Effect of the axial jet on the optimal response in Batchelor vortex

En este póster se estudia la respuesta óptima del torbellino de Batchelor para distintos números de onda. Se demuestra que incluso teniendo la velocidad axial, un torbellino es capaz de tener grandes amplificaciones de energía.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Wingtip vortex in a NACA0012 airfoil and its active control

Contribución mediante sesión pósterWe conduct experiments in a towing-tank to analyse the flow patterns of wingtip vortices in a NACA 0012 airfoil. In this experimental research, we provide PIV measurements and flow visualisations. Without active control, several parameters are given experimentally as function of the Reynolds number, so we compare these data with the theoretical models of Batchelor, and Moore and Saffman together with DNS. Secondly, we analyse the effect of a continuous injection in the spanwise direction. The continuous jet has a strong influence on the wing-tip vortex formation. We explore this effect at low chord based Reynolds number ranging from 7000 up to 20000. We change the aspect ratio of the injection, R, defined as the ratio of the velocities between the jet (Uj) and free-stream (U). For R=1, we find that the jet strongly affects the wingtip vortex formation with a sudden decrement of the axial vorticity and the azimuthal velocity. This technique is a challenge and a promising tool to reduce the intensity of the vortex core.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Global stability map of the flow in a horizontal concentric cylinder forced by natural convection.

There are a large number of studies in the literature on natural convection in the annulus between horizontal concentric cylinders. However, not many publications dealing with global stability analysis in this kind of flow have been published. For a fixed diameter ratio L/Di = (Ro − Ri)/2Ri, being Ri and Ro the inner and outer cylinder radii respectively, and assuming Boussinesq approximation, the solution only depends on Prandtl (P r ≡ ν/α) and Rayleigh (Ra ≡ g β L3 (Ti − To)/(ν α)) numbers. A spectral collocation code has been developed to solve the problem by means of Chebyshev and Fourier differentiation matrices for L/Di = 0.8 and it has been validated with classical experimental results. Steady solutions have been sought within the range P r ∈ [1e−2, 1] and Ra ∈ [1e-2, 5e6]. As a result, a steady solution Pr-Ra map (consisting of 149 x 75 points) has been traced, where the different families of similar solutions found are detailed, mainly characterized by presenting single or multiple plumes. In addition, two main double-solution regions have been found

Learning contract, co-operative and flipped learning as useful tools for studying metabolism

Es el Abstract de una comunicación a un congreso internacional sobre educaciónUndergraduate students in Biology identify Metabolic Biochemistry as a particularly difficult subject. This is due to the fact that students need to interconnect properly all the contents of its syllabus throughout their study of the subject in order to get a global insight of the complex regulatory features controlling metabolic pathways within the metabolic network under different physiologic and pathologic conditions, as well as metabolism as a whole. Due to these objective difficulties, a high percentage of our students face the study of this subject as a very hard task beyond their forces and capacities. This perception leads to high rates of premature dropout. In previous years, less than 40% of all the registered students attended the examinations of Metabolic Biochemistry (a subject in the second year of the Degree of Biology at our University). Even worse, less than 25% of our students passed the exams. From the academic year 2015/16 on, we are developing innovative teaching projects (PIE15-163 and PIE17-145, funded by University of Malaga) aimed to increase our student loyalty to the subject (and hence to increase their attendance to exams) and to help them to learn more effectively metabolism and its regulation. These innovative teaching projects are based on the use of several powerful tools: a learning contract and problem-based learning within the framework of group tasks promoting an actual collaborative learning in a flipped classroom. The present communication will show the implementation of the PIE15-163 and PIE17-145 projects and some results obtained from them.This work was supported by Malaga University funds granted to the educational innovation project PIE17-145. The attendance to the END2018 International Conference on Education and New Developments (June 2018, Budapest, Hungary) has received a grant from "I Plan Propio Integral de Docencia. Universidad de Málaga"]

Identification of Importin 8 (IPO8) as the most accurate reference gene for the clinicopathological analysis of lung specimens

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The accurate normalization of differentially expressed genes in lung cancer is essential for the identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers by real time RT-PCR and microarrays. Although classical "housekeeping" genes, such as GAPDH, HPRT1, and beta-actin have been widely used in the past, their accuracy as reference genes for lung tissues has not been proven.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have conducted a thorough analysis of a panel of 16 candidate reference genes for lung specimens and lung cell lines. Gene expression was measured by quantitative real time RT-PCR and expression stability was analyzed with the softwares <it>GeNorm </it>and <it>NormFinder</it>, mean of |ΔCt| (= |Ct Normal-Ct tumor|) ± SEM, and correlation coefficients among genes. Systematic comparison between candidates led us to the identification of a subset of suitable reference genes for clinical samples: IPO8, ACTB, POLR2A, 18S, and PPIA. Further analysis showed that IPO8 had a very low mean of |ΔCt| (0.70 ± 0.09), with no statistically significant differences between normal and malignant samples and with excellent expression stability.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data show that IPO8 is the most accurate reference gene for clinical lung specimens. In addition, we demonstrate that the commonly used genes GAPDH and HPRT1 are inappropriate to normalize data derived from lung biopsies, although they are suitable as reference genes for lung cell lines. We thus propose IPO8 as a novel reference gene for lung cancer samples.</p

