Comparative study of PCR-sexing procedures using bovine embryos fertilized with sex-sorted spermatozoa

Sex determination in bovine embryos is a useful tool in reproductive biotechnology. This work compares two techniques of embryo sexing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR. Embryos were produced in vitro with sex-sorted sperm and two techniques of DNA lysis were tested (proteinase K versus heat shock). Subsequently, halves of each lysed sample was amplified both by amelogenin and BRY4a/SAT1 primers. Male embryos treated by both digestion methods and amplified by BRY4a/SAT1 gave higher rates of false negatives. Amelogenin amplification failed with embryos previously digested by proteinase K. In contrast, the lysis method allowed obtaining the best accuracy in terms of sex verification when using amelogenin amplification

Assessing Value-based Health Care Delivery for Hemodialysis

Rationale, aims and objectives Disparities in haemodialysis outcomes among centres have been well-documented. Besides, attempts to assess haemodialysis results have been based on non-comprehensive methodologies. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive methodology for assessing haemodialysis centres, based on the value of health care. The value of health care is defined as the patient benefit from a specific medical intervention per monetary unit invested (Value = Patient Benefit/Cost). This study assessed the value of health care and ranked different haemodialysis centres. Method A nephrology quality management group identified the criteria for the assess- ment. An expert group composed of stakeholders (patients, clinicians and managers) agreed on the weighting of each variable, considering values and preferences. Multi-criteria methodology was used to analyse the data. Four criteria and their weights were identified: evidence-based clinical performance measures = 43 points; yearly mortality = 27 points; patient satisfaction = 13 points; and health-related quality of life = 17 points (100-point scale). Evidence-based clinical performance measures included five sub-criteria, with respective weights, including: dialysis adequacy; haemoglobin concentration; mineral and bone disorders; type of vascular access; and hospitalization rate. The patient benefit was determined from co-morbidity–adjusted results and corresponding weights. The cost of each centre was calculated as the average amount expended per patient per year. Results The study was conducted in five centres (1–5). After adjusting for co-morbidity, value of health care was calculated, and the centres were ranked. A multi-way sensitivity analysis that considered different weights (10–60% changes) and costs (changes of 10% in direct and 30% in allocated costs) showed that the methodology was robust. The rankings: 4-5-3-2-1 and 4-3-5-2-1 were observed in 62.21% and 21.55%, respectively, of simula- tions, when weights were varied by 60%. Conclusions Value assessments may integrate divergent stakeholder perceptions, create a context for improvement and aid in policy-making decisions

