Stem Cells for Modeling Human Disease

Human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in the form of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are capable of growing indefinitely in vitro, maintaining their capacity to differentiate into the three primary germ layers: mesoderm, endoderm and ectoderm. Different protocols have been developed to differentiate PSCs into almost any cellular type with different degree of success. This technology has allowed scientists to use patient‐derived iPSCs to study the physiopathology of the disease by analyzing the phenotype of the cells derived from these iPSCs. However, control iPSCs obtained from healthy individuals will always have different genomic environment than patient\u27s iPSCs, making it difficult the interpretation of the cells phenotype. The recent appearance of specific nucleases [zinc‐finger nucleases (ZFNs), the transcription activator‐like effector nucleases (TALENs) and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)] has made it possible to edit the genome of PSCs. We can now generate syngeneic hESCs or iPSCs harboring the desired mutation and comparing the emerging cells with those derived from genetically identical PSCs that will differ only in the mutated gene. In this chapter, we summarize the progress made in this field and discuss the different approaches that have been used recently for the generation of syngeneic human pluripotent cellular models for different pathologies

Fracture toughness and temperature dependence of Young's modulus of a sintered albite glass

Albite glass is an important component in many ceramic compositions, often used as liquid phase during the sintering process. Nevertheless, in spite of its almost ubiquous presence in the final microstructure of these compositions, some properties such as Young's modulus or fracture toughness have not been extensively studied in literature. This paper presents an experimental study on a sintered albite glass obtained from sodium feldspar powder. The microstructure of the resultant amorphous solid was analyzed via scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Fracture toughness was determined at room temperature from the critical stress intensity factor (KIC) with a three point bending single-edge notched test (SENB). Young's modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) were measured as a function of the temperature. A value of CTE of 6.6 × 10− 6 °C− 1 within the temperature range 300–500 °C was found. Young's modulus values of the albite glass were within the range from 63.6 to 65.2 MPa. SENB tests revealed a fracture toughness of KIC = 0.78 ± 0.06 MPa m1/2, which is of similar value to those found for borosilicate and soda-lime glasses

Relationship between Young's modulus and temperature in porcelain tiles

A focused research was conducted on samples prepared from an industrial porcelain tile composition containing quartz, used to produce ceramic floor tiles, with the aim of evaluating the variation of fired specimens’ Young's modulus with temperature. These samples were fired in controlled laboratory conditions so that specimens with pre-existing cracks were obtained and subject to non-destructive in situ thermo-mechanical measurements (impulse excitation technique) in the 22–700 °C temperature range during heating and cooling processes in order to find evidences to explain the hysteresis phenomenon in the Young's modulus versus temperature curve. The observed irreversible Young's modulus may be directly related to the pre-existent cracks that on heating and cooling are closed and opened up respectively, changing thus the Young's modulus which is well characterized by a hysteresis cycle

Carbon use efficiency variability from MODIS data

[EN] Carbon use efficiency (CUE) describes how efficiently plants incorporate the carbon fixed during photosynthesis into biomass gain and can be calculated as the ratio between net primary production (NPP) and gross primary production (GPP). In this work, annual CUE has been obtained from annual GPP and NPP MODIS products for the peninsular Spain study area throughout eight years. CUE is spatially and temporally analyzed in terms of the vegetation type and annual precipitation and annual average air temperature. Results show that dense vegetation areas with moderate to high levels of precipitation present lower CUE values, whereas more arid areas present the highest CUE values. However, the temperature effect on the spatial variation of CUE is not well characterized. On the other hand, inter-annual variations of CUE of different ecosystems are discussed in terms of inter-annual variations of temperature and precipitation. It is shown that CUE exhibited a positive correlation with precipitation and a negative correlation with temperature in most ecosystems. Thus, CUE decreases when the ecosystem conditions change towards aridity.[ES] La eficiencia en el uso de carbono (CUE) cuantifica el incremento de la biomasa de las plantas a partir del carbono que fijan a través de su actividad fotosintética. En este trabajo se analiza la variación de la CUE anual (estimada a partir del cociente entre los productos de producción primaria neta, NPP, y producción primaria bruta, GPP, anuales de MODIS) en función del tipo de vegetación y de las variables meteorológicas temperatura del aire y precipitación, a lo largo de ocho años en la España peninsular. Los valores más bajos de CUE se encuentran en zonas de vegetación densa con niveles de precipitación de moderada a elevada (superior a 1000 mm/año), mientras que los valores más altos se localizan en zonas más áridas (con precipitación por debajo de 800 mm/año). La influencia de la temperatura es menos marcada. Cuando se analizan las variaciones interanuales de la CUE se observa que, para la mayor parte de los ecosistemas, un incremento de la precipitación produce un incremento de su CUE, mientras que un incremento de la temperatura la disminuye. En este caso, además, la influencia de la temperatura es más significativa desde un punto de vista estadístico. Es decir, para un ecosistema en particular, la CUE disminuye cuando se intensifi-can las condiciones de aridez.Este trabajo ha sido subvencionado, en parte, por los proyectos ERMES (FP7/2007-2013) y ESCENARIOS (MINECO/FEDER, CGL2016-75239-R). Agradecemos a AEMet, y muy especialmente al Dr. J. Tamayo, la cesión de los datos meteorológicos. Los productos MODIS se descargaron utilizando la herramienta online Data Pool, que es cortesía de NASA EOSDIS Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC), USGS/Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, [https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/data_access]. Finalmente, les damos las gracias a los revisores, cuyas sugerencias han contribuido a mejorar el manuscrito.Cañizares, M.; Moreno, A.; Sánchez-Ruiz, S.; Gilabert, M. (2017). Variabilidad de la eficiencia en el uso del carbono a partir de datos MODIS. Revista de Teledetección. (48):1-12. https://doi.org/10.4995/raet.2017.70441124

