Deep learning: creating bridges between DMPs in autoencoders and recurrent neural networks

The complexity in modeling human movement increases as the dimensionality of these movement grows. Since searching more precision and flexibility involves more variables in the model. Dynamic Movement Primitives (DMP) have shown the ability to generate joint movements with high complexity. However, the problem remains in the interaction between several joints since DMP alone is not able to deal with it. To solve this problem a new model called autoencoded dynamic movement primitive (AE- DMP) is introduced in the work "Efficient movement representation by embedding DynamicMovement Primitives in Deep Autoencoders"[2]. The proposed approach uses autoencoder in order to find a representation of the movement in a latent space. Consequently, the DMPmodel is able to reconstruct the complete movement. In thisMaster Thesis we will study the implementation of this model and study its performance. All the features stated in the original paper are checked, as multiple movements, sparsity and reconstruction of missing or corrupted data

Microbial Community Composition during a Bloom of Purple Bacteria in Intertidal Sediments in Vigo (Northwest Spain)

In summer 2019, a large, bright pink microbial mat was visible on top of macroalgal deposits in muddy sediments of an urban beach (Playa do Adro, Vigo). In order to characterize the dominant organisms in these colored mats, results from microscopic observations, photosynthetic pigments, and molecular analysis were gathered. Light microscopy examination revealed pinkish microbial aggregates with minor contributions of larger protists and cyanobacteria. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) pigment analysis documented the dominance of bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids whose spectra were compatible with those described in photosynthetic purple bacteria. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing confirmed that the vast majority of reads belonged to Proteobacteria (73.5%), and among them, nearly 88% of those reads belonged to purple sulfur bacteria (Gammaproteobacteria). A single family, Chromatiaceae, constituted the bulk of this assemblage, including the genera Thiohalocapsa (32%), Marichromatium (12.5%), Phaeochromatium (5%), and Halocromatium (2%) as main contributors. Nonetheless, a considerable number of sequences could not be assigned to a particular genus, stressing the large biological diversity in these microbial mats and the potential presence of novel taxa of purple sulfur bacteria.En prens

Expandibilidad del tejido adiposo: Identificación de nuevas dianas terapéuticas

La obesidad es una enfermedad crónica de origen multifactorial que se define fisiológicamente como una acumulación de grasa que causa problemas de salud. Actualmente está aceptado que el tejido adiposo no es un mero almacén de energía y es considerado un órgano endocrino extraordinariamente heterogéneo en cuanto a su composición y a su distribución corporal. Aproximadamente el 85% de la masa total de tejido adiposo es subcutánea, mientras que el 15% restante constituye grasa visceral..

Metabolic shifts toward fatty-acid usage and increased thermogenesis are associated with impaired adipogenesis in mice expressing human APOE4

The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene encodes for three isoforms in the human population (APOE2, APOE3, and APOE4). While the role of APOE in lipid metabolism is well characterized, the specific metabolic signatures of the APOE isoforms, during metabolic disorders, remain unclear

Seasonal contribution of living phytoplankton carbon to vertical fluxes in a coastal upwelling system (Ría de Vigo, NW Spain)

The aim of this study is to explore the contribution of living phytoplankton carbon to vertical fluxes in a coastal upwelling system as a key piece to understand the coupling between primary production in the photic layer and the transfer mechanisms of the organic material from the photic zone. Between April 2004 and January 2005, five campaigns were carried out in the Ría de Vigo (NW Iberian Peninsula) covering the most representative oceanographic conditions for this region. Measurements of particulate organic carbon (POC), chlorophyll-a (chl a), phaeopigments (phaeo), and identification of phytoplankton species were performed on the water column samples and on the organic material collected in sediment traps.The POC fluxes measured by the sediment traps presented no seasonal variation along the studied period ranging around a mean annual value of 1085±365mgm-2d-1, in the upper range of the previously reported values for other coastal systems. The fact that higher POC fluxes were registered during autumn and winter, when primary production rates were at their minimum levels points to a dominant contribution of organic carbon from resuspended sediments on the trap collected material. On the contrary, fluxes of living phytoplankton carbon (Cphyto) and chl a clearly presented a seasonal trend with maximum values during summer upwelling (546mgm-2d-1 and 22mgchl am-2d-1, respectively) and minimum values during winter (22mgm-2d-1 and 0.1mgchl am-2d-1, respectively). The contribution of Cphyto to the vertical flux of POC ranged between 2% and 49% in response to the pelagic phytoplankton community structure. Higher values of Cphyto fluxes were registered under upwelling conditions which favour the dominance of large chain-forming diatoms (Asterionellopsis glacialis and Detonula pumila) that were rapidly transferred to the sediments. By contrast, Cphyto fluxes decreased during the summer stratification associated with a pelagic phytoplankton community dominated by single-cell diatoms and flagellates. Minimal Cphyto fluxes were observed during the winter mixing conditions, when the presence of the benthic specie Paralia sulcata in the water column also points toward strong sediment resuspension.Financial support came from CICYT projectREN 2003-04458 and EU projectEVK3-19 CT-2002-00071. D.Z. is funded by a postdoctoral fellowship (Jae-Doc) from the CSIC.Peer reviewe

Influence of mussel culture on the vertical export of phytoplankton carbon in a coastal upwelling embayment (Ría de Vigo, NW Iberia)

