Assessment of arterial stiffness by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in nocturnal hypertensive or normotensive subjects

Background: Nocturnal hypertension, male gender, age and arterial stiffness are important risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to assess arterial stiffness in nocturnal hypertensive or normotensive men and women >40 years of age. Methods: Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed in 144 men and 137 women. Eighty-eight subjects were between 40 and 49 years old (53% men), 98 were between 50 and 59 years old (55% men) and 95 were >60 years old (45% men). They were classified as nocturnal hypertensive if their average night systolic blood pressure and/or diastolic blood pressure was >120/70 mm/Hg. Arterial stiffness was assessed by the Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index (AASI), which is calculated as 1 minus the slope of diastolic on systolic blood pressure during the 24-hour recording period. Results were analyzed by analysis of covariance and were adjusted for 24-hour mean arterial pressure, the presence of antihypertensive treatment, height and heart rate. Results: Women showed a higher AASI compared to men, independently of age. In men, the AASI increased with age, being higher in nocturnal hypertensive than in nocturnal normotensive subjects, independently of age. Nocturnal hypertensive women showed higher AASI values than their respective nocturnal normotensive controls in the 50- to 59-year and >60-year age groups only. Conclusion: The results show that arterial stiffness is higher among nocturnal hypertensive subjects, especially in women >50 years old.Fil: Drucaroff, Lucas Javier. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Investigaciones Neurológicas "Raúl Carrea"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ramirez, Agustin Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Sanchez, Ramiro. Universidad Favaloro; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Cardinali, Daniel Pedro. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Departamento de Docencia e Investigación; Argentina. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Perez Lloret, Santiago. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Argentina. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Departamento de Docencia e Investigación; Argentin

Mechanical behaviour of heavily compacted bentonite under high suction changes

The paper reports the results of an experimental study carried out on a bentonite compacted to a dry density of up to 1·7 Mg=m3, a high value for this type of soil. The soil fabric has been studied using a variety of techniques, revealing a clear bimodal pore distribution that corresponds to two distinct structural levels: a microstructural one and a macrostructural one. The main testing programme has been performed using oedometers especially designed to apply a very large range of suctions. By applying the axis-translation technique (using nitrogen as the gas fluid), it has been possible to reach suctions up to 15 MPa. The higher suction range has been achieved by applying a controlled atmosphere where the relative humidity has been fixed by a solution of sulphuric acid or salts. In this way suctions up to 550 MPa could be reached. The maximum vertical stress that could be applied in the apparatus was 10 MPa. Two types of test have been carried out: (a) tests in which a combination of loading paths at constant suction and drying/wetting paths at constant load were applied; (b) swelling tests under constant-volume conditions in order to determine the swelling pressure and the stress path followed during wetting. The results of the experimental programme are examined, taking into account the role of the soil fabric in controlling observed mechanical behaviour. In addition, the results of the laboratory tests are reproduced and interpreted using a generalised plasticity model that considers explicitly the interaction between macrostructure and microstructure. In this way, it is possible to achieve a more complete understanding of the mechanisms that underlie observed behaviour, and in particular the interplay between the two structural level

Competencias emocionales en estudiantes del Grado en Criminología: diferencias de sexo y curso académico

Este estudio pretende evaluar las competencias emocionales que poseen los estudiantes de primer y cuarto curso del Grado en Criminología de la Universidad de Alicante, analizando si existen diferencias significativas en función del sexo y curso. Ha participado una muestra representativa formada por 124 estudiantes, 58 de primer curso y 66 de último curso del Grado en Criminología de la Universidad de Alicante (España). Los instrumentos utilizados son el autoinforme Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24) y el programa Facial Action Coding System. Los resultados obtenidos muestran un mejor desempeño en las dimensiones reconocimiento y claridad emocional de los estudiantes de cuarto curso. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en función del sexo. Teniendo en cuenta los resultados obtenidos, consideramos que es importante integrar dentro de la formación universitaria del grado en criminología métodos de enseñanza-aprendizaje que favorezcan el desarrollo de competencias emocionales como la regulación emocional, siendo de especial relevancia dado que los profesionales de criminología frecuentemente se enfrentan a situaciones que demandan elevadas competencias emocionales en su desarrollo profesional

