Measuring consensus in a preference-approval context

We consider measuring the degree of homogeneity for preference-approval profiles which include the approval information for the alternatives as well as the rankings of them. A distance-based approach is followed to measure the disagreement for any given two preference-approvals. Under the condition that a proper metric is used, we propose a measure of consensus which is robust to some extensions of the ordinal framework. This paper also shows that there exists a limit for increasing the homogeneity level in a group of individuals by simply replicating their preference-approvals

Lacasa de alto potencial redox funcional en sangre mediante evolución dirigida método de obtención y sus aplicaciones

La presente invención describe una lacasa de alto potencial redox obtenida mediante evolución molecular dirigida que es activa en condiciones electrofisiológicas, que resiste elevadas concentraciones de haluros, que tiene una actividad significativa a pHs neutros/alcalinos y que es activa en sangre y plasma humano. La presente invención se refiere a la secuencia aminoacídica de dicha lacasa, a la secuencia nucleotídica que codifica para dicha lacasa y células que permiten su obtención. La lacasa de la invención presenta aplicaciones en diversos sectores: nano-biotecnología, biomedicina, procesos de biorremediación, industria papelera y química fina.Peer reviewedConsejop Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasA1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic

Lacasa de alto potencial redox funcional en sangre mediante evolución dirigida método de obtención y sus aplicaciones

La presente invención describe una lacasa de alto potencial redox obtenida mediante evolución molecular dirigida que es activa en condiciones electrofisiológicas, que resiste elevadas concentraciones de haluros, que tiene una actividad significativa a pHs neutros/alcalinos y que es activa en sangre y plasma humano. La presente invención se refiere a la secuencia aminoacídica de dicha lacasa, a la secuencia nucleotídica que codifica para dicha lacasa y células que permiten su obtención. La lacasa de la invención presenta aplicaciones en diversos sectores: nano-biotecnología, biomedicina, procesos de biorremediación, industria papelera y química fina.Peer reviewedConsejop Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasB1 Patente sin examen previ

Liderazgos colaborativos por la inclusión social y educativa en Asperones: dos claves para construir juntos

El presente artículo analiza un par de aspectos de los liderazgos colaborativos construidos por una red de trabajo que lucha contra la situación de pobreza y exclusión extrema que sufre la población del barrio Asperones de Málaga. Un conjunto de, aproximadamente, mil personas, de etnia gitana en su mayoría, que viven en unas condiciones muy precarias y estigmatizadas, pero que luchan contra las pocas posibilidades que tienen de transformar su situación. La red de trabajo está conformada por agentes socioeducativos públicos y privados sin ánimo de lucro. El método de investigación utilizado ha sido el estudio de caso. Las principales técnicas de recogida de datos y fuentes de información han sido: grupos focales y entrevistas, realizadas a miembros de todos los colectivos vinculados (tanto habitantes del barrio de distintas edades como profesionales, estos últimos de distintos planos de responsabilidad). Así como observaciones etnográficas. Aquí se comparten algunos de los resultados y las conclusiones más destacadas, relativas a dos principios de la filosofía que impregna el estilo de liderazgo que han construido.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Aprendiendo desde los márgenes. Learning from the margins (LEMA). Un proyecto de investigación acción con jóvenes en riesgo social.

Esta comunicación presenta la experiencia del Proyecto Europeo titulado "Aprender desde los márgenes" (Learning from the Margins) (LEMA). Este proyecto parte de una preocupación internacional por los desafíos a los que se enfrentan los jóvenes, especialmente aquellos que viven en situaciones desfavorecidas.Se trata de un proceso educativo orientado a que los jóvenes sean reconocidos como protagonistas de sus propias vidas. Es por ello que los socios están formados por 3 instituciones y organizaciones de educación superior y 3 instituciones/ONG que trabajan con jóvenes marginados en tres contextos diferentes: University College Copenhagen y 3B Housing Association en Copenhague, Dinamarca; Universidad de Malmö y Ayuntamiento de Malmö en Suecia; Universidad de Málaga y la ONG Asociación Marroquí en Málaga, España.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Formulation and optimization of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with riolozatrione: a promising nanoformulation with potential anti-herpetic activity

Riolozatrione (RZ) is a diterpenoid compound isolated from a dichloromethane extract of the Jatropha dioica root. This compound has been shown to possess moderate anti-herpetic activity in vitro. However, because of the poor solubility of this compound in aqueous vehicles, generating a stable formulation for potential use in the treatment of infection is challenging. The aim of this work was to optimize and physiochemically characterize Eudragit® L100-55-based polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with RZ (NPR) for in vitro anti-herpetic application. The NPs formulation was initially optimized using the dichloromethane extract of J. dioica, the major component of which was RZ. The optimized NPR formulation was stable, with a size of 263 nm, polydispersity index < 0.2, the zeta potential of –37 mV, and RZ encapsulation efficiency of 89 %. The NPR showed sustained release of RZ for 48 h with release percentages of 95 and 97 % at neutral and slightly acidic pH, respectively. Regarding in vitro anti-herpetic activity, the optimized NPR showed a selectivity index for HSV-1 of ≈16 and for HSV-2 of 13

Genetic variation in a small bivalve along a retreating glacier fjord, King George Island, Antarctica.

