Geometric reconstruction and persistence methods

In the present work we reconstruct the homotopy type of an unknown Euclidean subspace from a known sample of data. We carry out such reconstruction through generalized Čech complexes, by choosing radii which are less or equal than the reach of the subspace and by applying the Nerve Lemma. We also approach the reconstruction of a geodesic subspace through its convexity radius and a dense enough sample. Afterwards, we obtain homology and homotopy groups in terms of persistences, together with interleavings and isomorphisms between them. We conclude studying the reconstruction of a particular subspace that has reach equal to zero, where our results cannot be applied.Master's Thesis in MathematicsMAT399MAMN-MA

Transcriptional regulation os phenylalaline biosynthesis and utilization

Conifer trees divert large quantities of carbon into the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, particularly to generate lignin, an important constituent of wood. Since phenylalanine is the precursor for phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, the precise regulation of phenylalanine synthesis and utilization should occur simultaneously. This crucial pathway is finely regulated primarily at the transcriptional level. Transcriptome analyses indicate that the transcription factors (TFs) preferentially expressed during wood formation in plants belong to the MYB and NAC families. Craven-Bartle et al. (2013) have shown in conifers that Myb8 is a candidate regulator of key genes in phenylalanine biosynthesis involved in the supply of the phenylpropane carbon skeleton necessary for lignin biosynthesis. This TF is able to bind AC elements present in the promoter regions of these genes to activate transcription. Constitutive overexpression of Myb8 in white spruce increased secondary-wall thickening and led to ectopic lignin deposition (Bomal et al. 2008). In Arabidopsis, the transcriptional network controlling secondary cell wall involves NAC-domain regulators operating upstream Myb transcription factors. Functional orthologues of members of this network described have been identified in poplar and eucalyptus, but in conifers functional evidence had only been obtained for MYBs. We have identified in the P. pinaster genome 37 genes encoding NAC proteins, which 3 NAC proteins could be potential candidates to be involved in vascular development (Pascual et al. 2015). The understanding of the transcriptional regulatory network associated to phenylpropanoids and lignin biosynthesis in conifers is crucial for future applications in tree improvement and sustainable forest management. This work is supported by the projects BIO2012-33797, BIO2015-69285-R and BIO-474 References: Bomal C, et al. (2008) Involvement of Pinus taeda MYB1 and MYB8 in phenylpropanoid metabolism and secondary cell wall biogenesis: a comparative in planta analysis. J Exp Bot. 59: 3925-3939. Craven-Bartle B, et al. (2013) A Myb transcription factor regulates genes of the phenylalanine pathway in maritime pine. Plant J, 74: 755-766. Pascual MB, et al. (2015) The NAC transcription factor family in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster): molecular regulation of two genes involved in stress responses. BMC Plant Biol, 15: 254.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Cellular and environmental dynamics influence species-specific extents of organelle gene retention

Mitochondria and plastids rely on many nuclear-encoded genes, but retain small subsets of the genes they need to function in their own organelle DNA (oDNA). Different species retain different numbers of oDNA genes, and the reasons for these differences are not completely understood. Here, we use a mathematical model to explore the hypothesis that the energetic demands imposed by an organism’s changing environment influence how many oDNA genes it retains. The model couples the physical biology of cell processes of gene expression and transport to a supply-and-demand model for the environmental dynamics to which an organism is exposed. The trade-off between fulfilling metabolic and bioenergetic environmental demands, and retaining genetic integrity, is quantified for a generic gene encoded either in oDNA or in nuclear DNA. Species in environments with high-amplitude, intermediate-frequency oscillations are predicted to retain the most organelle genes, whereas those in less dynamic or noisy environments the fewest. We discuss support for, and insight from, these predictions with oDNA data across eukaryotic taxa, including high oDNA gene counts in sessile organisms exposed to day-night and intertidal oscillations (including plants and algae) and low counts in parasites and fungi.publishedVersio

Los programas de educación familiar en el contexto escolar y comunitario en España ante el cambiante rol socioeducativo de las familias

