Study of the benefits and applications of LEO (Low Earth Orbit) for communications and definition of space new business models: OneWeb case

The existing global digital divide between the different geographic areas, leads to almost half of the world’s population lacking access to a reliable Internet connection. OneWeb, a global telecommunications company, aims to deploy an initial constellation of 648 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) to provide high-speed and low-latency connectivity to governments, businesses and communities around the world. Therefore, this thesis focuses on the study of the benefits provided by this orbit in the telecommunications field, for the subsequent analysis and development of OneWeb’s business model, by means of the CANVAS methodology. This project is integrated within the DISCOVERER framework, a European project dedicated to the research of innovative technologies for its application in the lowest orbits (VLEO), in which UPC is involved focusing on the market analysis to solve the existing market challenge

A meta-analysis of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) or open aortic cross-clamping by resuscitative thoracotomy in non-compressible torso hemorrhage patients

Background The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of REBOA, compared to resuscitative thoracotomy, on mortality and among non-compressible torso hemorrhage trauma patients. Methods Relevant articles were identified by a literature search in MEDLINE and EMBASE. We included studies involving trauma patients suffering non-compressible torso hemorrhage. Studies were eligible if they evaluated REBOA and compared it to resuscitative thoracotomy. Two investigators independently assessed articles for inclusion and exclusion criteria and selected studies for final analysis. We conducted meta-analysis using random effect models. Results We included three studies in our systematic review. These studies included a total of 1276 patients. An initial analysis found that although lower in REBOA-treated patients, the odds of mortality did not differ between the compared groups (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.17–1.03). Sensitivity analysis showed that the risk of mortality was significantly lower among patients who underwent REBOA, compared to those who underwent resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.68–0.97). Conclusion Our meta-analysis, mainly from observational data, suggests a positive effect of REBOA on mortality among non-compressible torso hemorrhage patients. However, these results deserve further investigation

Efecto de las medidas del BCE sobre los márgenes de intereses en España

En la etapa actual, las perspectivas de bajos niveles de rentabilidad de las entidades financieras parten del primer escalón de la cuenta de resultados, del margen de intereses. Este trabajo se ha centrado en analizar el margen de intereses del sector bancario español en el contexto europeo. Los bancos operan con márgenes de intereses muy estrechos en Europa. De hecho, en la eurozona, Alemania, Francia e Italia, el margen de intermediación no llega a cubrir los gastos de explotación de los grupos consolidados. El margen de intereses de los grupos consolidados en España se ha situado sistemáticamente por encima del resto de grandes países de la Eurozona. Este trabajo cuantifica la importancia de los distintos determinantes del margen de intermediación a través de un ejercicio de simulación. De acuerdo con nuestros resultados, la actual coyuntura de bajos tipos de interés está afectando negativamente al margen de intereses, pues este es el factor que mayor influencia tiene. En estos momentos en los que la rentabilidad bancaria está en entredicho, una subida de tipos de interés supondría un balón de oxígeno para las entidades bancarias. Les permitiría afrontar los retos estructurales a los que se enfrentan en mejores condiciones. Sin embargo, teniendo en cuenta que los indicios disponibles no inducen a pensar que en el corto plazo el BCE vaya a implementar una política monetaria radicalmente distinta con subidas rápidas de tipos de interés, el reto de aumentar la rentabilidad en el contexto de bajos tipos de interés continuará. En este sentido tres elementos son esenciales: la contención de costes y mejoras de eficiencia que permitan mejorar los resultados incluso con los tipos de interés actuales; la capacidad de generación de ingresos distintos a los intereses; y la continuidad de la mejora de la coyuntura macroeconómica que permita seguir reduciendo la parte del resultado que se detrae por las provisiones

Trajectory Reconstruction Techniques for Evaluation of ATC Systems

This paper is focused on trajectory reconstruction techniques for evaluating ATC systems, using real data of recorded opportunity traffic. We analyze different alternatives for this problem, from traditional interpolation approaches based on curve fitting to our proposed schemes based on modeling regular motion patterns with optimal smoothers. The extraction of trajectory features such as motion type (or mode of flight), maneuvers profile, geometric parameters, etc., allows a more accurate computation of the curve and the detailed evaluation of the data processors used in the ATC centre. Different alternatives will be compared with some performance results obtained with simulated and real data sets

Yra1-bound RNA–DNA hybrids cause orientation-independent transcription– replication collisions and telomere instability

