Airfoil Optimisation with a Genetic Algorithm

In this Master Thesis, an airfoil optimisation using a Genetic Algorithm is developed. This project has been proposed by myself and done with the guidance and supervision of professor Manel Soria. The main idea of the project is to develop from scratch an algorithm capable of finding the optimal airfoil for specific flow conditions, such as the angle of attack, the Reynolds number, and the Mach number. The objective is to create a useful tool for aerospace engineering students so they can use it on their projects and designs during the college years. The work has a first theoretical part about Genetic Algorithms, in which the basic concepts needed to understand the current project are explained. Then, the implementation of the algorithm is fully explained and all the intern processes of the genetic algorithm can be consulted. Several validations of the code have also been made. The Genetic Algorithm created uses crossovers and mutations. The airfoil parametrisation used has been the PARSEC parametrisation and the computation of the aerodynamic coefficients is done with XFOIL. The whole code is written in C language and the analysis and graphs of the results are done with MATLAB and XFLR5. Finally, the algorithm is tested with two real design cases, an airfoil for a heavy lifter aircraft that participated in the Air Cargo Challenge 2017 in Stuttgart, and an airfoil for a glider that flew in the Paper Air Challenge 2015 in ESEIAAT, Terrasa. The results and improvements offered by the algorithm are compared with the results that the designers of these aircraft obtained manually during the design process

Inhibidores de la proproteína convertasa subtilisina/kexina tipo 9 (iPCSK9) en la prevención secundaria de episodios vasculares en pacientes con ictus isquémico: documento de consenso y aplicaciones prácticas

Practice guideline[Abstract] Introduction: Patients with history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack present considerable risk of future vascular events. Reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreases the incidence of new vascular events, although in a substantial number of patients, the currently available lipid-lowering therapies fail to achieve the therapeutic goals recommended in clinical guidelines. The aim of this consensus statement is to provide updated information on the role of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors alirocumab and evolocumab in the secondary prevention of vascular events in patients with history of ischaemic stroke. Methods: A literature review was performed to identify the main evidence on the use of PCSK9 inhibitors in these patients and the recommended therapeutic targets of LDL cholesterol. The results were discussed in 2 consensus meetings that constituted the basis for the drafting of the document. Conclusions: PCSK9 inhibitors are effective in reducing vascular risk in secondary prevention; evolocumab specifically has achieved this reduction in patients with history of ischaemic stroke. Moreover, both alirocumab and evolocumab present good safety profiles, even in patients achieving LDL cholesterol levels <20 mg/dL, and no signs of cognitive impairment have been observed in patients treated with evolocumab who achieved very low levels of LDL cholesterol. In the light of this evidence, we provide practical recommendations about the use of PCSK9 inhibitors in secondary prevention of vascular events in patients with history of ischaemic stroke and follow-up of these patients.[Resumen] Introducción. Los pacientes, tras un ictus o un ataque isquémico transitorio, presentan un riesgo muy elevado de sufrir nuevos episodios vasculares. La reducción del nivel de colesterol unido a lipoproteínas de baja densidad (cLDL) reduce la incidencia de nuevos episodios, si bien una proporción importante de pacientes no alcanza los objetivos terapéuticos recomendados con los tratamientos hipolipemiantes actuales. El objetivo de este documento de consenso es actualizar el papel de los inhibidores de la proproteína convertasa subtilisina/kexina tipo 9 (iPCSK9; alirocumab y evolocumab) en la prevención secundaria de episodios vasculares en pacientes con ictus isquémico previo. Métodos. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica para identificar las principales evidencias sobre el uso de iPCSK9 en estos pacientes y los objetivos terapéuticos recomendados de cLDL. Los resultados se discutieron en 2 reuniones de consenso, que constituyeron la base para la elaboración del documento. Conclusiones. Los iPSCSK9 son eficaces en la reducción del riesgo vascular en prevención secundaria y, específicamente, evolocumab ha demostrado esta reducción en pacientes con ictus isquémico previo. Ambos fármacos han demostrado un buen perfil de seguridad, incluso en pacientes que alcanzaron un nivel de cLDL <20 mg/dL. En este sentido, en el subestudio de episodios neurocognitivos con evolocumab no se observó ninguna señal de empeoramiento de la función cognitiva en pacientes con nivel muy bajo de cLDL. Con base en estas evidencias, en el documento se presentan recomendaciones prácticas sobre el uso de iPCSK9 para la prevención secundaria y seguimiento de episodios vasculares en pacientes con ictus isquémico previo