Electrophoretic deposition of nanostructured-TiO2/chitosan composite coatings on stainless steel

Novel chitosan composite coatings containing titania nanoparticles (n-TiO2) for biomedical applications were developed by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) from ethanol–water suspensions. The optimal ethanol–water ratio was studied in order to avoid bubble formation during the EPD process and to ensure homogeneous coatings. Different n-TiO2 contents (0.5–10 g L−1) were studied for a fixed chitosan concentration (0.5 g L−1) and the properties of the electrophoretic coatings obtained were characterized. Coating composition was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to study both the surface and the cross section morphology of the coatings, and the thicknesses (2–6 μm) of the obtained coatings were correlated with the initial ceramic content. Contact angle measurements, as a preliminary study to predict hypothetic protein attachment on the coatings, were performed for different samples and the influence of a second chitosan layer on top of the coatings was also tested. Finally, the electrochemical behavior of the coatings, evaluated by polarization curves in DMEM at 37 °C, was studied in order to assess the corrosion resistance provided by the n-TiO2/chitosan coatings

Capability assessment of the SEVIRI/MSG GPP product for the detection of areas affected by water stress

[ES] Se presenta el nuevo producto de producción primaria bruta (GPP) de EUMETSAT derivado a partir de datos del satélite geoestacionario SEVIRI/MSG (MGPP LSA-411) y se evalúa su potencial para detectar zonas afectadas por estrés hídrico (hot spots). El producto GPP se basa en la aproximación de Monteith, que modela la GPP de la vegetación como el producto de la radiación fotosintéticamente activa (PAR) incidente, la fracción de PAR absorbida (fAPAR) y un factor de eficiencia de uso de la radiación (ε). El potencial del producto MGPP para detectar hot spots se evalúa, utilizando un periodo corto de tres años, a escala local y regional, comparando con datos in situ derivados de medidas en torres eddy covariance (EC) y con datos GPP derivados de satélite (producto de 8 días MOD17A2H.v6 a 500 m y producto de 10 días GDMP a 1 km). Los resultados preliminares sobre el uso del producto MGPP en la evaluación de la respuesta del ecosistema a posibles eventos de déficit de agua ponen de manifiesto que este producto, calculado íntegramente a partir de datos MSG (EUMETSAT), ofrece una alternativa prometedora para detectar y caracterizar zonas afectadas por sequía a través de la incorporación de un coeficiente de estrés hídrico.[EN] This study aims to introduce a completely new and recently launched 10-day GPP product based on data from the geostationary MSG satellite (MGPP LSA-411) and to assess its capability to detect areas affected by water stress (hot spots). The GPP product is based on Monteith’s concept, which models GPP as the product of the incoming photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), the fractional absorption of that flux (fAPAR) and a lightuse efficiency factor (ε). Preliminary results on the use of the MGPP product in the assessment of ecosystem response to rainfall deficit events are presented in this work for a short period of three years. The robustness of this product is evaluated at both site and regional scales across the MSG disk using eddy covariance (EC) GPP measurements and Earth Observing (EO)-based GPP products, respectively. The EO-based products belong to the 8-day MOD17A2H v6 at 500 m and the 10-day GDMP at 1 km. The results reveal the MGPP product, derived entirely from MSG (EUMETSAT) products, as an efficient alternative to detect and characterize areas under water scarcity by means of a coefficient of water stress.Trabajo financiado por los proyectos LSA SAF (EUMETSAT) y ESCENARIOS (CGL2012–35831). Agradecemos a los responsables de las torres EC la cesión de los datos de GPP.Martínez, B.; Sánchez-Ruiz, S.; Campos-Taberner, M.; García-Haro, FJ.; Gilabert, MA. (2020). 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Validation of the Climate Data Record of EUMETSAT LSA SAF SEVIRI/MSG LAI, FAPAR and FVC products. Proceedings of the V RAQRS conference, Torrent, September 2017. pp. 191-196.Garbulsky, M.F., Peñuelas, J., Papale, D., Ardo, J., Goulden, M.L., Kiely, G., et al. 2010. Patterns and controls of the variability of radiation use efficiency and primary productivity across terrestrial ecosystems. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 19, 253-267. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2009.00504.xGarcía-Haro, F.J., Campos-Taberner, M., Sabater, N., Belda, F., Moreno, A., Gilabert, M.A., Martínez, B., Pérez-Hoyos, A., Meliá, J. 2014. Vulnerabilidad de la vegetación a la sequía en España. Revista de Teledetección, 42, 29-37. https://doi.org/10.4995/raet.2014.2283García-Haro, F.J., Campos-Taberner, M., Muñoz- Mari, J., Laparra, V., Camacho, F., Sánchez- Zapero, J., Camps-Valls, G. 2018. Derivation of global vegetation biophysical parameters from EUMETSAT polar system. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 139, 57-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2018.03.005García-Haro, F.J., Camacho, F., Martínez, B., Campos- Taberner, M., Fuster, B., Sánchez-Zapero, J., Gilabert, M.A. 2019. Climate Data Records of Vegetation Variables from Geostationary SEVIRI/MSG Data: Products, Algorithms and Applications. Remote Sensing, 11, 2103. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11182103Gilabert, M.A., Moreno, A., Maselli, F., Martínez, B., Chiesi, M., Sánchez-Ruíz, S., et al. 2015. Daily GPP estimates in Mediterranean ecosystems by combining remote sensing and meteorological data. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 102, 184- 197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2015.01.017Jones, L.A., Kimball, J.S., Reichle, R.H., Madani, N., Glassy, J., Ardizzone, J.V., et al. 2017. The SMAP level 4 carbon product for monitoring ecosystem land-atmosphere CO2 exchange. 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Comprehensive framework for the development of control and navigation systems of autonomous underwater vehicles: the mission-sicuva project

