Clique topology reveals intrinsic geometric structure in neural correlations

Detecting meaningful structure in neural activity and connectivity data is challenging in the presence of hidden nonlinearities, where traditional eigenvalue-based methods may be misleading. We introduce a novel approach to matrix analysis, called clique topology, that extracts features of the data invariant under nonlinear monotone transformations. These features can be used to detect both random and geometric structure, and depend only on the relative ordering of matrix entries. We then analyzed the activity of pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampus, recorded while the animal was exploring a two-dimensional environment, and confirmed that our method is able to detect geometric organization using only the intrinsic pattern of neural correlations. Remarkably, we found similar results during non-spatial behaviors such as wheel running and REM sleep. This suggests that the geometric structure of correlations is shaped by the underlying hippocampal circuits, and is not merely a consequence of position coding. We propose that clique topology is a powerful new tool for matrix analysis in biological settings, where the relationship of observed quantities to more meaningful variables is often nonlinear and unknown.Comment: 29 pages, 4 figures, 13 supplementary figures (last two authors contributed equally

Circular economy in companies from the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula: survey under the Circular Labs POCTEP Project

Circular Economy (CE) is a strategic concept based on a deep change in contemporary societies, moving from a linear economy to a circular model. The CircularLabs POCTEP* project aims at promoting the integration of the CE in business models and includes the participation of 11 partners from the three Regions of: the North of Portugal, Galicia and Castilla y León, both in Spain. This project Among its initial actions, this project launched an online survey for companies located in this Iberian Northwest Regions. A total of 294 companies answered this survey. On this sample, SMEs from services and industry were the most represented groups. The survey focused on multiple aspects, including the recognition of CE concepts, the integration of CE strategies, reasons for CE implementation, main obstacles and barriers, among others. Results show a dispersion in the interpretation of the CE concept, as it is mostly recognised as part of a strategical vision or policy in these companies. Moreover, CE is mostly considered for its environmental benefits. The most relevant difficulties found in EC implementation related to the lack of information and advice and insufficient financial support. The fact that only a fraction of the companies had implemented environmental management systems, may be seen as a reason for the lack of internal structure for CE technical support. This research will outline some of the necessary steps towards CE implementation in these North-western Iberian Regions.This study was part of the Trans-National Project CircularLabs. The authors would like to thank the Spain-Portugal Transnational Program (POCTEP), with the Financial Support from the European Union under Program FEDER (European Regional Development Fund). This Program is not responsible for the opinions expressed by the authors. Some of the authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development of a thermosensitive hydrogel based on Polaxamer 407 and gellan gum with inclusion complexes (Sulfobutylated-β-cyclodextrin-Farnesol) as a local drug delivery system

This work proposes the development of a thermosensitive local drug release system based on Polaxamer 407, also known as Pluronic® F-127 (PF-127), Gellan Gum (GG) and the inclusion complex Sulfobutylated-β-cyclodextrin (CD) with Farnesol (FOH). Rheological properties of the hydrogels and their degradation were studied. According to the rheological results, a solution of 20% w/v of PF-127 forms a strong gel with a gelling temperature of about 25 °C (storage modulus of 15,000 Pa). The addition of the GG increased the storage modulus (optimal concentration of 0.5 % w/v) twofold without modifying the gelling temperature. Moreover, including 0.5% w/v of GG also increased 6 times the degradation time of the hydrogel. Regarding the inclusion complex, the addition of free CD decreased the viscosity and the gel strength since polymer chains were included in CD cavity without affecting the gelling temperature. Contrarily, the inclusion complex CD-FOH did not significantly modify any property of the formulation because the FOH was hosted in the CD. Furthermore, a mathematical model was developed to adjust the degradation time. This model highlights that the addition of the GG decreases the number of released chains from the polymeric network (which coincides with an increase in the storage modulus) and that the free CD reduces the degradation rate, protecting the polymeric chains. Finally, FOH release was quantified with a specific device, that was designed and printed for this type of system, observing a sustainable drug release (similar to FOH aqueous solubility, 8 μM) dependent on polymer degradation

Integration of the circular economy paradigm in companies from the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula

