Melanoma expression analysis with Big Data technologies

Melanoma is a highly immunogenic tumor. Therefore, in recent years physicians have incorporated drugs that alter the immune system into their therapeutic arsenal against this disease, revolutionizing in the treatment of patients in an advanced stage of the disease. This has led us to explore and deepen our knowledge of the immunology surrounding melanoma, in order to optimize its approach. At present, immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma is based on stimulating an individual’s own immune system through the use of specific monoclonal antibodies. The use of immunotherapy has meant that many of patients with melanoma have survived and therefore it constitutes a present and future treatment in this field. At the same time, drugs have been developed targeting specific mutations, specifically BRAF, resulting in large responses in tumor regression (set up in this clinical study to 18 months), as well as a higher percentage of long-term survivors. The analysis of the gene expression changes and their correlation with clinical changes can be developed using the tools provided by those companies which currently provide gene expression platforms. The gene expression platform used in this clinical study is NanoString, which provides nCounter. However, nCounter has some limitations as the type of analysis is restricted to a predefined set, and the introduction of clinical features is a complex task. This paper presents an approach to collect the clinical information using a structured database and a Web user interface to introduce this information, including the results of the gene expression measurements, to go a step further than the nCounter tool. As part of this work, we present an initial analysis of changes in the gene expression of a set of patients before and after targeted therapy. This analysis has been carried out using Big Data technologies (Apache Spark) with the final goal being to scale up to large numbers of patients, even though this initial study has a limited number of enrolled patients (12 in the first analysis). This is not a Big Data problem, but the underlaying study aims at targeting 20 patients per year just in Málaga, and this could be extended to be used to analyze the 3.600 patients diagnosed with melanoma per year.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This work was funded in part by Grants TIN2014-58304-R (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) and P11-TIC-7529 and P12-TIC-1519 (Plan Andaluz de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Factors influencing microbial activity in dumps leaf cutter ants

La descomposición de la materia orgánica que realizan los microorganismos del suelo es vital para el funcionamiento de los ecosistemas terrestres. Nosotros usamos a los basureros de las hormigas cortadoras de hojas como un sistema modelo para determinar la influencia de la concentración y diversidad de compuestos carbonados sobre la actividad de los microorganismos descomponedores. Recolectamos muestras del basurero externo en nidos de la hormiga cortadora Acromyrmex lobicornis, en donde estimamos la concentración de compuestos carbonados y la tasa de respiración de los microorganismos.Paralelamente, estimamos la diversidad de la dieta de cada nido como una aproximación de la diversidad de compuestos orgánicos en sus basureros. La actividad de los microorganismos no dependió de la concentración de compuestos carbonados pero mostró una tendencia a depender positivamente de la diversidad de la dieta de las hormigas. Dado que la diversidad de compuestos carbonados en el basurero depende de la diversidad de las plantas cosechadas por las hormigas, estos resultados apoyan parcialmente la hipótesis que predice un aumento de la productividad ante incrementos de la diversidad por procesos de facilitación y/o complementación entre los grupos de organismos degradadores. Este trabajo ejemplifica cómo las hormigas cortadoras afectan al suelo en ambientes áridos en donde la materia orgánica es limitante; e ilustra una forma novedosa cómo la pérdida de la diversidad vegetal puede afectar indirectamente la productividad de los descomponedores al empobrecer la dieta de las hormigas.Soil microorganisms play a key role in the process of nutrient cycling. Therefore, the knowledge of the factors that influence its activity is vital for a better understanding of terrestrial ecosystem function. We use external refuse dumps from the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex lobicornis such as a model system to determine the influence of the concentration and diversity of organic matter on the activity of soil decomposers. We estimated the concentration of carbonate compounds and the respiration rate of microorganisms in samples of refuse dumps under lab conditions. We also estimated the diversity of the ant diet like a proxy of the diversity of organic compounds in their refuse dumps. The activity of microorganisms did not show association with the concentration of carbonate compounds, but showed a tendency to a positive association with the diversity of the ant diet. Since the diversity of organic matter in refuse dumps depends on the diversity of the plants harvested by ants, these results partially support the idea that the activity of soil microorganisms partially depends on the diversity of resources to decompose. This work exemplify how leaf-cutting ants affect soil properties in arid environments where the availability of organic matter is limiting, and illustrate a novel way how the reduction of vegetation diversity may indirectly affect the productivity of a system through the impoverish of the leaf-cutting ant´s diet.Fil: Fernandez, Anahi Rocio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Farji Brener, Alejandro Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Satti, Patricia. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro; Argentin

