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Associations of total testosterone (T) and calculated free T with cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain poorly understood. Particularly how these associations vary according to race and ethnicity in a nationally representative sample of men. Data included 7058 men (≥20 years) from NHANES. CVD was defined as any reported diagnosis of heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. Total T (ng/mL) was obtained among males who participated in the morning examination. Weighted multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were conducted. We found associations of low T (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.17-2.11), low calculated free T (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.10-2.17), total T (Q1 vs Q5), and calculated free T (Q1 vs Q5) with CVD after adjusting for estradiol and SHBG. In disease specific analysis, low T increased prevalence of MI (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.08-2.75) and HF (OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.08-2.82), but a continuous increment of total T reduced the prevalence of CAD. Similar inverse associations were identified among White and Mexican Americans, but not Blacks (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.49-1.76). Low levels of T and calculated free T were associated with an increased prevalence of overall CVD and among White and Mexican Americans. Associations remained in the same direction with specific CVD outcomes in the overall population.

2024 Descuento MDPI, Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) of the SiO2–CaO–P2O5 system are biocompatible materials with a quick and effective in vitro and in vivo bioactive response. MBGs can be enhanced by including therapeutically active ions in their composition, by hosting osteogenic molecules within their mesopores, or by decorating their surfaces with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In previous studies, our group showed that MBGs, ZnO-enriched and loaded with the osteogenic peptide osteostatin (OST), and MSCs exhibited osteogenic features under in vitro conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate bone repair capability after large bone defect treatment in distal femur osteoporotic rabbits using MBGs (76%SiO2–15%CaO–5%P2O5–4%ZnO (mol-%)) before and after loading with OST and MSCs from a donor rabbit. MSCs presence and/or OST in scaffolds significantly improved bone repair capacity at 6 and 12 weeks, as confirmed by variations observed in trabecular and cortical bone parameters obtained by micro-CT as well as histological analysis results. A greater effect was observed when OST and MSCs were combined. These findings may indicate the great potential for treating critical bone defects by combining MBGs with MSCs and osteogenic peptides such as OST, with good prospects for translation to clinical practice., Instituto de Salud Carlos III, European Commission, European Research Council, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), Depto. de Química en Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Fac. de Farmacia, TRUE, pub, Descuento UCM

Hevea brasiliensis, a natural rubber producing species, is widely cultivated due to its high rubber yield potential. Natural rubber is synthesised in the rubber particles of laticifers. Latex diagnosis (LD) was established to characterise the physiological state of the laticiferous system by measuring its physiological parameters, i.e., sucrose, inorganic phosphorous (Pi), thiols and total solid content (TSC). Rubber clones are often classified in three groups i.e., quick starters, medium starters and slow starters. To better understand the genetic bases of latex yield, a biparental population was generated from a cross between the quick-starter clone PB 260 and the medium-starter clone SP 217. LD was performed during the peak latex production season and used to calculate sucrose loading. The agronomic and physiological parameters associated with latex yield led to the classification of genotypes according to the rubber clonal typology and to the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) using a high-density map. Inorganic phosphorous content was positively associated with yield during the first year of production thus enabling identification of quick-starter clones. In addition, the LD-based clonal typology led to determine the long-term yield potential and the use of appropriate ethephon stimulation. QTL analysis successfully identified several QTLs related to yield, sucrose, Pi and TSC. One QTL related to sucrose loading was identified in the same position as the QTL for sucrose on linkage group 1. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report QTL analysis for this trait. The use of a high-density map enables the identification of genes underlying QTLs. Several putative genes underlying QTLs related to yield, sucrose and TSC were identified.

Diverse representation and inclusion are stated priorities for scientific institutions and professional societies, including the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER). Prior studies have reported persistent underrepresentation and exclusion of marginalized groups across the sciences. We conducted a representation and inclusion survey among SER affiliates in 2021, following up on a similar 2018 survey. In 2021, we observed broad representation from diverse groups across multiple dimensions. However, across both surveys we found persistent underrepresentation of several marginalized groups, including Black or African American and Hispanic/Latinx people. Some groups reported feeling excluded in both the 2018 and 2021 surveys, and there was disproportionately high representation from a subset of higher-ranked US academic institutions. For several indicators of inclusion, perceptions of inclusion were more positive among White respondents compared to other respondents. Opportunities to work towards achieving SER’s diversity and inclusion aims include increasing outreach to epidemiology trainees and Minority Serving Institutions, addressing cultural and financial barriers to participation, and improving access for epidemiologists with disabilities. Iterative follow-up work with diversity and inclusion scholars could improve our understanding of barriers to diversity and inclusion within SER and, more broadly, the field of epidemiology.

As part of an ongoing study to understand the diversity of the badnavirus complex, responsible for the cacao swollen shoot disease in West Africa, evidence was found recently of virus-like sequences in asymptomatic cacao plants. The present study exploited the wealth of genomic resources in this crop, and combined bioinformatic, molecular, and genetic approaches to report for the first time the presence of integrated badnaviral sequences in most of the cacao genetic groups. These sequences, which we propose to name eTcBV for endogenous Theobroma cacao bacilliform viruses, varied in type with each predominating in a specific cacao genetic group. Additionally to the viral insert of type VI first identified, we recently described, with the help of Oxford Nanopore technology, viral inserts of type I, II, III and V longer than 10kb. A diagnostic multiplex PCR method was developed to identify the homozygous or hemizygous condition of the specific insert of type VI, which was inherited as a single Mendelian trait. These data suggest that these integration events occurred before or during the species diversification in Central and South America, and prior to its cultivation in other regions. Such evidence of integrated sequences is relevant to the management of cacao quarantine facilities, and may also aid novel methods to reduce the impact of such viruses in this crop.

It is a fundamental right of every citizen to have a job with which to cover expenses and needs, and to have, as far as possible, a calm work environment free of any type of discrimination, which would be optimal for greater performance. For this, this investigation has been carried out focused on a detailed analysis of the Regulation for the Eradication of Discrimination in the Labor Area, Ministerial Agreement No. MDT-2017-0082 of the Official Gazette No. 16, together with some articles from the Ministry of Labor whose information was related to labor discrimination in various aspects, which are detailed in this document; Therefore, we can argue that in today's Ecuador it is necessary to act firmly, so that the laws that protect workers from injustice and mistreatment are complied with, Es un derecho fundamental para todos como ciudadanos contar con un empleo mediante el cual se consiga cubrir gastos y necesidades, y disponer en lo posible de un ambiente laboral tranquilo y libre de cualquier tipo de discriminación que sería lo óptimo para un mayor rendimiento. Con este fin se ha realizado esta investigación enfocada en un análisis detallado de la Normativa para la Erradicación de la Discriminación en el Ámbito Laboral, Acuerdo Ministerial No. MDT-2017-0082 del Registro Oficial N°16, en conjunto con algunos artículos del Ministerio de Trabajo cuya información se relacionó con la discriminación laboral en varios aspectos, los cuáles se detallan en este documento; Por lo que podemos argüir que en El Ecuador actual es menester que se actúe con firmeza, para que se cumplan las leyes que protegen al trabajador de injusticias y malos tratos

