Dimensional hyper-reduction of nonlinear finite element models via empirical cubature

We present a general framework for the dimensional reduction, in terms of number of degrees of freedom as well as number of integration points (“hyper-reduction”), of nonlinear parameterized finite element (FE) models. The reduction process is divided into two sequential stages. The first stage consists in a common Galerkin projection onto a reduced-order space, as well as in the condensation of boundary conditions and external forces. For the second stage (reduction in number of integration points), we present a novel cubature scheme that efficiently determines optimal points and associated positive weights so that the error in integrating reduced internal forces is minimized. The distinguishing features of the proposed method are: (1) The minimization problem is posed in terms of orthogonal basis vector (obtained via a partitioned Singular Value Decomposition) rather that in terms of snapshots of the integrand. (2) The volume of the domain is exactly integrated. (3) The selection algorithm need not solve in all iterations a nonnegative least-squares problem to force the positiveness of the weights. Furthermore, we show that the proposed method converges to the absolute minimum (zero integration error) when the number of selected points is equal to the number of internal force modes included in the objective function. We illustrate this model reduction methodology by two nonlinear, structural examples (quasi-static bending and resonant vibration of elastoplastic composite plates). In both examples, the number of integration points is reduced three order of magnitudes (with respect to FE analyses) without significantly sacrificing accuracy.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Filtering in non-Intrusive load monitoring

Being able to track appliances energy usage without the need of sensors can help occupants reduce their energy consumption. Non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) is one name for this topic. One of the hardest problems NILM faces is the ability to run unsupervised – discovering appliances without prior knowledge – and to run independent of the differences in appliance mixes and operational characteristics found in various countries and regions. This thesis showcases two filters that are used to denoise power signals, which results in better clustering accuracy for NILM event based methods. Both filters show to outperform a state-of-the-art denoising filter, in terms of run-time. A fully unsupervised NILM solution is presented, the algorithm is based on a hybrid knapsack problem with a Gaussian mixture model. Finally, a novel metric is developed to measure NILM disaggregation performance. The metric shows to be robust under a set of fundamental test cases

Intertwining Cell Adhesion, Gene Expression, and Stress

Cells within an organism are constantly exposed to environmental insults that challenge the homeostasis of their proteome by causing protein misfolding. To survive these adverse situations, cells are equipped with a stress-responsive family of transcription factors called heat shock factors (HSFs). Upon exposure to stress, the HSFs are activated and induce the expression of molecular chaperones, known as heat shock proteins, which in turn aid misfolded proteins to regain their native conformation. HSF1 and HSF2 are the most studied members of the HSFs family, and HSF1 has been considered the master regulator of the proteotoxic stress response. However, despite years of HSFs research, several questions remain unanswered, including: Is there an HSF2-dependent gene expression profile associated with proteotoxic stress? Do HSF1 and HSF2 drive distinct transcriptional programs depending on the type of stress? What are the proteins that interact with HSF2? The first study of this thesis shows that HSF2 is a prominent transcriptional regulator of the cadherin superfamily of adhesion proteins, and impaired cell-cell adhesion predisposes cells to sustained proteotoxic stress. The second study demonstrates that HSF1 and HSF2 are multi-stress-responsive transcription factors, that trigger distinct transcriptional programs depending on the type of stress. The third study characterizes the protein interactome of HSF2 in a tissue-relevant context and establishes TLN1 as the first adhesion-related HSF2 interacting partner. Lastly, the fourth study in this thesis shows that TLN1 is also present in the nucleus where it strongly binds to chromatin, accumulates in the nucleolus, and regulates gene expression.Celler i en organism utsätts ständigt för miljöförolämpningar som utmanar deras proteoms homeostas genom att orsaka felveckning av proteiner. För att överleva dessa negativa situationer är cellerna utrustade med en stressresponsiv familj av transkriptionsfaktorer som kallas värmechockfaktorer (HSF:er). Vid exponering för stress aktiveras HSF:erna och inducerar uttrycket av molekylära chaperoner, kända som värmechockproteiner, som i sin tur hjälper felveckade proteiner att återfå sin ursprungliga konformation. HSF1 och HSF2 är de mest studerade medlemmarna i HSF-familjen, och HSF1 har ansetts vara huvudregulatorn för proteotoxisk stressrespons. Men trots år av HSF-forskning förblir flera frågor obesvarade, inklusive: Finns det en HSF2-beroende genuttrycksprofil associerad med proteotoxisk stress? Driver HSF1 och HSF2 distinkta transkriptionsprogram beroende på stresstyp? Vilka är proteinerna som interagerar med HSF2? Den första studien av denna avhandling visar att HSF2 är en framträdande transkriptionsregulator av kadherin-superfamiljen av adhesionsproteiner, och att nedsatt cell-celladhesion predisponerar celler för ihållande proteotoxisk stress. Den andra studien visar att HSF1 och HSF2 är multistressresponsiva transkriptionsfaktorer, som utlöser distinkta transkriptionsprogram beroende på stresstyp. Den tredje studien karakteriserar proteininteraktomet för HSF2 i ett vävnadsrelevant sammanhang och etablerar TLN1 som den första adhesionsrelaterade HSF2-interagerande partnern. Slutligen visar den fjärde studien i denna avhandling att TLN1 också finns i cellkärnan där det starkt binder till kromatin, ackumuleras i nukleolen och reglerar genuttryck