Gamificacion in education and active methodologies at Higher education

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in applying Gamification in Education, which can be defined as the application of game design elements to learning activities. Its purpose is to motivate students by creating an engaging learning experience that can keep students focused on the learning task and its application in the classroom, is still in its emergent stages. Gamification is a great challenge for education, particularly in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in such a traditional context, as is the case with courses like Management and Administration Business, Finance and Accounting, Marketing and Market Research, Chemistry, Accounting and Administration and Business Communication. This paper presents a study, applied in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 academic years, in which the teaching method focuses on a blended learning approach, through the implementation of a flipped classroom model and also through the introduction of online gamification activities such Kahoot! application. Kahoot is a game-based learning platform, used as educational technology that can easily be used for initial, formative and summative assessment of students’ knowledge using individual or collaborative team work mode, adding vitality, student engagement, and also meta-cognitive supports to higher education classrooms with limited instructor or student training required. The participants, in the study, were about 3 000 students of 17 different subjects from the aforementioned courses, of the Malaga University and Polytechnic of Porto. The results of this study suggest that this model improves student learning and are of relevance to researchers, educators and game-based learning designers.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Color influences sensory perception and liking of orange juice

Background: This study assesses the effect of slight hue variations in orange juice (reddish to greenish) on perceived flavour intensity, sweetness, and sourness, and on expected and actual liking. A commercial orange juice (COJ) was selected as a control, and colour-modified orange juices were prepared by adding red or green food dyes (ROJ and GOJ) that did not alter the flavour of the juice. A series of paired comparison tests were performed by 30 naive panellists to determine the influence of orange juice colour on flavour intensity, sweetness, and sourness. Then, 100 orange juice consumers were asked to rate expected liking of orange juice samples initially by visual evaluation and subsequently for actual liking upon consumption, using a labelled affective magnitude scale. Results: Results of pair comparison tests indicated that colour changes did not affect flavour intensity and sweetness, but the greenish hue (GOJ) significantly increased the perceived sourness. Results of the consumers’ study indicated significant differences in expected liking between the orange juice samples, with ROJ having the highest expected liking. However, scores of actual liking after consumption were not significantly different. COJ and GOJ showed a significant increase in actual liking compared to expected liking. Conclusions: This study shed light on how slight variations in orange juice hue (reddish to greenish hues) affect the perceived flavour intensity, sweetness, and sourness, and the expected and actual liking of orange juice

Looking for students' enthusiasm: flipped classroom

The “flipped classroom” is a pedagogical model that consists of putting certain learning processes outside the classroom so that the teacher can devote more class time to students’ acquisition of practical skills, for example. In this way, the teacher is not limited to the transmission of course content, but in addition assumes the role of a mediator in the cognitive process, allowing students to actively construct their own knowledge. In this role, the teacher’s main task is to encourage students to become independent learners. This paper describes the implementation and initial results of the application of the flipped classroom in higher education. This study is part of a larger research project to improve our students’ motivation through the use of the flipped learning. The sample consisted of about 3000 students taking 17 different subjects, in Management and Administration Business, Finance and Accounting, Marketing and Market Research, and Chemistry, at the University of Málaga, and in Accounting and Administration, Business Communication and Marketing at the Polytechnic of Porto. According to our results, students’ motivation and class attendance increased with the application of this model; a comparison of the final exam results from two years with traditional classes and from two years with flipped learning shows that the proportion of students failing the exam decreased, which confirms that the use of this pedagogic model improves student learning.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This project is financed by Educational Innovation Projects 2017-2019 from Malaga University

