Optimizing Phase Settings of High-Frequency Voltage Regulators for Power Delivery Applications

Every new computer server introduced to the market aims at delivering the best tradeoff between performance and power consumption. This goal is crucial in the case of servers for cloud computing hardware infrastructure. In this context, power delivery (PD) experts are adopting higher frequency switching voltage regulators (VR) to reduce platform’s cost as well as total cost of ownership (TCO). Because of this fact, the real estate of components, such as voltage regulators and output inductors, is shrinking as VR frequency increases. As a consequence, achieving the best performance of the VR implies looking into phase shedding schemes, as well as EM coupled inductor design, among other techniques, to mitigate power losses. This paper focuses on the study of the best angle arrangement possible for high frequency VR applications, by exploring angle settings under light load scenarios, aiming to minimize VR’s power loss and output’s voltage ripple

Gaming passion contributes to the definition and identification of problematic gaming

Even if for most people playing video games is a healthy leisure activity, a minority of vulnerable users present an excessive use associated to negative consequences (e.g., psychosocial maladjustment, sleep interference) and functional impairment. The current study first aims to identify psychological factors that contribute to discriminate highly involved (but healthy) gamers from problematic gamers. For that purpose, we used a cluster analysis approach to identify different groups of gamers based on their profiles of passion towards gaming (using the Dualistic Model of Passion). Another objective of the present study is to explore, using supervised machine-learning, how gaming disorder symptoms, assessed within the substance use disorder framework (e.g., tolerance, withdrawal), might be linked to harmonious and/or an obsessive passion for gaming. Three distinct clusters of gamers were identified based on their passion profiles, including risky gamers, engaged gamers, and casual gamers. Supervised machine-learning algorithms identified that specific gaming disorder symptoms (salience, mood modification, tolerance, low level of conflict) were predominantly related to harmonious passion, whereas others (withdrawal, high level of conflict, relapse) were more directly related to obsessive passion. Our results support the relevance of person-centered approaches to the treatment of problematic gaming

Liquid biopsy approach to pancreatic cancer

Supported by Junta de Andalucia, No. PC-0498-2017 and No. PC-0549-2017.Pancreatic cancer (PC) continues to pose a major clinical challenge. There has been little improvement in patient survival over the past few decades, and it is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer mortality by 2030. The dismal 5-year survival rate of less than 10% after the diagnosis is attributable to the lack of early symptoms, the absence of specific biomarkers for an early diagnosis, and the inadequacy of available chemotherapies. Most patients are diagnosed when the disease has already metastasized and cannot be treated. Cancer interception is vital, actively intervening in the malignization process before the development of a full-blown advanced tumor. An early diagnosis of PC has a dramatic impact on the survival of patients, and improved techniques are urgently needed to detect and evaluate this disease at an early stage. It is difficult to obtain tissue biopsies from the pancreas due to its anatomical position; however, liquid biopsies are readily available and can provide useful information for the diagnosis, prognosis, stratification, and follow-up of patients with PC and for the design of individually tailored treatments. The aim of this review was to provide an update of the latest advances in knowledge on the application of carbohydrates, proteins, cell-free nucleic acids, circulating tumor cells, metabolome compounds, exosomes, and platelets in blood as potential biomarkers for PC, focusing on their clinical relevance and potential for improving patient outcomes.Junta de Andaluci