14 páginas, 2 tablas, 8 figurasThe goal of this paper is to find out whether suspended mussel culture affects the vertical fluxes of biogenic particles in the Ría de Vigo on a seasonal scale. With this aim, vertical fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC) and the magnitude and composition of vertical export of phytoplankton carbon (Cphyto) collected in sediment traps were examined by comparing data obtained inside a mussel farming area (RaS) with those found at a reference station (ReS) not affected by mussels. Our results indicate that mussel farming has a strong impact on sedimentation fluxes under the rafts, not only increasing POC flux but also altering the magnitude and composition of Cphyto fluxes. Average POC flux at RaS (2564 ± 1936 mg m−2 day−1) was four times higher than at ReS (731 ± 276 mg m−2 day−1), and much of this increase was due to biodeposit fluxes (Cbiodep) which accounted for large proportion of POC flux (35–60 %). Indeed, because of this high Cbiodep flux, only a small proportion of the POC flux was due to Cphyto flux (3–12 %). At the same time, we observed an increased sedimentation of phytoplankton cells at RaS that could be explained by a combination of mechanisms: less energetic hydrodynamic conditions under mussel rafts, ballast effect by sinking mussel feces, and diatom aggregates. Moreover, mussel farming also altered the quality of the Cphyto flux by removing part of the predatory pressure of zooplankton and thus matching diatom composition in water column and sediment trapsFinancial support came from MICINN RAFTING project (CTM2007-61983/MAR, CTM2007-30624-E/MAR). D. Z. was funded by a postdoctoral fellowship (Plan I2C) from Xunta de GaliciaPeer reviewe

El papel del farmacéutico en la cistitis

Un porcentaje muy elevado de la población padece o ha padecido cistitis alguna vez y sus síntomas representan un inconveniente para el paciente. Suele afectar principalmente a las mujeres debido a condiciones anatómicas y hormonales. El consejo farmacéutico se centra principalmente en la prevención, educación higiénico sanitaria y en disminuir la recurrencia de esta patología. Existen numerosas alternativas no farmacológicas que podemos ofrecer en la oficina de farmacia. A lo largo de esta revisión bibliográfica se exponen las características de la enfermedad, las pautas de tratamiento, métodos preventivos y recomendaciones por parte del farmacéutico

Efectos de la adiponectina en la homeostasis de los carbohidratos

La adiponectina es un adipoquina secretada por el tejido adiposo. Se sintetiza como monómero y se secreta en forma de complejos de diverso tamaño. Es una de las proteínas plasmáticas más abundantes y cumple importantes funciones en la homeostasis del organismo ya que está implicada en el metabolismo de glucosa y ácidos grasos. Nuestro trabajo se ha centrado en conseguir una sobreexpresión de adiponectina mediante la utilización de vectores lentivirales y poder estudiar las implicaciones metabólicas que esto conlleva. Obtuvimos con éxito partículas lentivirales con las que infectados dos líneas celulares cumplen un papel importante como reguladores de la homeostasis energética, adipocitos y miocitos. Las líneas celulares transducidas han sido capaces de sintetizar adiponectina y secretarla en los distintos complejos. Como novedad, describimos que los miocitos son capaces de ensamblar y secretar los diferentes complejos de adiponectina. Además describimos que la secreción de los distintos complejos de adiponectina en adipocitos depende del estadio de diferenciación en que se encuentren. Tanto en adipocitos como en miocitos la sobreexpresión de adiponectina produjo un aumento de la diferenciación. Sin embargo, en el resto de parámetros analizados los resultados han sido dependientes de la línea celular. En adipocitos hemos visto que la sobreexpresión de adiponectina produce un incremento en los niveles de mRNA de la proteína Pdk4. Pdk4 actúa como interruptor entre glucólisis y ciclo de Krebs. Este incremento puede estar implicado en el aumento del acúmulo de lípidos observado en la línea que sobreeexpresa adiponectina mediante un incremento de la gliceroneogénesis. Sin embargo en miocitos la sobreexpresión de adiponectina disminuye la transcripción de Pdk4. En adipocitos, se observa una mayor sensibilización frente a insulina en la línea que sobreexpresa adiponectina y uno de los mecanismos implicados en ello es el aumento de Glut4. El uso de vectores lentivirales es una herramienta útil para el estudio de la dualidad que presenta la sobreexpresión de adiponectina

Abnormal mineralization of the Ts65Dn Down syndrome mouse appendicular skeleton begins during embryonic development in a Dyrk1a-independent manner

The relationship between gene dosage imbalance and phenotypes associated with Trisomy 21, including the etiology of abnormal bone phenotypes linked to Down syndrome (DS), is not well understood. The Ts65Dn mouse model for DS exhibits appendicular skeletal defects during adolescence and adulthood but the developmental and genetic origin of these phenotypes remains unclear. It is hypothesized that the postnatal Ts65Dn skeletal phenotype originates during embryonic development and results from an increased Dyrk1a gene copy number, a gene hypothesized to play a critical role in many DS phenotypes. Ts65Dn embryos exhibit a lower percent bone volume in the E17.5 femur when compared to euploid embryos. Concomitant with gene copy number, qPCR analysis revealed a  ~1.5 fold increase in Dyrk1a transcript levels in the Ts65Dn E17.5 embryonic femur as compared to euploid. Returning Dyrk1a copy number to euploid levels in Ts65Dn, Dyrk1a+/− embryos did not correct the trisomic skeletal phenotype but did return Dyrk1a gene transcript levels to normal. The size and protein expression patterns of the cartilage template during embryonic bone development appear to be unaffected at E14.5 and E17.5 in trisomic embryos. Taken together, these data suggest that the dosage imbalance of genes other than Dyrk1a is involved in the development of the prenatal bone phenotype in Ts65Dn embryos