Modeling and multivariable control of the urban electric vehicle UAL-eCARM

[EN] This work presents the modeling and complete control of the Drive-by-Wire system of an electric urban vehicle. This system includes the steering mechanism, acceleration and brake of the vehicle. The modeling has been performed using low-order transfer functions using “black box” models. In regards to control, all developed controllers are of the PID type in their different configurations. The direct current actuators coupled to the steering and brake are controlled by a cascade control system while the acceleration is controlled by a gain scheduling system. The project source code is freely available on Github. Experimental results demonstrate the validity of the models obtained, as well as the effectiveness of the developed controllers.[ES] Este trabajo presenta el modelado y control completo del sistema Drive-by-Wire de un vehículo urbano eléctrico. Dicho sistema comprende el mecanismo de dirección, la aceleración y el freno del vehículo. El modelado se ha realizado empleando funciones de transferencia de bajo orden haciendo uso de modelos de “caja negra”. En lo referente al control, todos los controladores desarrollados son del tipo PID en sus distintas configuraciones. Los actuadores de corriente continua acoplados a la dirección y freno se controlan mediante un sistema de control en cascada mientras que la aceleración está controlada por un sistema de planificación de ganancias. El código del proyecto se encuentra disponible en la plataforma Github. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran la validez de los modelos obtenidos, así como la eficacia de los controladores desarrollados.Este trabajo fue financiado en parte por el Proyecto de Plan Nacional de I+D+i DPI2017-85007-R del Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad y fondos FEDER.Mañas-Álvarez, FJ.; Blanco-Claraco, JL.; Torres-Moreno, JL.; Giménez-Fernández, A. (2020). Modelado y control multivariable del vehículo urbano eléctrico UAL-eCARM. Revista Iberoamericana de Automática e Informática industrial. 17(2):144-155. https://doi.org/10.4995/riai.2019.12679OJS144155172Amaya-Trinidad, P., Guerrero-Castellanos, J., Muñoz-Hernández, G., Mino-Aguilar, G., Saynes-Torres, J., 2012. Modelado, control y simulación de un vehículo eléctrico. Memorias del Congreso Nacional de Control Automático (October 2012), Cd. del Carmen, Campeche, México.Arahal, M. R., Soria, M. B., Díaz, F. R., 2006. Técnicas de predicción con aplicaciones en Ingeniería. Universidad de Sevilla.Bae, J., Lee, S., Shin, D.-H., Hong, J., Lee, J., Kim, J.-H., et al., 2017. Nonlinear identification of electronic brake pedal behavior using hybrid gmdh and genetic algorithm in brake-by-wire system. Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (12), 1292-1298. https://doi.org/10.5370/JEET.2017.12.3.1292Blanco-Claraco, J. L., López-Martínez, J., Torres-Moreno, J. L., Giménez-Fernández, A., 2015. A low-cost modular platform for heterogeneous data acquisition with accurate interchannel synchronization. Sensors 15 (10), 27374-27392. https://doi.org/10.3390/s151027374Calvillo, C. F., Sanchez-Miralles, A., Villar, J., 2018. Synergies of electric urban transport systems and distributed energy resources in smart cities. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 19 (8), 2445-2453. https://doi.org/10.1109/TITS.2017.2750401De Novellis, L., Sorniotti, A., Gruber, P., Pennycott, A., 2014. Comparison of feedback control techniques for torque-vectoring control of fully electric vehicles. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology 63 (8), 3612-3623. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVT.2014.2305475Doumiati, M., Victorino, A., Charara, A., 2014. Dynamics control of an In-Wheel Electric Vehicle with Steer-by-Wire. 2014 17th IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems, ITSC 2014, 348-353, Qingdao , China. https://doi.org/10.1109/ITSC.2014.6957715Drage, T., Kalinowski, J., Braunl, T., 2014. Integration of Drive-by-Wire with Navigation Control for a Driverless Electric Race Car. IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Magazine 6 (4), 23-33. https://doi.org/10.1109/MITS.2014.2327160Fu, Y., Chai, T., 2012. Robust self-tunning PI decoupling control of uncertain multivariable systems. International Journal of Adaptive Control and Signal Processing 2522619 (26), 316-332. https://doi.org/10.1002/acs.1285Halton, M., Hayes, M. J., Iordanov, P., 2008. State-space analysis for an experimental drive-by-wire vehicle. International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control: IFAC-Aliated Journal 18 (9), 975-992. https://doi.org/10.1002/rnc.1322Hernández, G., Bordons, C., Marcos, D., Montero, C., 2015. Control De Estabilidad Basado En MPC Para Un Vehículo