The rapidly evolving communication landscape, with the advent of 6G technology, brings new challenges to the design and operation of wireless networks. One of the key concerns is the energy efficiency of the Radio Access Network (RAN), as the exponential growth in wireless traffic demands increasingly higher energy consumption. In this paper, we assess the potential of integrating a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) to improve the energy efficiency of a RAN, and quantify the potential energy conservation through meticulously designed simulations. We propose a quantitative framework based on real traffic patterns to estimate the energy consumption of the HAPS integrated RAN and compare it with the conventional terrestrial RAN. Our simulation results elucidate that HAPS can significantly reduce energy consumption by up to almost 30\% by exploiting the unique advantages of HAPS, such as its self-sustainability, high altitude, and wide coverage. We further analyze the impact of different system parameters on performance, and provide insights for the design and optimization of future 6G networks. Our work sheds light on the potential of HAPS integrated RAN to mitigate the energy challenges in the 6G era, and contributes to the sustainable development of wireless communications.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

This article presents a study on the perception of students pursuing technical careers, on aspects related to the quality of virtual education during times of covid-19 pandemic. The data analyzed were obtained from surveys of 75 students of various educational levels in aspects such as quality in teaching, accessibility to virtual resources, teacher training, continuity of the curriculum, equal conditions, and the influence of policy on the quality of education in general. It was concluded that the educational process in its virtual modality is acceptable from the point of view of intrinsic advantages such as flexibility and yet there is also a change of focus in the educational institution that pays attention to providing a better virtual educational process diverting attention from equally important processes such as the communication of internal and external actions to the institution. Keywords: Virtual education, challenges, pandemic, COVID-19., En este artículo se presenta un estudio sobre la percepción de los estudiantes que cursan carreras técnicas, sobre aspectos relacionados a la calidad de la educación virtual durante tiempos de pandemia por COVID-19. Los datos analizados se obtuvieron a partir de encuestas realizadas a 75 estudiantes de varios niveles educativos en aspectos como la calidad en la enseñanza, accesibilidad a los recursos virtuales, capacitación de los docentes, continuidad del programa de estudios, igualdad de condiciones y la influencia de la política en la calidad de la educación en general. Se concluyó que de manera general el proceso educativo en su modalidad virtual es aceptable desde el punto de vista de ventajas intrínsecas como la flexibilidad y sin embargo también se percibe un cambio de enfoque en la institución educativa que presta su atención en brindar un mejor proceso educativo virtual desviando la atención de procesos igualmente importantes como la comunicación de acciones internas y externas a la institución. Palabras Clave: Educación virtual, retos, pandemia, COVID-19.

This article presents a study on the perception of students pursuing technical careers, on aspects related to the quality of virtual education during times of covid-19 pandemic. The data analyzed were obtained from surveys of 75 students of various educational levels in aspects such as quality in teaching, accessibility to virtual resources, teacher training, continuity of the curriculum, equal conditions, and the influence of policy on the quality of education in general. It was concluded that the educational process in its virtual modality is acceptable from the point of view of intrinsic advantages such as flexibility and yet there is also a change of focus in the educational institution that pays attention to providing a better virtual educational process diverting attention from equally important processes such as the communication of internal and external actions to the institution. Keywords: Virtual education, challenges, pandemic, COVID-19., En este artículo se presenta un estudio sobre la percepción de los estudiantes que cursan carreras técnicas, sobre aspectos relacionados a la calidad de la educación virtual durante tiempos de pandemia por COVID-19. Los datos analizados se obtuvieron a partir de encuestas realizadas a 75 estudiantes de varios niveles educativos en aspectos como la calidad en la enseñanza, accesibilidad a los recursos virtuales, capacitación de los docentes, continuidad del programa de estudios, igualdad de condiciones y la influencia de la política en la calidad de la educación en general. Se concluyó que de manera general el proceso educativo en su modalidad virtual es aceptable desde el punto de vista de ventajas intrínsecas como la flexibilidad y sin embargo también se percibe un cambio de enfoque en la institución educativa que presta su atención en brindar un mejor proceso educativo virtual desviando la atención de procesos igualmente importantes como la comunicación de acciones internas y externas a la institución. Palabras Clave: Educación virtual, retos, pandemia, COVID-19.

Background & Aims: Evidence regarding the association of dietary exposures with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is not consistent with a few exceptions. Therefore, we conducted a diet-wide association study (DWAS) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) to evaluate the associations between several dietary exposures with CRC risk. Methods: The association of 92 food and nutrient intakes with CRC risk was assessed in 386,792 participants, 5069 of whom developed incident CRC. Correction for multiple comparisons was performed using the false discovery rate, and emerging associations were examined in the Netherlands Cohort Study (NLCS). Multiplicative gene-nutrient interactions were also tested in EPIC based on known CRC-associated loci. Results: In EPIC, alcohol, liquor/spirits, wine, beer/cider, soft drinks, and pork were positively associated with CRC, whereas milk, cheese, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B6, beta carotene, fruit, fiber, nonwhite bread, banana, and total protein intakes were inversely associated. Of these 20 associations, 13 were replicated in the NLCS, for which a meta-analysis was performed, namely alcohol (summary hazard ratio [HR] per 1-SD increment in intake: 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.09), liquor/spirits (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02–1.06), wine (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02–1.07), beer/cider (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04–1.08), milk (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93–0.98), cheese (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94–0.99), calcium (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90–0.95), phosphorus (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90–0.95), magnesium (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92–0.98), potassium (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94–0.99), riboflavin (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.92–0

