Characterization of the Isoforms of the Multiple Sclerosis Risk Protein, IL-22 Binding Protein (IL-22BP)

262 p.The human IL22RA2 gene co-produces three protein isoforms in dendritic cells (IL-22 binding protein isoform-1 [IL-22BPi1], -2 [IL-22BPi2], and -3 [IL-22BPi3]). Two of these, namely, IL-22BPi2 and IL-22BPi3, are capable of neutralizing the biological activity of IL-22. The function of IL-22BPi1, which differs from IL-22BPi2 through an in-frame, 32-amino-acid insertion provided by an alternatively spliced exon, remains unknown.This thesis focuses on the biochemical characterization of the three isoforms (in silico and in vitro), as well as the potential pharmacological targeting thereof. Additionally, it addresses the functionality of the non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs28385692, which is located in IL22RA2 and has been found to be associated with multiple sclerosis (MS).El gen humano IL22RA2 coproduce tres isoformas en las células dendríticas (la isoforma-1 de la proteína de unión a la IL-22 [IL-22BPi1], la -2 [IL-22BPi2] y la -3 [IL-22BPi3]). Dos de ellas, la IL-22BPi2 y la IL-22BPi3, son capaces de neutralizar la actividad biológica de la IL-22. La función de la IL-22BPi1, que difiere de la IL-22BPi2 por una inserción de 32 aminoácidos mediante splicing alternativo, sigue siendo desconocida. El objetivo general de esta tesis es comprender la función y el destino de la IL-22BP mediante la caracterización bioquímica de sus isoformas. Los obteivos específicos son: estudiar la expresión de los transcritos de IL22RA2 y relacionarlos con la secreción de sus isoformas mediante su caracterización bioquímica, así como identificar los factores clave implicados en su plegamiento y secreción e investigar su secreción y función dentro de la célula; evaluar si las chaperonas identificadas pudieran ser utilizadas como posibles dianas terapéuticas que tuvieran efectos diferenciales en la secreción de las isoformas de IL-22BP; y determinar si la variante de riesgo de la EM, rs28385692, tiene efectos funcionales sobre las isoformas de la IL-22BP y en qué medida

La USP como paradigma de la publicidad racionalista. Auge y declive del mecanismo estratégico más popular de la publicidad moderna

La teoría de la USP (unique selling proposition), se ha configurado a lo largo de la historia publicitaria como referencia en lo que a estrategia publicitaria se refiere. Este artículo trata de ofrecer por un lado, una perspectiva recapituladora de los orígenes y circunstancias que dieron popularidad al concepto y por otro, un análisis de aquellos errores de planteamiento que agilizaron su debilitamiento con la llegada de nuevas teorías como la de la «Imagen de Marca»The USP’s Theory (unique selling proposition), has been established along the history of advertising as a reference for Advertising Strategy. Firstly, this article seeks to provide a compilation of the origins and circumstances that gave popularity to the concept and secondly, an analysis of those errors that facilitated the weakening of the concept with the advent of new theories such as the Brand Image

EasyLecto: A lexical simplification system for adverse drug effects in Spanish patient information leaflets

Presentamos EasyLecto, un sistema de simplificación léxica de efectos adversos presentes en prospectos de fármacos en español. El método de simplificación léxica que utiliza EasyLecto se basa en la frecuencia de las palabras para determinar los sinónimos más simples. Este sistema propone los mejores sinónimos y definiciones, obtenidos a partir de los recursos MedlinePlus y MedDRA. El sistema puede ayudar a los lectores con bajo nivel de alfabetización, con problemas cognitivos o discapacidad a la hora de entender los efectos adversos presentes en prospectos de fármacos.We introduce EasyLecto, a lexical simplification system of adverse effects in patient information leaflet in Spanish. The method of lexical simplification using EasyLecto is based on the frequency of words to determine the simplest synonyms. This system proposes the best synonyms and meanings, obtained from the Medline-Plus and MedDRA resources, representing their benefit for readers with low literacy, with cognitive problems or handicapped in understanding the adverse drug effects in patient information leaflet in Spanish.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el proyecto eGovernAbility-Access (TIN2014-52665-C2-2-R)

Intentional processing as a key for rational behaviour through natural interaction

28 pages, 13 figures.-- Special Issue: "Symbiotic Performance between Humans and Intelligent Systems".This paper presents an interaction model pursuing flexible and coherent human–computer interaction. Starting from a cognitive architecture for Natural Interaction, an agent-based design is presented, focusing particularly on the role of the interaction agent. Regarding the intentional processing within this agent, the Threads Model is proposed. Finally, its implementation is described and evaluated to find out the integrity of the intentional approach.We thank the ISYS research group at the Technical University of Madrid and the LABDA research group at the Carlos III University of Madrid for their support during the design and development of the interaction agent, and everyone involved in the ADVICE (IST 1999-11305), VIP-ADVISOR (IST 2001-32440), and recent IntegraTV4All (FIT-350301-2004-2) projects for their hard work