La autosuficiencia de las Instituciones Microfinancieras durante la crisis: comparativa de los factores determinantes por zonas geográficas

El objetivo de este estudio es determinar los factores que influyen en la autosuficiencia de las Instituciones Microfinancieras (IMFs) en época de crisis y ofrecer recomendaciones para que puedan alcanzarla. Para tal fin, aplicamos un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple con 13 variables independientes relacionadas teóricamente con la autosuficiencia, sobre una muestra media anual de 502 IMFs de todo el mundo, durante el periodo de 2010 a 2012, con un mínimo de 3 diamantes y obtenida de Mix Market™. Los resultados globales sugieren que las IMFs deben dirigirse a un segmento de población menos pobre que les permita soportar un menor riesgo crediticio, aplicar tasas de interés lo suficientemente altas para cubrir todos sus costes, reducir el endeudamiento, conseguir reducir costes y ser más eficientes, así como ser una institución microfinanciera informal, no sujeta a regulación y supervisión financiera. Los resultados regionales presentan diferencias según la región que consideremosUniversidad de Sevilla. Máster Universitario en Estudios Avanzados en Dirección de Empresa

How Everything Changed! Representations of the argentinian family diversity in the documentary series "Emergency Exit"

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo realizar una aproximación a las narrativas audiovisuales de la producción documental sobre la población LGBTTTIQ+ en Argentina y más específicamente sobre las familias homoparentales. El mismo se centrará en el capítulo “Familias Diversas” de la serie “Salida de Emergencia” dirigida por Mathieu Orcel a partir de la descripción de las condiciones contextuales de producción y la potencialidad de las estrategias en su narrativa para tensionar estereotipos heteropatriarcales consolidados. Este análisis cualitativo y transdisciplinar vinculará aspectos de teorías provenientes de los estudios de las representaciones sociales, los estudios culturales, los aportes provenientes de la socio-semiótica y la teoría queer para problematizar las formas en que el verosímil documental, como prueba del mundo, devuelve a los y las agentes las posibilidades de narrarse y poner en tensión las formas segregativas que asume lo “normal”.This article presents a first approach on the audiovisual narratives of the documentary production about the LGBTTTIQ + population in Argentina, and more specifically, about homoparental families. The article will focus on the chapter "Diverse Families" of the "Emergency Exit" series directed by Mathieu Orcel. The starting point will be the description of his conditions of production and the potential of the strategies in his narrative to discuss stereotypes consolidated by the heteropatriarchy. This qualitative and transdisciplinary analysis connects aspects of diverse theories: those belonging to studies of social representations, cultural studies, contributions from socio-semiotics and Queer theory. In this manner, the analysis problematizes the ways in which the documentary verisimilitude, as a world proof, allows the agents the possibilities of narrating and generating tension on the segregated forms assumed by what is considered "normal".Fil: Silva Fernández, Alejandro Alfredo Rafael. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Investigaciones Geohistóricas. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Investigaciones Geohistóricas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Artes, Diseño y Ciencias de la Cultura; Argentin

A single-molecule FRET sensor for monitoring DNA synthesis in real time

We developed a versatile DNA assay and framework for monitoring polymerization of DNA in real time and at the single-molecule level

Ultrasound Muscle Assessment and Nutritional Status in Institutionalized Older Adults: A Pilot Study

Muscle thickness, measured by ultrasonography, has been investigated for nutritional assessment in older adults, however the associations between muscle ultrasound parameters in the lower limb and nutritional status have not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle thickness echo intensity (EI), and nutritional status in home care residents. A cross sectional study was conducted involving 19 older adults from a home care in Malaga (Spain). We evaluated lower leg muscles by ultrasound, anthropometric data, physical function (measured by gait speed and the Short Physical Performance Battery), strength (handgrip and knee extensors strength) and nutritional status across the Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF). We found that muscle thickness assessed by ultrasonography independently predicts nutritional status by MNA-SF and after adjusting for handgrip strength or age and sex. As secondary findings, we found relations between strength, functional capacity and the MNA-SF test. These results suggest that lower leg muscle ultrasound parameters could be used as a low-cost objective method for muscle evaluation in nutritional assessment in older adults