A Multi-Agent System Architecture for Smart Grid Management and Forecasting of Energy Demand in Virtual Power Plants

[EN] Recent technological advances in the power generation and information technologies areas are helping to change the modern electricity supply system in order to comply with higher energy efficiency and sustainability standards. Smart grids are an emerging trend that introduce intelligence in the power grid to optimize resource usage. In order for this intelligence to be effective, it is necessary to retrieve enough information about the grid operation together with other context data such as environmental variables, and intelligently modify the behavior of the network elements accordingly. This article presents a multi-agent system model for virtual power plants, a new power plant concept in which generation no longer occurs in big installations, but is the result of the cooperation of smaller and more intelligent elements. The proposed model is not only focused on the management of the different elements, but includes a set of agents embedded with artificial neural networks for collaborative forecasting of disaggregated energy demand of domestic end users, the results of which are also shown in this article.We would like to express our thanks to the coordinators of the project OptimaGrid for the information provided on MAS-based micro-grids, and the creators of a MAS INGENIAS methodology. This article has been partially funded by the project SociAAL (Social Ambient Assisted Living), supported by Spanish Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness, with grant TIN2011-28335-C02-01, by the Programa de Creacion y Consolidacion de Grupos de Investigacion UCM-Banco Santander for the group number 921354 (GRASIA group).Hernández, L.; Baladrón Zorita, C.; Aguiar Pérez, JM.; Carro, B.; Sanchez-Esguevillas, A.; Lloret, J.; Chinarro, D.... (2013). A Multi-Agent System Architecture for Smart Grid Management and Forecasting of Energy Demand in Virtual Power Plants. IEEE Communications Magazine. 51(1):106-113. https://doi.org/10.1109/MCOM.2013.6400446S10611351

Realidad simulada como herramienta de enseñanza-aprendizaje en Criminología

El diseño de prácticas docentes de realidad simulada constituye un avance en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje en el alumnado de Criminología. Mediante este tipo de actividades, los estudiantes desarrollan las competencias académicas y profesionales adquiridas durante su formación, recreando contextos y situaciones reales en un entorno de aprendizaje. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar las competencias adquiridas por el alumnado de último curso del Grado en Criminología, tras la implementación de una práctica de realidad simulada basada en la recreación de un Juicio donde el alumnado deberá poner en práctica los conocimientos y técnicas de evaluación criminológica aplicados al ámbito de la Justicia Penal. Se describen los resultados de aprendizaje y la satisfacción del alumnado con la incorporación de esta experiencia piloto mediante el análisis de respuestas de un cuestionario informatizado ad hoc

Coordinación de competencias de tratamiento de señal y comunicaciones en estudios de Telecomunicación en EPS-UA

Los objetivos del presente trabajo son el seguimiento, la coordinación, la evaluación y la mejora en la distribución de competencias de las asignaturas obligatorias de los cursos primero, segundo y tercero del Grado en Ingeniería en Sonido e Imagen en Telecomunicación y una asignatura obligatoria del Máster en Ingeniería de Telecomunicación. La red tiene carácter transversal y se centra en materias de tratamiento de señal y comunicaciones de estudios de Telecomunicación en la Escuela Politécnica Superior de la Universidad de Alicante. Para alcanzar los objetivos se plantea llevar a cabo una colaboración de la que formen parte las subdirecciones de las titulaciones, la dirección del departamento y las profesoras y los profesores de las asignaturas relacionadas con las competencias de tratamiento de señal y comunicaciones en el Grado y Máster Universitario de estudios de Telecomunicación en la Escuela Politécnica Superior. En el proceso se elaboraron documentos para facilitar la puesta en común y la concreción de acuerdos de mejora