Climate change is strongly influencing regions of Antarctica but the consequences on microevolutionary processes have been little studied. Patterns of population genetic diversity were analysed in the Antarctic bivalve Nuculana inaequisculpta (Protobranchia: Nuculanidae) from a fjord with 70 years of documented climate-forced glacier retreat. Thirty-nine individuals from five sites at different distances from the glacier terminus were collected, and the COI gene was sequenced from each individual. No statistically significant genetic differentiation was found between sites nor a significant correlation between the proximity of glaciers and genetic diversity, suggesting a high dispersal capability and therefore, a planktonic larval stage for this species. Nevertheless, we encourage increasing the sample size and number of loci in future studies to confirm our findings

The Viscacha survey - II: Structure of star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds periphery

We provide a homogeneous set of structural parameters of 83 star clusters located at the periphery of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The clusters’ stellar density and surface brightness profiles were built from deep, AO assisted optical images, and uniform analysis techniques. The structural parameters were obtained from King and Elson et al. model fittings. Integrated magnitudes and masses (for a subsample) are also provided. The sample contains mostly low surface brightness clusters with distances between 4.5 and 6.5 kpc and between 1 and 6.5 kpc from the LMC and SMC centres, respectively. We analysed their spatial distribution and structural properties, comparing them with those of inner clusters. Half-light and Jacobi radii were estimated, allowing an evaluation of the Roche volume tidal filling. We found that: (i) for both MCs, the tidal radii are on average larger than those of inner clusters; (ii) the core radii dispersion tends to be greater for LMC clusters located towards the southwest, with position angles of ∼200 degrees and about ∼5 degrees from the LMC centre, i.e., those LMC clusters nearer to the SMC; (iii) the analysis of clusters with ages available revealed that the core radius evolution is similar to the one of inner clusters; (iv) Roche volumes are overfilled for SMC clusters with galactocentric distances closer than 3 kpc.Fil: Santos, Joao F. C.. Universidad de La Serena; Chile. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Maia, Francisco. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Dias, Bruno. Millennium Institute of Astrophysics; Chile. Universidad Andrés Bello; ChileFil: de O. Kerber, Leandro. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; BrasilFil: Piatti, Andres Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bica, Eduardo. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Angelo, Mateus S.. Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnológica de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Minniti, Dante. Universidad Andrés Bello; Chile. Millennium Institute of Astrophysics; Chile. Vatican Observatory; ItaliaFil: Pérez Villegas, Angeles. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Roman Lopes, Alexandre. Universidad de La Serena; ChileFil: Westera, Pieter. Universidad Federal Do Abc; BrasilFil: Fraga, Luciano. Laboratorio Nacional de Astrofísica; BrasilFil: Quint, Bruno. Gemini Observatory; ChileFil: Sanmartim, David. Carnegie Institution of Washington; Chil

A systematic molecular dynamics study of nearest-neighbor effects on base pair and base pair step conformations and fluctuations in B-DNA

It is well recognized that base sequence exerts a significant influence on the properties of DNA and plays a significant role in protein–DNA interactions vital for cellular processes. Understanding and predicting base sequence effects requires an extensive structural and dynamic dataset which is currently unavailable from experiment. A consortium of laboratories was consequently formed to obtain this information using molecular simulations. This article describes results providing information not only on all 10 unique base pair steps, but also on all possible nearest-neighbor effects on these steps. These results are derived from simulations of 50–100 ns on 39 different DNA oligomers in explicit solvent and using a physiological salt concentration. We demonstrate that the simulations are converged in terms of helical and backbone parameters. The results show that nearest-neighbor effects on base pair steps are very significant, implying that dinucleotide models are insufficient for predicting sequence-dependent behavior. Flanking base sequences can notably lead to base pair step parameters in dynamic equilibrium between two conformational sub-states. Although this study only provides limited data on next-nearest-neighbor effects, we suggest that such effects should be analyzed before attempting to predict the sequence-dependent behavior of DNA

Deepint.net: A rapid deployment platform for smart territories

This paper presents an efficient cyberphysical platform for the smart management of smart territories. It is efficient because it facilitates the implementation of data acquisition and data management methods, as well as data representation and dashboard configuration. The platform allows for the use of any type of data source, ranging from the measurements of a multi-functional IoT sensing devices to relational and non-relational databases. It is also smart because it incorporates a complete artificial intelligence suit for data analysis; it includes techniques for data classification, clustering, forecasting, optimization, visualization, etc. It is also compatible with the edge computing concept, allowing for the distribution of intelligence and the use of intelligent sensors. The concept of smart cities is evolving and adapting to new applications; the trend to create intelligent neighbourhoods, districts or territories is becoming increasingly popular, as opposed to the previous approach of managing an entire megacity. In this paper, the platform is presented, and its architecture and functionalities are described. Moreover, its operation has been validated in a case study where the bike renting service of Paris—Vélib’ Métropole has been managed. This platform could enable smart territories to develop adapted knowledge management systems, adapt them to new requirements and to use multiple types of data, and execute efficient computational and artificial intelligence algorithms. The platform optimizes the decisions taken by human experts through explainable artificial intelligence models that obtain data from IoT sensors, databases, the Internet, etc. The global intelligence of the platform could potentially coordinate its decision-making processes with intelligent nodes installed in the edge, which would use the most advanced data processing techniques.This work has been partially supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg Spain-Portugal V-A Program (POCTEP) under grant 0677_DISRUPTIVE_2_E, the project My-TRAC: My TRAvel Companion (H2020-S2RJU-2017), the project LAPASSION, CITIES (CYTED 518RT0558) and the company DCSC. Pablo Chamoso’s research work has been funded through the Santander Iberoamerican Research Grants, call 2020/2021, under the direction of Paulo Novais