Eduardo Gamboa\u27s Life, Music, and Inspiration. Understanding the Influence of Folk Music on his Work Transparencias: an Analysis, Performance Guide, and Violin Transcription

The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the life and music of Mexican living composer Eduardo Gamboa. This study intends to fill a void on the research of Gamboa. This document provides detailed biographical information, information about the influences on his music, and an edition of Transparencias for violin. The first chapter provides a broad biography of the composer including his musical formation, folk experience, and a complete catalog of his works. The second chapter is an introduction about Transparencias and contains the point of view of the composer and of the flutist Tadeu Coelho, to whom Gamboa dedicated this piece. The following four chapters explore the folk influences on his work Transparencias, including an analysis and performance suggestions from the author; this section describes the folk genres from which Gamboa took his inspiration, provides historical background, an explanation of the instruments, and musical characteristics of these genres. Finally, the last section of this project includes the author’s edition for solo violin and strings of Transparencias, originally for solo flute, violin, viola and cello. The author believes this would be an important input for the Mexican violin repertoire

Ruinas y orfandad como soportes de la escritura o una alternativa para leer la decadencia en Julián del Casal

O objetivo deste artigo é refletir sobre a configuração da decadência em uma série de crônicas e poemas de Julián del Casal (1863-1893). Para isso, trabalharemos, em primeira instância, com a ruína da nobreza de Havana e a encarnação de tal ruína como estratégias para configurar uma subjetividade decadente. Em segundo lugar, o foco será nas diferentes formas em que o desenho das imagens nos poemas de Hojas al viento (1890) permite ao sujeito não apenas reviver a experiência da orfandade mas também, como na decadência da nobreza, aprofundá-la ainda mais a fim de esvaziar os sentidos do mundo e, assim, sustentar e impulsionar a literatura. Por sua vez, esta abordagem procurará problematizar as formas como os críticos têm pensado o decadentismo cubano para passar de uma análise comparativa e/ou corroborativa que procura encontrar no modernismo uma série de temas decadentes, para começar a pensar o decadentismo como uma poética que corrói os sinais da realidade para dar forma a uma subjetividade arruinada.El presente artículo tiene como objetivo reflexionar en torno a la configuración de la decadencia en una serie de crónicas y poemas de Julián del Casal (1863-1893). Para ello se trabajará, en primera instancia, con el arruinamiento de la nobleza habanera y la encarnación de dicha ruina como estrategias para configurar una subjetividad decadente o venida a menos. En segundo lugar, se hará foco en las diferentes maneras en las que el diseño de las imágenes en los poemas de Hojas al viento (1890) le permiten al sujeto no sólo volver a transitar la experiencia de la orfandad sino también, al igual que con la decadencia de la nobleza, profundizarla aún más para vaciar los sentidos del mundo, y así, sostener e impulsar la literatura. A su vez, este abordaje buscará problematizar las maneras en las que la crítica ha pensado el decadentismo cubano para pasar de un análisis de tipo comparativo y/o corroborativo que busca encontrar en el modernismo una serie de tópicos o temas decadentes, para empezar a pensar el decadentismo como una poética que corroe los signos de la realidad para darle forma a una subjetividad arruinada.The aim of this article is to reflect on the configuration of decadence in a series of chronicles and poems by Julián del Casal (1863-1893). To this end, we will work, in the first instance, with the ruin of Havana's nobility and the incarnation of such ruin as strategies to configure a decadent or declining subjectivity. Secondly, the focus will be on the different ways in which the design of the images in the poems of Hojas al viento (1890) allow the subject not only to re-traverse the experience of orphanhood but also, as with the decadence of the nobility, to deepen it even further in order to empty the senses of the world, and thus, to sustain and propel literature. In turn, this approach will seek to problematize the ways in which critics have thought Cuban decadentism in order to move from a comparative and/or corroborative analysis that seeks to find in modernism a series of decadent topics or themes, to begin to think decadentism as a poetics that corrodes the signs of reality to give shape to a ruined subjectivity

La sabiduría del portal: otras formas de leer la nación

Reseña de Azares de lo cubano. Lecturas al margen de la nación (2022) de Oscar Montero