Influencers, personal branding and political ideology on Twitter

Las redes sociales han visto crecer la figura del influencer como un nuevo modelo de líder de opinión que debe combinar la gestión de su marca personal con el rol de prescriptor, incluyendo los mensajes de contenido político. En este contexto, esta investigación aplicó un análisis de contenido a 790 mensajes de diez influencers españoles con alto impacto en Twitter. En concreto, se analizaron los objetivos perseguidos, los temas tratados y el contenido ideológico de los tuits. Al respecto, a pesar de que se refleja un objetivo ideológico-político en los mensajes, el discurso se torna bastante moderado, cuando no desideologizado.Social media has been a participant of the growth of the role of the influencer as a new model of opinion leader who combines personal branding with a prescriber role, including messages with political content. In this context, this research has applied a content analysis to 790 messages from ten Spanish influencers with a high impact on Twitter. We analyzed in particular the pursued objectives, the topics discussed and the ideological content of the tweets. In this regard, although these messages reflected an ideological-political objective, the discourse is quite moderate, if not de-ideologizedAs redes sociais viram a figura do influencer como um novo modelo de líder de opinião que deve combinar a gestão de sua marca pessoal com o papel de influenciador do público, incluindo mensagens com conteúdo político. Neste contexto, o presente estudo aplicou uma análise de conteúdo a 790 mensagens de dez influenciadores espanhóis de alto impacto no Twitter. Em particular, os objetivos-perseguidos, os tópicos discutidos e o conteúdo ideológico dos tuites foram analisados. A este respeito, embora um objetivo ideológico-político seja refletido nas mensagens, o discurso se torna bastante moderado, senão des-ideologizad

Reactive transport model of gypsum karstification in physically and chemically heterogeneous fractured media

[Abstract:] Gypsum dissolution leads to the development of karstic features within much shorter timescales than in other sedimentary rocks, potentially leading to rapid deterioration of groundwater quality and increasing the risk of catastrophes caused by subsidence. Here, we present a 2-D reactive transport model to evaluate gypsum karstification in physically and chemically heterogeneous systems. The model considers a low-permeability rock matrix composed mainly of gypsum and a discontinuity (fracture), which acts as a preferential water pathway. Several scenarios are analyzed and simulated to investigate the relevance for gypsum karstification of: (1) the dynamic update of flow and transport parameters due to porosity changes; (2) the spatial distribution of minerals in the rock matrix; (3) the time evolution of water inflows through the boundaries of the model; (4) the functions relating permeability, k, to porosity, ϕ. The average porosity of the matrix after 1000 years of simulation increases from 0.045 to 0.29 when flow, transport, and chemical parameters and the water inflows through the boundary are dynamically updated according to the porosity changes. On the contrary, the porosity of the matrix hardly changes when the porosity feedback effect is not considered, while its average increases to 0.13 if the water inflow occurs through the discontinuity. Moreover, the dissolution of small amounts of highly soluble sulfate minerals plays a major role in the development of additional fractures. The increase in hydraulic conductivity is largest for the power law with an exponent of n = 5, as well as the Kozeny-Carman and the modified Fair-atch k-ϕ relationships. The gypsum dissolution front propagates into the matrix faster when the power law with n = 2 and 3 and the Verma–Pruess k-ϕ relationships are used.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; PID2019-109544RB-I00Xunta de Galicia; ED431C2021/5

Extracción de Reglas de Asociación en una Base de Datos Clínicos de Pacientes con Vih/Sida

En la actualidad, las personas infectadas por el VIH con acceso a tratamiento retrasan indefinidamente su entrada en la fase SIDA de la enfermedad, convirtiéndose en pacientes crónicos. Un mayor conocimiento del comportamiento del virus y de cómo afecta a las personas infectadas podría conducirnos a optimizar el tratamiento y con ello mejorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes. En este contexto aparece la minería de datos, un conjunto de metodologías que, aplicadas a grandes bases de datos, nos permiten obtener información novedosa y potencialmente útil oculta en ellas. Este trabajo de investigación realiza una primera aproximación al problema mediante la búsqueda de asociaciones en una base de datos en la que se registran las historias clínicas electrónicas de personas infectadas que son tratadas en el Hospital Clínic de Barcelona

Stability and Thermal Properties Study of Metal Chalcogenide-Based Nanofluids for Concentrating Solar Power

Nanofluids are colloidal suspensions of nanomaterials in a fluid which exhibit enhanced thermophysical properties compared to conventional fluids. The addition of nanomaterials to a fluid can increase the thermal conductivity, isobaric-specific heat, diffusivity, and the convective heat transfer coefficient of the original fluid. For this reason, nanofluids have been studied over the last decades in many fields such as biomedicine, industrial cooling, nuclear reactors, and also in solar thermal applications. In this paper, we report the preparation and characterization of nanofluids based on one-dimensional MoS2 and WS2 nanosheets to improve the thermal properties of the heat transfer fluid currently used in concentrating solar plants (CSP). A comparative study of both types of nanofluids was performed for explaining the influence of nanostructure morphologies on nanofluid stability and thermal properties. The nanofluids prepared in this work present a high stability over time and thermal conductivity enhancements of up to 46% for MoS2-based nanofluid and up to 35% for WS2-based nanofluid. These results led to an increase in the efficiency of the solar collectors of 21.3% and 16.8% when the nanofluids based on MoS2 nanowires or WS2 nanosheets were used instead of the typical thermal oil