Key environmental stress biomarker candidates for the optimisation of chemotherapy treatment of leukaemia

The impact of fluctuations of environmental parameters such as oxygen and starvation on the evolution of leukaemia is analysed in the current review. These fluctuations may occur within a specific patient (in different organs) or across patients (individual cases of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia). They can be experienced as stress stimuli by the cancerous population, leading to an alteration of cellular growth kinetics, metabolism and further resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, it is of high importance to elucidate key mechanisms that affect the evolution of leukaemia under stress. Potential stress response mechanisms are discussed in this review. Moreover, appropriate cell biomarker candidates related to the environmental stress response and/or further resistance to chemotherapy are proposed. Quantification of these biomarkers can enable the combination of macroscopic kinetics with microscopic information, which is specific to individual patients and leads to the construction of detailed mathematical models for the optimisation of chemotherapy. Due to their nature, these models will be more accurate and precise (in comparison to available macroscopic/black box models) in the prediction of responses of individual patients to treatment, as they will incorporate microscopic genetic and/or metabolic information which is patient-specific.peer-reviewe

Un modelo matemático en el proceso de corte unidimensional de materiales.

La investigación fue realizada con el objetivo de utilizar métodos matemáticos asociados a las técnicas de computación para establecer los planes de corte unidimensionales de materiales en industrias que, de una forma u otra, se ven involucradas en esta actividad durante el desarrollo del proceso productivo.El modelo matemático establecido tiene presente la minimización de los desperdicios, la disponibilidad de materia prima y la cantidad de unidades a cortar por tipo de pieza. Un sistema informático habilitado a tales efectos permite de forma automática, a partir de datos primarios ofrecidos por el usuario, modelar la situación en estudio, procesar el modelo matemático correspondiente e interpretar la solución del mismo (o sea, presentar el plan de corte unidimensional de materiales).  Lo expresado en el párrafo anterior ha sido puesto en práctica para distintas entidades productivas con resultados favorables en todos los sentidos, lo que permite afirmar que los planes de corte unidimensionales de materiales pueden ser elaborados vinculando la modelación matemática con la utilización de paquetes de programas computacionales.El informe de resultados, artículo científico correspondiente, puede convertirse en un documento de consulta que ofrece una forma no muy usual en la dirección de los procesos de corte unidimensional de materiales en la industria. El interesado, al consultarlo, podrá apreciar cómo se puede influir significativamente en el ahorro de materia prima con un nivel superior en la organización y control del trabajo de la entidad productiva, e incluso, conocer una forma de modelar matemáticamente un problema de este tipo, con información sobre el soporte computacional y la interpretación de los resultados para preparar el plan de producción

Sin / Sense

Sexto desafío por la erradicación de la violencia contra las mujeres del Institut Universitari d’Estudis Feministes i de Gènere «Purificación Escribano» de la Universitat Jaume

A mathematical model of subpopulation kinetics for the deconvolution of leukaemia heterogeneity.

Acute myeloid leukaemia is characterized by marked inter- and intra-patient heterogeneity, the identification of which is critical for the design of personalized treatments. Heterogeneity of leukaemic cells is determined by mutations which ultimately affect the cell cycle. We have developed and validated a biologically relevant, mathematical model of the cell cycle based on unique cell-cycle signatures, defined by duration of cell-cycle phases and cyclin profiles as determined by flow cytometry, for three leukaemia cell lines. The model was discretized for the different phases in their respective progress variables (cyclins and DNA), resulting in a set of time-dependent ordinary differential equations. Cell-cycle phase distribution and cyclin concentration profiles were validated against population chase experiments. Heterogeneity was simulated in culture by combining the three cell lines in a blinded experimental set-up. Based on individual kinetics, the model was capable of identifying and quantifying cellular heterogeneity. When supplying the initial conditions only, the model predicted future cell population dynamics and estimated the previous heterogeneous composition of cells. Identification of heterogeneous leukaemia clones at diagnosis and post-treatment using such a mathematical platform has the potential to predict multiple future outcomes in response to induction and consolidation chemotherapy as well as relapse kinetics