Davant la creixent preocupació mundial pel canvi climàtic, cada cop hi ha més investigacions que vinculen l'impacte del sector energètic amb la contaminació global. Per aquest motiu, s'ha suggerit que un canvi de paradigma en els mètodes de transport pot mitigar la situació. Tanmateix, hi ha estudis que demostren que la cadena de funcionament del cotxe elèctric produeix més contaminació que la cadena dels vehicles convencionals. Amb aquesta finalitat, aquest projecte pretén esbrinar quina energia de propulsió és la més adequada per al medi ambient mitjançant l’anàlisi d’entropia teòrica. Per aconseguir-ho, en primer lloc, s’estudia l'eficiència dels motors de combustió interna convencionals, a través dels cicles ideals reversibles d’Otto i Dièsel associats a la primera i la segona Llei de la Termodinàmica. A continuació, s’examinen les irreversibilitats de les combustions, per mitjà de simulacions teòriques de producció d'entropia, i s’analitza quin motor distorsiona més l’entropia de l’univers. Seguidament, el projecte se centra en la contaminació generada pels gasos de diòxid de carboni i investiga l’entropia de gasos del tub d’escapament. Per computar aquesta part, es duen a terme càlculs basats en la llei dels gasos ideals amb diferents dimensions volumètriques de l’aire per investigar el comportament entròpic. Finalment, es proposa un índex de contaminació de diòxid de carboni relacionat amb les pèrdues d’exergia destruïda rellevants a les entropies de l’estudi., Ante la creciente preocupación mundial por el cambio climático, cada vez existen más investigaciones que vinculan el impacto del sector energético con la contaminación global. Por ello, se ha sugerido que un cambio de paradigma en los métodos de transporte puede mitigar la situación. Sin embargo, existen estudios que demuestran que la cadena de funcionamiento del coche eléctrico produce más contaminación que la cadena de los vehículos convencionales. A tal fin, este proyecto pretende averiguar qué energía de propulsión es la más adecuada para el medio ambiente mediante el análisis de entropía teórica. Para ello, en primer lugar, se estudia la eficiencia de los motores de combustión interna convencionales, a través de los ciclos ideales reversibles de Otto y Diésel asociados a la primera y segunda Ley de la Termodinámica. A continuación, se examinan las irreversibilidades de las combustiones, mediante simulaciones teóricas de producción de entropía, analizando qué motor distorsiona más la entropía del universo. Seguidamente, el proyecto se centra en la contaminación generada por los gases de dióxido de carbono e investiga la entropía de gases del tubo de escape. Para computar esta parte, se realizan cálculos basados en la ley de los gases ideales con diferentes dimensiones volumétricas del aire para investigar el comportamiento entrópico. Por último, se propone un índice de contaminación de dióxido de carbono relacionado con las pérdidas de exergía destruida relevantes a las entropías del estudio., With growing global concern about climate change, there is a growing amount of research linking the impact of the energy sector to global pollution. Therefore, it has been suggested that a paradigm shift in transportation methods can mitigate the situation. However, some studies show that electric car powertrain produce more pollution than conventional vehicle powertrain. To this end, this project aims determine which propulsion energy is the most ecological using a theoretical entropy analysis. To achieve this, first of all, the efficiency of conventional internal combustion engines is studied, through the ideal reversible Otto and Diesel cycles associated with the first and second Thermodynamic Law. Secondly, the irreversibility of the combustion is examined through theoretical simulations of entropy production, analyzing which engine distorts the entropy of the universe the most. Next, the project focuses on the pollution caused by carbon dioxide gases and investigates the entropy of exhaust gases. To compute this part, calculations based on the ideal gas law are performed with various volumetric dimensions of the air to investigate the entropy’s behavior. Finally, an index of carbon dioxide pollution associated with the destroyed exergy losses corresponding to the entropy of the study is proposed., Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al Clima

This article presents a study on the perception of students pursuing technical careers, on aspects related to the quality of virtual education during times of covid-19 pandemic. The data analyzed were obtained from surveys of 75 students of various educational levels in aspects such as quality in teaching, accessibility to virtual resources, teacher training, continuity of the curriculum, equal conditions, and the influence of policy on the quality of education in general. It was concluded that the educational process in its virtual modality is acceptable from the point of view of intrinsic advantages such as flexibility and yet there is also a change of focus in the educational institution that pays attention to providing a better virtual educational process diverting attention from equally important processes such as the communication of internal and external actions to the institution. Keywords: Virtual education, challenges, pandemic, COVID-19., En este artículo se presenta un estudio sobre la percepción de los estudiantes que cursan carreras técnicas, sobre aspectos relacionados a la calidad de la educación virtual durante tiempos de pandemia por COVID-19. Los datos analizados se obtuvieron a partir de encuestas realizadas a 75 estudiantes de varios niveles educativos en aspectos como la calidad en la enseñanza, accesibilidad a los recursos virtuales, capacitación de los docentes, continuidad del programa de estudios, igualdad de condiciones y la influencia de la política en la calidad de la educación en general. Se concluyó que de manera general el proceso educativo en su modalidad virtual es aceptable desde el punto de vista de ventajas intrínsecas como la flexibilidad y sin embargo también se percibe un cambio de enfoque en la institución educativa que presta su atención en brindar un mejor proceso educativo virtual desviando la atención de procesos igualmente importantes como la comunicación de acciones internas y externas a la institución. Palabras Clave: Educación virtual, retos, pandemia, COVID-19.

The automation of work is nowadays increasing in all sectors, as collaborative robots have become a trend not only because they help reducing costs, but also as a powerful appeal for customers. The industry of food and services is one example of this trend, as new business are blooming with this idea in mind. This raises a problem with the grasping and manipulation of objects, as gripper design was commonly thought for industrial work, which requires different characteristics from the application to human environment and organic produce. Also, as this is a new industry there is not much study on how to evaluate performances or which metrics to choose, as robots were not typically used outside an industrial environment. That is why this thesis proposes metrics and a methodology on how to test grippers for the use in the food and services industry. These metrics and methodology are used to evaluate and compare two grippers for an autonomous restaurant concept developed by the company Remy Robotics SL. The motion of the grippers, as well as their performance, are analyzed in this work, and suggestions for improvements are included in the conclusions

N/A

Federated Learning (FL) is a machine learning technique that addresses the privacy challenges in terms of access rights of local datasets by enabling the training of a model across nodes holding their data samples locally. To achieve decentralized federated learning, blockchain-based FL was proposed as a distributed FL architecture. In decentralized FL, the chief is eliminated from the learning process as workers collaborate between each other to train the global model. Decentralized FL applications need to account for the additional delay incurred by blockchain-based FL deployments. Particularly in this setting, to detect targeted/untargeted poisoning attacks, we investigate the end-to-end learning completion latency of a realistic decentralized FL process protected against poisoning attacks. We propose a technique which consists in decoupling the monitoring phase from the detection phase in defenses against poisoning attacks in a decentralized federated learning deployment that aim at monitoring the behavior of the workers. We demonstrate that our proposed blockchain-based monitoring improved network scalability, robustness and time efficiency. The parallelization of operations results in minimized latency over the end-to-end communication, computation, and consensus delays incurred during the FL and blockchain operations.

In this work, we introduce a Variational Multi-Scale (VMS) method for the numerical approximation of parabolic problems, where sub-grid scales are approximated from the eigenpairs of associated elliptic operator. The abstract method is particularized to the one-dimensional advection-diffusion equations, for which the sub-grid components are exactly calculated in terms of a spectral expansion when the advection velocity is approximated by piecewise constant velocities on the grid elements. We prove error estimates that in particular imply that when Lagrange finite element discretisations in space are used, the spectral VMS method coincides with the exact solution of the implicit Euler semi-discretisation of the advection-diffusion problem at the Lagrange interpolation nodes. We also build a feasible method to solve the evolutive advection-diffusion problems by means of an offline/online strategy with reduced computational complexity. We perform some numerical tests in good agreement with the theoretical expectations, that show an improved accuracy with respect to several stabilised methods.

