Environmental Wireless Sensor Network Deployment in Food Industry: from Theory to Practice

The difficulty behind Wireless Sensor Network deployments in industrial environments not only resides in the number of nodes or the communication protocols but also in the real location of the sensor nodes and the parameters to be monitored. Sensor soiling, high humidity and unreachable locations, among others, make real deployments a very difficult task to plan. Even though it is possible to find myriad approaches for floor planners and deployment tools in the state of the art, most of these problems are very difficult to model and foresee before actually deploying the network in the final scenario. This work shows two real deployments in food factories and how their problems are found and overcome

Demographic, clinical and antibody characteristics of patients with digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: data from the DUO Registry

OBJECTIVES: The Digital Ulcers Outcome (DUO) Registry was designed to describe the clinical and antibody characteristics, disease course and outcomes of patients with digital ulcers associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: The DUO Registry is a European, prospective, multicentre, observational, registry of SSc patients with ongoing digital ulcer disease, irrespective of treatment regimen. Data collected included demographics, SSc duration, SSc subset, internal organ manifestations, autoantibodies, previous and ongoing interventions and complications related to digital ulcers. RESULTS: Up to 19 November 2010 a total of 2439 patients had enrolled into the registry. Most were classified as either limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc; 52.2%) or diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc; 36.9%). Digital ulcers developed earlier in patients with dcSSc compared with lcSSc. Almost all patients (95.7%) tested positive for antinuclear antibodies, 45.2% for anti-scleroderma-70 and 43.6% for anticentromere antibodies (ACA). The first digital ulcer in the anti-scleroderma-70-positive patient cohort occurred approximately 5 years earlier than the ACA-positive patient group. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides data from a large cohort of SSc patients with a history of digital ulcers. The early occurrence and high frequency of digital ulcer complications are especially seen in patients with dcSSc and/or anti-scleroderma-70 antibodies

The Clinical Relevance of Molecular Genetics in Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Bone and soft tissue sarcomas are an infrequent and heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumors including more than a hundred different entities attending to histologic patterns. Research into the molecular aspects of sarcomas has increased greatly in the last few years. This enormous amount of knowledge has allowed, for instance, to refine the classification of sarcomas, improve the diagnosis, and increase the number of therapeutical targets available, most of them under preclinical evaluation. However, other important key issues, such as sarcomagenesis and the cell of origin of sarcomas, remain unresolved. From a molecular point of view, these neoplasias are grouped into 2 main types: (a) sarcomas showing relatively simple karyotypes and translocations, which originate gene fusions (eg, EWS-FLI1 in Ewing sarcoma) or point mutations (eg, c-kit in the gastrointestinal tumors) and (b) sarcomas showing unspecific gene alterations, very complex karyotypes, and no translocations. The discovery of the early mechanisms involved in the genesis of sarcomas, the more relevant signaling pathways, and the development of genetically engineered mouse models could also provide a new individualized therapeutic strategy against these tumors. This review describes the clinical application of some of the molecular alterations found in sarcomas, some advances in the field of sarcomagenesis, and the development of animal models.Peer Reviewe

The Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor produces long-term changes in gene and microRNA expression profiles in CD34+ cells from healthy donors

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is the most commonly used cytokine for the mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells from healthy donors for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Although the administration of this cytokine is considered safe, knowledge about its long-term effects, especially in hematopoietic progenitor cells, is limited. On this background, the aim of our study was to analyze whether or not granulocyte colony-stimulating factor induces changes in gene and microRNA expression profiles in hematopoietic progenitor cells from healthy donors, and to determine whether or not these changes persist in the long-term. For this purpose, we analyzed the whole genome expression profile and the expression of 384 microRNA in CD34(+) cells isolated from peripheral blood of six healthy donors, before mobilization and at 5, 30 and 365 days after mobilization with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Six microRNA were differentially expressed at all time points analyzed after mobilization treatment as compared to the expression in samples obtained before exposure to the drug. In addition, 2424 genes were also differentially expressed for at least 1 year after mobilization. Of interest, 109 of these genes are targets of the differentially expressed microRNA also identified in this study. These data strongly suggest that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor modifies gene and microRNA expression profiles in hematopoietic progenitor cells from healthy donors. Remarkably, some changes are present from early time-points and persist for at least 1 year after exposure to the drug. This effect on hematopoietic progenitor cells has not been previously reported

Optimization of mesenchymal stem cell expansion procedures by cell separation and culture conditions modification

