Effects of Bologna, the economic crisis and the immigration in enrollment at the UPM

Over the past 20 years, the economic landscape has changed dramatically in Spain, undergoing a growth explosion and a subsequent decline which has led to the current economic crisis. This growth has led to heavy immigration from both developed and developing countries, which provided skilled and unskilled labour. This article aims to analyze the impact of immigrant students at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, pondering the effect that the economic crisis is having and will have on this group, and evaluating the implementation of new plans of Bologna. We analyze the enrolment at the UPM and particularize to the Civil Engineering school (previous EUITOP), crossing with the effect of the economic crisis on foreign students. The exponential increase of foreign students, most of them from Latin American and born in Spain, and students of European countries that have started to register considerably from 2002 and 2003, lead us to consider a renewal in certain areas of learning, and to exploit the possibility of interaction with other countries so successful through the acquisition of transversal skills, as well as to guide and improve, support and integrate these groups at our university Keywords: knowledge, learning, Bologna, academic record

Surface deformation studies of Tenerife Island, Spain from joint GPS-DInSAR observations

This work presents results for the three-dimensional displacement field at Tenerife Island calculated from campaign GPS and ascending and descending ENVISAT DInSAR interferograms. The goal of this work is to provide an example of the flexibility of the technique by fusing together new varieties of geodetic data, and to observe surface deformations and study precursors of potential activity in volcanic regions. Interferometric processing of ENVISAT data was performed with GAMMA software. All possible combinations were used to create interferograms and then stacking was used to increase signal-to-noise ratio. Decorrelated areas were widely observed, particularly for interferograms with large perpendicular baseline and large time span. Tropospheric signal was also observed which significantly complicated the interpretation. Subsidence signal was observed in the NW part of the island and around Mount Teide and agreed in some regions with campaign GPS data. It is expected that the technique will provide better results when more high quality DInSAR and GPS data is available

Surface velocity and ice discharge of the ice cap on King George Island, Antarctica

Glaciers on King George Island, Antarctica, have shown retreat and surface lowering in recent decades, concurrent with increasing air temperatures. A large portion of the glacier perimeter is ocean-terminating, suggesting possible large mass losses due to calving and submarine melting. Here we estimate the ice discharge into the ocean for the King George Island ice cap. L-band synthetic aperture radar images covering the time-span January 2008 to January 2011 over King George Island are processed using an intensity-tracking algorithm to obtain surface velocity measurements. Pixel offsets from 40 pairs of radar images are analysed and inverted to estimate a weighted average surface velocity field. Ice thicknesses are derived from simple principles of ice flow mechanics using the computed surface velocity fields and in situ thickness data. The maximum ice surface speeds reach mayor que 225 m/yr, and the total ice discharge for the analysed flux gates of King George Island is estimated to be 0.720+/-0.428 Gt/yr, corresponding to a specific mass loss of 0.64+/-0.38 m w.e./yr over the area of the entire ice cap (1127 km2).

Thermomechanical relaxation and different water states in cottonseed protein derived bioplastics

Thermomechanical relaxation events and different water states in cottonseed protein bioplastics are presented whilst investigating the effects of aldehyde cross-linking agents. Thermomechanical relaxation of cottonseed protein bioplastics associated with protein denaturation, moisture absorption and broad glass transitions (Tg) were observed from DSC and DMA measurements. It was shown that variation of the aldehyde influences the storage modulus at very low temperature (below Tg). From measurements of the water fusion point, enthalpy, vaporisation, and weight loss, three water states in the water-absorbed bioplastics are suggested; namely strongly-bound-to-polymer, weakly-bound-to-polymer and bulk-like water. The water content and unreacted cross-linking agents are influential factors in controlling formation of the different water states, whilst the selection of different aldehydes was found to be negligible. These results could be valuable for adjusting the thermomechanical relaxations of protein based bioplastics, and tailoring their properties in wet environments.

Analysis of pressure transients and cavitation in a distributor

During pressure testing of a large distributor the weld securing the bulkhead failed, which triggered large pressure transients and cavitation phenomena. The problem has been studied by explicit integration, using shell elements for the structural parts and acoustic elements for the water. Although the calculations had to be carried out in the absence of any information about the outcome of the accident, very good consistency was achieved between the predictions and the actual observations.

Proyecto de construcción de un túnel por el sistema "Cut and cover" para el acceso ferroviario del cercanías a Marbella

El proyecto describe el diseño de un túnel ferroviario en la zona sur de España, entre las localidades de Fuengirola y Marbella en la provincia de Málaga. La ejecución de las obras incluidas en este proyecto permitirá conectar mediante una nueva línea ferroviaria dicha Estación con la población de Marbella y en un futuro con más poblaciones del Corredor Ferroviario de la Costa del Sol que en este momento no cuenta con ninguna conexión ferroviaria. En la geometría se concreta la sección del túnel que se va a ejecutar. Se utiliza como referencia el estudio geológico y geotécnico con el fin de caracterizar los materiales que se van a encontrar en la excavación del túnel. Una vez concluida esta fase se determinan los sostenimientos de acuerdo con las clasificaciones geomecánicas. Realizando el tramo elegido por el Método “Cut and Cover”, y siendo objeto de este proyecto todo el proceso constructivo del mismo así como otras obras complementarias que se tendrán que llevar a cabo debido al paso de dicho túnel por zonas transitadas o habitadas actualmente. Abstract Project describes the design of a high speed railway tunnel in the sur of Spain, between the villages of Fuengirola and Marbella (Málaga). The execution of the constructions incluyed in this proyect will allow the conection, by a neww railway line, this station with Marbella and,in the future, with more village of the “Corredor Ferroviario of Costa del Sol”, witcth al presente hasn´t gotany rail connection.It be can observed in the section of the tunnel that is going to be performed. Geological and geotechnical studies are taken into account in order to classify the rock mass materials involved in the construction process. Afterwards, supports are defined according to geomechanical classifications, specifying four different sections. Making the stretch chosen by “Cut and Cover” method and being the main goal of this proyect all the constructive process of this, as well as other complementary works that will be executed of the crossing of this tunnel by accessible or inhabited areas currently.

