OPTIMAL RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR POLICIES TO MANAGE RISK UNDER UNCERTAINTY WITH ADAPTIVE CONTROL

The aim of this paper is to apply two adaptive control formulations under uncertainty, say open-loop and closed-loop, to the process of developing maintenance and repair policies for railway infrastructures. To establish the optimal maintenance and repair policies for railway lines, we use a previous design of risk model based on two factors: the criticality and the deterioration ratios of the facilities. Thus, our theory benefits from the Reliability Centered Management methodology application, but it also explicitly models uncertainty in characterizing a facility deterioration rate to decide the optimal policy to maintain the railway infrastructures. This may be the major contribution of this work. To verify the models presented, a computation study has been developed and tested for a real scenario: the railway line Villalba-Cercedilla in Madrid (Spain). Our results demonstrate again that applying any adaptive formulation, the cost of the railway lines maintenance shown is decreased. Moreover applying a Closed Loop Formulation the cost associated to the risk takes smaller values (40% less cost for the same risk than the deterministic approach), but with an Open Loop formulation the generated risk in the railway line is also smaller.

Paving the road for flipped teaching in Spanish universities

Spanish university lecturers have traditionally spent most of their contact time with students explaining theory in the classroom. Once the theoretical contents have been presented, lecturers demonstrate (with little or no student participation) several reinforcing examples and practical exercises. Student involvement only occurs when they are asked to perform a series of tasks and exercises after the lesson and generally outside the classroom. Active learning methodologies have been proven to significantly enhance the teaching-learning process, and fortunately, Spanish universities are increasingly promoting these approaches. Among these active learning methodologies, flip teaching is one of the most frequently adopted teaching strategies. However, the introduction of flip teaching poses challenges and requires a radical change of mentality from lecturers and students. To succeed, participants must abandon former work habits and work on the theoretical concepts outside the classroom, while significantly increasing the degree of interaction inside and outside the classroom. Lecturers must spearhead this process of change, but success can only be achieved with student involvement. This paper shows how flip teaching was implemented in a subject within the MSc in Project Management course at the Universitat Politècnica de València. Emphasis is given to active teaching strategy and the three basic components on which it relies: students, faculty, and the teaching learning methodology. Results and conclusions extend the discussion and provides some guidelines on facilitating the (necessary) adoption of this and other active learning methodologies in Spanish universities

CSVS, a crowdsourcing database of the Spanish population genetic variability

The knowledge of the genetic variability of the local population is of utmost importance in personalized medicine and has been revealed as a critical factor for the discovery of new disease variants. Here, we present the Collaborative Spanish Variability Server (CSVS), which currently contains more than 2000 genomes and exomes of unrelated Spanish individuals. This database has been generated in a collaborative crowdsourcing effort collecting sequencing data produced by local genomic projects and for other purposes. Sequences have been grouped by ICD10 upper categories. A web interface allows querying the database removing one or more ICD10 categories. In this way, aggregated counts of allele frequencies of the pseudo-control Spanish population can be obtained for diseases belonging to the category removed. Interestingly, in addition to pseudo-control studies, some population studies can be made, as, for example, prevalence of pharmacogenomic variants, etc. In addition, this genomic data has been used to define the first Spanish Genome Reference Panel (SGRP1.0) for imputation. This is the first local repository of variability entirely produced by a crowdsourcing effort and constitutes an example for future initiatives to characterize local variability worldwide. CSVS is also part of the GA4GH Beacon network

Teachers´perception about augmented reality for teaching science in primary education. SWOT Analysis

Esta investigación pretende: a) identificar las posibilidades didácticas de la Realidad Aumentada (RA) para el aprendizaje científico en primaria percibidas por los docentes y b) efectuar un análisis DAFO relativo a su implementación en la enseñanza de ciencias. Para ello, se analizan - mediante un cuestionario- las percepciones de una muestra de docentes (N=41) participantes en el proyecto Experiment with Augmented Reality, impulsado por la Consejería de Educación asturiana (2017-18), donde participaron 542 alumnos; y posteriormente, al término de dicho proyecto, se llevó a cabo un análisis DAFO. Entre los resultados se destaca que el profesorado considera que la RA incrementa las competencias científicas del alumnado y su motivación hacia la ciencia, fomenta la colaboración y genera un clima de aula propicio para la indagación y el trabajo por proyectos. Sin embargo, se detectan dificultades como la escasa formación docente y la precariedad de los recursos tecnológicos de las escuelas.The aims of this research are: a) to identify the educational possibilities of Augmented Reality (AR) for Science learning in primary education, according to the teachers’ perception, and b) to do a SWOT analysis related to AR implementation in Science teaching and learning. With this purpose, a survey was used to analyse the perceptions of a sample of teachers (N=41) participating in the Project Experiment with Augmented Reality, supported by the Asturian Department of Education (2017-18), which involved 542 schoolchildren. Afterwards, at the end of the project, a SWOT analysis was made. Amongst the results, it can be highlighted that, according to the teachers’ perception, AR increases scientific competences in students, as well as their motivation towards science. It also fosters collaboration and creates a classroom environment favourable for investigation and project based learning. However, some difficulties are detected, such as the limited training of teachers and the scarcity of technological resources in schools

