NAUTILUS Navigator: Búsqueda Interactiva de Soluciones en Optimización Multiobjetivo sin Trade-offs

En este trabajo, se propone un método interactivo de ayuda a la decisión para resolver problemas de optimización multiobjetivo: NAUTILUS Navigator. En este método, el decisor explora libremente el espacio de objetivos hasta que encuentra la solución eficiente que mejor se ajusta a sus preferencias. El proceso de búsqueda consiste en navegar, en tiempo real, por el conjunto de soluciones hasta converger en la solución preferida, partiendo de una solución "mala"(en el sentido de que alcanza valores no deseables para las funciones objetivo). La información preferencial que proporciona el decisor consiste en valores de aspiración para cada función objetivo, así como cotas que no desearía sobrepasar.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Combining reference point based composite indicators with data envelopment analysis: application to the assessment of universities

In our knowledge society, where universities are key players, the assessment of higher education institutions should meet the new demands of the present complex environment. This calls for the use of techniques that are able to manage this complexity. In this paper, we propose a novel combination of methodologies, jointly using a multi-criteria reference point scheme and the data envelopment analysis (DEA) for the assessment of universities. This combination allows us to take into account all the aspects regarded as relevant to assess university performance, and use them as outputs in the efficiency analysis. Our findings highlight the convenience to assess the university performance by using both compensatory and non-compensatory schemes. This way, the information provided allows to detect the actions needed to improve the performances of the universities, rather than just giving an overall performance measure. Furthermore, combining the use of composite indicators with the DEA analysis provides a more complete picture of the institutions assessed, allowing universities to check their efficiency and to detect their weaknesses and strengths accordingly. The approach is illustrated using data of 47 Spanish public universities for the academic year, 2016–2017.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA

Sustainability assessment of european countries through the use of multiple criterio. Decision-making and econometric techniques

Sustainability is defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Commonly, it is evaluated using three basic dimensions: social, economic, and environmental. Ideally, the best sustainability situation would be attained when maximizing the benefits in the economic, social, and environmental dimensions, but there is a natural conflict among these three dimensions. Here, we study the sustainability performance of European Countries by applying a methodology that combines both multiple criteria decision-making techniques and econometrics. Using individual sustainability development indicators available in the EUROSTAT database (from 2010-2019), we first build composite indicators to assess the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of the territories, using the Multiple Reference Point Weak and Strong Composite Indicators methodology. Secondly, we perform an econometric analysis to regress the composite indicators only considering individual indicators that are controllable by policy makers. The purpose is to get insights into the impact that a modification of these controllable individual indicators would have on the overall sustainable development of the territories. Finally, we focus on Spain, whose sustainability situation can be improved. However, to make a decision about how to improve its situation, further information is needed in order to know the extent of the possible improvement, the trade-offs existing among the dimensions, and how this improvement could be attained. Therefore, we build a multiobjetive optimization problem based on the econometric analysis to identify the most desired compromise among the three dimensions to enhance the sustainability situation of Spain. Using preference-based multiobjective optimization techniques, we solve the problem with different preferences to analyse the possible improvements that could be achieved under different scenarios.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Evaluación de la sostenibilidad de los países europeos mediante técnicas cuantitativas

En este trabajo proponemos estudiar los resultados en materia de sostenibilidad de los países europeos aplicando una metodología que combina técnicas de toma de decisiones multicriterio y econométricas. A partir de los datos disponibles en la base de datos de EUROSTAT (2010-2019) referidos al desarrollo de la sostenibilidad para los países europeos (indicadores individuales), construimos indicadores compuestos para evaluar las dimensiones económica, social y medioambiental de los países. Estos indicadores se construyen usando la metodología Múltiple Punto de Referencia para Indicadores Compuestos Fuertes y Débiles. De acuerdo con la información obtenida, en segundo lugar, realizamos un análisis econométrico para hacer una regresión de los indicadores compuestos teniendo en cuenta únicamente aquellos indicadores individuales que son de alguna manera controlables. El objetivo principal es obtener información sobre el impacto que tiene una modificación de estos indicadores individuales controlables sobre el desarrollo sostenible global de los territorios. Con el propósito de tomar una decisión sobre cómo mejorar la situación española, se necesita más información para conocer el alcance de la posible mejora y las compensaciones existentes entre las tres dimensiones. Por lo tanto, construimos un problema de optimización multiobjetivo basado en el análisis econométrico anterior, cuyo objetivo es identificar el compromiso más deseado entre las tres dimensiones (económica, social y medioambiental) para mejorar la situación de sostenibilidad de España.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Hydroxychloroquine is associated with a lower risk of polyautoimmunity: data from the RELESSER Registry

