall accuracy, Kappa index, Kappa location, Kappa histo and user accuracy are some well-known examples. In this work, we will extend and analyze some of these measures in a fuzzy framework to be able to measure the goodness of a given classifier in a supervised fuzzy classification system with fuzzy reference data. In addition with this, the measures here defined also take into account the preferences of the decision maker in order to differentiate some errors that must not be considered equal in the classification process

Comparison of Kato-Katz thick smear, Mini-FLOTAC, and Flukefinder for the detection and quantification of Fasciola hepatica eggs in artificially spiked human stool

We compared the diagnostic performance of the standard method (Kato-Katz) with two recently developed methods (Mini-FLOTAC and Flukefinder) for the detection and quantification of Fasciola hepatica eggs in human stool. Uninfected human stool samples were artificially spiked with F. hepatica eggs to reach final concentrations of 14, 28, 41, or 96 eggs per gram of stool (epg). Only Flukefinder showed 100% sensitivity in all but the samples with the lowest concentration of eggs (14 epg), in which it had a sensitivity of 60%. Each of the methods underestimated the true fecal egg counts (FECs), Flukefinder resulting in the most biased egg counts (egg counts 0.18 times lower than the expected FECs). Only the Flukefinder resulted in more precise results (coefficient of variance < 30%) from FECs of 96 epg onward. The outcome of this study indicates that the Flukefinder is a useful alternative diagnostic method for human fascioliasis in stool

Incidencia lesional en el fútbol. Primera división. Temporada 1999-2000

El fútbol constituye en nuestro país, al igual que en otros Estados de nuestro entorno, un fenómeno que trasciende de lo meramente deportivo para convertirse en un referente social que despierta pasiones y que tiene su consiguiente reflejo en los medios de comunicación social. No es pues de extrañar que de forma diaria la prensa deportiva de ámbito nacional proporcione información constante sobre la materia, incluyendo lo concerniente a las lesiones que aquejan a los jugadores considerándolo hecho noticiable en la medida que ello pueda afectar a las expectativas de los diferentes equipos. Dicha información, debidamente recogida, sistematizada y analizada, es susceptible de proporcionar valiosos datos sobre la incidencia lesional en esta modalidad deportiva. Éste es precisamente el objetivo de nuestro estudio, sin otra pretensión que la de proporcionar unas pautas a tomar en consideración por los profesionales cuyo esfuerzo se centre en la optimización del rendimiento, en la planificación de la temporada, en el establecimiento de programas de prevención y, en definitiva, en la minimización del riesgo lesional

Diatomite releases silica during spirit filtration

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether diatomite is an inert filter aid during spirit filtration. Surely, any compound with a negative effect on the spirit composition or the consumer’s health could be dissolved. In this study different diatomites were treated with 36% vol. ethanol/water mixtures and the amounts and structures of the extracted compounds were determined. Furthermore, Brandy de Jerez was diatomite- and membrane-filtered at different temperatures and the silicon content was analysed. It was found that up to 0.36% by weight of diatomite dissolved in the aqueous ethanol and amorphous silica, in the form of hollow spherical microparticles, was the most abundant component. Silicon concentrations in Brandy de Jerez increased by up to 163.0% after contact with diatomite and these changes were more marked for calcined diatomite. In contrast, reductions of more than 30% in silicon concentrations were achieved after membrane filtration at low temperatures

Formation of siliceous sediments in brandy after diatomite filtration

Brandy is quite a stable spirit but sometimes light sediment appears. This sediment was separated and analysed by IR and SEM-EDX. It was revealed that the sediment is composed mostly of silica and residual organic matter. Silica was present as an amorphous phase and as microparticles. In an attempt to reproduce the formation of the sediment, a diatomite extract was prepared with an ethanol/water mixture (36% vol.) and a calcined diatomite similar to that used in brandy filtration. This extract was added to unfiltered brandy in different amounts. After 1 month, the Si concentration decreased in all samples and sediments with similar compositions and features to those found in the unstable brandy appeared. The amounts of sediment obtained were directly related to the decrease in Si concentration in solution. Consequently, it can be concluded that siliceous sediment in brandy originates from Si released during diatomite filtration

The chalcolithic settlement of Parque de Miraflores (Sevilla): preliminary results

En este artículo queremos avanzar resultados obtenidos en la intervención puntual realizada en el asentamiento calco lítico del Parque de Miraflores. La intervención consistió en la delimitación del asentamiento y en la excavación de dos estructuras siliformes con diversos procesos de colmatación bien definidos. Las dataciones por AMS obtenidas estratigráficamente aportan una amplitud cronológica para el asentamiento desde el 2937 al 2576 cal BC.In this paper we want to present some of the results obtained in the archaelogical works realised in the chalcolithic settlement of El Parque de Miraflores (Sevilla, Spain). These works consisted on the complete delimitation of the settlement and the excavation of two siloshape estructures in which different well-defined depositional processes were documented. The stratified AMS datings give a cronological range for the settlement from 2937 to 2576 cal BC