Aquest article revisa els programes d’educació familiar existents a Espanya, que es desenvolupin en els àmbits escolar i comunitari. Els continguts del treball inclouen una descripció d’aquests programes, observant diferents tipologies d’intervenció socioeducativa. La metodologia ha consistit en la recerca bibliogràfica i a internet sobre aquesta mena d’experiències, per posteriorment fer-ne una anàlisi documental. En relació amb les conclusions, detectem un major pes de les propostes d’educació parental i no del conjunt de la família, així com una presència majoritària de programes de tipus universal en els programes acollits des del context escolar i més programes de tipus selectiu en aquells impulsats des del context de serveis socials. Quant als programes en context escolar, sovint assumeixen que tots els participants tenen la mateixa disposició per implicar-se en els programes. Pel que fa als programes en el context de serveis socials, la majoria s’acaben centrant en l’actuació sobre els eventuals dèficits de les famílies participants.The aim of this article is to review existing family education programmes in Spain being run in school and community contexts. The contents of the article include a description of these programmes, which adopt different typologies of socio-educational intervention. The methodology consisted in systematic bibliographical and internet research, and subsequent documentary analysis. Regarding the conclusions, we found a greater presence of programmes for parental rather than whole-family education. Also, in the school context there is a prevalence of universal programmes, whereas the social services tend to implement more selective programmes aimed at specific groups. Similarly, programmes in the school context often assume that all participants have the motivation and readiness to get involved in the programmes. In relation to programmes in the context of community care services, even though they present a systemic model of intervention, most of those analysed end up focusing on intervention in the specific deficits of the participating families.Este artículo revisa los programas de educación familiar existentes en España, que se desarrollen en los ámbitos escolar y comunitario. Los contenidos del trabajo incluyen una descripción de dichos programas, observando diferentes tipologías de intervención socioeducativa. La metodología ha consistido en la búsqueda bibliográfica y en internet sobre este tipo de experiencias, para posteriormente realizar un análisis documental. En relación con las conclusiones, detectamos un mayor peso de las propuestas de educación parental y no del conjunto de la familia, así como una presencia mayoritaria de programas de tipo universal en los programas auspiciados desde el contexto escolar y más programas de tipo selectivo en aquellos impulsados desde el contexto de servicios sociales. En cuanto a los programas en contexto escolar, en ocasiones asumen que todos los participantes tienen la misma disposición para implicarse en los programas. En cuanto a los programas en el contexto de servicios sociales, la mayoría se acaban centrando en la actuación sobre los eventuales déficits de las familiasparticipantes

Multidisciplinary teaching of Biotechnology and Omics sciences

In the last years, there was a great boom in the Omics fields that have developed as multidisciplinary sciences. They use laboratory techniques related to Biology and Chemistry but also Bioinformatics tools. However, the developmental progress of these disciplines has led that much of undergraduate studies related to Biology have curricula that become outdated. From this point of view, it is necessary to focus the students to the fundamentals and techniques of complementary disciplines that will be essentials for the understanding of the Omics sciences. In the present work, we have developed a new teaching approach for Biochemistry, Biology and Bioinformatics students. They formed interdisciplinary working groups. These groups have prepared and presented communications about different techniques or methods in Molecular Biology, Omics or Bioinformatics participating in a technical meeting. This learning strategy “I do and I learn” has enabled to the students a first contact with the scientific communication including the approach to the scientific literature to acquire technical knowledge. The cooperation between students from different disciplines has enriched their point of view and even has been used in some practical master’s works.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

PpNAC1, a main regulator of phenylalanine biosynthesis in p. Pinaster

The metabolism of phenylalanine plays a central role in the channeling of carbon from photosynthesis to the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids duringwood formation. This crucial pathway is finely regulated primarily at the transcriptional level by MYB and NAC transcription factors. In Arabidopsis, poplar and eucalyptus, the transcriptional network controlling secondary cell wall involves NAC-domain regulators operating upstream Myb transcription factors, but in conifers functional evidence had only been obtained for MYBs. We showed that PpMYB8 is a regulator of phenylpropanoid metabolism and lignin synthesis genes (Craven-Bartle et al. 2013) and three NAC genes PpNAC1, PpNAC30 and PpNAC31 were associated to vascular development in maritime pine (Pascual et al. 2015). Of all of them, PpNAC1 is expressed in the secondary xylem and compression wood of adult trees and phylogenetic analysis classified PpNAC1 as potential candidates to be involved in a transcriptional regulatory network controlling phenylalanine metabolism in maritime pine. This NAC transcription factor has been thoroughly characterized and its role upstream the transcriptional network involving Mybs TFs will be discussed. Understanding the molecular switches controlling wood formation is of paramount importance for fundamental tree biology and has important implications in tree biotechnology.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