This article presents a study on the perception of students pursuing technical careers, on aspects related to the quality of virtual education during times of covid-19 pandemic. The data analyzed were obtained from surveys of 75 students of various educational levels in aspects such as quality in teaching, accessibility to virtual resources, teacher training, continuity of the curriculum, equal conditions, and the influence of policy on the quality of education in general. It was concluded that the educational process in its virtual modality is acceptable from the point of view of intrinsic advantages such as flexibility and yet there is also a change of focus in the educational institution that pays attention to providing a better virtual educational process diverting attention from equally important processes such as the communication of internal and external actions to the institution. Keywords: Virtual education, challenges, pandemic, COVID-19., En este artículo se presenta un estudio sobre la percepción de los estudiantes que cursan carreras técnicas, sobre aspectos relacionados a la calidad de la educación virtual durante tiempos de pandemia por COVID-19. Los datos analizados se obtuvieron a partir de encuestas realizadas a 75 estudiantes de varios niveles educativos en aspectos como la calidad en la enseñanza, accesibilidad a los recursos virtuales, capacitación de los docentes, continuidad del programa de estudios, igualdad de condiciones y la influencia de la política en la calidad de la educación en general. Se concluyó que de manera general el proceso educativo en su modalidad virtual es aceptable desde el punto de vista de ventajas intrínsecas como la flexibilidad y sin embargo también se percibe un cambio de enfoque en la institución educativa que presta su atención en brindar un mejor proceso educativo virtual desviando la atención de procesos igualmente importantes como la comunicación de acciones internas y externas a la institución. Palabras Clave: Educación virtual, retos, pandemia, COVID-19.

This article presents a study on the perception of students pursuing technical careers, on aspects related to the quality of virtual education during times of covid-19 pandemic. The data analyzed were obtained from surveys of 75 students of various educational levels in aspects such as quality in teaching, accessibility to virtual resources, teacher training, continuity of the curriculum, equal conditions, and the influence of policy on the quality of education in general. It was concluded that the educational process in its virtual modality is acceptable from the point of view of intrinsic advantages such as flexibility and yet there is also a change of focus in the educational institution that pays attention to providing a better virtual educational process diverting attention from equally important processes such as the communication of internal and external actions to the institution. Keywords: Virtual education, challenges, pandemic, COVID-19., En este artículo se presenta un estudio sobre la percepción de los estudiantes que cursan carreras técnicas, sobre aspectos relacionados a la calidad de la educación virtual durante tiempos de pandemia por COVID-19. Los datos analizados se obtuvieron a partir de encuestas realizadas a 75 estudiantes de varios niveles educativos en aspectos como la calidad en la enseñanza, accesibilidad a los recursos virtuales, capacitación de los docentes, continuidad del programa de estudios, igualdad de condiciones y la influencia de la política en la calidad de la educación en general. Se concluyó que de manera general el proceso educativo en su modalidad virtual es aceptable desde el punto de vista de ventajas intrínsecas como la flexibilidad y sin embargo también se percibe un cambio de enfoque en la institución educativa que presta su atención en brindar un mejor proceso educativo virtual desviando la atención de procesos igualmente importantes como la comunicación de acciones internas y externas a la institución. Palabras Clave: Educación virtual, retos, pandemia, COVID-19.

This article presents a study on the perception of students pursuing technical careers, on aspects related to the quality of virtual education during times of covid-19 pandemic. The data analyzed were obtained from surveys of 75 students of various educational levels in aspects such as quality in teaching, accessibility to virtual resources, teacher training, continuity of the curriculum, equal conditions, and the influence of policy on the quality of education in general. It was concluded that the educational process in its virtual modality is acceptable from the point of view of intrinsic advantages such as flexibility and yet there is also a change of focus in the educational institution that pays attention to providing a better virtual educational process diverting attention from equally important processes such as the communication of internal and external actions to the institution. Keywords: Virtual education, challenges, pandemic, COVID-19., En este artículo se presenta un estudio sobre la percepción de los estudiantes que cursan carreras técnicas, sobre aspectos relacionados a la calidad de la educación virtual durante tiempos de pandemia por COVID-19. Los datos analizados se obtuvieron a partir de encuestas realizadas a 75 estudiantes de varios niveles educativos en aspectos como la calidad en la enseñanza, accesibilidad a los recursos virtuales, capacitación de los docentes, continuidad del programa de estudios, igualdad de condiciones y la influencia de la política en la calidad de la educación en general. Se concluyó que de manera general el proceso educativo en su modalidad virtual es aceptable desde el punto de vista de ventajas intrínsecas como la flexibilidad y sin embargo también se percibe un cambio de enfoque en la institución educativa que presta su atención en brindar un mejor proceso educativo virtual desviando la atención de procesos igualmente importantes como la comunicación de acciones internas y externas a la institución. Palabras Clave: Educación virtual, retos, pandemia, COVID-19.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Evidence regarding the association of dietary exposures with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is not consistent with a few exceptions. Therefore, we conducted a diet-wide association study (DWAS) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) to evaluate the associations between several dietary exposures with CRC risk.METHODS: The association of 92 food and nutrient intakes with CRC risk was assessed in 386,792 participants, 5069 of whom developed incident CRC. Correction for multiple comparisons was performed using the false discovery rate, and emerging associations were examined in the Netherlands Cohort Study (NLCS). Multiplicative gene-nutrient interactions were also tested in EPIC based on known CRC-associated loci.RESULTS: In EPIC, alcohol, liquor/spirits, wine, beer/cider, soft drinks, and pork were positively associated with CRC, whereas milk, cheese, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B6, beta carotene, fruit, fiber, nonwhite bread, banana, and total protein intakes were inversely associated. Of these 20 associations, 13 were replicated in the NLCS, for which a meta-analysis was performed, namely alcohol (summary hazard ratio [HR] per 1-SD increment in intake: 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.09), liquor/spirits (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.06), wine (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07), beer/cider (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04-1.08), milk (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93-0.98), cheese (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99), calcium (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90-0.95), phosphorus (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90-0.95), magnesium (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92-0.98), potassium (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99), riboflavin (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.94

Background & Aims: Evidence regarding the association of dietary exposures with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is not consistent with a few exceptions. Therefore, we conducted a diet-wide association study (DWAS) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) to evaluate the associations between several dietary exposures with CRC risk. Methods: The association of 92 food and nutrient intakes with CRC risk was assessed in 386,792 participants, 5069 of whom developed incident CRC. Correction for multiple comparisons was performed using the false discovery rate, and emerging associations were examined in the Netherlands Cohort Study (NLCS). Multiplicative gene-nutrient interactions were also tested in EPIC based on known CRC-associated loci. Results: In EPIC, alcohol, liquor/spirits, wine, beer/cider, soft drinks, and pork were positively associated with CRC, whereas milk, cheese, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B6, beta carotene, fruit, fiber, nonwhite bread, banana, and total protein intakes were inversely associated. Of these 20 associations, 13 were replicated in the NLCS, for which a meta-analysis was performed, namely alcohol (summary hazard ratio [HR] per 1-SD increment in intake: 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.09), liquor/spirits (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02–1.06), wine (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02–1.07), beer/cider (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04–1.08), milk (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93–0.98), cheese (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94–0.99), calcium (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90–0.95), phosphorus (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90–0.95), magnesium (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92–0.98), potassium (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94–0.99), riboflavin (HR per 1-SD increment in intake, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.9

PURPOSE The association of dietary patterns with testosterone (T) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels remains unclear. We investigated the associations of dietary patterns with T and SHBG levels to determine whether these associations vary by obesity status. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 1376 middle-aged (≥ 40 years old) men of the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Prudent (rich in whole grains and dietary fiber) and Western (rich in red meat and refined grains) diet scores were identified using principal component analysis. The Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010) score, a measure of overall diet quality, was defined based on foods and nutrients predictive of chronic disease risk. RESULTS We identified a weak inverse association between AHEI-2010 and T levels (P$_{trend}$ = 0.07), but no associations with other dietary patterns. Null associations were observed between diet scores and SHBG. Obesity status appeared to modify the associations for the Prudent diet and AHEI-2010 with both T and SHBG (P$_{interaction}$ ≤ 0.05). T levels were lower (Q1 vs. Q4, 4.23 vs. 3.38) and SHBG higher (Q1 vs. Q4, 48.6 vs. 64.3) with adherence to a more prudent diet among obese men (P$_{trends}$ ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION We observed a weak inverse association between AHEI-2010 and T levels. Null associations were identified for SHBG. Obesity status seemed to modulate associations of T and SHBG levels with diet scores, especially the AHEI-2010 and prudent diets. However, this research question warrants further investigation in prospective studies.

