Prophylatic treatment of migraine and migraine clinical variants with topiramate: an update

Migraine and migraine variants are common, chronic and incapacitating neurovascular disorders with a high impact on health resources. There is an extensive evidence base provided by double-blind, placebo-controlled trials showing that topiramate is a safe, effective and well tolerated drug in the management of migraine and its variants, being especially promising in the management of migraine-vertigo syndrome. Models both in the US and the UK have also shown that it offers a cost benefit when direct and indirect costs are evaluated, by reducing work loss, improving quality of life and reducing the use of increasingly scarce health resources

Torrefaction of woody biomass under an oxidizing atmosphere and its effect on fixed bed gasification

ABSTRACT: In this work, it is studied what the effect of torrefaction conditions under an oxidizing atmosphere on wood biomass properties and gasification process is. Chapter 1 explains the research objectives and contribution of the present work. Chapter 2 presents the effect of torrefaction temperature and residence time on physicochemical properties of patula pine. Furthermore, several parameters are evaluated in order to determine the properties of torrefied pine as solid fuel. In chapter 3, thermal behavior, and changes in chemical structure and morphology of torrefied patula pine at different conditions is studied. Finally, chapter 4 evaluates the effect of torrefied pine on fixed bed gasification process using a model in thermochemical equilibrium

Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii subtelomeric-like regions: identification of a long-range compositional bias that is also associated with gene-poor regions

Background Chromosome ends are composed of telomeric repeats and subtelomeric regions, which are patchworks of genes interspersed with repeated elements. Although chromosome ends display similar arrangements in different species, their sequences are highly divergent. In addition, these regions display a particular nucleosomal composition and bind specific factors, therefore producing a special kind of heterochromatin. Using data from currently available draft genomes we have characterized these putative Telomeric Associated Sequences in Toxoplasma gondii. Results An all-vs-all pairwise comparison of T. gondii assembled chromosomes revealed the presence of conserved regions of ∼ 30 Kb located near the ends of 9 of the 14 chromosomes of the genome of the ME49 strain. Sequence similarity among these regions is ∼ 70%, and they are also highly conserved in the GT1 and VEG strains. However, they are unique to Toxoplasma with no detectable similarity in other Apicomplexan parasites. The internal structure of these sequences consists of 3 repetitive regions separated by high-complexity sequences without annotated genes, except for a gene from the Toxoplasma Specific Family. ChIP-qPCR experiments showed that nucleosomes associated to these sequences are enriched in histone H4 monomethylated at K20 (H4K20me1), and the histone variant H2A.X, suggesting that they are silenced sequences (heterochromatin). A detailed characterization of the base composition of these sequences, led us to identify a strong long-range compositional bias, which was similar to that observed in other genomic silenced fragments such as those containing centromeric sequences, and was negatively correlated to gene density. Conclusions We identified and characterized a region present in most Toxoplasma assembled chromosomes. Based on their location, sequence features, and nucleosomal markers we propose that these might be part of subtelomeric regions of T. gondii. The identified regions display a unique trinucleotide compositional bias, which is shared (despite the lack of any detectable sequence similarity) with other silenced sequences, such as those making up the chromosome centromeres. We also identified other genomic regions with this compositional bias (but no detectable sequence similarity) that might be functionally similar.Fil: Dalmasso, Maria Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); ArgentinaFil: Carmona, Santiago Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); ArgentinaFil: Ángel, Sergio Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Agüero, Fernan Gonzalo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; Argentin

Distribution of fibers in SFRC segments for tunnel linings

This paper presents research results regarding the distribution of steel fibers in concrete used to build precast tunnel segments for Line 9 of the Barcelona Metro. The fiber distribution was studied using the actual fiber contents obtained by means of crushed cores drilled from different points of three full-scale tunnel lining segments. A statistical analysis determined that the fiber content in the ends of segments tends to be greater than in the central zone. The way of transporting, pouring and compacting concrete influences the fiber content and the fiber distribution across the thickness of the segment. In addition, cores with a diameter of 150 mm were found to have a lower scatter in the fiber content than smaller diameter specimens. Finally, based on probabilistic approaches, a minimum of 11 cores is proposed to control the fiber content in FRC segments.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

