Application of data and information fusion

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Application of Geographic Information Systems

The importance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can hardly be overemphasized in today’s academic and professional arena. More professionals and academics have been using GIS than ever – urban & regional planners, civil engineers, geographers, spatial economists, sociologists, environmental scientists, criminal justice professionals, political scientists, and alike. As such, it is extremely important to understand the theories and applications of GIS in our teaching, professional work, and research. “The Application of Geographic Information Systems” presents research findings that explain GIS’s applications in different subfields of social sciences. With several case studies conducted in different parts of the world, the book blends together the theories of GIS and their practical implementations in different conditions. It deals with GIS’s application in the broad spectrum of geospatial analysis and modeling, water resources analysis, land use analysis, infrastructure network analysis like transportation and water distribution network, and such. The book is expected to be a useful source of knowledge to the users of GIS who envision its applications in their teaching and research. This easy-to-understand book is surely not the end in itself but a little contribution to toward our understanding of the rich and wonderful subject of GIS

Fuzzy Logic

The capability of Fuzzy Logic in the development of emerging technologies is introduced in this book. The book consists of sixteen chapters showing various applications in the field of Bioinformatics, Health, Security, Communications, Transportations, Financial Management, Energy and Environment Systems. This book is a major reference source for all those concerned with applied intelligent systems. The intended readers are researchers, engineers, medical practitioners, and graduate students interested in fuzzy logic systems

Telomere Length and Distribution in Three Developmental Stages

Telomeres are specialised nucleoprotein structures present at the ends of each chromatid that function to maintain genome stability. It is well established that a gradual decline in telomere length is associated with the process of cellular ageing, and thereby to the pathobiology of age-related diseases. In addition, the localisation of the telomere at the nuclear periphery plays an important role in the spatio-temporal organisation of the genome and in ensuring faithful segregation of chromosomes during meiosis. The aims of this thesis were to investigate telomere localisation in the nucleus, and telomere length in three hitherto early stages of development, gametogenesis, preimplantation embryogenesis and the neonatal period. Specifically: 1. To test the hypothesis that telomeres localised at the nuclear periphery in sperm cells and that this organisation was altered in sub-fertile men 2. To optimise a means of assessing average telomere length using DNA from small sample sizes and using whole genome amplified DNA from single cells 3. To investigate the role of telomere length in reproductive ageing and aneuploidy generation in women by testing the hypothesis that telomere length is significantly shorter in the first polar bodies and cleavage stage embryos of older women 4. To test the hypothesis that “preterm at term” babies (i.e. premature babies assessed at the time of their due date) displayed genetic signs of premature ageing (as manifested by significantly shorter telomeres than their term born counterparts) alongside the already established clinical signs (characterised by hypertension, diabetes and altered body fat distribution) Results confirmed the peripheral distribution of telomeres in the sperm heads of normally fertile males (using both 2D and 3D imaging) plus the novel finding that telomere distribution patterns are altered in the sperm heads of infertile males. Secondly, a reliable means of measuring telomere length was optimised in order to assess average telomere length using DNA from small sample volumes (down to single cells). Using this technology, average telomere length analysis in polar bodies and embryos found no evidence to support the hypothesis that telomere length is associated with either advanced maternal age or aneuploidy generation. Similarly, results suggest that telomere length is not significantly shorter in “preterm at term” infants compared to term born controls, thus providing no evidence that telomere attrition is involved in the pathobiology of the ‘aged phenotype’ observed in preterm infants. Taken together, results from this thesis provide some novel insights into the function of these highly important features of the genome, but also highlight that a great deal remains to be uncovered in the complex molecular mechanisms that contribute to the regulation of telomere length and nuclear distribution

Nutrient supply impacts osteocytic specification by regulating a nuclear transcription program

[spa] El hueso es un órgano con múltiples funciones. No sólo actúa como elemento de soporte, protección y locomoción, sino que también resulta indispensable en el mantenimiento del equilibrio mineral y ácido/base, conforma un nicho adecuado para el desarrollo de la hematopoyesis, y mantiene la homeostasis energética del organismo. En estos procesos, los osteocitos tienen un papel especialmente relevante, ya que actúan transduciendo estímulos mecánicos en señales bioquímicas. Los osteocitos constituyen el principal componente celular óseo. Derivan de osteoblastos, los cuales a su vez proceden de células madre mensenquimales (MSC). Los osteoblastos pueden seguir tres destinos alternativos: entrar en apoptosis, originar células de revestimiento óseo o progresar en la diferenciación hacia osteocitos. Actualmente, los estímulos y vías de señalización que regulan cada uno de estos procesos son desconocidos. Por ello, y teniendo en cuenta la importancia de los osteocitos en la homeostasis del organismo, consideramos necesario profundizar en su investigación. Durante el proceso de diferenciación ósea, los osteoblastos quedan embebidos en una matriz mineralizada que limita su disponibilidad de nutrientes, estando expuestos a un ambiente hipoglucémico al cual deben adaptarse. En este contexto Wei et al. demostraron que la glucosa juega un papel importante en la regulación de la diferenciación osteoblástica. Por otro lado, se ha observado que, en ambientes hiperglucémicos, típicos de pacientes diabéticos, se produce una reducción del número y función osteoblástica, así como una disminución de la densidad mineral ósea y alteración de la microarquitectura ósea. Teniendo en cuenta todo lo expuesto, estudiamos la capacidad de diferenciación de las IDG-SW3 en condiciones de hipoglucemia (1mM glucosa), normoglucemia (5mM glucosa) o hiperglucemia (25mM glucosa). Las condiciones de hipoglucemia promueven la diferenciación osteocitica, mientras que altas concentraciones de glucosa dificultan este proceso. A nivel metabólico, las condiciones de baja glucosa aumentan la cantidad de mitocondrias y su agrupación en forma de redes. Por otro lado, los ambientes hipoglucémicos, promueven los eventos de fisión mitocondrial. En este contexto PGC1α podría desempeñar un papel crucial como nexo entre el estrés metabólico y la reprogramación génica de los osteoblastos. PGC1α es un coactivador transcripcional que responde a diferentes tipos de estrés. Aunque sus dianas son múltiples, afectan principalmente a la expresión de genes implicados en el metabolismo, así como la biogénesis y función mitocondrial. PGC1 se activa a través de fosforilación y acetilación mediadas por AMPK y SIRT1. La activación de PGC1α, podría iniciar una reprogramación metabólica y génica que culminaría en una inducción de la diferenciación osteocítica