Torymus sinensis Kamijo, a biocontrol agent against the invasive chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu in Spain: its natural dispersal from France and the first data on establishment after experimental releases

Aim of study: The globally invasive gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu, 1951 (Cynipidae: Cynipini), reached Spain seven years ago and is already regarded as an important pest of chestnuts (Castanea spp.) in this country as well as worldwide. In this paper, we present comprehensive data on the establishment in Spain of Torymus sinensis Kamijo, 1982 (Chalcidoidea: Torymidae), an effective non-native natural enemy of this pest, as a result of both natural dispersal and settlement after controlled releases since 2015.Area of study: Sites of the Spanish autonomous communities of Galicia, Asturias, Basque Country, Catalonia, Andalusia and Madrid where D. kuriphilus is present.Material and methods: To study the natural dispersal of T. sinensis from France, we selected two sampling sites in Catalonia, six in the Basque Country and two in Navarra known for their heavy Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW) infestation; to study T. sinensis establishment after authorized controlled releases by the concerned authorities, the field samplings were done mainly in Galicia (35 sites) and Andalusia (8 sites). Additionally an experimental release study was made in Madrid.Main Results: Our results showed that T. sinensis has spread throughout Spain by natural dispersal across the French border and now occurs in Catalonia (two sites), the Basque Country (three sites) and Navarra (one site) but not in the neighbouring region of Cantabria. The percentage of parasitism by T. sinensis on D. kuriphilus is higher in the Basque Country sites, which are close to the French border, thus indicating that its establishment in these localities is not recent. After controlled releases, T. sinensis has been successfully established in five release sites in Andalusia (Valle del Genal and Sierra Blanca, Málaga Province) and one release site in Madrid. However, in the region of Galicia (NW Spain), where the number of authorized releases has been higher, the establishment of T. sinensis still appears to be very low.Research highlights: Established populations of T. sinensis may exert a positive buffer against D. kuriphilus-driven chestnut infestation in Spain, similar to what is observed in other invaded European countries.Additional Keywords: Controlled releases, Torymidae, invasive species, Cynipidae, natural spread, biological control.Abbreviations used: Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW); Torymus sinensis parasitism rate (TsPR); mean of ACGW larval chambers per gall (MACGW)

ME20-S as a Potential Biomarker for the Evaluation of Uveal Melanoma

PURPOSE: We previously identified the presence of the melanocyte-specific secreted (ME20-S) glycoprotein in secretomes of uveal melanoma (UM) cultures. The aim of this study was to test for the presence and levels of ME20-S in the serum of patients with choroidal nevi and UM and correlate these levels with individual clinical data. METHODS: Serum ME20-S levels were determined by ELISA in 111 patients distributed into four categories (53 choroidal nevi, 30 untreated UM, 11 10-year disease-free [DF] UM, 17 hepatic metastatic UM) and 32 age- and sex-matched controls. ME20-S levels were correlated with individual clinical data. RESULTS: The UM and the metastatic groups showed significantly higher levels of serum ME20-S than the other groups (P < 0.001). ME20-S levels in the DF patients did not differ from those in the control group. In addition, log-transformed serum ME20-S levels showed a positive correlation with the thickness of the lesion mass in UM patients (regression coefficient 0.0689, 95% confidence interval 0.0689-0.1123, R2 = 27.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated ME20-S serum levels are associated with tumor size and advanced stages of UM while low levels are characteristic of DF patients. ME20-S might be a promising serum marker for UM and useful for monitoring metastatic disease

Breast Cancer Detection by Means of Artificial Neural Networks

Breast cancer is a fatal disease causing high mortality in women. Constant efforts are being made for creating more efficient techniques for early and accurate diagnosis. Classical methods require oncologists to examine the breast lesions for detection and classification of various stages of cancer. Such manual attempts are time consuming and inefficient in many cases. Hence, there is a need for efficient methods that diagnoses the cancerous cells without human involvement with high accuracies. In this research, image processing techniques were used to develop imaging biomarkers through mammography analysis and based on artificial intelligence technology aiming to detect breast cancer in early stages to support diagnosis and prioritization of high-risk patients. For automatic classification of breast cancer on mammograms, a generalized regression artificial neural network was trained and tested to separate malignant and benign tumors reaching an accuracy of 95.83%. With the biomarker and trained neural net, a computer-aided diagnosis system is being designed. The results obtained show that generalized regression artificial neural network is a promising and robust system for breast cancer detection. The Laboratorio de Innovacion y Desarrollo Tecnologico en Inteligencia Artificial is seeking collaboration with research groups interested in validating the technology being developed