Blood Biomarker Panels for the Early Prediction of Stroke‐Associated Complications

Background Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are potentially life-threatening complications in patients experiencing stroke during hospitalization. We aimed to test whether blood biomarker panels might predict these complications early after admission. Methods and Results Nine hundred thirty-eight patients experiencing ischemic stroke were prospectively recruited in the Stroke-Chip study. Post-stroke complications during hospitalization were retrospectively evaluated. Blood samples were drawn within 6 hours after stroke onset, and 14 biomarkers were analyzed by immunoassays. Biomarker values were normalized using log-transformation and Z score. PanelomiX algorithm was used to select panels with the best accuracy for predicting ADHF and RTI. Logistic regression models were constructed with the clinical variables and the biomarker panels. The additional predictive value of the panels compared with the clinical model alone was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves. An internal validation through a 10-fold cross-validation with 3 repeats was performed. ADHF and RTI occurred in 19 (2%) and 86 (9.1%) cases, respectively. Three-biomarker panels were developed as predictors: vascular adhesion protein-1 >5.67, NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) >4.98 and d-dimer >5.38 (sensitivity, 89.5%; specificity, 71.7%) for ADHF; and interleukin-6 >3.97, von Willebrand factor >3.67, and d-dimer >4.58 (sensitivity, 82.6%; specificity, 59.8%) for RTI. Both panels independently predicted stroke complications (panel for ADHF: odds ratio [OR] [95% CI], 10.1 [3-52.2]; panel for RTI: OR, 3.73 [1.95-7.14]) after adjustment by clinical confounders. The addition of the panel to clinical predictors significantly improved areas under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curves in both cases. Conclusions Blood biomarkers could be useful for the early prediction of ADHF and RTI. Future studies should assess the usefulness of these panels in front of patients experiencing stroke with respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea

Legislación y paisaje. Un debate abierto en México

282 páginas.El libro que se vierte en las siguientes páginas supone un posible punto de conexión entre el mundo de los juristas y el de los legisladores que construyen las leyes con el de los expertos y estudiosos del paisaje. Se pretende que mediante la revisión de las contribuciones que más adelante se reseñan, el lector encuentre la oportunidad de atisbar las posibilidades y limitaciones presentes en esta discusión

Safety and efficacy of ApTOLL in patients with ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular treatment: a phase 1/2 randomized clinical trial