This paper presents an overview of coordinated project MISSION-SICUVA, and the results achieved at its recent completion. A prototype of UUV has been built with an orientation to oceanographic research and test of new control algorithms. It consist of an underwater vehicle towing a surface buoy, with applications such as monitoring water quality, high resolution bathymetry of the seabed and its map projection. New biological inspired navigation algorithms have been implemented using a comprehensive component based development framework.Peer Reviewe

Impact of uterine manipulator on oncological outcome in endometrial cancer surgery

Background: There are limited data available to indicate whether oncological outcomes might be influenced by the uterine manipulator, which is used at the time of hysterectomy for minimally invasive surgery in patients with endometrial cancer. The current evidence derives from retrospective studies with limited sample sizes. Without substantial evidence to support its use, surgeons are required to make decisions about its use based only on their personal choice and surgical experience. Objective: To evaluate the use of the uterine manipulator on oncological outcomes after minimally invasive surgery, for apparent early-stage endometrial cancer. Study Design: We performed a retrospective multicentric study to assess the oncological safety of uterine manipulator use in patients with apparent early-stage endometrial cancer, treated with minimally invasive surgery. The type of manipulator, surgical staging, histology, lymphovascular space invasion, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, adjuvant treatment, recurrence, and pattern of recurrence were evaluated. The primary objective was to determine the relapse rate. The secondary objective was to determine recurrence-free survival, overall survival, and the pattern of recurrence. Results: A total of 2661 women from 15 centers were included; 1756 patients underwent hysterectomy with a uterine manipulator and 905 without it. Both groups were balanced with respect to histology, tumor grade, myometrial invasion, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, and adjuvant therapy. The rate of recurrence was 11.69% in the uterine manipulator group and 7.4% in the no-manipulator group (P<.001). The use of the uterine manipulator was associated with a higher risk of recurrence (hazard ratio, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.27–4.20; P=.006). The use of uterine manipulator in uterus-confined endometrial cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] I–II) was associated with lower disease-free survival (hazard ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.57–0.97; P=.027) and higher risk of death (hazard ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–2.83; P=.026). No differences were found regarding the pattern of recurrence between both groups (chi-square statistic, 1.74; P=.63). Conclusion: In this study, the use of a uterine manipulator was associated with a worse oncological outcome in patients with uterus-confined endometrial cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics I–II) who underwent minimally invasive surgery. Prospective trials are essential to confirm these results

Evaluation of the potential association of SOHLH2 polymorphisms with non-obstructive azoospermia susceptibility in a large European population

Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) or spermatogenic failure is a complex disease with an important genetic component that causes infertility in men. Known genetic factors associated with NOA include AZF microdeletions of the Y chromosome or karyotype abnormalities; however, most causes of NOA are idiopathic. During the last decade, a large list of associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and NOA have been reported. However, most of the genetic studies have been performed only in Asian populations. We aimed to evaluate whether the previously described association in Han Chinese between NOA and two SNPs of the SOHLH2 gene (involved in the spermatogenesis process) may also confer risk for NOA in a population of European ancestry. We genotyped a total of 551 NOA patients (218 from Portugal and 333 from Spain) and 1,050 fertile controls (226 from Portugal and 824 from Spain) for the genetic variants rs1328626 and rs6563386 using TaqMan assays. To test for association, we compared the allele and genotype frequencies between cases and controls using an additive model. A haplotype analysis and a meta-analysis using the inverse variance method with our data and those of the original Asian study were also performed. No statistically significant differences were observed in any of the analyses described above. Therefore, considering the high statistical power of our study, it is not likely that the two analysed SOHLH2 genetic variants are related with an increase susceptibility to NOA in the European population.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio