Memory hierarchy characterization of NoSQL applications through full-system simulation

In this work, we conduct a detailed memory characterization of a representative set of modern data-management software (Cassandra, MongoDB, OrientDB and Redis) running an illustrative NoSQL benchmark suite (YCSB). These applications are widely popular NoSQL databases with different data models and features such as in-memory storage. We compare how these data-serving applications behave with respect to other well-known benchmarks, such as SPEC CPU2006, PARSEC and NAS Parallel Benchmark. The methodology employed for evaluation relies on state-of-the-art full-system simulation tools, such as gem5. This allows us to explore configurations unattainable using performance monitoring units in actual hardware, being able to characterize memory properties. The results obtained suggest that NoSQL application behavior is not dissimilar to conventional workloads. Therefore, some of the optimizations present in state-of-the-art hardware might have a direct benefit. Nevertheless, there are some common aspects that are distinctive of conventional benchmarks that might be sufficiently relevant to be considered in architectural design. Strikingly, we also found that most database engines, independently of aspects such as workload or database size, exhibit highly uniform behavior. Finally, we show that different data-base engines make highly distinctive demands on the memory hierarchy, some being more stringent than others.This work was supported in part by the Spanish Government (Secretarıa de Estado de Investigacion, Desarrollo e Innovacion) under Grants TIN2015-66979-R and TIN2016-80512-R

Characterisation of neuronal and glial populations of the visual system during zebrafish lifespan

[EN] During visual system morphogenesis, several cell populations arise at different time points correlating with the expression of specific molecular markers We have analysed the distribution pattern of three molecular markers (zn-1, calretinin and glial fibrillary acidic protein) which are involved in the development of zebrafish retina and optic tectum. Zn-1 is a neural antigen expressed in the developing zebrafish central nervous system. Calretinin is the first calcium-binding protein expressed in the central nervous system of vertebrates and it is widely distributed in different neuronal populations of vertebrate retina, being a valuable marker for its early and late development. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which is an astroglial marker, is a useful tool for characterising the glial environment in which the optic axons develop. We describe the expression profile changes in these three markers throughout the zebrafish lifespan with special attention to ganglion cells and their projections. Zn-1 is expressed in the first postmitotic ganglion cells of the retina. Calretinin is observed in the ganglion and amacrine cells of the retina in neurons of different tectal bands and in axons of retinofugal projections. GFAP is localised in the endfeet of Müller cells and in radial processes of the optic tectum after hatching. A transient expression of GFAP in the optic nerve, coinciding with the arrival of the first calretinin-immunoreactive optic axons, is observed. As axonal growth occurs in these regions of the zebrafish visual pathway (retina and optic tectum)throughout the lifespan, a relationship between GFAP expression and the correct arrangement of the first optic axons may exist. In conclusion we provide valuable neuroanatomical data about the best characterised sensorial pathway to be used in further studies such as teratology and toxicology

Novel designs of planar filters in microstrip and finline technologies using split ring resonators

RESUMEN: En este artículo se presenta una técnica mejorada para diseñar filtros en configuraciones planares. Este nuevo procedimiento se aplica para mejorar el desempeño de estos dispositivos. Este trabajo ilustra que los resonadores de anillos complementarios divididos (CSRRs) acoplados eléctricamente a una línea de transmisión y los resonadores de anillos divididos (SRRs) acoplados magnéticamente a una estructura finline pueden emplearse con la intención de mejorar el diseño de tales filtros. Con este propósito se analizan variantes clásicas de filtros de ondas milimétricas. Estos componentes incluyen filtros pasabajo de microcinta, filtros finline pasabanda y supresores de banda, así como filtros supresores de banda en finline antipodal. Se discuten las propiedades de estas configuraciones y los resultados experimentales se encuentran en buen acuerdo con las simulaciones. Los resultados muestran la utilidad y validez de las nuevas estructuras ya que es posible lograr bajas pérdidas de inserción y bandas de transición muy agudas con alta capacidad de rechazo.ABSTRACT: In this paper an improved technique is outlined to design filters in planar configurations. The new procedure is applied to enhance the performance of these devices. This work illustrates that complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs), electrically coupled to a microstrip transmission line and split-ring resonators (SRRs) magnetically coupled to a finline structure can be applied to improve the design of such filters. For this purpose, classical variants of millimeter wave filters have been analyzed. These components include microstrip low-pass filters, finline bandpass/bandstop filters and antipodal finline bandstop filters. The properties of these configurations are discussed; the experimental data are in good agreement with the simulations. The results show the usefulness and validity of the new structures as it is possible to achieve a very low insertion loss and very sharp transition bands with high rejection capabilities.Los autores agradecen al Ministerio Español de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN) por el apoyo financiero brindado a través del proyecto TEC2008-06684-C03-01 y CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 CSD2008-00068

Laboratorio virtual de histología

Memoria ID-0057. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente 2008-2009