Objectives. This article estimates the frequency of polyautoimmunity and associated factors in a large retrospective cohort of patients with SLE. Methods. RELESSER (Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry) is a nationwide multicentre, hospital-based registry of SLE patients. This is a cross-sectional study. The main variable was polyautoimmunity, which was defined as the co-occurrence of SLE and another autoimmune disease, such as autoimmune thyroiditis, RA, scleroderma, inflammatory myopathy and MCTD. We also recorded the presence of multiple autoimmune syndrome, secondary SS, secondary APS and a family history of autoimmune disease. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate possible risk factors for polyautoimmunity. Results. Of the 3679 patients who fulfilled the criteria for SLE, 502 (13.6%) had polyautoimmunity. The most frequent types were autoimmune thyroiditis (7.9%), other systemic autoimmune diseases (6.2%), secondary SS (14.1%) and secondary APS (13.7%). Multiple autoimmune syndrome accounted for 10.2% of all cases of polyautoimmunity. A family history was recorded in 11.8%. According to the multivariate analysis, the factors associated with polyautoimmunity were female sex [odds ratio (95% CI), 1.72 (1.07, 2.72)], RP [1.63 (1.29, 2.05)], interstitial lung disease [3.35 (1.84, 6.01)], Jaccoud arthropathy [1.92 (1.40, 2.63)], anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB autoantibodies [2.03 (1.55, 2.67)], anti-RNP antibodies [1.48 (1.16, 1.90)], MTX [1.67 (1.26, 2.18)] and antimalarial drugs [0.50 (0.38, 0.67)]. Conclusion. Patients with SLE frequently present polyautoimmunity. We observed clinical and analytical characteristics associated with polyautoimmunity. Our finding that antimalarial drugs protected against polyautoimmunity should be verified in future studies

Relevance of gastrointestinal manifestations in a large Spanish cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: what do we know?

SLE can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. GI symptoms are reported to occur in >50% of SLE patients. To describe the GI manifestations of SLE in the RELESSER (Registry of SLE Patients of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology) cohort and to determine whether these are associated with a more severe disease, damage accrual and a worse prognosis. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide, retrospective, multicentre, cross-sectional cohort study of 3658 SLE patients who fulfil =4 ACR-97 criteria. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, activity (SLEDAI-2K or BILAG), damage (SLICC/ACR/DI) and therapies were collected. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between lupus patients with and without GI damage to establish whether GI damage is associated with a more severe disease. RESULTS: From 3654 lupus patients, 3.7% developed GI damage. Patients in this group (group 1) were older, they had longer disease duration, and were more likely to have vasculitis, renal disease and serositis than patients without GI damage (group 2). Hospitalizations and mortality were significantly higher in group 1. Patients in group 1 had higher modified SDI (SLICC Damage Index). The presence of oral ulcers reduced the risk of developing damage in 33% of patients. CONCLUSION: Having GI damage is associated with a worse prognosis. Patients on a high dose of glucocorticoids are at higher risk of developing GI damage which reinforces the strategy of minimizing glucocorticoids. Oral ulcers appear to decrease the risk of GI damage. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology

Outcomes of elective liver surgery worldwide: a global, prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study

Background: The outcomes of liver surgery worldwide remain unknown. The true population-based outcomes are likely different to those vastly reported that reflect the activity of highly specialized academic centers. The aim of this study was to measure the true worldwide practice of liver surgery and associated outcomes by recruiting from centers across the globe. The geographic distribution of liver surgery activity and complexity was also evaluated to further understand variations in outcomes. Methods: LiverGroup.org was an international, prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study following the Global Surgery Collaborative Snapshot Research approach with a 3-month prospective, consecutive patient enrollment within January–December 2019. Each patient was followed up for 90 days postoperatively. All patients undergoing liver surgery at their respective centers were eligible for study inclusion. Basic demographics, patient and operation characteristics were collected. Morbidity was recorded according to the Clavien–Dindo Classification of Surgical Complications. Country-based and hospital-based data were collected, including the Human Development Index (HDI). (NCT03768141). Results: A total of 2159 patients were included from six continents. Surgery was performed for cancer in 1785 (83%) patients. Of all patients, 912 (42%) experienced a postoperative complication of any severity, while the major complication rate was 16% (341/2159). The overall 90-day mortality rate after liver surgery was 3.8% (82/2,159). The overall failure to rescue rate was 11% (82/ 722) ranging from 5 to 35% among the higher and lower HDI groups, respectively. Conclusions: This is the first to our knowledge global surgery study specifically designed and conducted for specialized liver surgery. The authors identified failure to rescue as a significant potentially modifiable factor for mortality after liver surgery, mostly related to lower Human Development Index countries. Members of the LiverGroup.org network could now work together to develop quality improvement collaboratives

