Decentralizing Science: Towards an Interoperable Open Peer Review Ecosystem using Blockchain

Science publication and its Peer Review system strongly rely on a few major industry players controlling most journals (e.g. Elsevier), databases (e.g. Scopus) and metrics (e.g. JCR Impact Factor), while keeping most articles behind paywalls. Critics to such system include concerns about fairness, quality, performance, cost, unpaid labor, transparency, and accuracy of the evaluation process. The Open Access movement has tried to provide free access to the published research articles, but most of the aforementioned issues remain. In such context, decentralized technologies such as blockchain offer an opportunity to experiment with new models for science production and dissemination relying on a decentralized infrastructure, aiming to tackle multiple of the current system shortcomings. This paper makes a proposal for an interoperable decentralized system for an open peer review ecosystem, relying on emerging distributed technologies such as blockchain and IPFS. Such system, named ``Decentralized Science'' (DecSci), aims to enable a decentralized reviewer reputation system, which relies on an Open Access by-design infrastructure, together with transparent governance processes. Two prototypes have been implemented: a proof-of-concept prototype to validate DecSci's technological feasibility, and a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) prototype co-designed with journal editors. In addition, three evaluations have been carried out: an exploratory survey to assess interest on the issues tackled, a set of interviews to confirm the main problems for editors, and another set of interviews to validate the MVP prototype. Additionally, the paper discusses the multiple interoperability challenges such proposal faces, including an architecture to tackle them. This work finishes with a review of some of the open challenges that this ambitious proposal may face

A Decentralized Publication System for Open Science using Blockchain and IPFS

Science publication and peer review raises concerns about fairness, quality, per-formance, cost or accuracy. The Open Access movements has been unable to fulfill all itspromises, and middlemen publishers can still impose policies and concentrate profits. Thispaper, using emerging distributed technologies such as Blockchain and IPFS, proposes adecentralized publication system for open science. It provides transparent governance, adistributed reviewer reputation system, and open access by-design. The paper concludesreviewing the open challenges of such approach

The Effectiveness of Day Hospitals in the Personal Recovery of Mental Disorder Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: In recent years, a new recovery model has gained ground in which recovery is understood as a process of change where individuals are able to improve their health and wellbeing, lead self-sufficient lives and strive to achieve their maximum potential (personal recovery). Despite the existence of data regarding the effectiveness of mental health day hospitals (MHDHs) in reducing relapses in terms of hospital admissions and emergencies, no studies have to date assessed how this change affected the new personal recovery model. Objectives: To verify the effectiveness of MHDHs in improving personal recovery processes among people with mental disorders (MDs). Methods: A prospective cohort study. A group of patients receiving follow-up at MHDHs was compared with another group of patients receiving follow-up in other therapeutic units over a period of three months. Results: Patient recovery at the MHDHs, assessed using the Individual Recovery Outcomes Counter (I.ROC), was found to be significantly better than that of patients attended in other units. Conclusions: MHDHs can contribute to the recovery of people with MDs. This is particularly important at a time when some patients may have experienced impediments to their recovery processes due to the pandemic

BigMark: análisis y predicción de calificaciones mediante Big Data

Proyecto de innovación docente en el que apliquemos estas técnicas de análisis de datos inteligentes para extraer información a partir de las calificaciones obtenidas por los alumnos durante el curso. El proyecto consiste en el desarrollo de una aplicación inteligente, disponible a través del navegador web o del móvil, para que tanto los profesores como los alumnos puedan ver las calificaciones del curso, compararlas e incluso predecirlas. La predicción se consigue mediante el análisis de datos y la aplicación de técnicas de regresión estadística a partir de los datos del curso actual y de los cursos anteriores, tanto del alumno que busca información como (de forma anonimizada) de sus compañeros

Camelids in the south of the Iberian Peninsula in Roman and medieval times. Osteological evidence from the city of Cordoba (Spain)