Packaged multi-core fiber interferometer for high temperature sensing

[EN]A small size and compactly packaged optical sensor for high-temperature measurements is reported. The sensor consists of a short piece of multi-core fiber (MCF) spliced to the distal end of a single-mode fiber. The packaging consists of an inner ceramic shield that prevents bending, curvature, and vibration effects on the MCF, and an outer metallic shield that protects the device against impacts. The interaction between specific supermodes excited in the MCF creates an interference pattern that shifts linearly with the temperature. The sensor was calibrated in the range from 200 to 1000 °C and a K-type thermocouple was used as a reference. The average temperature sensitivity was found to be 24.8 pm/°C with a response time of 15 s. Our results indicate that our MCF interferometric thermometer is as accurate as an electronic one with the advantage that it is passive. Therefore, we believe that the proposed sensor is suitable for industrial applications.This work was funded in part by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), in part by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under project TEC2015-638263-C03-1-R, and in part by the Gobierno Vasco/Eusko Jaurlaritza IT933-16 and ELKARTEK (KK/00033, KK-2017/00089 and KK-2018/00078). The work of Josu Amorebieta is supported in part by a PhD fellowship from the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vicerrectorado de Euskera y Formación Continua

Ensayos formativos autoevaluables en asignaturas del área Biología Celular

Memoria ID12-0146. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2012-2013

A colorectal cancer susceptibility new variant at 4q26 in the Spanish population identified by genome-wide association analysis

BACKGROUND: Non-hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complex disorder resulting from the combination of genetic and non-genetic factors. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are useful for identifying such genetic susceptibility factors. However, the single loci so far associated with CRC only represent a fraction of the genetic risk for CRC development in the general population. Therefore, many other genetic risk variants alone and in combination must still remain to be discovered. The aim of this work was to search for genetic risk factors for CRC, by performing single-locus and two-locus GWAS in the Spanish population. RESULTS: A total of 801 controls and 500 CRC cases were included in the discovery GWAS dataset. 77 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)s from single-locus and 243 SNPs from two-locus association analyses were selected for replication in 423 additional CRC cases and 1382 controls. In the meta-analysis, one SNP, rs3987 at 4q26, reached GWAS significant p-value (p = 4.02×10(-8)), and one SNP pair, rs1100508 CG and rs8111948 AA, showed a trend for two-locus association (p = 4.35×10(-11)). Additionally, our GWAS confirmed the previously reported association with CRC of five SNPs located at 3q36.2 (rs10936599), 8q24 (rs10505477), 8q24.21(rs6983267), 11q13.4 (rs3824999) and 14q22.2 (rs4444235). CONCLUSIONS: Our GWAS for CRC patients from Spain confirmed some previously reported associations for CRC and yielded a novel candidate risk SNP, located at 4q26. Epistasis analyses also yielded several novel candidate susceptibility pairs that need to be validated in independent analyses

Innovaciones y mejoras en el proyecto tutoría entre compañeros. Curso 2015-2016

Memoria ID-0137. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2015-2016

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Educación financiera para la toma de decisiones de los estudiantes universitarios

Partner de producción: - Sinergia Ciberseguridad - Efecto Comunicación - La Sastrería, Branding & MediaVídeo de educación financiera para estudiantes universitarios estructurado en tres módulos: - Módulo I: ¿Merece la pena hacer un máster? El primer módulo comienza con una breve introducción en la que se enfrenta al estudiante ante una posible decisión que habrá de plantearse al terminar su grado, como es la de realizar un máster o empezar a trabajar. A continuación, se plantea como primer análisis el estudio de la viabilidad económica de la realización del máster. Mediante un ejemplo numérico se comparan dos escenarios, el de un estudiante que no estudia el máster y comienza a trabajar tras la terminación de su grado, frente a la de un estudiante que estudia el máster y se incorpora al mercado de trabajo un año después. En ambos escenarios, se usan datos de tasas de colocación y salarios previstos diferentes referenciados a estadísticas o estudios. Se enseña a los estudiantes a ponderar los ingresos previstos en función de las probabilidades de colocación en las dos opciones de hacer o no el máster, a estimar cobros y pagos derivados de ambas alternativas, a tomar en consideración el coste de oportunidad de hacer el máster (ingresos no percibidos durante el año que se cursa el máster), y a actualizar o descontar al momento presente las cantidades futuras —para tener en cuenta el distinto valor del dinero a lo largo del tiempo— y a compararlas en base al criterio del valor actualizado neto (VAN) incremental (de una alternativa respecto de la otra). - Módulo II: ¿Pido un préstamo para hacer el máster? Este módulo se relaciona con la decisión de financiación del máster a través de un préstamo de estudios que se plantea como ejemplo. Se guía al estudiante en la toma de la decisión dando respuesta a cuatro preguntas relacionadas con la capacidad de endeudamiento del individuo, el cálculo del coste del préstamo, el plazo de devolución y las consecuencias del impago del préstamo. A través de estas respuestas se introducen conceptos financieros como la «regla del 40%», la «tasa anual equivalente» (TAE), la relación entre plazo, carencia y montante de intereses a pagar, y el presupuesto de tesorería. - Módulo III: ¿Qué otros aspectos influyen en mi decisión? La heurística de disponibilidad. Este módulo final introduce al estudiante en el tema de los sesgos cognitivos. Tras definir en qué consisten, se explica uno de los sesgos que pueden afectar a la decisión objeto de estudio —pedir un préstamo para un máster— como es la «heurística de disponibilidad». Se dan ejemplos de este sesgo, tanto de carácter general como específicos, sobre las decisiones de invertir y financiar un máster universitario, y se recomienda basarse en fuentes de información fiables y contrastadas, así como en asesoramiento experto.Proyecto de investigación "Evaluación experimental del impacto de metodologías alternativas de educación financiera sobre riesgo en las decisiones financieras de los estudiantes universitarios", financiado por la Fundación de las Cajas de Ahorros (FUNCAS). Ref. EF021/2018