VIII Encuentro de Docentes e Investigadores en Historia del Diseño, la Arquitectura y la Ciudad

Acta de congresoLa conmemoración de los cien años de la Reforma Universitaria de 1918 se presentó como una ocasión propicia para debatir el rol de la historia, la teoría y la crítica en la formación y en la práctica profesional de diseñadores, arquitectos y urbanistas. En ese marco el VIII Encuentro de Docentes e Investigadores en Historia del Diseño, la Arquitectura y la Ciudad constituyó un espacio de intercambio y reflexión cuya realización ha sido posible gracias a la colaboración entre Facultades de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño de la Universidad Nacional y la Facultad de Arquitectura de la Universidad Católica de Córdoba, contando además con la activa participación de mayoría de las Facultades, Centros e Institutos de Historia de la Arquitectura del país y la región. Orientado en su convocatoria tanto a docentes como a estudiantes de Arquitectura y Diseño Industrial de todos los niveles de la FAUD-UNC promovió el debate de ideas a partir de experiencias concretas en instancias tales como mesas temáticas de carácter interdisciplinario, que adoptaron la modalidad de presentación de ponencias, entre otras actividades. En el ámbito de VIII Encuentro, desarrollado en la sede Ciudad Universitaria de Córdoba, se desplegaron numerosas posiciones sobre la enseñanza, la investigación y la formación en historia, teoría y crítica del diseño, la arquitectura y la ciudad; sumándose el aporte realizado a través de sus respectivas conferencias de Ana Clarisa Agüero, Bibiana Cicutti, Fernando Aliata y Alberto Petrina. El conjunto de ponencias que se publican en este Repositorio de la UNC son el resultado de dos intensas jornadas de exposiciones, cuyos contenidos han posibilitado actualizar viejos dilemas y promover nuevos debates. El evento recibió el apoyo de las autoridades de la FAUD-UNC, en especial de la Secretaría de Investigación y de la Biblioteca de nuestra casa, como así también de la Facultad de Arquitectura de la UCC; va para todos ellos un especial agradecimiento

Biological differences related to cultural variability during the Neolithic in a micro-geographical area of the Iberian Peninsula

This paper presents dental morphological data of Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age populations from the Catalan Pre-Pyrenean area. The Neolithic group, in particular, differs from those of surrounding areas in its funerary culture: the building of cists, which is not present in the Sepulcres de Fossa Culture. A minimum number of 118 individuals from this area were studied for this work, and the data were compared with those of other Iberian and European groups. The results indicate that the two micro-regional groups from the Catalan area (Pre-Pyrenean and Pre-Coastal) were biologically different during the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic, but not in the Bronze Age, when they also appeared to be more homogeneous culturally. In addition, both areas differ biologically from coetaneous Italian groups, although those closer to the coast show slightly smaller differences. Finally, the Bronze Age groups also present fewer differences with regard to the Italian Bronze Age’s group. Therefore, the results suggest that the Catalan Neolithic population had two separate origins, related to cultural patterns, and that differences between the groups decreased within time, probably due to trade-related activities. Moreover, the fact that the difference with Italian populations decreased during the Bronze Age suggests major population movements through the Mediterranean that would affect the biological composition of the human groups.We would like to thank all the staff from "Museu Diocesal i Comarcal de Solsona" for the assistance they have provided us with during our works. Moreover, we would like to thank Crystal Rodgers and UALT (UAB) for the revision of the English language in the manuscript. This research has been funded by the projects HAR2011-23149, HAR2015-67323-C2-1-P of Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and SGR2014-1420 consolidated research group by Generalitat de Catalunya.Peer reviewe