EVALUACIÓN DE LA DINÁMICA FORESTAL EN BOSQUES PREMONTANOS DE SATIPO, PERÚ

The study of forestry dynamics helps us to see the trends of forests in the future. In this research, forest dynamics was evaluated based on mortality and recruitment in two permanent plots located in premontane forests between 800 and 1500 masl in the province of Satipo, in the department of Junín, in the Central Forest of Peru. The Santa Teresa Primary Forest Plot (P-SPI) is located in a primary forest and recorded an initial population of 698 tree individuals, it was remeasured after an intercensal period of 5 years, registering 80 dead individuals, 77 recruits, with a final population of 695 trees and presented an annual mortality rate of 2,43% and an annual recruitment rate of 2,35%. While the Santa Teresa Late Secondary Forest Plot (P-SST) located in a late secondary forest had an initial population of 832 trees, it was remeasured after an intercensal period of 8 years, registering 152 dead individuals, 101 recruits and a final population of 781 trees, obtaining an annual mortality rate of 2,52% and an annual recruitment rate of 1,73%. The results indicate that the P-SPI forest is in dynamic equilibrium, while P-SST shows a moderate decrease in its tree density. The Euphorbiaceae, Urticaceae, Burseraceae and Moraceae families presented the highest levels of recruitment between both forests. While, the forest species Senefeldera inclinata, Vochysia venulosa, Alchornea glandulosa, Clarisia biflora and Inga ruiziana a due to their recruitment and reported uses should be considered in ecological restoration projects in the study areaEl estudio de la dinámica forestal nos ayuda a ver las tendencias de los bosques hacia el futuro. En esta investigación se evaluó la dinámica forestal a partir de la mortalidad y el reclutamiento en dos parcelas permanentes ubicadas en bosques premontanos entre los 800 y 1500 msnm en la provincia de Satipo, en el departamento de Junín, en la Selva Central del Perú. La parcela Santa Teresa Bosque Primario Intervenido (P-SPI) localizada en un bosque primario registró una población inicial de 698 individuos arbóreos, fue remedida después de un periodo intercensal de 5 años, registrando 80 individuos muertos, 77 reclutas, con una población final de 695 árboles y presentó una tasa anual de mortalidad de 2,43% y una tasa anual de reclutamiento de 2,35%. Mientras que, la parcela Santa Teresa Bosque Secundario Tardío (P-SST) ubicada en un bosque secundario tardío presentó una población inicial de 832 árboles, fue remedida después de un periodo intercensal de 8 años, registrando 152 individuos muertos, 101 reclutas y una población final de 781 árboles, obteniendo una tasa anual de mortalidad de 2,52% y una tasa anual de reclutamiento de 1,73%. Los resultados indican que el bosque P-SPI se encuentra en equilibrio dinámico, mientras que P-SST presenta un moderado decrecimiento en su densidad arbórea. Las familias Euphorbiaceae, Urticaceae, Burseraceae y Moraceae presentaron los mayores niveles de reclutamiento entre ambos bosques. Mientras que, las especies forestales Senefeldera inclinata, Vochysia venulosa, Alchornea glandulosa, Clarisia biflora e Inga ruiziana por su reclutamiento y usos reportados deben ser consideradas en proyectos de restauración ecológica en el ámbito de estudio

La influencia de la responsabilidad social empresarial en el comportamiento de compra de las consumidoras de café dentro del rango etario de 25 a 30 años que residen en Lima Metropolitana

Esta tesis es una ampliación del alcance de la investigación doctoral del profesor Percy Samoel Marquina Feldman, ―La influencia de la Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (RSE) en el comportamiento de compra de los consumidores peruanos‖ (CENTRUM, 2009). Esta tesis de maestría busca validar si la relación identificada originalmente por el profesor Marquina también se presenta en la categoría de consumo de café por mujeres de Lima Metropolitana dentro del rango etario de 25 a 30 años, tal como el autor lo sugiere en sus recomendaciones finales. Con la autorización del autor, se ha utilizado partes de su tesis, particularmente en las que se refiere a la revisión de la literatura y el método. Si bien la responsabilidad social empresarial (RSE) ha venido ganando relevancia a nivel internacional, en el Perú solo existe un estudio empírico que permite conocer su impacto en el consumidor, como es el caso del estudio mencionado anteriormente. Esta investigación busca determinar la influencia que la RSE tiene en el comportamiento de compra de café de las mujeres de 25 a 30 años de edad, a nivel Lima Metropolitana. Se desarrolló un experimento bajo la metodología de los modelos de elección discreta con el objetivo de poder cuantificar la intención de compra y la disposición a pagar por las acciones de responsabilidad social desarrolladas por las empresas. El experimento se llevó a cabo utilizando una muestra aleatoria estratificada de 132 consumidoras limeñas de café dentro del rango etario consignado anteriormente. La investigación brinda evidencia empírica de la relación positiva existente entre la RSE y el comportamiento de compra de la muestra. Los resultados del estudio indican que el efecto de las competencias corporativas en su conjunto es superior al de las RSE.This thesis is an extension of Professor Percy Samoel Marquina Feldman doctoral dissertation scope, *Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Influence in the Peruvian consumers purchasing behavior* (CENTRUM, 2009). The purpose of this Master's dissertation is to validate whether the relationship originally identified by Professor Marquina appears in the category of female coffee drinkers in Lima between the ages of 25 to 30 years, as suggested by the author in the final recommendations. Parts of his dissertation were employed with author's consent, mainly the review of literature and the method. While CSR has gained international relevance, in Peru, there is only an empirical study that reveals its impact on the consumer, as in the abovementioned study. The purpose is to determine the influence that CSR has on coffee purchase behavior of women between 25 and 30 years old in Lima. The experiment was developed under the Methodology of Discrete Choice Models in order to quantify the purchase intention and willingness to pay for social responsibility actions developed by companies. It was carried out by using a stratified random sample of 132 coffee consumers in Lima within the age range above assigned. The research provides empirical evidence of the positive relationship between CSR and the sample purchase behavior. The results show that the effect of the Corporate Competencies as a whole is greater than the CSR.Tesi

Biomarkers responses in muscle of Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) from a heavy metals and PAHs polluted estuary.

