A synthetic collagen-binding arg-gly-asp (rgd) biomimetic peptide enhances bone cell differentiation

RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) peptides have shown some promising abilities to promote the attachment of cells to biomaterials and to direct their differentiation. However, anchoring these peptides to the biomaterial’s surface is mandatory and usually implies several chemical linking steps. The aim of this work was to design and characterize a synthetic RGD biomimetic peptide that includes a collagen-binding domain for easy one-step functionalization of absorbable collagen sponges (ACSs), which are of frequent use in orthopaedic surgery. The stable binding of biotinylated CBD-RGD peptide loaded onto ACSs was confirmed using chemiluminisence detection after washing of the sponges. Furthermore, the effect of the peptide on MC3T3-E1 mouse preosteoblasts and rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro was characterized in terms of caspase activity, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, matrix mineralization and formation of focal adhesions. Finally, a rat ectopic osteogenesis model was used to determine if the co-administration of CBD-RGD could lower the dose of BMP-2 necessary to induce bone formation. The CBD-RGD peptide was demonstrated to bind stable to ACSs, even after extensive washing. In vitro, the peptide did not induce apoptosis of the cells, but positively affected both cell growth and differentiation. It also seemed to affect the cytoskeleton arrangement of MC3T3-E1 cells, favoring the establishment of focal adhesions. At last, the in vivo experiments showed that ACSs functionalized with this peptide and loaded with a subfunctional dose of BMP-2 gave rise to ectopic bone. In conclusion. the combination of CBD-RGD with the currently used collagen/BMP system might be a promising approach to improve osteogenesis and to reduce the doses of BMPs needed in clinical orthopaedics.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Circuito integrado para comunicaciones en sistemas de ascensores

El circuito ASIC descrlto es una unidad de comunicaciones destinada a sistemas de ascensores. Este diseño reduce en gran medida de las necesidades de cableado que encarece la instalación de los sistemas de ascensores. Por un único canal de fibra óptica pueden comunicarse hasta un máximo de 31 chips, cada uno de los cuales controla los distintos contactos, pulsadores e identificadores de piso y cabina. El circuito se encuentra actualmente en producción con resultados satisfactorios. Esta realización se enmarca dentro de la acción GAME (acción especial del programa ESPRIT) y ha sido desarrollado en colaboración con la empresa de Mecanismos y Accesorios MAC S.A

ASITRON: ASIC for indirect vector control of induction motors with fuzzy logic based speed regulation

This paper presents ASITRON, an integrated solution for the vector control of induction motors. This ASIC is a micro-system that integrates, in a chip, all the logic required by the indirect vector control method. ASITRON implements a PWM based current control loop, the measure of speed based on a biphase pulse signal encoder, a fuzzy logic based speed and position outer control loop and a microprocessor external parallel interface. A built-in 64-rules fuzzy logic controller can be programmed to deal with the speed or position outer control loop. This integrated solution is the essential part of a compact, high performance, industrial control system for elevators

New interactions: past and future experiments

In this talk I will review the present status and future perspectives of some popular extensions of the conventional three-neutrino oscillation scenario, from a purely phenomenological point of view. For concreteness I will focus only on three specific scenarios: non-standard neutrino interactions with matters, models with extra sterile neutrinos, and neutrino decay and decoherence.Comment: LaTeX file using jpconf class, 8 pages, 2 tables. Proceedings of the "XXIII International Conference on Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics" (Neutrino 08), Christchurch, New Zealand, May 25-31, 200

Circuito integrado ASIC para el control vectorial-borroso de un motor de inducción destinado a accionamiento de tráfico vertical

Con este trabajo se describe el diseño de un circuito integrado ASIC para el Control Vectorial-Borroso de un Motor de Inducción Des­tinado a Accionamiento de Tráfico Vertical. Se presentan, además, algunos resultados de simu­lación para la optimización del diseño desde el punto de vista del número de puertas. Estas si­mulaciones se han realizado mediante lenguaje de alto nivel utilizándose un modelo real del motor de inducción junto con el inversor trifásico encargado de su accionamiento y se ha simulado el compor­tamiento del diseño ASIC con todas sus discreti­zaciones y retardos. Esta realización se enmarca dentro de la acción GAME (acción especial del programa ESPRIT) y ha sido desarrollado en cola­boración con la empresa Mecanismos y Accetiorios MAC S.A. Para ello se ha hecho uso de la herra­mientas de diseño VHDL SINOPSYS y programa de placement y routing CADENCE

Integrated solution for induction motor control

The command speed has an 'S' shape, typical in vertical operation systems. The reason for this command speed is that a soft acceleration/deceleration avoids abrupt movements in the elevator cabin, increasing the comfort level. A Fuzzy-logic based controller for the speed and position control based on an ASIC design

Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS): Psychometric Properties of Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Spanish Version

The aim of this study was to develop a Spanish Version of the Trunk Measurement Scale (TCMS-S) to analyze its validity and reliability and determine the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Participants were assessed twice 7–15 days apart with the TCMS-S and once with the Gross Motor Function Measurement-88 (GMFM-88), Pediatric Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT), Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life (CPQoL), and Gross Motor Classification System (GMFCS). Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha, and the intraclass correlation (ICC) and kappa coefficients were used to investigate the agreement between the assessments. Finally, 96 participants with CP were included. The TCMS-S showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.95 [0.93 to 0.96]); was highly correlated with the GMFM-88 (rho = 0.816) and the “mobility” subscale of the PEDI-CAT (rho = 0.760); showed a moderate correlation with the “feeling about functioning” CPQoL subscale (rho = 0.576); and differentiated between the GMFCS levels. Excellent test–retest agreement was found for the total and subscale scores (ICC � 0.94 [0.89 to 0.97). For the total TCMS-S score, an SEM of 1.86 and an MDC of 5.15 were found. The TCMS-S is a valid and reliable tool for assessing trunk control in children with CP.Sección Deptal. de Radiología, Rehabilitación y Fisioterapia (Enfermería)Fac. de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y PodologíaTRUEUniversidad Europea de Madridpu