Short-Term Load Forecasting for Microgrids Based on Artificial Neural Networks

Electricity is indispensable and of strategic importance to national economies. Consequently, electric utilities make an effort to balance power generation and demand in order to offer a good service at a competitive price. For this purpose, these utilities need electric load forecasts to be as accurate as possible. However, electric load depends on many factors (day of the week, month of the year, etc.), which makes load forecasting quite a complex process requiring something other than statistical methods. This study presents an electric load forecast architectural model based on an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) that performs Short-Term Load Forecasting (STLF). In this study, we present the excellent results obtained, and highlight the simplicity of the proposed model. Load forecasting was performed in a geographic location of the size of a potential microgrid, as microgrids appear to be the future of electric power supply.Hernández, L.; Baladrón Zorita, C.; Aguiar Pérez, JM.; Carro Martínez, B.; Sanchez-Esguevillas, A.; Lloret, J. (2013). Short-Term Load Forecasting for Microgrids Based on Artificial Neural Networks. Energies. 6(3):1385-1408. doi:10.3390/en6031385S1385140863Booklets European Comission. Your Guide to the Lisbon Treaty 2009http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/others/84/en.pdfHernandez, L., Baladron, C., Aguiar, J. M., Carro, B., Sanchez-Esguevillas, A., Lloret, J., … Cook, D. (2013). A multi-agent system architecture for smart grid management and forecasting of energy demand in virtual power plants. IEEE Communications Magazine, 51(1), 106-113. doi:10.1109/mcom.2013.6400446http://ec.europa.eu/energy/technology/set_plan/set_plan_en.htmFUTURED—Spanish Technological Platform for Energy Grids Home Pagehttp://www.futured.es/European Technology Platform for Electricity Networks of the Future—SmartGrids ETP Home Pagehttp://www.smartgrids.eu/Kim, H.-M., Kinoshita, T., & Shin, M.-C. (2010). A Multiagent System for Autonomous Operation of Islanded Microgrids Based on a Power Market Environment. Energies, 3(12), 1972-1990. doi:10.3390/en3121972Kim, H.-M., Lim, Y., & Kinoshita, T. (2012). An Intelligent Multiagent System for Autonomous Microgrid Operation. Energies, 5(9), 3347-3362. doi:10.3390/en5093347Xiao, Z., Li, T., Huang, M., Shi, J., Yang, J., Yu, J., & Wu, W. (2010). Hierarchical MAS Based Control Strategy for Microgrid. Energies, 3(9), 1622-1638. doi:10.3390/en3091622Hong, Y.-Y., & Chou, J.-H. (2012). 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Temperature and Relative Humidity Estimation and Prediction in the Tobacco Drying Process Using Artificial Neural Networks. Sensors, 12(10), 14004-14021. doi:10.3390/s121014004Park, D. C., El-Sharkawi, M. A., Marks, R. J., Atlas, L. E., & Damborg, M. J. (1991). Electric load forecasting using an artificial neural network. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 6(2), 442-449. doi:10.1109/59.76685Ho, K. L., Hsu, Y.-Y., & Yang, C.-C. (1992). Short term load forecasting using a multilayer neural network with an adaptive learning algorithm. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 7(1), 141-149. doi:10.1109/59.141697Drezga, I., & Rahman, S. (1998). Input variable selection for ANN-based short-term load forecasting. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 13(4), 1238-1244. doi:10.1109/59.736244Drezga, I., & Rahman, S. (1999). Short-term load forecasting with local ANN predictors. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 14(3), 844-850. doi:10.1109/59.780894Lee, K. Y., Cha, Y. T., & Park, J. H. (1992). 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Characterization of an enhanced antigenic change in the pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza virus haemagglutinin