GOOD PRACTICES IN THE FORMATION OF PROFESSIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

The Project Network UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet) is a project for the improvement of educational practices that implements a self-management model to achieve quality. The work presented socializes good practices used in the formation of professional children's education at the Central University "Marta Abreu" of Las Villas, with the inclusion of the objectives and priorities of ASPnet. It is a partial result of an educational research in order to achieve a general theoretical and methodological conception to insert the objectives and priorities of the network in the process of initial professional training. la-participatory action research is applied with the support of theoretical and empirical methods, including: document analysis, group interviews, observation, focus group and photographs, allowing the development of evaluative analysis and enrichment of existing theory. As significant results so far, it is evident that students expand their knowledge about transcendent global processes, take a positive position to contribute their action to sustainable development, to promote peace, to fight for human rights, respect to others and to promote intercultural learning. Show changes in their modes of action, in the university context and in their working practice, pass on their knowledge, promoting culture, environmental protection, energy savings, compliance with the law, sexuality, nutrition education, care of the physical and mental health, responsible behavior. Expressed further development of educational paraprofessionals to plan, implement and monitor strategies educational skills

Buenas prácticas en la formación del profesional de la educación infantil

La Red del Plan de Escuelas Asociadas de la UNESCO (RedPEA) es un proyecto para el mejoramiento de las prácticas educativas que implementa un modelo de autogestión para el logro de la calidad. El trabajo que se presenta socializa las buenas prácticas realizadas en la formación del profesional de la Educación infantil en la Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, con la inserción de los objetivos y prioridades de la RedPEA. Constituye un resultado parcial de una investigación pedagógica en aras de lograr una concepción teórico-metodológica general para insertar los objetivos y prioridades de la red en el proceso de formación inicial del profesional. Se aplica la investigación acción-participativa, con apoyo de los métodos teóricos y empíricos, entre ellos: el análisis de documentos, la entrevista grupal, la observación, el grupo focal y las fotografías, que permiten el desarrollo de los análisis valorativos y el enriquecimiento de la teoría existente. Como resultados significativos hasta el momento, se evidencia que los estudiantes amplían sus conocimientos acerca de procesos trascendentes a nivel mundial, asumen una posición positiva para contribuir con su actuación al desarrollo sostenible, a fomentar la paz, a luchar por los derechos humanos, a respetar a los demás y a propiciar el aprendizaje intercultural. Muestran cambios en sus modos de actuación, en el contexto universitario y en su práctica laboral, transmiten sus saberes, promueven la cultura, la protección del Medio Ambiente, el ahorro energético, el cumplimiento de la legalidad, la sexualidad, la educación nutricional, el cuidado de la salud física y mental, el comportamiento responsable. Expresan mayor desarrollo de habilidades pedagógico-profesionales para planificar, ejecutar y controlar las estrategias educativas

A framework for the design, modeling and optimization of biomedical systems

We present an overview of the key building blocks of a design framework for modeling and optimization of biomedical systems with main focus on leukemia, that we have been developing in the Biological Systems Engineering Laboratory and the Centre for Process Systems Engineering at Imperial College. The framework features the following areas: (i) a three-dimensional, biomimetic, in vitro platform for culturing both healthy and diseased blood; (ii) a novel, hollow fiber bioreactor that upgrades this in vitro platform to enable expansion and continuous harvesting of healthy and diseased blood; (iii) a global optimization-based approach for the design and operation of the aforementioned bioreactor; (iv) a pharmacokinetic / pharmacodynamic model representing patient response to Acute Myeloid Leukemia treatment; (v) an experimental framework for cell cycle modeling and quantitative analysis of environmental stress. This manuscript recapitulates the progress made in the different areas as well as the way in which these areas are connected, finally leading to a hybrid in vitro/in silico platform which allows the optimization of the ex vivo expansion of healthy and diseased blood. © 2014 Elsevier B.V