[Objective]: Optimization of the mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) isolation and expansion method. [Materials and Methods]: Mononuclear cells (MNC) from bone marrow aspirates were obtained by both density gradient centrifugation (standard method) and gravity sedimentation. Cells were cultured in standard conditions (10% fetal calf serum and normal oxygen tension [21% O2]) and expansion results compared to those obtained with the same culture conditions to which platelet lysate (PL) preparations were added; in addition, the 21% O2 concentration was compared to a lower (5%) concentration (hypoxia) until the fourth cell passage. Time of expansion, number of cells obtained, morphology, cell surface markers, and differentiation potential were evaluated. [Results]: MSC obtained by any of the different culture conditions expressed comparable immunophenotype and were able to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. When the number of MSC obtained at fourth passage was analyzed, the highest cell numbers were obtained with gravity sedimentation isolation and PL-supplemented culture and the expansion time was the shortest when cells were cultured under hypoxic conditions. [Conclusion]: MSC isolation by MNC gravity sedimentation together with culture medium supplementation with 5% of PL in a hypoxic atmosphere (5% O2) significantly improved MSC yield and reduced expansion time compared to the standard accepted protocols. © 2008 ISEH - Society for Hematology and Stem Cells.S. Carrancio was supported by a grant from Junta de Castilla y León (FPI Grant EDU/1878/2006). V Barbado is supported by a research grant from Federación de Cajas de Ahorros de Castilla y León, Spain.Peer Reviewe

Cannabinoid derivatives exert a potent anti-myeloma activity both in vitro and in vivo.

Although hematopoietic and immune system show high levels of the cannabinoid receptor CB2, the potential effect of cannabinoids on hematologic malignancies has been poorly determined. Here we have investigated their anti-tumor effect in multiple myeloma (MM). We demonstrate that cannabinoids induce a selective apoptosis in MM cell lines and in primary plasma cells of MM patients, while sparing normal cells from healthy donors, including hematopoietic stem cells. This effect was mediated by caspase activation, mainly caspase-2, and was partially prevented by a pan-caspase inhibitor. Their pro-apoptotic effect was correlated with an increased expression of Bax and Bak, a decrease of Bcl-xL and Mcl-1, a biphasic response of Akt/PKB and an increase in the levels of ceramide in MM cells. Inhibition of ceramide synthesis partially prevented apoptosis, indicating that these sphingolipids play a key role in the pro-apoptotic effect of cannabinoids in MM cells. Remarkably, blockage of the CB2 receptor also inhibited cannabinoid-induced apoptosis. Cannabinoid derivative WIN-55 enhanced the anti-myeloma activity of dexamethasone and melphalan overcoming resistance to melphalan in vitro. Finally, administration of cannabinoid WIN-55 to plasmacytoma-bearing mice significantly suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Together, our data suggest that cannabinoids may be considered as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of MM

VIII Jornadas de Intercambio de Experiencias Educativas : Avilés, 16, 17 y 18 de Noviembre de 2009

Comunicaciones presentadas en las VIII Jornadas de Intercambio de Experiencias Educativas, celebradas en el Centro del Profesorado y de Recursos de Avilés en noviembre de 2009, acompañadas en cada caso de las correspondientes presentaciones y aplicaciones empleadas en la exposición y de fragmentos videográficos relativos a cada intervención. En la línea de ediciones anteriores de las Jornadas, continúan su apuesta por dar a conocer experiencias educativas de centro y de aula. La selección de experiencias se ha llevado a cabo utilizando el mismo protocolo que en años anteriores. A partir de la valoración de las memorias presentadas por la totalidad de Seminarios y Grupos de Trabajo desarrollados en este C.P.R. durante el curso escolar 2008-2009, se ha efectuado la correspondiente selección teniendo en cuenta criterios de calidad y proyección en las actividades de aula. Se han incluido en la presente edición experiencias procedente de ámbitos geográficos próximos, en función de la valía y oportunidad de la temática abordada, pudiendo diferenciarse en conjunto tres grandes temáticas: el tratamiento de la diversidad desde la dimensión de las altas capacidades, las bibliotecas escolares en distintos tipos de centros y el tratamiento de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación desde la doble perspectiva de un modelo de integración de las TIC en un centro educativo y la elaboración de aplicaciones para la pizarra digital interactiva.AsturiasUniversidad de Oviedo. Facultad de Formación del Profesorado y Educación; Campus de Llamaquique, Calle Aniceto Sela, s. n.; 33005 Oviedo; +34985103215; +34985103214; [email protected]