Análisis técnico de las posibles reformas a introducir en nuestros principales impuestos

[CA] El present treball naix de la necessitat de trobar una metodologia de treball a l'hora de dissenyar una estratègia de comunicació electoral d'àmbit local basada en els mitjans socials. Per això, s'han estudiat els antecedents teòrics de la comunicació política i els canvis de paradigma en quant a l'ús del web i com aquests fets han influït en la mateixa identitat humana, fins al punt de canviar els nostres hàbits de consum de la informació i de relacionar-nos amb ella. Davant d'aquest repte cal conèixer els millors mecanismes per a planificar totes les accions i aconseguir crear una comunitat en línia al voltant de persones simpatitzants o interessades en el projecte, i fins i tot adversàries o dubtoses, a la vegada que s'incita a la participació ciutadana i a la transparència., [EN] The present paper stems from the need of finding a work methodology when devising an electoral media strategy at a local level based on social media. Hence, the theoretical background of political communication as well as the paradigm shifts have been studied regarding the use of the Internet and also how these facts have influenced the very human identity to the point of changing our information consuming habits and our relationship with it. In the face of this challenge it is necessary to know the best mechanisms to plan every action and to achieve the creation of an online community around sympathizers or people interested in the project -or even adversaries and undecided-, while promoting civic engagement and transparency.

BackgroundThe cell type composition of heterogeneous tissue samples can be a critical variable in both clinical and laboratory settings. However, current experimental methods of cell type quantification (e.g., cell flow cytometry) are costly, time consuming and have potential to introduce bias. Computational approaches that use expression data to infer cell type abundance offer an alternative solution. While these methods have gained popularity, most fail to produce accurate predictions for the full range of platforms currently used by researchers or for the wide variety of tissue types often studied.ResultsWe present the Gene Expression Deconvolution Interactive Tool (GEDIT), a flexible tool that utilizes gene expression data to accurately predict cell type abundances. Using both simulated and experimental data, we extensively evaluate the performance of GEDIT and demonstrate that it returns robust results under a wide variety of conditions. These conditions include multiple platforms (microarray and RNA-seq), tissue types (blood and stromal), and species (human and mouse). Finally, we provide reference data from 8 sources spanning a broad range of stromal and hematopoietic types in both human and mouse. GEDIT also accepts user-submitted reference data, thus allowing the estimation of any cell type or subtype, provided that reference data are available.ConclusionsGEDIT is a powerful method for evaluating the cell type composition of tissue samples and provides excellent accuracy and versatility compared to similar tools. The reference database provided here also allows users to obtain estimates for a wide variety of tissue samples without having to provide their own data.

CpG islands often exhibit low DNA methylation, high histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation, low nucleosome density, and high DNase I hypersensitivity, yet the rules by which CpG islands are sensed remain poorly understood. In this study, we first evaluated the relationships between the DNA and the chromatin properties of CpG islands in embryonic stem cells using modified bacterial artificial chromosomes. Then, using a bioinformatic approach, we identified strict CpG-island density and length thresholds in mouse embryonic stem and differentiated cells that consistently specify low DNA methylation levels. Surprisingly, the human genome exhibited a dramatically different relationship between DNA properties and DNA methylation levels of CpG islands. Further analysis allowed speculation that this difference is accommodated in part by evolutionary changes in the nucleotide composition of orthologous promoters. Thus, a change in the rules by which CpG-island properties are sensed may have co-evolved with compensatory genome adaptation events during mammalian evolution.

BackgroundThe cell type composition of heterogeneous tissue samples can be a critical variable in both clinical and laboratory settings. However, current experimental methods of cell type quantification (e.g., cell flow cytometry) are costly, time consuming and have potential to introduce bias. Computational approaches that use expression data to infer cell type abundance offer an alternative solution. While these methods have gained popularity, most fail to produce accurate predictions for the full range of platforms currently used by researchers or for the wide variety of tissue types often studied.ResultsWe present the Gene Expression Deconvolution Interactive Tool (GEDIT), a flexible tool that utilizes gene expression data to accurately predict cell type abundances. Using both simulated and experimental data, we extensively evaluate the performance of GEDIT and demonstrate that it returns robust results under a wide variety of conditions. These conditions include multiple platforms (microarray and RNA-seq), tissue types (blood and stromal), and species (human and mouse). Finally, we provide reference data from 8 sources spanning a broad range of stromal and hematopoietic types in both human and mouse. GEDIT also accepts user-submitted reference data, thus allowing the estimation of any cell type or subtype, provided that reference data are available.ConclusionsGEDIT is a powerful method for evaluating the cell type composition of tissue samples and provides excellent accuracy and versatility compared to similar tools. The reference database provided here also allows users to obtain estimates for a wide variety of tissue samples without having to provide their own data.

BACKGROUND: The literature on associations of circulating concentrations of minerals and vitamins with risk of colorectal cancer is limited and inconsistent. Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to support the efficacy of dietary modification or nutrient supplementation for colorectal cancer prevention is also limited. OBJECTIVES: To complement observational and RCT findings, we investigated associations of genetically predicted concentrations of 11 micronutrients (β-carotene, calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, and zinc) with colorectal cancer risk using Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS: Two-sample MR was conducted using 58,221 individuals with colorectal cancer and 67,694 controls from the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium, Colorectal Cancer Transdisciplinary Study, and Colon Cancer Family Registry. Inverse variance-weighted MR analyses were performed with sensitivity analyses to assess the impact of potential violations of MR assumptions. RESULTS: Nominally significant associations were noted for genetically predicted iron concentration and higher risk of colon cancer [ORs per SD (ORSD): 1.08; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.17; P value = 0.05] and similarly for proximal colon cancer, and for vitamin B-12 concentration and higher risk of colorectal cancer (ORSD: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.21; P value = 0.01) and similarly for colon cancer. A nominally significant association was also noted for genetically predicted selenium concentration and lower risk of colon cancer (ORSD: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.00; P value = 0.05) and similarly for distal colon cancer. These associations were robust to sensitivity analyses. Nominally significant inverse associations were observed for zinc and risk of colorectal and distal colon cancers, but sensitivity analyses could not be performed. None of these findings survived correction for multiple testing. Genetically predicted concentrations of β-carotene, cal

