Redefining the Relationship Between the Energy Charter Treaty and the Treaty of Functioning of the European Union : From a Normative Conflict to Policy Tension

Peer reviewedPostprin

Measuring Public Participation in International Investment Treaty Law : A Study of the Latin American Extractive Industries

Publisher PD

El algoritmo HyRPNI y una aplicación en bioinformática

Proponemos un algoritmo de inferencia gramatical para lenguajes regulares que permite ahorrar cómputo al usar dos criterios diferentes para elegir los estados a ser procesados, un criterio se usa en la primera fase del proceso de inferencia (al principio) y el otro en el resto del proceso. Realizamos experimentos para observar el desempeño del algoritmo, para aprender sobre el tamaño ideal de su primera fase y para mostrar su aplicación en la solución de un problema específico en bioinformática: la predicción de sitios de corte en poliproteínas codificadas por virus de la familia Potyviridae./ We propose a grammar inference algorithm for regular languages which saves computational cost by using two different criteria to choose states to be processed: one in the first phase of the inference process (the beginning) and another for the rest of the process. We applied experiments to observe performance of the algorithm, to learn about the best size of its first phase and to show results of its application to solve a specific problem in Bioinformatics: the cleavage site prediction problem in polyproteins encoded by viruses of the Potyviridae family

Índice de massa corporal para predizer hiperglicemia e alterações lipídicas em adolescentes brasileiros

OBJECTIVE: To determine the best cut-offs of body mass index for identifying alterations of blood lipids and glucose in adolescents. METHODS: A probabilistic sample including 577 adolescent students aged 12-19 years in 2003 (210 males and 367 females) from state public schools in the city of Niterói, Southeastern Brazil, was studied. The Receiver Operating Characteristic curve was used to identify the best age-adjusted BMI cut-off for predicting high levels of serum total cholesterol (&gt;150mg/dL), LDL-C (&gt;100mg/dL), serum triglycerides (&gt;100mg/dL), plasma glucose (&gt;100mg/dL) and low levels of HDL-C (< 45mg/dL). Four references were used to calculate sensitivity and specificity of BMI cut-offs: one Brazilian, one international and two American. RESULTS: The most prevalent metabolic alterations (&gt;50%) were: high total cholesterol and low HDL-C. BMI predicted high levels of triglycerides in males, high LDL-C in females, and high total cholesterol and the occurrence of three or more metabolic alterations in both males and females (areas under the curve range: 0.59 to 0.67), with low sensitivity (57%-66%) and low specificity (58%-66%). The best BMI cut-offs for this sample (20.3 kg/m² to 21.0 kg/m²) were lower than those proposed in the references studied. CONCLUSIONS: Although BMI values lower than the International cut-offs were better predictor of some metabolic abnormalities in Brazilian adolescents, overall BMI is not a good predictor of these abnormalities in this population.OBJETIVO: Determinar los mejores puntos de corte del índice de masa corporal (IMC) para identificar alteraciones en el perfil lipémico y glicérico en adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Fueron evaluados 577 adolescentes de 12 a 19 años (210 niños y 367 niñas) en una muestra probabilística de estudiantes de escuelas estaduales de la ciudad de Niteroi, Sureste de Brasil, en 2003. Fue utilizada una curva Receiver Operating Characteristic para identificar el mejor punto de corte, ajustado a la edad, para predecir valores elevados de colesterol total sérico (=150mg/dL), LDL-C (=100mg/dL), triglicéridos (=100mg/dL), glicosis plasmática (&gt;100mg/dL) y bajos valores de HDL-C (OBJETIVO: Determinar os melhores pontos de corte do índice de massa corporal (IMC) para identificar alterações no perfil lipêmico e glicêmico em adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 577 adolescentes de 12 a 19 anos (210 meninos e 367 meninas) em uma amostra probabilística de estudantes de escolas estaduais da cidade de Niterói (RJ), em 2003. Foi utilizada a curva Receiver Operating Characteristic para identificar o melhor ponto de corte, ajustado para idade, para predizer valores elevados de colesterol total sérico (&gt;150mg/dL), LDL-C (&gt;100mg/dL), triglicérides (&gt;100mg/dL), glicose plasmática (&gt;100mg/dL) e baixos valores de HDL-C

Metabolomic Profiling for Identification of Novel Potential Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Diseases

Metabolomics involves the identification and quantification of metabolites present in a biological system. Three different approaches can be used: metabolomic fingerprinting, metabolic profiling, and metabolic footprinting, in order to evaluate the clinical course of a disease, patient recovery, changes in response to surgical intervention or pharmacological treatment, as well as other associated features. Characteristic patterns of metabolites can be revealed that broaden our understanding of a particular disorder. In the present paper, common strategies and analytical techniques used in metabolomic studies are reviewed, particularly with reference to the cardiovascular field

Model-based scale-up methodology for aerobic fed-batch bioprocesses: application to polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production