HMG I(Y) interferes with the DNA binding of NF-AT factors and the induction of the interleukin 4 promoter in T cells

HMG I(Y) proteins bind to double-stranded A+T oligonucleotides longer than three base pairs. Such motifs form part of numerous NF-AT-binding sites of lymphokine promoters, including the interleukin 4 (IL-4) promoter. NF-AT factors share short homologous peptide sequences in their DNA-binding domain with NF-κB factors and bind to certain NF-κB sites. It has been shown that HMG I(Y) proteins enhance NF-κB binding to the interferon β promoter and virus-mediated interferon β promoter induction. We show that HMG I(Y) proteins exert an opposite effect on the DNA binding of NF-AT factors and the induction of the IL-4 promoter in T lymphocytes. Introduction of mutations into a high-affinity HMG I(Y)-binding site of the IL-4 promoter, which decreased HMG I(Y)-binding to a NF-AT-binding sequence, the Pu-bB (or P) site, distinctly increased the induction of the IL-4 promoter in Jurkat T leukemia cells. High concentrations of HMG I(Y) proteins are able to displace NF-ATp from its binding to the Pu-bB site. High HMG I(Y) concentrations are typical for Jurkat cells and peripheral blood T lymphocytes, whereas El4 T lymphoma cells and certain T helper type 2 cell clones contain relatively low HMG I(Y) concentrations. Our results indicate that HMG I(Y) proteins do not cooperate, but instead compete with NF-AT factors for the binding to DNA even though NF-AT factors share some DNA-binding properties with NF-kB factors. This competition between HMG I(Y) and NF-AT proteins for DNA binding might be due to common contacts with minor groove nucleotides of DNA and may be one mechanism contributing to the selective IL-4 expression in certain T lymphocyte populations, such as T helper type 2 cells.

Y chromosome short arm-Sxr recombination in XSxr/Y males causes deletion of Rbm and XY female sex reversal.

We earlier described three lines of sex-reversed XY female mice deleted for sequences believed close to the testes-determining gene (Sry) on the Y chromosome short arm (Yp). The original sex-reversed females appeared among the offspring of XY males that carried the Yp duplication Sxr on their X chromosome. Earlier cytogenetic observations had suggested that the deletions resulted from asymmetrical meiotic recombination between the Y and the homologous Sxr region, but no direct evidence for this hypothesis was available. We have now analyzed the offspring of XSxr/Y males carrying an evolutionarily divergent Mus musculus domesticus Y chromosome, which permits detection and characterization of such recombination events. This analysis has enabled the derivation of a recombination map of Yp and Sxr, also demonstrating the orientation of Yp with respect to the Y centromere. The mapping data have established that Rbm, the murine homologue of a gene family cloned from the human Y chromosome, lies between Sry and the centromere. Analysis of two additional XY female lines shows that asymmetrical Yp-Sxr recombination leading to XY female sex reversal results in deletion of Rbm sequences. The deletions bring Sry closer to Y centromere, consistent with the hypothesis that position-effect inactivation of Sry is the basis for the sex reversal.

Diary and commonplace book of Peres Fobes, 1759-1760

The diary and commonplace book of Perez Fobes is written on unlined pages in a notebook with a sewn binding at the top of the pages; only the edge of the original leather softcover remain. The volume holds handwritten entries added irregularly from August 23, 1759 until December 1760 while Fobes was a student at Harvard College. The topics range from the irreverent, to the mundane, to the theological and scientific. The notebook serves to chronicle both his daily activities, such as books he read, lectures he attended, and travel, as well as a place to note humorous sayings, transcribe book passages, or ponder religious ideas such as original sin. In the volume, Fobes devotes considerable space to the subject of astronomy, and drew a picture of the "The Solar System Serundum Coper[nici] with the Or[bit] of 5 Remarkable Comets." At the back of the book, on unattached pages is a short personal dictionary for the letters A-K kept by Fobes.

Journal and orderly book : manuscript, 1758 May-Oct

Copied orders and narrative entries of a military expedition to Schenectady and the Oneida station.

Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, 1837 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Map of Massachusetts, Rhode-Island & Connecticut : compiled from the latest authorities, engraved by J. Wells. It was published by A.F. Wilcox & Co. in 1837. Scale [ca. 1:442,000].The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the USA Contiguous Albers Equal Area Conic projection (Meters). All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as cities and towns, roads, railroads, drainage, churches, academies, banks, court houses, industry locations (e.g. mills, factories, mines, etc.), town, county, and state boundaries, and more. It also includes many inset maps of the major cities of New England.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps of New England from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.