BACKGROUND: The literature on associations of circulating concentrations of minerals and vitamins with risk of colorectal cancer is limited and inconsistent. Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to support the efficacy of dietary modification or nutrient supplementation for colorectal cancer prevention is also limited. OBJECTIVES: To complement observational and RCT findings, we investigated associations of genetically predicted concentrations of 11 micronutrients (β-carotene, calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, and zinc) with colorectal cancer risk using Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS: Two-sample MR was conducted using 58,221 individuals with colorectal cancer and 67,694 controls from the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium, Colorectal Cancer Transdisciplinary Study, and Colon Cancer Family Registry. Inverse variance-weighted MR analyses were performed with sensitivity analyses to assess the impact of potential violations of MR assumptions. RESULTS: Nominally significant associations were noted for genetically predicted iron concentration and higher risk of colon cancer [ORs per SD (ORSD): 1.08; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.17; P value = 0.05] and similarly for proximal colon cancer, and for vitamin B-12 concentration and higher risk of colorectal cancer (ORSD: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.21; P value = 0.01) and similarly for colon cancer. A nominally significant association was also noted for genetically predicted selenium concentration and lower risk of colon cancer (ORSD: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.00; P value = 0.05) and similarly for distal colon cancer. These associations were robust to sensitivity analyses. Nominally significant inverse associations were observed for zinc and risk of colorectal and distal colon cancers, but sensitivity analyses could not be performed. None of these findings survived correction for multiple testing. Genetically predicted concentrations of β-carotene, cal, Errata: Tsilidis K., Papadimitriou N., Dimou N., Gill D., Lewis S. J., Martin R. M., et al. Corrigendum to Genetically predicted circulating concentrations of micronutrients and risk of colorectal cancer among individuals of European descent: a Mendelian randomization study. Am J Clin Nutr 2021;113(6):1715. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab156

This paper presents three tools developed within the framework of the project EDINSOST2-SDG, aimed at embedding and assessing the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Engineering curricula. ESD is promoted through the introduction into engineering curricula of learning outcomes related to sustainability and, specifically, to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The first tool, the “Engineering Sustainability Map”, contains ESD-related learning outcomes that any engineering student should have acquired upon completion of their studies. These learning outcomes are described according to four sustainability competencies: (1) Critical contextualization of knowledge, (2) Sustainable use of resources, (3) Participation in community processes, and (4) Application of ethical principles. The second tool, the “Sustainability Presence Map” of a degree, shows the percentage of the presence in the curriculum of each sustainability competency. The calculation of the presence of each competency is based on the effective integration of the related learning outcomes into a specific curriculum. Respective data are provided by teachers responsible for the coordination of the different subjects of the degree, collected by means of a questionnaire. The third tool presented is a questionnaire aimed at measuring the level of ESD that students perceive they have acquired through each competency. The comparison of data resulting from the Sustainability Presence Map with the data from the student questionnaire is the first step that allows the effectiveness of embedding ESD in a degree to be determined, a proper learning assessment will confirm such effectiveness. The three tools presented in this work have undergone a validation process and are currently being used in a set of engineering degrees related to the EDINSOST2-SDG project. The results of the application of these tools are part of the future research work of the authors.

[CA] El present treball naix de la necessitat de trobar una metodologia de treball a l'hora de dissenyar una estratègia de comunicació electoral d'àmbit local basada en els mitjans socials. Per això, s'han estudiat els antecedents teòrics de la comunicació política i els canvis de paradigma en quant a l'ús del web i com aquests fets han influït en la mateixa identitat humana, fins al punt de canviar els nostres hàbits de consum de la informació i de relacionar-nos amb ella. Davant d'aquest repte cal conèixer els millors mecanismes per a planificar totes les accions i aconseguir crear una comunitat en línia al voltant de persones simpatitzants o interessades en el projecte, i fins i tot adversàries o dubtoses, a la vegada que s'incita a la participació ciutadana i a la transparència., [EN] The present paper stems from the need of finding a work methodology when devising an electoral media strategy at a local level based on social media. Hence, the theoretical background of political communication as well as the paradigm shifts have been studied regarding the use of the Internet and also how these facts have influenced the very human identity to the point of changing our information consuming habits and our relationship with it. In the face of this challenge it is necessary to know the best mechanisms to plan every action and to achieve the creation of an online community around sympathizers or people interested in the project -or even adversaries and undecided-, while promoting civic engagement and transparency.

[CA] El present treball naix de la necessitat de trobar una metodologia de treball a l'hora de dissenyar una estratègia de comunicació electoral d'àmbit local basada en els mitjans socials. Per això, s'han estudiat els antecedents teòrics de la comunicació política i els canvis de paradigma en quant a l'ús del web i com aquests fets han influït en la mateixa identitat humana, fins al punt de canviar els nostres hàbits de consum de la informació i de relacionar-nos amb ella. Davant d'aquest repte cal conèixer els millors mecanismes per a planificar totes les accions i aconseguir crear una comunitat en línia al voltant de persones simpatitzants o interessades en el projecte, i fins i tot adversàries o dubtoses, a la vegada que s'incita a la participació ciutadana i a la transparència., [EN] The present paper stems from the need of finding a work methodology when devising an electoral media strategy at a local level based on social media. Hence, the theoretical background of political communication as well as the paradigm shifts have been studied regarding the use of the Internet and also how these facts have influenced the very human identity to the point of changing our information consuming habits and our relationship with it. In the face of this challenge it is necessary to know the best mechanisms to plan every action and to achieve the creation of an online community around sympathizers or people interested in the project -or even adversaries and undecided-, while promoting civic engagement and transparency.

In response to gravistimulation under anisotropic light, tree stems showing an active cambium produce reaction wood that redirects the axis of the trees. Several studies have described transcriptomic or proteomic models of reaction wood relative to the opposite wood. However, the mechanisms leading to the formation of reaction wood are difficult to decipher because so many environmental factors can induce various signalling pathways leading to this developmental reprogramming. Using an innovative isotropic device where the phototropic response does not interfere with gravistimulation we characterized the early molecular responses occurring in the stem of poplar after gravistimulation in an isotropic environment, and without deformation of the stem. After 30 min tilting at 35° under anisotropic light, we collected the upper and lower xylems from the inclined stems. Controls were collected from vertical stems. We used a microarray approach to identify differentially expressed transcripts. High-throughput real-time PCR allowed a kinetic experiment at 0, 30, 120 and 180 min after tilting at 35°, with candidate genes. We identified 668 differentially expressed transcripts, from which we selected 153 candidates for additional Fluidigm qPCR assessment. Five candidate co-expression gene clusters have been identified after the kinetic monitoring of the expression of candidate genes. Gene ontology analyses indicate that molecular reprogramming of processes such as 'wood cell expansion', 'cell wall reorganization' and 'programmed cell death' occur as early as 30 min after gravistimulation. Of note is that the change in the expression of different genes involves a fine regulation of gibberellin and brassinosteroid pathways as well as flavonoid and phosphoinositide pathways. Our experimental set-up allowed the identification of genes regulated in early gravitropic response without the bias introduced by phototropic and stem bending responses.