Estudio para la mejora de la calidad del grado en Trabajo Social en atención a las necesidades de nuestros egresados y sus empleadores

Mediante este proyecto la Facultad de Trabajo Social de la UCM pretende conocer cuáles son las necesidades formativas de nuestros alumnos con el principal objetivo de hacer una modificación en la titulación que pueda dar respuesta a las necesidades de conocimiento de nuestros profesionales así como conocer las condiciones esenciales en las que nuestros egresado acceden al mercado laboral

La enseñanza del metabolismo: retos y oportunidades

En el marco del Proyecto de Innovación Educativa de la Universidad de Málaga PIE15-163, cuya descripción y resultados incluimos, decidimos que esta era una excelente oportunidad para reflexionar acerca de la enseñanza del metabolismo y de poner por escrito dichas reflexiones en un libro. Quisimos y pudimos contar con la colaboración de buena parte de los compañeros del Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica que apoyaron con su firma el proyecto PIE15-163 y extendimos nuestra invitaciones a otros compañeros de dentro y fuera de la Universidad de Málaga. Del Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica de la Universidad de Málaga hemos recibido aportaciones de los catedráticos Victoriano Valpuesta Fernández, Ana Rodríguez Quesada y Antonio Heredia Bayona, los profesores titulares María Josefa Pérez Rodríguez, José Luis Urdiales Ruiz e Ignacio Fajardo Paredes y la investigadora postdoctoral y profesora sustituta interina Beatriz Martínez Poveda. De otros departamentos de la Universidad de Málaga hemos contado con las aportaciones de la catedrática del Departamento de Especialidades Quirúrgicas, Bioquímica e Inmunología Pilar Morata Losa, del catedrático del Departamento de Lenguajes y Ciencias de la Computación José Francisco Aldana Montes y los componentes de su grupo de investigación Khaos Ismael Navas Delgado, María Jesús García Godoy, Esteban López Camacho y Maciej Rybinski, del catedrático Ángel Blanco López, del Área de Conocimiento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales y del Doctor en Ciencias Químicas y actual doctorando del Programa de Doctorado "Educación y Comunicación Social" Ángel Luis García Ponce. De fuera de la Universidad de Málaga, hemos contado con las aportaciones del catedrático de la Universidad de La Laguna Néstor V. Torres Darias, de la catedrática de la Universitat de les Illes Balears Pilar Roca Salom y de sus compañeros los profesores Jorge Sastre Serra y Jordi Oliver, de los catedráticos de la Universidad de Granada Rafael Salto González y María Dolores Girón González y su colaborador el Dr. José Dámaso Vílchez Rienda, del profesor titular de la Universidad de Alcalá Ángel Herráez, del investigador postdoctoral de la Universidad de Erlangen (Alemania) Guido Santos y del investigador postdoctoral de la empresa Brain Dynamics Carlos Rodríguez Caso.Hemos estructurado los contenidos del libro en diversas secciones. La primera presenta el Proyecto en cuyo marco se ha gestado la iniciativa que ha conducido a la edición del presente libro. La segunda sección la hemos titulado "¿Qué metabolismo?" e incluye diversas aportaciones personales que reflexionan acerca de qué metabolismo debe conocer un graduado en Bioquímica, en Biología, en Química, en Farmacia o en Medicina, así como una aportación acerca de qué bioquímica estructural y enzimología son útiles y necesarias para un estudiante que vaya a afrontar el estudio del metabolismo. La tercera sección, "Bases conceptuales", analiza las aportaciones del aprendizaje colaborativo, el contrato de aprendizaje y el aprendizaje basado en la resolución de casos prácticos a la mejora del proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje dentro del campo de la Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, más concretamente en el estudio del metabolismo. La cuarta sección se titula "Herramientas", es la más extensa e incluye las diversas aportaciones centradas en propuestas concretas de aplicación relevantes y útiles para la mejora de la docencia-aprendizaje del metabolismo. Sigue una sección dedicada a presentar de forma resumida los "Resultados" del proyecto PIE15-163. El libro concluye con una "coda final" en la que se reflexiona acerca del aprendizaje de la Química a la luz de la investigación didáctica.Patrocinado por el Proyecto de Innovación Educativa de la Universidad de Málaga PIE15-16