This work presents a general model-based methodology to scale-up fed-batch bioprocesses. The idea behind this approach is to establish a dynamics hierarchy, based on a model of the process, that allows the designer to determine the proper scale factors as well as at which point of the fed-batch the process should be scaled up. Here, concepts and tools of linear control theory, such as the singular value decomposition of the Hankel matrix, are exploited in the context of process design. The proposed scale-up methodology is first described in a bioprocesses general framework highlighting its main features, key variables and parameters. Then, it is applied to a polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) fed-batch bioreactor and compared with three empirical criteria, that are traditionally employed to determine the scale factors of these processes, showing the usefulness and distinctive features of this proposal. Moreover, this methodology provides theoretical support to a frequently used empirical rule: scale-up aerobic bioreactors at constant volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient. Finally, similar process dynamic behavior and PHB production set at the laboratory scale are predicted at the new operating scale, while it is also determined that is rarely possible to reproduce similar dynamic behavior of the bioreactor using empirical scale-up criteria.Facultad de IngenieríaInstituto de Investigaciones en Electrónica, Control y Procesamiento de Señale

GRAVIDEZ NA ADOLESCÊNCIA: SIGNIFICADOS PARA A FAMÍLIA DE HOJE

This article presents the results of the study carried through with the objective to develop a theoretical model, whose central subjectis: the love and its components, and as sub subjects: the sensitivity, the perception, the interaction and the communication, among others, with the purpose to contribute for the strength of auto-esteem of a group of adolescents, with the support of its familiar groups and the health service team. It was carried through the implantation of workshops with the adolescents and the accompaniment of its familiar and agents of health. Forthe development of the work the information related to the demographic aspects had been collected and identified the risk and security factors of the group of adolescents, applied the self-esteem scale of Janda1 before and after application of the theoretical model. During the development of the theoretical model the participants had been interviewed. The results demonstrate the risks and security factors that live the adolescents in general, and had presented an addition to the values on self-esteem scale comparative with the initial measurement, the interviews revealed five categories related with the process of pregnancy lived by the adolescents: in search of identity; the familiar and social expectations interrupted; love and lovelessness in the interpersonal relations, influence of the feminine figure in the decisions, and the loving challenge as rescue of auto-esteem and expression of the feelings. The development of the workshops allowed the strengthening of the health agents with the pregnant adolescents through the sensitization and the reflection about the theme discussed, the concepts of the theoretical model of the loving challenge.El embarazo en la adolescente tiende a ser desaprobado en los contextos familiar y social, considerándose una conducta que se aleja de las expectativas familiares y sociales, lo que genera en la adolescente diferentes tipos de sentimientos. El presente artículo aborda la problemática de la familia frente a la adolescente embarazada, la cual se ha determinado a partir de la aplicación de un Modelo fundamentado en el amor 1. Estudio realizado con adolescentes grávidas de condición soioeconómica media baja de la ciudad de Cali. El estudio se realizó desde el enfoque cualitativoy de investigación acción y las adolescentes participantes estuvieron presentes desde del cuarto mes de gestación con edades entre 14 y 19 años, recolectando información relacionada con aspectos sociodemográficos; factores de riesgo y protectores; y entrevista en profundidad. Se aplicó el modelo a través de la implementación de talleres en los que tomaron parte además de las adolescentes los agentes de salud del área de influencia.Los hallazgos confirman los factores de riesgo y protectores que viven las adolescentes en general y las entrevistas en profundidad revelaron cinco categorías relacionadas con el proceso de embarazo vivido por las adolescentes y su familia: búsqueda de identidad, expectativas familiares y sociale interrumpidas, amor y desamor en las relaciones interpersonales, influencia de la figura femenina en las decisiones, y el desafío amoroso como rescate de autoestima y expresión de sentimientos. En este artículo nos referiremos a tres de ellas por considerarlas que son las que nos revelan con mayor detalle el significado de la gravidez en las adolescentes para la familia de hoy .Este artigo apresenta os resultados do estudo realizado com o objetivo de desenvolver um modelo teórico, cujo tema central é: o amor e seus componentes, e como sub temas: a sensibilidade, a percepção, a interação e a comunicação, entre outros, com a finalidade de contribuir para o fortalecimento da auto-estima de um grupo de adolescentes, com o apoio de seus grupos familiares e da equipe de saúde. Foi realizado através da implantação de oficinas com as adolescentes e do acompanhamento de seus familiares e de agentes de saúde. Para o desenvolvimentodo trabalho foram coletadas as informações relacionadas aos aspectos demográficos e se identificaram os fatores de risco e segurança do grupo de adolescentes, aplicou-se a escala de auto-estima de Janda 1 antes e após a aplicação do modelo. Durante o desenvolvimento do modelo foram realizadas entrevistas diretas com as participantes. Os achados demonstram os fatores de riscos e segurança que vivenciam as adolescentes em geral, e apresentaram um acréscimo aos valores da escala de auto-estima comparado com a medição inicial. As entrevistas diretas revelaram cinco categorias relacionadas com o processo de gravidez vivenciado pelas adolescentes: busca da identidade, EXPECTATIVAS FAMILIARES E SOCIAIS INTERROMPIDA, amor e desamor nas relações interpessoais, INFLUÊNCIA DA FIGURA FEMININA NAS DECISÕES, e o desafio amoroso como resgate da auto-estima e expressão dos sentimentos. O desenvolvimento das oficinas permitiu a interação dos agentes de saúde com as adolescentes grávidas através da sensibilização e a reflexão das temáticas abordadas, dos conceitos do modelo do desafio amoroso