CHK1 expression in gastric cancer is modulated by p53 and RB1/E2F1: Implications in chemo/radiotherapy response

Radiation has a limited but relevant role in the adjuvant therapy of gastric cancer (GC) patients. Since Chk1 plays a critical function in cellular response to genotoxic agents, we aimed to analyze the role of Chk1 in GC as a biomarker for radiotherapy resistance. We analyzed Chk1 expression in AGS and MKN45 human GC cell lines by RT-QPCR and WB and in a small cohort of human patient’s samples. We demonstrated that Chk1 overexpression specifically increases resistance to radiation in GC cells. Accordingly, abrogation of Chk1 activity with UCN-01 and its expression with shChk1 increased sensitivity to bleomycin and radiation. Furthermore, when we assessed Chk1 expression in human samples, we found a correlation between nuclear Chk1 accumulation and a decrease in progression free survival. Moreover, using a luciferase assay we found that Chk1’s expression is controlled by p53 and RB/E2F1 at the transcriptional level. Additionally, we present preliminary data suggesting a posttranscriptional regulation mechanism, involving miR-195 and miR-503, which are inversely correlated with expression of Chk1 in radioresistant cells. In conclusion, Chk1/microRNA axis is involved in resistance to radiation in GC, and suggests Chk1 as a potential tool for optimal stratification of patients susceptible to receive adjuvant radiotherapy after surgeryThis work was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III–Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (PS09/1988 to ISP; PI11-00949, pI014-1495 and Feder Funds to RP); Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CCG10-UAM/BIO-5871 to ISP); Fundación Leticia Castillejo Castillo and Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (SAF2012-30862 to RSP), Spain

The genetic architecture of host response reveals the importance of arbuscular mycorrhizae to maize cultivation.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous in cultivated soils, forming symbiotic relationships with the roots of major crop species. Studies in controlled conditions have demonstrated the potential of AMF to enhance the growth of host plants. However, it is difficult to estimate the actual benefit in the field, not least because of the lack of suitable AMF-free controls. Here we implement a novel strategy using the selective incorporation of AMF-resistance into a genetic mapping population to evaluate maize response to AMF. We found AMF to account for about one-third of the grain production in a medium input field, as well as to affect the relative performance of different plant genotypes. Characterization of the genetic architecture of the host response indicated a trade-off between mycorrhizal dependence and benefit. We identified several QTL linked to host benefit, supporting the feasibility of breeding crops to maximize profit from symbiosis with AMF

From Dimethylamine to Pyrrolidine: The Development of an Improved Nickel Pincer Complex for Cross-Coupling of Nonactivated Secondary Alkyl Halides

Replacement of a dimethyl amino group of the amidobis(amine) nickel(II) pincer complex (1), [((N2N)-N-Me)-Ni-Cl], by a pyrrolidino group resulted in a new nickel(II) pincer complex (2), [((PNNN)-N-yr-N-Me)Ni-Cl]. Complex 2 is an efficient catalyst for Kumada and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of nonactivated secondary alkyl halides, while complex 1 is largely inactive. The significant activity difference is tentatively attributed to a minimal structural difference, which leads to a more hemilabile ligand