Murine hybridomas producing neutralizing mAbs specific to the pandemic influenza virus A/California/07/2009 haemagglutinin (HA) were isolated. These antibodies recognized at least two different but overlapping new epitopes that were conserved in the HA of most Spanish pandemic isolates. However, one of these isolates (A/Extremadura/RR6530/2010) lacked reactivity with the mAbs and carried two unique mutations in the HA head (S88Y and K136N) that were required simultaneously to eliminate reactivity with the murine antibodies. This unusual requirement directly illustrates the phenomenon of enhanced antigenic change proposed previously for the accumulation of simultaneous amino acid substitutions at antigenic sites of the influenza A virus HA during virus evolution (Shih et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 104 , 6283-6288, 2007). The changes found in the A/Extremadura/RR6530/2010 HA were not found in escape mutants selected in vitro with one of the mAbs, which contained instead nearby single amino acid changes in the HA head. Thus, either single or double point mutations may similarly alter epitopes of the new antigenic site identified in this work in the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus HA. Moreover, this site is relevant for the human antibody response, as shown by competition of mAbs and human post-infection sera for virus binding. The results are discussed in the context of the HA antigenic structure and challenges posed for identification of sequence changes with possible antigenic impact during virus surveillance.This work was supported in part by grants GR09/0023 (A. N.), GR09/0039 (J. A. M.) and GR09/0040 (I. C.) from Instituto de Salud Carlos III under a special research programme on pandemic flu. Additionally, the Biología Viral Unit is supported currently by grant SAF2012-31217 from Plan Nacional I+D+i.S

Emergence of Progressive Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 From a Hematologic Patient With Prolonged Viral Replication

We documented a hematologic patient with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in whom emergence of viral mutations was documented after the consecutive use of antivirals and convalescent plasma. The virus detected in the last of 12 clinical samples (day 237) had accumulated 22 changes in amino acids and 29 in nucleotides. Some of these changes, such as the E484Q, were mutations of concern as defined by WHO. This finding represents an enormous epidemiological threat and poses a major clinical challenge. Combined antiviral strategies, as well as specific strategies related to the diagnostic approach of prolonged infections for this specific population, may be needed.This work has been financed by funds for research ad hoc COVID-19 from patronage provided by citizens and organizations to Hospital Clínic de Barcelona-Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica. This work received support from FONDO-COVID19 (ISCIII Grant number: COV20-00679), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI21/01640) and by European Region (ERDF, “A way to make Europe”). PP-A [JR20/00012 and PI21/00498], NG-P [FI19/00133], have also received research grants from the Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Instituto de Salud Carlos III. The funders had neither a specific role in study design or collection of data, nor in writing of the paper or decision to submit.S

Impacts of predicted climate change on recruitment at the geographical limits of Scots pine

Ongoing changes in global climate are having a significant impact on the distribution of plant species, with effects particularly evident at range limits. We assessed the capacity of Pinus sylvestris L. populations at northernmost and southernmost limits of the distribution to cope with projected changes in climate. We investigated responses including seed germination and early seedling growth and survival, using seeds from northernmost (Kevo, Finland) and southernmost (Granada, Spain) populations. Seeds were grown under current climate conditions in each area and under temperatures increased by 5 °C, with changes in precipitation of +30% or -30% with reference to current values at northern and southern limits, respectively, in a fully factorial controlled-conditions experimental design. Increased temperatures reduced germination time and enhanced biomass gain at both range edges but reduced survival at the southern range edge. Higher precipitation also increased survival and biomass but only under a southern climate. Seeds from the southern origin emerged faster, produced bigger seedlings, allocated higher biomass to roots, and survived better than northern ones. These results indicate that recruitment will be reduced at the southernmost range of the species, whereas it will be enhanced at the northern limit, and that the southern seed sources are better adapted to survive under drier conditions. However, future climate will impose a trade-off between seedling growth and survival probabilities. At the southern range edge, higher growth may render individuals more susceptible to mortality where greater aboveground biomass results in greater water loss through evapotranspiration