Clinical trial[Abstract] Importance: ApTOLL is a TLR4 antagonist with proven preclinical neuroprotective effect and a safe profile in healthy volunteers. Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of ApTOLL in combination with endovascular treatment (EVT) for patients with ischemic stroke. Design, setting, and participants: This phase 1b/2a, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted at 15 sites in Spain and France from 2020 to 2022. Participants included patients aged 18 to 90 years who had ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion and were seen within 6 hours after stroke onset; other criteria were an Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score of 6 to 10, estimated infarct core volume on baseline computed tomography perfusion of 5 to 70 mL, and the intention to undergo EVT. During the study period, 4174 patients underwent EVT. Interventions: In phase 1b, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2 mg/kg of ApTOLL or placebo; in phase 2a, 0.05 or 0.2 mg/kg of ApTOLL or placebo; and in both phases, treatment with EVT and intravenous thrombolysis if indicated. Main outcomes and measures: The primary end point was the safety of ApTOLL based on death, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), malignant stroke, and recurrent stroke. Secondary efficacy end points included final infarct volume (via MRI at 72 hours), NIHSS score at 72 hours, and disability at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score). Results: In phase Ib, 32 patients were allocated evenly to the 4 dose groups. After phase 1b was completed with no safety concerns, 2 doses were selected for phase 2a; these 119 patients were randomized to receive ApTOLL, 0.05 mg/kg (n = 36); ApTOLL, 0.2 mg/kg (n = 36), or placebo (n = 47) in a 1:1:√2 ratio. The pooled population of 139 patients had a mean (SD) age of 70 (12) years, 81 patients (58%) were male, and 58 (42%) were female. The primary end point occurred in 16 of 55 patients (29%) receiving placebo (10 deaths [18.2%], 4 sICH [7.3%], 4 malignant strokes [7.3%], and 2 recurrent strokes [3.6%]); in 15 of 42 patients (36%) receiving ApTOLL, 0.05 mg/kg (11 deaths [26.2%], 3 sICH [7.2%], 2 malignant strokes [4.8%], and 2 recurrent strokes [4.8%]); and in 6 of 42 patients (14%) receiving ApTOLL, 0.2 mg/kg (2 deaths [4.8%], 2 sICH [4.8%], and 3 recurrent strokes [7.1%]). ApTOLL, 0.2 mg/kg, was associated with lower NIHSS score at 72 hours (mean difference log-transformed vs placebo, -45%; 95% CI, -67% to -10%), smaller final infarct volume (mean difference log-transformed vs placebo, -42%; 95% CI, -66% to 1%), and lower degrees of disability at 90 days (common odds ratio for a better outcome vs placebo, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.76 to 5.00). Conclusions and relevance: In acute ischemic stroke, 0.2 mg/kg of ApTOLL administered within 6 hours of onset in combination with EVT was safe and associated with a potential meaningful clinical effect, reducing mortality and disability at 90 days compared with placebo. These preliminary findings await confirmation from larger pivotal trials.This study was sponsored by aptaTargets, Madrid, Spain, and cofunded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (RTC-2017-6651-1 and RTC-2019-006795-1).España. Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación e Universidades; RTC-2017-6651-1España. Ministeriod e Ciencia, Innovación e Universidades; RTC-2019-006795-

Paisajes patrimoniales. Resiliencia, resistencia y metrópoli en América Latina

249 páginas.La propuesta de esta obra, es que el estudio del paisaje no se basa sólo en la observación panorámica del territorio, sino trata de profundizar en el hecho cultural, que va más allá de su percepción meramente estética o vivencial, desde donde podamos aprehenderlo, como la construcción social que configura el entorno. Para ello el investigador necesita desentrañar las narrativas en las que se envuelven los actores en los escenarios territoriales, lo cual implica generar una visión crítica de cómo un paisaje patrimonial ha sido imaginado y constituido. Es con esta mirada que cuestionamos la conformación de los territorios, ya que el objetivo es asumir posturas y preguntarnos ¿existen paisajes resilientes? ¿Cómo reconocer paisajes en resistencia? ¿Cuál es el paisaje que queremos dejar a las futuras generaciones? Para responder a estas interrogantes, que además se han vuelto una preocupación social creciente, surgió la idea de editar esta publicación, la cual recoge una selecta recopilación de trabajos presentados en la 4ta. Jornada de Paisajes Patrimoniales “Resistencia, resiliencia y metrópoli en América Latina”, convocada por la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla y la Red Mexicana de Estudios sobre Paisajes Patrimoniales y llevada a cabo en octubre de 2017 en la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. El objetivo principal, fue reflexionar sobre la resiliencia y la resistencia en el contexto metropolitano desde una óptica latinoamericana. La línea de la obra que tiene en sus manos se centra en la importancia de preservar territorios, cuyos valores históricos, culturales e identitarios se encuentran, ya sea en peligro de desaparecer o en vías de recuperación. Asimismo, se plantea la problemática sobre cómo diferentes sectores de la sociedad se encuentran resistiendo los embates del turismo, la gentrificación, los megaproyectos de extracción de los recursos naturales, la especulación inmobiliaria o el abandono de nuestros paisajes. Las propuestas se han dividido en cuatro apartados, el primero es de corte teórico conceptual y metodológico, en la escala que va de lo nacional a lo regional-local; el segundo agrupa aspectos como el paisaje natural en una zona metropolitana y el valor patrimonial de unidades agro productivas en una dimensión geográfica centrada en dos entidades federativas localizadas en la región central de México. El tercer apartado comprende trabajos cuyo hilo conductor es el recurso agua, como parte fundamental del desarrollo, económico y cultural de las comunidades y finalmente, el cuarto se refiere a contribuciones que incorporan esquemas propositivos para la gestión de los paisajes patrimoniales, así como el análisis del paisaje patrimonial ante el embate del capital.Armando Alonso Navarrete, Mariano Castellanos Arenas, coordinadores