Over recent decades, Circular Economy (CE) has become a major topic when organizations try to develop their business amid the constrains of resource limitation and the desire to reduce their environmental impact. This study’s main purpose is to assess the integration of CE practices in public and private organizations in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Through an online survey distributed to 294 companies from the cited region, we assessed their perceptions on CE, including such aspects as the area(s) it was integrated in, why, with what difficulties or what was necessary to accomplish it, and how the impact of the implemented CE practices was measured. Results showed that companies associate CE mostly with “resource optimization”. “Entity’s vision and mission” was the main strategic area where CE was implemented. The main motivation why entities/organizations embraced CE was “environmental reasons”, while “lack of information and guidance” and “lack of financial resources” represented the main obstacles to CE implementation. Non-parametrical statistical tests were used to compare the answers of three groups of people with different positions within the company/entity (manager, executive, and technician), as well as to compare the answers of two activity sectors (industry and services).Interreg V-A Spain-Portugal POCTEP 2014-2020, European Commission, under ERDF (European Regional Development Fund). Project code: 0495_CIRCULAR_LABS_6_E. This article was also supported by the FCT/MCTES Project CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Lab at home: prácticas de Ingeniería Química en tiempos de confinamiento

En este proyecto de innovación docente se han desarrollado prácticas de laboratorio de dos asignaturas del Grado en Ingeniería Química, Ingeniería Térmica y Operaciones de Separación, para así garantizar la experimentalidad en situaciones de docencia no presencial empleando materiales cotidianos e instalaciones confeccionadas por impresión 3D, que podrán ser empleadas por los estudiantes en situación de confinamiento

Productes i Usuaris: Disseny per a Tothom

Facultat de Belles Arts, Universitat de Barcelona. Assignatura: Disseny, Curs: 2017-2018, Tutor: Marsol Valença Castell

Brentuximab vedotin in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas: Data from the Spanish Primary Cutaneous Lymphoma Registry

[Background] Brentuximab vedotin (BV) has been approved for CD30-expressing cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) after at least one previous systemic treatment. However, real clinical practice is still limited.[Objectives] To evaluate the response and tolerance of BV in a cohort of patients with CTCL.[Methods] We analysed CTCL patients treated with BV from the Spanish Primary Cutaneous Lymphoma Registry (RELCP).[Results] Sixty-seven patients were included. There were 26 females and the mean age at diagnosis was 59 years. Forty-eight were mycosis fungoides (MF), 7 Sézary syndrome (SS) and 12 CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders (CD30 LPD). Mean follow-up was 18 months. Thirty patients (45%) showed at least 10% of CD30+ cells among the total lymphocytic infiltrate. The median number of BV infusions received was 7. The overall response rate (ORR) was 67% (63% in MF, 71% in SS and 84% in CD30 LPD). Ten of 14 patients with folliculotropic MF (FMF) achieved complete or partial response (ORR 71%). The median time to response was 2.8 months. During follow-up, 36 cases (54%) experienced cutaneous relapse or progression. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 10.3 months. The most frequent adverse event was peripheral neuropathy (PN) (57%), in most patients (85%), grades 1 or 2.[Conclusions] These results confirm the efficacy and safety of BV in patients with advanced-stage MF, and CD30 LPD. In addition, patients with FMF and SS also showed a favourable response. Our data suggest that BV retreatment is effective in a proportion of cases.The Spanish Primary Cutaneous Lymphoma Registry (RELCP) is promoted by the Fundación Piel Sana Academia Española de Dermatología y Venereología, which received an unrestricted grant support from Kyowa Kirin.Peer reviewe

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe

A facility and community-based assessment of scabies in rural Malawi.

Background Scabies is a neglected tropical disease of the skin, causing severe itching, stigmatizing skin lesions and systemic complications. Since 2015, the DerMalawi project provide an integrated skin diseases clinics and Tele-dermatology care in Malawi. Clinic based data suggested a progressive increase in scabies cases observed. To better identify and treat individuals with scabies in the region, we shifted from a clinic-based model to a community based outreach programme. Methodology/principal findings From May 2015, DerMalawi project provide integrated skin diseases and Tele-dermatological care in the Nkhotakota and Salima health districts in Malawi. Demographic and clinical data of all patients personally attended are recorded. Due to a progressive increase in the number of cases of scabies the project shifted to a community-based outreach programme. For the community outreach activities, we conducted three visits between 2018 to 2019 and undertook screening in schools and villages of Alinafe Hospital catchment area. Treatment was offered for all the cases and school or household contacts. Scabies increased from 2.9% to 39.2% of all cases seen by the DerMalawi project at clinics between 2015 to 2018. During the community-based activities approximately 50% of the population was assessed in each of three visits. The prevalence of scabies was similar in the first two rounds, 15.4% (2392) at the first visit and 17.2% at the second visit. The prevalence of scabies appeared to be lower (2.4%) at the third visit. The prevalence of impetigo appeared unchanged and was 6.7% at the first visit and 5.2% at the final visit. Conclusions/significance Prevalence of scabies in our setting was very high suggesting that scabies is a major public health problem in parts of Malawi. Further work is required to more accurately assess the burden of disease and develop appropriate public health strategies for its control