This paper presents three tools developed within the framework of the project EDINSOST2-SDG, aimed at embedding and assessing the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Engineering curricula. ESD is promoted through the introduction into engineering curricula of learning outcomes related to sustainability and, specifically, to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The first tool, the “Engineering Sustainability Map”, contains ESD-related learning outcomes that any engineering student should have acquired upon completion of their studies. These learning outcomes are described according to four sustainability competencies: (1) Critical contextualization of knowledge, (2) Sustainable use of resources, (3) Participation in community processes, and (4) Application of ethical principles. The second tool, the “Sustainability Presence Map” of a degree, shows the percentage of the presence in the curriculum of each sustainability competency. The calculation of the presence of each competency is based on the effective integration of the related learning outcomes into a specific curriculum. Respective data are provided by teachers responsible for the coordination of the different subjects of the degree, collected by means of a questionnaire. The third tool presented is a questionnaire aimed at measuring the level of ESD that students perceive they have acquired through each competency. The comparison of data resulting from the Sustainability Presence Map with the data from the student questionnaire is the first step that allows the effectiveness of embedding ESD in a degree to be determined, a proper learning assessment will confirm such effectiveness. The three tools presented in this work have undergone a validation process and are currently being used in a set of engineering degrees related to the EDINSOST2-SDG project. The results of the application of these tools are part of the future research work of the authors.

CpG islands often exhibit low DNA methylation, high histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation, low nucleosome density, and high DNase I hypersensitivity, yet the rules by which CpG islands are sensed remain poorly understood. In this study, we first evaluated the relationships between the DNA and the chromatin properties of CpG islands in embryonic stem cells using modified bacterial artificial chromosomes. Then, using a bioinformatic approach, we identified strict CpG-island density and length thresholds in mouse embryonic stem and differentiated cells that consistently specify low DNA methylation levels. Surprisingly, the human genome exhibited a dramatically different relationship between DNA properties and DNA methylation levels of CpG islands. Further analysis allowed speculation that this difference is accommodated in part by evolutionary changes in the nucleotide composition of orthologous promoters. Thus, a change in the rules by which CpG-island properties are sensed may have co-evolved with compensatory genome adaptation events during mammalian evolution.

The cell type composition of heterogeneous tissue samples can be a critical variable in both clinical and laboratory settings. However, current experimental methods of cell type quantification (e.g., cell flow cytometry) are costly, time consuming and have potential to introduce bias. Computational approaches that use expression data to infer cell type abundance offer an alternative solution. While these methods have gained popularity, most fail to produce accurate predictions for the full range of platforms currently used by researchers or for the wide variety of tissue types often studied. We present the Gene Expression Deconvolution Interactive Tool (GEDIT), a flexible tool that utilizes gene expression data to accurately predict cell type abundances. Using both simulated and experimental data, we extensively evaluate the performance of GEDIT and demonstrate that it returns robust results under a wide variety of conditions. These conditions include multiple platforms (microarray and RNA-seq), tissue types (blood and stromal), and species (human and mouse). Finally, we provide reference data from 8 sources spanning a broad range of stromal and hematopoietic types in both human and mouse. GEDIT also accepts user-submitted reference data, thus allowing the estimation of any cell type or subtype, provided that reference data are available. GEDIT is a powerful method for evaluating the cell type composition of tissue samples and provides excellent accuracy and versatility compared to similar tools. The reference database provided here also allows users to obtain estimates for a wide variety of tissue samples without having to provide their own data.

Background: Collaborations between universities and industries are common to foster innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises. Participants of these collaborations face several challenges related to these collaborations. Universities and Industries work in different environments and value different priorities. Current literature shows that the challenges due to the organisational differences in these collaborations lead to the most significant challenges. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore and analyse how participants of UI collaborations perceive and manage organisational differences between universities and industries when the industry participant is a SME and the academic are students. We also aspire to discover and outline some specific characteristics of the organisational differences appearing in student-SME collaborations. Method: To fulfil the purpose, a qualitative study was conducted. The empirical data was collected in ten semi-structured interviews. Two projects of two master programmes at Jönköping University and experienced facilitators of university-industry collaborations were interviewed. The focus of the interviews was to get to know the participants' experience related to the organisational differences. Conclusion: The study's findings show how organisational differences in student-SME collaborations are perceived differently than in generic UI collaborations. Three elements were found as the main aspects influencing the perception of the organisational differences in student-SME projects: individual factors, perspective and collaborative factors. Finally, the findings show a positive contribution towards innovation in the SME participating in these projects.

El presente trabajo tiene por objeto diseñar un plan de intervención en riesgo psicosocial basado en los resultados de un sistema de alerta de síntomas del estrés laboral para los funcionarios en la Alcaldía de la Vega-Cundinamarca. En el caso de Colombia, el Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud debe velar por la salud mental de los colombianos por medio de programas de prevención, promoción, diagnóstico y tratamiento, de ahí que la resolución 2646 del 2008 del Ministerio de Protección Social abordó la problemática del estrés exigiendo planes y programas para la identificación, evaluación, prevención e intervención, porque es considerado como un factor de riesgo psicosocial.

El presente trabajo tiene por objeto diseñar un plan de intervención en riesgo psicosocial basado en los resultados de un sistema de alerta de síntomas del estrés laboral para los funcionarios en la Alcaldía de la Vega-Cundinamarca. En el caso de Colombia, el Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud debe velar por la salud mental de los colombianos por medio de programas de prevención, promoción, diagnóstico y tratamiento, de ahí que la resolución 2646 del 2008 del Ministerio de Protección Social abordó la problemática del estrés exigiendo planes y programas para la identificación, evaluación, prevención e intervención, porque es considerado como un factor de riesgo psicosocial.

La situación de salud y percepción de riesgos de las comunidades indígenas se mide por el grado sociodemográfico y estudio etnográfico. Nuestra población en estudio “El Calvario” es la única comunidad indígena Mixteca de Chilpancingo, Guerrero, conformada por 21 familias que se dedican a la agricultura, producción de maguey y mezcal, y elaboración de algunas artesanías de palma. El objetivo fue estudiar las condiciones de Calidad de Vida y percepción de riesgos en dos grupos vulnerables adultos y niños. En el caso de los adultos, se hizo por encuestas y en el caso de los niños se usó el dibujo. En los habitantes se perciben en riesgos de salud y de perder su identidad indígena, debido a que solo hablan su lengua materna los adultos, no saben leer y ni escribir. Así mismo, es inminente el riesgo de sufrir daños materiales debido a que las viviendas no son adecuadas. La migración de jóvenes, la perdida de cultura, el padecer enfermedades metabólicas debido a la dieta alta en refrescos. Así mismo, los niños expresaron las deficiencias educativas. Finalmente, la población en general se encuentra olvidada por los organismos de gobierno actuales, en riesgo sanitario, y de perdida de cultura ya que los jóvenes migrarán a otros lugares a buscar nuevas oportunidades. Es un fuerte llamado de atención a la sociedad ya que, de no actuar en consecuencia con dicha problemática, se perdería la única comunidad Mixteca en Chilpancingo, Guerrero.