Eléctrico Con Motores En Rueda. XXXVI Jornadas de Automática, Huelva, España.Line, C., Manzie, C., Good, M., 2010. Control of an Electromechanical Brake for Automotive Brake-By-Wire Systems with an Adapted Motion Control Architecture. SAE Technical Paper Series 1 (724).Linfeng, L., Hai,W., Ping, H., Huifang, K., Ming, Y., Canghua, J., Zhihong, M., 2017. Robust chattering-free sliding mode control of electronic throttle systems in drive-by-wire vehicles. In: 2017 36th Chinese Control Conference (CCC). IEEE, pp. 9513-9518, Lianoning, China. https://doi.org/10.23919/ChiCC.2017.8028875Montes, H., Salinas, C., Fernánndez, R., Armada, M., 2017. An experimental platform for autonomous bus development. Applied Sciences 7 (11), 1131. https://doi.org/10.3390/app7111131Ni, J., Hu, J., Xiang, C., 2018. Control-configured-vehicle design and implementation on an x-by-wire electric vehicle. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology 67 (5), 3755-3766. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVT.2018.2805886Ni, J., Hu, J., Xiang, C., 2019. Robust control in diagonal move steer mode and experiment on an x-by-wire ugv. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics 24 (2), 572-584. https://doi.org/10.1109/TMECH.2019.2892489Noroña, M. V., Gómez, M. F., 2019. Desarrollo e innovación de los sistemas mecatrónicos en un automóvil: una revisión. Enfoque UTE 10 (1), 117-127. https://doi.org/10.29019/enfoqueute.v10n1.350Renato, P., Normey-Rico, J. E., Alba, C. B., Valverde, L., 2015. Gestión energética de una Micro Red acoplada a un sistema V2G. In: XXXVI Jornadas de Automática. Bilbao, pp. 2-4.Rodríguez, D., Alfaya, J. A., Bejarano, G., Ortega, M. G., Castaño, F., 2015. Estimación de parámetros de una planta experimental de refrigeración. XXXVI Jornadas de Automática, 951-958.Rubio, R. E., Hernández, S. L., Aracil, S. R., Saltarén, P. R., Moreno, Q. R.,2007. Modelado, identificación y control de actuadores lineales electro-neumáticos. aplicación en plataforma de dos grados de libertad. Revista Iberoamericana de Automática e Informática Industrial RIAI 4 (4), 58-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1697-7912(07)70245-5Scicluna, K., Staines, C. S., Raute, R., 2017. Sensorless position tracking for steer-by-wire applications. In: 2017 19th International Conference on Electrical Drives and Power Electronics (EDPE). IEEE, pp. 341-346, Dubrovnik, Croatia. https://doi.org/10.1109/EDPE.2017.8123227Todeschini, F., Corno, M., Panzani, G., Fiorenti, S., Savaresi, S. M., 2015. Adaptive cascade control of a brake-by-wire actuator for sport motorcycles. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics 20 (3), 1310-1319. https://doi.org/10.1109/TMECH.2014.2341114Villagrá, J., Milanés, V., Pérez, J., de Pedro, T., 2012. Control basado en PID inteligentes: aplicación al control de crucero de un vehículo a bajas velocidades. Revista Iberoamericana de Automática e Informática Industrial 7 (4), 44-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1697-7912(10)70059-5Wang, H., Man, Z., Shen,W., Cao, Z., Zheng, J., Jin, J., Tuan, D. M., 2014. Robust control for steer-by-wire systems with partially known dynamics. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics 10 (4), 2003-2015. https://doi.org/10.1109/TII.2014.2338273Wu, X., Zhang, M., Xu, M., Kakogawa, Y., 2018. Adaptive feedforward control of a steer-by-wire system by online parameter estimator. International Journal of Automotive Technology 19 (1), 159-166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-018-0015-2Xiong, Z., Guo, X., Yang, B., Pei, X., Zhang, J., 2018. Modeling and pressure tracking control of a novel electro-hydraulic braking system. Advances in Mechanical Engineering 10 (3), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/1687814018764153Yang, J., Zeng, Z., Tang, Y., Yan, J., He, H.,Wu, Y., 2015. Load frequency control in isolated micro-grids with electrical vehicles based on multivariable generalized predictive theory. Energies 8 (3), 2145-2164. https://doi.org/10.3390/en8032145Zhang, Z., Zhang, X., Pan, H., Salman,W., Rasim, Y., Liu, X.,Wang, C., Yang, Y., Li, X., 2016. A novel steering system for a space-saving 4ws4wd electric vehicle: design, modeling, and road tests. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 18 (1), 114-127. https://doi.org/10.1109/TITS.2016.2561626Zhao, D., Chu, L., Xu, N., Sun, C., Xu, Y., 2018. Development of a cooperative braking system for front-wheel drive electric vehicles. Energies 11 (2). https://doi.org/10.3390/en11020378Zhu, G., Yang, H., Yu, F., 2019. Controller design for an automobile steerbywire system. In: 2019 IEEE 28th International Symposium on Industrial Electronics (ISIE). IEEE, pp. 1492-1497, Vancouver, Canada. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISIE.2019.878144