R loops are an important source of genome instability, largely due to their negative impact on replication progression. Yra1/ALY is an abundant RNA-binding factor conserved from yeast to humans and required for mRNA export, but its excess causes lethality and genome instability. Here, we show that, in addition to ssDNA and ssRNA, Yra1 binds RNA–DNA hybrids in vitro and, when artificially overexpressed, can be recruited to chromatin in an RNA– DNA hybrid-dependent manner, stabilizing R loops and converting them into replication obstacles in vivo. Importantly, an excess of Yra1 increases R-loop-mediated genome instability caused by transcription–replication collisions regardless of whether they are codirectional or head-on. It also induces telomere shortening in telomerase-negative cells and accelerates senescence, consistent with a defect in telomere replication. Our results indicate that RNA–DNA hybrids form transiently in cells regardless of replication and, after stabilization by excess Yra1, compromise genome integrity, in agreement with a two-step model of R-loop-mediated genome instability. This work opens new perspectives to understand transcription-associated genome instability in repair-deficient cells, including tumoral cells.European Research Council ERC2014 AdG669898 TARLOOPMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad BFU2016-75058-PJunta de Andalucía PA12- BIO123

Biomarkers of Exposure to Zearalenone in In Vivo and In Vitro Studies

The measurement of human exposure to mycotoxins is necessary for its association with adverse health effects. This exposure is usually estimated from contamination levels of foodstuffs, which are the primary source of toxin exposure, and data on food consumption patterns. However, variations in contamination level, intestinal absorption, toxin distribution, and excretion lead to individual variations in toxin exposure that can be more readily measured with a biomarker. This review deals with the latest literature information about ZEN biomarkers in humans, animals, and cell line cultures. Their presence in urine, biomarkers that have effects in the kidney, liver, reproductive system and blood and biomarkers of cell response have been reported. It has highlighted the importance of determining a-zearalenol and ß-zearalenol biomarkers to estimate the probable dietary intake (PDI) of a specific population or to characterize the severity of exposure to ZEN in animals or cell lines. a-ZEL and ß-ZEL are cytotoxic by inhibiting cell proliferation, total protein and DNA syntheses, in this sense, an induction of expression proteins Hsp27 and Hsp70 was observed, and an increase in gene expression (TLR4, NF-kBp65, TNF-a, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, MGMT, a-GST, Hsp70, Nrf2, L-Fabp, HO-1, MAPK8), the determination of which indicates an oxidative stress effect. The integrity of the cell or tissue membrane is assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which increase at exposure of ZEN (84.2 µM), and the proportions of some fatty acids of the renal tissue membrane were increased at treatments with ZEN. This review allows starting future studies of animal and population exposure in parallel with those of health effects works. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Practical Characterization of Cell-Electrode Electrical Models in Bio-Impedance Assays

This paper presents the fitting process followed to adjust the parameters of the electrical model associated to a cell-electrode system in Electrical Cell-substrate Impedance Spectroscopy (ECIS) technique, to the experimental results from cell-culture assays. A new parameter matching procedure is proposed, under the basis of both, mismatching between electrodes and time-evolution observed in the system response, as consequence of electrode fabrication processes and electrochemical performance of electrode-solution interface, respectively. The obtained results agree with experimental performance, and enable the evaluation of the cell number in a culture, by using the electrical measurements observed at the oscillation parameters in the test circuits employed.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2013-46242-C3-1-

Sensing Cell-Culture Assays with Low-Cost Circuitry

An alternative approach for cell-culture end-point protocols is proposed herein. This new technique is suitable for real-time remote sensing. It is based on Electrical Cell-substrate Impedance Spectroscopy (ECIS) and employs the Oscillation-Based Test (OBT) method. Simple and straightforward circuit blocks form the basis of the proposed measurement system. Oscillation parameters – frequency and amplitude – constitute the outcome, directly correlated with the culture status. A user can remotely track the evolution of cell cultures in real time over the complete experiment through a web tool continuously displaying the acquired data. Experiments carried out with commercial electrodes and a well-established cell line (AA8) are described, obtaining the cell number in real time from growth assays. The electrodes have been electrically characterized along the design flow in order to predict the system performance and the sensitivity curves. Curves for 1-week cell growth are reported. The obtained experimental results validate the proposed OBT for cell-culture characterization. Furthermore, the proposed electrode model provides a good approximation for the cell number and the time evolution of the studied cultures.España, Feder TEC2013-46242-C3-1-