Psychometric characteristics of a commuting-to-school behaviour questionnaire for families

The purposes of this study were: (a) to describe the patterns of modes of commuting to school (children) and to work (parents) separated by gender and age, (b) to validate the questions on children’s mode of commuting to and from school according to their parents, and (c) to analyse the reliability of a family questionnaire focused on commuting to school behaviours. A total of 611 parents (mean age: 43.28 ± 6.25 years old) from Granada (Spain) completed “Family commuting-to-school behaviour” questionnaire in two sessions separated by 14 days, (2016 and 2018). The validation between family and children’s questions was assessed using the Kappa and Spearman correlation coefficients, and the test–retest reliability within the family questions was assessed using the Kappa and the weighted Kappa. The children’s modes of commuting to school (mean age: 11.44 ± 2.77 years old) were mainly passive (57.7% to school) while parents’ modes of commuting to work were mainly active (71.6%). The validity of the mode of commuting was significant with high Kappa and Spearman coefficients. The test–retest reliability presented a good agreement for the mode of commuting to school in children, distance and time to school, and the mode of commuting to work in parents, while the questions on acceptable distance to walk or cycle to school showed a moderate to good agreement. The “Family commuting-to-school behaviour” questionnaire could be a useful tool to assess the mode of commuting of children, distance and time to school for researchers and practitioners

Feasibility and Reliability of a Questionnaire to Assess the Mode, Frequency, Distance and Time of Commuting to and from School: The PACO Study

Active commuting to and from school has several health implications. Self-reporting is the most common assessment tool, but there is a high heterogeneity of questionnaires in the scientific literature. The purpose of this study was to analyse the feasibility and reliability of the Spanish “New Version of Mode and Frequency of Commuting To and From School” questionnaire in children and adolescents. A total of 635 children (5–12 years old) and 362 adolescents (12–18 years old) filled out the questionnaire twice (14 days apart). Feasibility was evaluated using an observational checklist. The test-retest reliability of the “New Version of Mode and Frequency of Commuting To and From School” questionnaire and the distance and time to school were examined using the kappa and weight kappa coefficient (κ). No misunderstanding of questions was reported. The time to complete the questionnaire was 15 ± 3.62 and 9 ± 2.26 min for children and adolescents, respectively. The questionnaire showed substantial and almost perfect kappa coefficients for the overall six items (k = 0.61–0.94) in children and adolescents. The “New Version of Mode and Frequency of Commuting To and From School” questionnaire is a feasible and reliable questionnaire in Spanish children and adolescents.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and CompetitivenessEuropean Union (EU) DEP2016-75598-RUniversity of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016, excellence actions: Units of ExcellenceUnit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)Junta de AndaluciaConsejeria de Conocimiento, Investigacion y UniversidadesEuropean Union (EU) SOMM17/6107/UGREuropean Social Fund (ESF

Factors influencing academic achievement: the mediating role of motivation in learning strategies and school climate

El objetivo principal de esta investigación consiste en analizar la relación existente entre estrategias de aprendizaje, motivación, clima escolar y el rendimiento académico y establecer cuáles son los mejores predoctores de este rendimiento. Para ello hemos utilizado una muestra de 101 alumnos de 4º ESO de centros de Granada y Málaga, a los que se les administró el CEAM II, para medir estrategias de aprendizaje y motivación; y el CECSCE para medir el clima escolar. Los resultados indican que altas puntuaciones en estrategias de aprendizaje, una mayor motivación y un mejor clima escolar se relacionan con un mejor rendimiento académico. A su vez, los resultados muestran que los factores que mejor predicen el rendimiento académico son la valoración de la tarea y percepción de autoeficacia (motivación), organización y esfuerzo (estrategias de aprendizaje) y percepción del centro (clima escolar). Por último, se observa que la motivación tiene un papel mediador entre las estrategias de aprendizaje y el clima escolar sobre el rendimiento académico. ABSTRACT The main objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between learning strategies, motivation, school climate and academic performance and establish which are the best predictors of this performance. We have used a sample of 101 students of 4 º ESO center of Granada and Malaga, who were administered the CEAM II, to measure learning strategies and motivation, and the CECSCE to measure school climate. Results indicate that high scores on learning strategies, increased motivation and improved school climate are related to better academic performance. In turn, results show that the factors that predict academic performance are the assessment of the task and self-efficacy (motivation), organization and effort (learning strategies) and perception of school (school climate). Finally, we observe that motivation has a mediating role between learning strategies and school climate on student achievement.The main objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between learning strategies, motivation, school climate and academic performance and establish which are the best predictors of this performance. We have used a sample of 101 students of 4º ESO center of Granada and Malaga, who were administered the CEAM II, to measure learning strategies and motivation, and the CECSCE to measure school climate. Results indicate that high scores on learning strategies, increased motivation and improved school climate are related to better academic performance. In turn, results show that the factors that predict academic performance are the assessment of the task and self-efficacy (motivation), organization and effort (learning strategies) and perception of school (school climate). Finally, we observe that motivation has a mediating role between learning strategies and school climate on student achievement.Proyecto de Innovación Docente "ReiDoCrea". Departamento de Psicología Social. Universidad de Granada