On-site forest fire smoke detection by low-power autonomous vision sensor

Early detection plays a crucial role to prevent forest fires from spreading. Wireless vision sensor networks deployed throughout high-risk areas can perform fine-grained surveillance and thereby very early detection and precise location of forest fires. One of the fundamental requirements that need to be met at the network nodes is reliable low-power on-site image processing. It greatly simplifies the communication infrastructure of the network as only alarm signals instead of complete images are transmitted, anticipating thus a very competitive cost. As a first approximation to fulfill such a requirement, this paper reports the results achieved from field tests carried out in collaboration with the Andalusian Fire-Fighting Service (INFOCA). Two controlled burns of forest debris were realized (www.youtube.com/user/vmoteProject). Smoke was successfully detected on-site by the EyeRISTM v1.2, a general-purpose autonomous vision system, built by AnaFocus Ltd., in which a vision algorithm was programmed. No false alarm was triggered despite the significant motion other than smoke present in the scene. Finally, as a further step, we describe the preliminary laboratory results obtained from a prototype vision chip which implements, at very low energy cost, some image processing primitives oriented to environmental monitoring.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación 2006-TIC-2352, TEC2009-1181

Small Molecule Dihedrals Parametrization

Detailed protocol and scripts for parametrization of small molecule dihedrals for AMBER using Gaussian and sander, from the tutorial published at http://www.ub.edu/bl/2017/03/16/small-molecule-dihedrals-parametrization/

Use of BCN test for controlling tension capacity of fiber reinforced shotcrete in mining works

Fiber reinforced shotcrete (FRS) is widely used for tunnel construction. However, the systematic control of FRS properties is hampered by the complexities of the experimental procedures used. The experiments are normally based on the load-deflection response obtained from flexural tests with third-point loading performed under displacement control. These types of tests are characterized by instability when the cracking load is reached and, subsequently, errors occur in the deflection measurements, increasing the dispersion of the results. An alternative test, the Barcelona test, has some experimental advantages for FRS control as the use of much smaller specimens, an easy procedure and a lower scatter. Using the mean crack opening, correlations were established between the Barcelona test and the flexure test to estimate the toughness and residual strengths at a deflection of 3.0 mm. Equivalences between the two tests were obtained based on the laboratory results and were validated based on work site results, with differences of less than 5% of the residual strength. These relationships and advantages have allowed the Barcelona test to be proposed to control the properties of the FRSs used in the Chuquicamata Underground (Chuquicamata Subterránea) Project developed by the mining company CODELCO-Chile.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

An investigation of structural stability in protein-ligand complexes reveals the balance between order and disorder

The predominant view in structure-based drug design is that small-molecule ligands, once bound to their target structures, display a well-defined binding mode. However, structural stability (robustness) is not necessary for thermodynamic stability (binding affinity). In fact, it entails an entropic penalty that counters complex formation. Surprisingly, little is known about the causes, consequences and real degree of robustness of protein-ligand complexes. Since hydrogen bonds have been described as essential for structural stability, here we investigate 469 such interactions across two diverse structure sets, comprising of 79 drug-like and 27 fragment ligands, respectively. Completely constricted protein-ligand complexes are rare and may fulfill a functional role. Most complexes balance order and disorder by combining a single anchoring point with looser regions. 25% do not contain any robust hydrogen bond and may form loose structures. Structural stability analysis reveals a hidden layer of complexity in protein-ligand complexes that should be considered in ligand design

Simbolismo en la representación gráfica embera

La representación gráfica del mundo Embera, un grupo de lengua Chocó asentado en su mayoría en la selva Occidental del país, configura un instrumento de expresión del pensamiento simbólico y viabiliza la interacción de los hombres con el mundo de las esencias sobrenaturales. Visualizar estos temas a través de dibujos realizados por los indígenas, ha motivado lo que podría denominarse una etnografía de las imágenes visuales, a través de la cual es posible la identificación de patrones étnicos de percepción del mundo

Desarrollo de una metodología para el diagnóstico viral y la producción de plantas de camote libres de virus

Proyecto de Investigación (Código: 5402-2151-8701) Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Extensión (VIE). Escuela de Ingeniería en Agronomía, 2013El objetivo general de este proyecto fue producir plantas de camote libre de virus. Para lograr este objetivo primero se identificaron los virus más comunes en los cantones de San Carlos y San Ramón (San Isidro de Peñas Blancas), utilizando la técnica NCM-ELISA, posteriormente se desarrolló un metodología para la limpieza viral, combinando la termoterapia con el cultivo de meristemos y se evaluó el crecimiento y la producción de esquejes provenientes de plantas libres de virus con esquejes provenientes de plantas de campo. Los resultados más importantes fueron, el principal virus detectado en la zona de estudio fue el SPFMV. El tratamiento de explantes a 40 ºC por 10 h y posterior extracción del meristemo produjo un 100% plantas libres de virus según el análisis NCM-Elisa. Por último, los esquejes procedentes de plantas in vitro libre de virus mostraron un mejor crecimiento y producción que aquellas provenientes de plantas de campo