This paper presents the results obtained concerning the possible presence of camelids in the city of Cordoba (Spain) in Roman and medieval times, after the review of all the faunal assemblages corresponding to these historical periods deposited in the Provincial Archaeological Museum of the city. This research has allowed the recovery and contextualization of nine dromedary bone remains corresponding to nine individuals, four of which have been dated by C. A stable isotope analysis has also been carried out which indicates the possible arrival of these animals from other provinces of the empire in Roman times and from North Africa in medieval times. Besides, we carried out a bibliographical update of all bone remains found in the Iberian Peninsula for the periods analyzed, concluding that the main use of them was for transporting and manufacturing different tools.This study have been funded through the Andalusian Regional Government’s I + D + i-FEDER Andalucía 2014-2020 program. C.A.M.E.L. Historical contextualization, Diet, Morphology, Genetic Study, and Lineage through the bone remains of camels recovered in archaeological sites in the southern Iberian Peninsula (Ref. 1380946-F) and Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain through European Regional [SUMHAL, LIFEWATCH-2019-09-CSIC-13, POPE 2014-2020]. Both Dr. José A. Riquelme Cantal and Dr. Juan Manuel Garrido Anguita are the principal investigators leading the projects that have funded this research. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Córdoba /CBUA

Caramelos con sabor a nota: apoyo digital para nuevos modelos de seguimiento de la participación en clase

Memoria final del Proyecto de Innovación y Mejora de la Calidad Docente, #262 de la convocatoria 2015

Breaking the Mucin Barrier: A New Affinity Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Approach to Unveil Potential Cell Markers and Pathways Altered in Pseudomyxoma Peritonei

Background Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis with largely unknown underlying molecular mechanisms. Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is the only therapeutic option; however, despite its use, recurrence with a fatal outcome is common. The lack of molecular characterisation of PMP and other mucinous tumours is mainly due to the physicochemical properties of mucin. Results This manuscript describes the first protocol capable of breaking the mucin barrier and isolating proteins from mucinous tumours. Briefly, mucinous tumour samples were homogenised and subjected to liquid chromatography using two specific columns to reduce mainly glycoproteins, albumins and immunoglobulin G. The protein fractions were then subjected to mass spectrometry analysis and the proteomic profile obtained was analysed using various bioinformatic tools. Thus, we present here the first proteome analysed in PMP and identified a distinct mucin isoform profile in soft compared to hard mucin tumour tissues as well as key biological processes/pathways altered in mucinous tumours. Importantly, this protocol also allowed us to identify MUC13 as a potential tumour cell marker in PMP. Conclusions In sum, our results demonstrate that this protein isolation protocol from mucin will have a high impact, allowing the oncology research community to more rapidly advance in the knowledge of PMP and other mucinous neoplasms, as well as develop new and effective therapeutic strategies

Diseño y desarrollo de un curso de formación en el entorno Moodle sobre el desarrollo de competencias éticas

Se diseñan y desarrollan materiales para dos cursos que se prueban en entorno moodle sobre las competencias éticas de "engañar para aprobar" y "ocultar información"

Intraoperative oxygen tension and redox homeostasis in Pseudomyxoma peritonei: A short case series

IntroductionPseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare malignant disease characterized by a massive multifocal accumulation of mucin within the peritoneal cavity. The current treatment option is based on complete cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. However, the recurrence is frequent with subsequent progression and death. To date, most of the studies published in PMP are related to histological and genomic analyses. Thus, the need for further studies unveiling the underlying PMP molecular mechanisms is urgent. In this regard, hypoxia and oxidative stress have been extensively related to tumoral pathologies, although their contribution to PMP has not been elucidated.MethodsIn this manuscript, we have evaluated, for the first time, the intratumoral real-time oxygen microtension (pO2mt) in the tumor (soft and hard mucin) and surrounding healthy tissue from five PMP patients during surgery. In addition, we measured hypoxia (Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1a; HIF-1α) and oxidative stress (catalase; CAT) markers in soft and hard mucin from the same five PMP patient samples and in five control samples.ResultsThe results showed low intratumoral oxygen levels, which were associated with increased HIF-1α protein levels, suggesting the presence of a hypoxic environment in these tumors. We also found a significant reduction in CAT activity levels in soft and hard mucin compared with healthy tissue samples.DiscussionIn conclusion, our study provides the first evidence of low intratumoral oxygen levels in PMP patients associated with hypoxia and oxidative stress markers. However, further investigation is required to understand the potential role of oxidative stress in PMP in order to find new therapeutic strategies