Single and low-lying states dominance in two-neutrino double-beta decay

A theoretical analysis of the single-state dominance hypothesis for the two-neutrino double-beta decay rates is performed on the examples of the double-beta decays of 100Mo, 116Cd, and 128Te. We also test the validity of an extended low-lying-state dominance that takes into account the contributions of the low-lying excited states in the intermediate nucleus to the double-beta decay rates. This study has been accomplished for all the double-beta emitters for which we have experimental information on their half-lives. The theoretical framework is a proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation based on a deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock mean field with pairing correlations. Our calculations indicate that there are not clear evidences for single- or low-lying-state dominance in the two-neutrino double-beta decay. Finally, we investigate the single electron energy distributions of the outgoing electrons in the double-beta decay processes with an exact treatment of the energy denominators, which could help to a more comprehensive analysis of NEMO-3 data.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figure

Assessment of genetically modified maize MIR604 for renewal authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐013)

Following the submission of application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐013 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Syngenta Crop Protection NV/SA, the EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the insect‐resistant genetically modified maize MIR604, for food and feed uses, excluding cultivation within the EU. The data received in the context of this renewal application contained post‐market environmental monitoring reports, a systematic search and evaluation of literature, updated bioinformatic analyses, and additional documents or studies performed by or on behalf of the applicant. The GMO Panel assessed these data for possible new hazards, modified exposure or new scientific uncertainties identified during the authorisation period and not previously assessed in the context of the original application. Under the assumption that the DNA sequence of the event in maize MIR604 considered for renewal is identical to the corrected sequence of the originally assessed event, the GMO Panel concludes that there is no evidence in renewal application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐013 for new hazards, modified exposure or scientific uncertainties that would change the conclusions of the original risk assessment on maize MIR604

Assessment of genetically modified maize MON 88017 for renewal authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐014)

Following the submission of application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐014 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Monsanto Company the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the insect‐resistant and herbicide‐tolerant genetically modified maize MON 88017, for food and feed uses, excluding cultivation within the EU. The data received in the context of this renewal application contained post‐market environmental monitoring reports, a systematic search and evaluation of literature, updated bioinformatic analyses, and additional documents or studies performed by or on behalf of the applicant. The GMO Panel assessed these data for possible new hazards, modified exposure or new scientific uncertainties identified during the authorisation period and not previously assessed in the context of the original application. Under the assumption that the DNA sequence of the event in maize MON 88017 considered for renewal is identical to the sequence of the originally assessed event, the GMO Panel concludes that there is no evidence in renewal application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐014 for new hazards, modified exposure or scientific uncertainties that would change the conclusions of the original risk assessment on maize MON 88017

Assessment of genetically modified maize MON 89034 for renewal authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSA-GMO-RX-015)

Following the submission of application EFSA-GMO-RX-015 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Bayer Agriculture BVBA, the EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO Panel) was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the insect-resistant genetically modified maize MON 89034, for food and feed uses, excluding cultivation within the EU. The data received in the context of this renewal application contained post-market environmental monitoring reports, a systematic search and evaluation of literature, updated bioinformatic analyses and additional documents or studies performed by or on behalf of the applicant. The GMO Panel assessed these data for possible new hazards, modified exposure or new scientific uncertainties identified during the authorisation period and not previously assessed in the context of the original application. Under the assumption that the DNA sequence of the event in maize MON 89034 considered for renewal is identical to the sequence of the originally assessed event, the GMO Panel concludes that there is no evidence in renewal application EFSA-GMO-RX-015 for new hazards, modified exposure or scientific uncertainties that would change the conclusions of the original risk assessment on maize MON 89034

The Rise and Fall of "Respectable" Spanish Liberalism, 1808-1923: An Explanatory Framework

The article focuses on the reasons behind both the consolidation of what I have termed “respectable” liberalism between the 1830s and the 1840s and its subsequent decline and fall between 1900 and 1923. In understanding both processes I study the links established between “respectable” liberals and propertied elites, the monarchy, and the Church. In the first phase these links served to consolidate the liberal polity. However, they also meant that many tenets of liberal ideology were compromised. Free elections were undermined by the operation of caciquismo, monarchs established a powerful position, and despite the Church hierarchy working with liberalism, the doctrine espoused by much of the Church was still shaped by the Counter-Reformation. Hence, “respectable” liberalism failed to achieve a popular social base. And the liberal order was increasingly denigrated as part of the corrupt “oligarchy” that ruled Spain. Worse still, between 1916 and 1923 the Church, monarch, and the propertied elite increasingly abandoned the liberal Monarchist Restoration. Hence when General Primo de Rivera launched his coup the rug was pulled from under the liberals’ feet and there was no one to cushion the fall