The biochemical responses in muscle, such as the enzymatic activities of acetylcholinesterase, lactate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase, were studied in sole (Solea senegalensis) collected in Huelva estuary (SW Spain), in the vicinity of a petrochemical and mining industry. The sampling sites showed different type and degree of pollution. The results demonstrated significant differences in muscle activities of AChE and IDH in Odiel and Tinto Rivers compared to control fish. LDH activity did not show any difference between sampling sites. Significant correlations were established between some biomarkers and heavy metals: AChE was correlated with Pb, Cd and Cu concentrations in water; IDH activity was correlated with Cd and Cu concentrations in water and As, Pb and Cd concentrations in sediments; LDH activity was correlated with As and Zn concentration in water and Cd concentration in sediment. Only one correlation was established between the biomarkers analysed and the concentrations of PAHs: benzo(b)fluoranthene concentration in sediment and IDH

EROD activity and cytochrome P4501A induction in liver and gills of Senegal sole Solea senegalensis from a polluted Huelva Estuary (SW Spain).

EROD activity and induction cytochrome P4501A in liver and gills of Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis, from a heavy metal and PAH polluted estuary, was studied. Liver and gill CYP1A catalytic activity was assessed at the enzyme activity level-measured as 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and cellular localization of CYP1A in the liver was studied using immunohistochemistry. Liver EROD was correlated with phenanthrene-type metabolites in liver and copper concentrations in water. Strong CYP1A occurrence was observed in acinar pancreatic cells, pancreatic duct epithelium and vascular system endothelium and negative/rare induction were observed in hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelium. In gills, EROD activity showed a significant correlation with different fractions of heavy metals in sediment but no correlation was observed between EROD activity and PAHs. Strongly positive CYP1A associated staining of the vascular system endothelia and primary filament cells and a moderate staining of pillar cells in gills were observed. The results substantiated the utility of EROD activity and CYP1A induction measurement as biomarkers for use by aquatic toxicologists and indicate that catalytic assays and immunohistochemical assays appear to be sensitive to different kinds of pollutants being the use of both methods recommended for monitoring programs

Functional characterization of the human mariner transposon Hsmar2

DNA transposons are mobile elements with the ability to mobilize and transport genetic information between different chromosomal loci. Unfortunately, most transposons copies are currently inactivated, little is known about mariner elements in humans despite their role in the evolution of the human genome, even though the Hsmar2 transposon is associated to hotspots for homologous recombination involved in human genetic disorders as Charcot-Marie-Tooth, Prader-Willi/Angelman, and Williams syndromes. This manuscript describes the functional characterization of the human HSMAR2 transposase generated from fossil sequences and shows that the native HSMAR2 is active in human cells, but also in bacteria, with an efficiency similar to other mariner elements. We observe that the sub-cellular localization of HSMAR2 is dependent on the host cell type, and is cytotoxic when overexpressed in HeLa cells. Finally, we also demonstrate that the binding of HSMAR2 to its own ITRs is specific, and that the excision reaction leaves non-canonical footprints both in bacteria and eukaryotic cells

Biochemical effects and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) from a Huelva estuary (SW Spain).

Relations between several stress oxidative biomarkers and aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations have been studied in wild sole, Solea senegalensis collected in the vicinity of a petrochemical industry. Antioxidant enzyme activities in eco-toxicological studies constitute excellent markers for exposure to a large variety of pollutants. The 16 PAHs in sediment as well as oxidative damage (LPO), activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and PAHs type metabolites in sole liver were analysed. Significant correlations (p<0.05) were established between some biomarkers as GST, GPx and CAT and PAHs metabolites in liver (naphthalene, pyrene and phenanthrene) and PAHs concentrations in sediments (fluoranthene, acenaphthene, anthracene and chrysene). PAHs accumulated in the sediment and organisms are inducers of antioxidant defences. GST, GPx and CAT were robust biomarkers showing correlations with both PAHs in sediments and liver PAH metabolites showing different responses to low and high molecular weight PAHs