This master's thesis describes the design and implementation of a security standard in a university research department. It has been developed in the framework of the ETSETB Master's Degree in Cybersecurity, in cooperation with the University of Barcelona. The work has consisted on several stages. First, an analysis of the vulnerabilities of the system has been performed. This diagnosis has been specially important, since the lack of cybersecurity protections in the department has lead to several hijacks and data losses throughout the years. Then, the report describes the application of all the security features that are considered essential in a company, covering as much elements as possible. Those include from devices' physical security, through software protection to employees training. The project will be mainly focused in the deployment of the main services found in an IT department with a brief cybersecurity training session for the employees at the end. The work developed in this master thesis will reinforce the security of all crucial services and will reduce the possibility of data loss.

In response to gravistimulation under anisotropic light, tree stems showing an active cambium produce reaction wood that redirects the axis of the trees. Several studies have described transcriptomic or proteomic models of reaction wood relative to the opposite wood. However, the mechanisms leading to the formation of reaction wood are difficult to decipher because so many environmental factors can induce various signalling pathways leading to this developmental reprogramming. Using an innovative isotropic device where the phototropic response does not interfere with gravistimulation we characterized the early molecular responses occurring in the stem of poplar after gravistimulation in an isotropic environment, and without deformation of the stem. After 30 min tilting at 35° under anisotropic light, we collected the upper and lower xylems from the inclined stems. Controls were collected from vertical stems. We used a microarray approach to identify differentially expressed transcripts. High-throughput real-time PCR allowed a kinetic experiment at 0, 30, 120 and 180 min after tilting at 35°, with candidate genes. We identified 668 differentially expressed transcripts, from which we selected 153 candidates for additional Fluidigm qPCR assessment. Five candidate co-expression gene clusters have been identified after the kinetic monitoring of the expression of candidate genes. Gene ontology analyses indicate that molecular reprogramming of processes such as 'wood cell expansion', 'cell wall reorganization' and 'programmed cell death' occur as early as 30 min after gravistimulation. Of note is that the change in the expression of different genes involves a fine regulation of gibberellin and brassinosteroid pathways as well as flavonoid and phosphoinositide pathways. Our experimental set-up allowed the identification of genes regulated in early gravitropic response without the bias introduced by phototropic and stem bending responses.

This paper presents three tools developed within the framework of the project EDINSOST2-SDG, aimed at embedding and assessing the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Engineering curricula. ESD is promoted through the introduction into engineering curricula of learning outcomes related to sustainability and, specifically, to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The first tool, the “Engineering Sustainability Map”, contains ESD-related learning outcomes that any engineering student should have acquired upon completion of their studies. These learning outcomes are described according to four sustainability competencies: (1) Critical contextualization of knowledge, (2) Sustainable use of resources, (3) Participation in community processes, and (4) Application of ethical principles. The second tool, the “Sustainability Presence Map” of a degree, shows the percentage of the presence in the curriculum of each sustainability competency. The calculation of the presence of each competency is based on the effective integration of the related learning outcomes into a specific curriculum. Respective data are provided by teachers responsible for the coordination of the different subjects of the degree, collected by means of a questionnaire. The third tool presented is a questionnaire aimed at measuring the level of ESD that students perceive they have acquired through each competency. The comparison of data resulting from the Sustainability Presence Map with the data from the student questionnaire is the first step that allows the effectiveness of embedding ESD in a degree to be determined, a proper learning assessment will confirm such effectiveness. The three tools presented in this work have undergone a validation process and are currently being used in a set of engineering degrees related to the EDINSOST2-SDG project. The results of the application of these tools are part of the future research work of the authors.

Background: Collaborations between universities and industries are common to foster innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises. Participants of these collaborations face several challenges related to these collaborations. Universities and Industries work in different environments and value different priorities. Current literature shows that the challenges due to the organisational differences in these collaborations lead to the most significant challenges. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore and analyse how participants of UI collaborations perceive and manage organisational differences between universities and industries when the industry participant is a SME and the academic are students. We also aspire to discover and outline some specific characteristics of the organisational differences appearing in student-SME collaborations. Method: To fulfil the purpose, a qualitative study was conducted. The empirical data was collected in ten semi-structured interviews. Two projects of two master programmes at Jönköping University and experienced facilitators of university-industry collaborations were interviewed. The focus of the interviews was to get to know the participants' experience related to the organisational differences. Conclusion: The study's findings show how organisational differences in student-SME collaborations are perceived differently than in generic UI collaborations. Three elements were found as the main aspects influencing the perception of the organisational differences in student-SME projects: individual factors, perspective and collaborative factors. Finally, the findings show a positive contribution towards innovation in the SME participating in these projects.

Federated Learning (FL) is a paradigm in Machine Learning (ML) that addresses data privacy, security, access rights and access to heterogeneous information issues by training a global model using distributed nodes. Despite its advantages, there is an increased potential for cyberattacks on FL-based ML techniques that can undermine the benefits. Model-poisoning attacks on FL target the availability of the model. The adversarial objective is to disrupt the training. We propose attestedFL, a defense mechanism that monitors the training of individual nodes through state persistence in order to detect a malicious worker. A fine-grained assessment of the history of the worker permits the evaluation of its behavior in time and results in innovative detection strategies. We present three lines of defense that aim at assessing if the worker is reliable by observing if the node is really training, advancing towards a goal. Our defense exposes an attacker's malicious behavior and removes unreliable nodes from the aggregation process so that the FL process converge faster. Through extensive evaluations and against various adversarial settings, attestedFL increased the accuracy of the model between 12% to 58% under different scenarios such as attacks performed at different stages of convergence, attackers colluding and continuous attacks.

Corynespora cassiicola is an Ascomycetes fungus with a broad host range and diverse life styles. Mostly known as a necrotrophic plant pathogen, it has also been associated with rare cases of human infection. In the rubber tree, this fungus causes the Corynespora leaf fall (CLF) disease, which increasingly affects natural rubber production in Asia and Africa. It has also been found as an endophyte in South American rubber plantations where no CLF outbreak has yet occurred. The C. cassiicola species is genetically highly diverse, but no clear relationship has been evidenced between phylogenetic lineage and pathogenicity. Cassiicolin, a small glycosylated secreted protein effector, is thought to be involved in the necrotrophic interaction with the rubber tree but some virulent C. cassiicola isolates do not have a cassiicolin gene. This study set out to identify other putative effectors involved in CLF. The genome of a highly virulent C. cassiicola isolate from the rubber tree (CCP) was sequenced and assembled. In silico prediction revealed 2870 putative effectors, comprising CAZymes, lipases, peptidases, secreted proteins and enzymes associated with secondary metabolism. Comparison with the genomes of 44 other fungal species, focusing on effector content, revealed a striking proximity with phylogenetically unrelated species (Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum gloesporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, nectria hematococca, and Botrosphaeria dothidea) sharing life style plasticity and broad host range. Candidate effectors involved in the compatible interaction with the rubber tree were identified by transcriptomic analysis. Differentially expressed genes included 92 putative effectors, among which cassiicolin and two other secreted singleton proteins. Finally, the genomes of 35 C. cassiicola isolates representing the genetic diversity of the species were sequenced and assembled, and putative effectors identified. At the intraspecific level, effector-based classification wa