A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study to Investigate the Biomarker Potential of Phosphorylated Neurofilament-H and Immune Mediators of Disability in Patients With 5 Year Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: To test the feasibility of conducting a full-scale project evaluating the potential value of the phosphorylated neurofilament H (pNF-H) and several cytokines as disability markers in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods: Twenty-four patients with 5-year RRMS evolution and eleven healthy control subjects entered the study. None of the participants had an inflammatory systemic or metabolic disease. Disability progression was evaluated using the Expanded Disability Status Scale. Serum level of pNF-H, the anti-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β1), and the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-17A (IL-17A), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and soluble intercellular cell-adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The patients had higher serum level of TGF-β1, IL-6, sICAM-1, and pNF-H. Based on these findings, a sample of at least 49 controls and 89 recent-onset RRMS patients is required to find an at least 1-point between-group difference in pNF-H with a power of 80% and an α error = 0.05. The progression of the disease was correlated with the level of pNF-H (Spearman rho = 0.624, p = 0.006), but not with the cytokines'. Conclusions: The serum level of pNF-H, EDSS score-correlated, might stand for a potential biomarker of disability in RRMS reflecting progressive axonal damage and cumulative neurological deterioration. The novelty of these results warrants conducting a larger confirmatory trial.Fil: Herrera, María Inés. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Kolliker Frers, Rodolfo Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; Argentina. Universidad Maimónides; ArgentinaFil: Otero-losada, Matilde Estela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Perez Lloret, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Filippo, Macarena del Rosario. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires"; ArgentinaFil: Tau, Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Capani, Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; Argentina. Universidad Argentina "John F. Kennedy"; Argentina. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires"; ArgentinaFil: Villa, Andrés M.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; Argentin

Chronic and acute effects on skin temperature from a sport consisting of repetitive impacts from hitting a ball with the hands

Valencian handball consists in hitting the ball with the hands and it may contribute to injury development on the hands. This study aimed to analyze skin temperature asymmetries and recovery after a cold stress test (CST) in professional players of Valencian handball before and after a competition. Thirteen professional athletes and a control group of ten physically active participants were measured. For both groups, infrared images were taken at the baseline condition; later they underwent a thermal stress test (pressing for 2 min with the palm of the hand on a metal plate) and then recovery images were taken. In athletes, the images were also taken after their competition. Athletes at baseline condition presented lower temperatures (p < 0.05) in the dominant hand compared with the non-dominant hand. There were asymmetries in all regions after their match (p < 0.05). After CST, a higher recovery rate was found after the game. The regions with the most significant differences in variation, asymmetries and recovery patterns were the index, middle and ring fingers, and the palm of the dominant hand. Taking into account that lower temperatures and the absence of temperature variation may be the consequence of a vascular adaptation, thermography could be used as a method to prevent injuries in athletes from Valencian handball

Development of Potent Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses in Long-Term Hemodialysis Patients After 1273-mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination

Long-term hemodialysis (HD) patients are considered vulnerable and at high-risk of developing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection due to their immunocompromised condition. Since COVID-19 associated mortality rates are higher in HD patients, vaccination is critical to protect them. The response towards vaccination against COVID-19 in HD patients is still uncertain and, in particular the cellular immune response is not fully understood. We monitored the humoral and cellular immune responses by analysis of the serological responses and Spike-specific cellular immunity in COVID-19-recovered and naïve HD patients in a longitudinal study shortly after vaccination to determine the protective effects of 1273-mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in these high-risk patients. In naïve HD patients, the cellular immune response measured by IL-2 and IFN-ɣ secretion needed a second vaccine dose to significantly increase, with a similar pattern for the humoral response. In contrast, COVID-19 recovered HD patients developed a potent and rapid cellular and humoral immune response after the first vaccine dose. Interestingly, when comparing COVID-19 recovered healthy volunteers (HV), previously vaccinated with BNT162b2 vaccine to HD patients vaccinated with 1273-mRNA, these exhibited a more robust immune response that is maintained longitudinally. Our results indicate that HD patients develop strong cellular and humoral immune responses to 1273-mRNA vaccination and argue in favor of personalized immune monitoring studies in HD patients, especially if COVID-19 pre-exposed, to adapt COVID-19 vaccination protocols for this immunocompromised population.Funding was obtained from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) RICORS program to RICORS2040 (RD21/0005/0001), FEDER funds; Acción Estratégica en Salud Intramural (AESI), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, grant number AESI PI21CIII_00022 to PP and Healthstar-plus -REACT-UE Grant through Segovia Arana Research Institute Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda-IDIPHIM. JO is a member of VACCELERATE (European Corona Vaccine Trial Accelerator Platform) Network, which aims to facilitate and accelerate the design and implementation of COVID-19 phase 2 and 3 vaccine trials. JO is a member of the INsTRuCT under the MSC grant agreement Nº860003 (Innovative Training in Myeloid Regulatory Cell Therapy) Consortium, a network of European scientists from academia and industry focused on developing innovative immunotherapies.S