A web-oriented application for 3D craniofacial reconstruction in forensic medicine

uman identification from a skull is a critical process in legal and forensic medicine, especially when no other means are available. Traditional clay-based methods attempt to generate the human face, in order to identify the corresponding person. However, these reconstructions lack of objectivity and consistence, since they depend on the practitioner. Moreover, the results of the reconstruction cannot be easily distributed and consulted from everywhere. This paper presents a completely objective 3D craniofacial reconstruction automatic system that provides access to the reconstructions through the Web. The software tool is able to generate an individual facial reconstruction from the 3D image of the skull and three parameters: age, gender and Body Mass Index (BMI) of the individual. Afterwards, the reconstruction can be manually modified by changing any tissue depth value. Both entry data and the reconstructions generated by the tool will be stored in a database, so they are accessible from the Internet. Conclusions of this paper yield promising results: on the one hand, the scientific and technical feasibility of the presented craniofacial reconstruction technique is proved, and also its preference against traditional craniofacial reconstruction methods. On the other hand, this procedure means a remarkable advantage from the point of view of access, visualization and sharing of information, and also in terms of security, since it includes an authentication protocol

Computerized Three-Dimmensional Craniofacial Reconstruction from Skulls Based on Landmarks.

Human identification from a skull is a critical process in legal and forensic medicine, specially when no other means are available. Traditional clay-based methods attempt to generate the human face, in order to identify the corresponding person. However, these reconstructions lack of objectivity and consistence, since they depend on the practitioner. Current computerized techniques are based on facial models, which introduce undesired facial features when the final reconstruction is built. This paper presents an objective 3D craniofacial reconstruction technique, implemented in a graphic application, without using any facial template. The only information required by the software tool is the 3D image of the target skull and three parameters: age, gender and Body Mass Index (BMI) of the individual. Complexity is minimized, since the application database only consists of the anthropological information provided by soft tissue depth values in a set of points of the skull

PpNAC1, un regulador principal de la biosíntesis y utilización de fenilalanina en pino

La regulación transcripcional del metabolismo de la fenilalanina es particularmente importante en las coníferas, especies de vida larga que usan grandes cantidades de carbono en la formación de madera. El factor de transcripción PpNAC1 es un regulador principal de la biosíntesis de fenilalanina y su utilización en Pinus pinaster. El análisis filogenético lo clasifica dentro del grupo de proteínas NST y se expresa predominantemente en el xilema secundario y madera de compresión de árboles adultos. El silenciamiento de PpNAC1 en P. pinaster da como resultado la alteración del patrón vascular radial del tallo y la represión de la expresión de genes asociados con la biogénesis de pared celular y metabolismo secundario. Además, ensayos de transactivación y EMSA han mostrado que PpNAC1 puede activar su propia expresión y al promotor PpMyb4. A su vez PpMyb4 es capaz de activar a PpMyb8, un regulador transcripcional de la biosíntesis de fenilalanina y lignina en pino marítimo. En conjunto, estos resultados sugieren que PpNAC1 es un ortólogo funcional de los genes de Arabidopsis SND1 y NST1 y respalda la idea de que los reguladores clave que gobiernan la formación de la pared celular secundaria podrían estar conservados entre gimnospermas y angiospermas. Identificarlos interruptores moleculares que controlan la formación de la madera es de suma importancia importancia para la biología fundamental de los árboles y allana el camino para las aplicaciones biotecnológicas en coníferas.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Examen integrador de pediatría (EIP). Presentación de una experiencia.

Learning assessment is a fundamental part of the medical residency system and includes theoretical and practical aspects and academic performance. A formative evaluation tool was designed with the purpose of guiding the learning process and achieving a uniform level of performance in pediatricians trained in the GCBA system (Government of the City of Buenos Aires). The exam consisted of a multiple-choice test made up of 100 questions in which 72 residents participated. 58% of the participants achieved the established cut-off point. This survey gave us information about the areas in which residents faced the greatest difficulties. It could be a complementary tool to continuously improve the residency training program and ensure quality pediatric care.La evaluación del aprendizaje es parte fundamental del sistema de residencias médicas e incluye aspectos teóricos, prácticos y desempeño académico. Se diseñó una herramienta de evaluación formativa con el propósito de orientar el proceso de aprendizaje y lograr un nivel uniforme de desempeño en los pediatras formados en el sistema del GCBA (Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires). El examen consistió en una prueba de opción múltiple compuesta por 100 preguntas en el que participaron 72 residentes. El 58% de los participantes lograron el punto de corte establecido. Este examen nos brindó información acerca de cuáles son las áreas en las que los residentes enfrentaron mayores dificultades. Podría ser una herramienta complementaria para mejorar continuamente el programa de formación de la residencia y garantizar una atención pediátrica de calidad