estudos artísticos

Como é característica fundadora do projeto CSO – criadores sobre outras obras – os artistas são aqui convidados a comunicar o seu conhecimento sobre outros artistas, dentro de um descentramento que toma os idiomas ibéricos como uma plataforma territorial de emergência, e de resistência, também. É uma área cultural periférica, alternativa, que se afirma em crescente grandeza. Dentro deste dispositivo comunicativo, a revista Croma delimita mais ainda o seu tema, nos artistas que de algum modo fazem incorporar a implicação social, a interação e a criação e formação de novos públicos como um dos componentes estruturantes da sua obra. Surgem na Croma obras intervenientes, que provocam, e que convocam, que estabelecem pontes, ou que as ameaçam. São obras em que a componente relacional (N. Bourriaud) ou formativa e integradora (P. Freire) assumem uma atualidade constante e renovada. Os artigos reunidos neste quinto número da Revista Croma propõem, no seu conjunto uma intenção de proximidade, de confronto com realidades, de inconformismo, de procura e de questionamento identitário. Dos seus múltiplos países e das suas diversificadas abordagens a variadas técnicas, os vinte e cinco artigos aqui apresentados complementam o poder do desassossego e da inquietação poética: os artistas falam connosco, através de outros artistas, que os souberam ver e ouvir.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to &lt;90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], &gt;300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of &lt;15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P&lt;0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P&lt;0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Study: Airfoil optimization for the blades of quadrotor

Development of a framework to optimize the shape of rotor blades for a Quadrotor Micro Aerial Vehicle with a Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) of less than 300 grams .In this project an airfoil optimization for the blades of a drone is developed. Since this semester I am abroad with an Erasmus Program, this project has been proposed by Giuseppe Quaranta, a teacher from the Politecnico di Milano, and accepted by my TFG director, Manel Soria. The work will continue the one developed by a group that is investigating and testing drone technologies. They have performed numerous tests with a conventional quadrotor operating with commercial blades. The idea is to investigate if a significantly better performance is obtained with blades designed specifically for this drone. The main objective is to increase the blade efficiency, which means increase the Thrust versus Power ratio.The procedure to be followed is briefly summarized as, first, a development of a numerical method to solve a BEMT applied to the blades of a drone, i.e. rigid blades. Then, the creation of an optimization process and finally the definition of the new blade geometry. Finally, the final blade is 3D drawn, in order to be printed and tested in the future in a Laboratory to compare the results with the original on

Study: Airfoil optimization for the blades of quadrotor

Development of a framework to optimize the shape of rotor blades for a Quadrotor Micro Aerial Vehicle with a Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) of less than 300 grams .In this project an airfoil optimization for the blades of a drone is developed. Since this semester I am abroad with an Erasmus Program, this project has been proposed by Giuseppe Quaranta, a teacher from the Politecnico di Milano, and accepted by my TFG director, Manel Soria. The work will continue the one developed by a group that is investigating and testing drone technologies. They have performed numerous tests with a conventional quadrotor operating with commercial blades. The idea is to investigate if a significantly better performance is obtained with blades designed specifically for this drone. The main objective is to increase the blade efficiency, which means increase the Thrust versus Power ratio.The procedure to be followed is briefly summarized as, first, a development of a numerical method to solve a BEMT applied to the blades of a drone, i.e. rigid blades. Then, the creation of an optimization process and finally the definition of the new blade geometry. Finally, the final blade is 3D drawn, in order to be printed and tested in the future in a Laboratory to compare the results with the original on