Expression of collagenase-3 in the rat ovary during the ovulatory process.

We have examined the expression of the murine counterpart of human collagenase-3, a matrix metalloproteinase produced by breast carcinomas, in the course of processes which involve extensive tissue remodeling. By using Northern blot analysis, we have found that collagenase-3 is expressed in the rat ovary, but not in the remaining analyzed tissues including brain, kidney, liver, lung, mammary gland, uterus, bladder, heart, intestine, prostate, spleen, testis and thymus. Collagenase-3 mRNA was detected at high levels in rat ovaries at proestrus and estrus, was at a minimum at metestrus and started to increase during diestrus through to proestrus. In addition, collagenase-3 was also detected on day 21 of pregnancy, which is approximately one day before parturition. However, no significative expression was detected in RNA from ovaries taken immediately after parturition, or on days 1, 5 or 30 postpartum. Northern blot analysis also revealed that collagenase-3 was not expressed at significant levels, compared with ovarian expression, in the uterus or in the mammary gland during pregnancy or after parturition. When follicular granulosa cells were separated from Northern blot, it was seen that collagenase-3 was not expressed by the granulosa cells but was present in the residual tissue containing interstitial and thecal tissues, growing follicles and corpora lutea. Immunohistochemical studies also confirmed, at the protein level, the localization of collagenase-3 in rat ovary. Gonadotropic stimulation of ovulation in immature rats by priming with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin and stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin failed to induce the expression of collagenase-3, suggesting that additional factors which are not present in the immature stimulated rats are needed for completely effective induction of the expression of this matrix metalloproteinase. On the basis of these results, together with the comparative analysis of expression of different matrix metalloproteinases in the rat ovary, we propose that collagenase-3 is a major ovarian metalloproteinase potentially involved in ovarian function during the reproductive cycle.Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (SAF94-0892

A multidimensional approach to the resilience in older adults despite COVID-19.

Researchers have mainly focused on aging risk factors and COVID-19 consequences. However, older adults have proved their ability to overcome adversities along their life. Resilience is a protective variable that dampens the impact of stress. Based on MacLeod’s et al. (2016) approach, we aimed to analyze the relationship between older adults’ resilience and COVID-19 related-stressors as well as their physical, mental, and social characteristics. Eight hundred eighty-nine people aged 60 and over participated in this study. Older participants, women, having better perceived health and not losing a loved one because of the virus were associated with more resilience. Moreover, higher levels of gratitude, personal growth, life purpose and lower levels of depression were associated with greater scores in resilience. This study offers a change of perspective in which aging is perceived from a positive viewpoint by focusing on easily accessible resources that may help older adults to cope with adverse situations.post-print913 K

A flexible framework for real-time thermal-aware schedulers using timed continuous petri nets

This work presents TCPN-ThermalSim, a software tool for testing Real-Time Thermal-Aware Schedulers1. This framework consists of four main modules. The first one helps the user to define the problem: Task set with periods, deadlines and worst case execution times in CPU cycles, along with the CPU characteristics, temperature and energy consumption. The second module is the Kernel simulation, which builds up a global simulation model according to the configuration module. In the third module, the user selects the scheduler algorithm. Finally the last module allows the execution of the simulation and present the results. The framework encompasses two modes: Manual and automatic. In manual mode the simulator uses the task set data provided in the first section. In automatic mode the task set is generated by parameterizing the integrated UUniFast algorithm

The participatory market chain approach: stimulating pro-poor market-chain innovation

Innovation in the food and agriculture sector is frequently short-circuited by a lack of trust and communication between actors in the market chain. To overcome these problems and stimulate innovation, the Participatory Market Chain Approach (PMCA) brings together small farmers, market agents, and service providers for an intense process of facilitated interaction. The PMCA uses a flexible three-stage participatory process to improve communication, build trust, and facilitate collaboration among participants so that they can jointly identify, analyze, and exploit new market opportunities. The PMCA focuses on innovation in products, technologies, and ways of working together. By carefully selecting market chains and partners, and building in social responsibility, the PMCA can lead to favourable outcomes and impacts for poor farmers, typically the weakest link in the chain. The PMCA requires facilitation and technical support from professionals with good social skills, research experience, and marketing knowledge, based in a neutral research and development organization. To ensure that impacts are sustained, the PMCA is best used as part of a broader programme of market chain development

Thermal-aware real-time scheduling using timed continuous Petri Nets

We present a thermal-aware, hard real-time (HRT) global scheduler for a multiprocessor system designed upon three novel techinques. First, we present a modeling methodology based on Timed Continuous Petri nets (TCPN) that yields a complete state variable model, including job arrivals, CPU usage, power, and thermal behavior. The model is accurate and avoids the calibration stage of RC thermal models. Second, based on this model, a linear programming problem (LPP) determines the existence of a feasible HRT thermal-aware schedule. Last, a sliding-mode controller and an online discretization algorithm implement the global HRT scheduler, which is capable of managing thermal constraints, context switching, migrations, and disturbances

Psychological well-being among older adults during the COVID-19 outbreak: A comparative study of the young-old and the old-old adults

The COVID-19 outbreak could be considered as an uncontrollable stressful life event. Lockdown measures have provoked a disruption of daily life with a great impact over older adults' health and well-being. Nevertheless, eudaimonic well-being plays a protective role in confronting adverse circumstances, such as the COVID-19 situation. This study aims to assess the association between age and psychological well-being (personal growth and purpose in life). Young-old (60-70 years) and old-old (71-80 years) community-dwelling Spaniards (N = 878) completed a survey and reported on their sociodemographic characteristics and their levels of health, COVID-19 stress-related, appraisal, and personal resources. Old-old did not evidence poorer psychological well-being than young-old. Age has only a negative impact on personal growth. The results also suggest that the nature of the COVID-19 impact (except for the loss of a loved one) may not be as relevant for the older adults' well-being as their appraisals and personal resources for managing COVID-related problems. In addition, these results suggest that some sociodemographic and health-related variables have an impact on older adults' well-being. Thus, perceived-health, family functioning, resilience, gratitude, and acceptance had significant associations with both personal growth and purpose in life. Efforts to address older adults' psychological well-being focusing on older adults' personal resources should be considered

Identification of gastric cancer from speckle patterns

Speckle technique is based on the light intensity distribution randomly formed when a laser light is reflected on a rough surface, creating a pattern of illuminated grains (constructively) and dark (destructive) on scales of 1 μm. When the samples are displaced or deformed, the speckle pattern is altered. In this paper we present speckle patterns obtained from samples of gastric mucosa that is physically altered for the carcinogenesis process. Biopsies were studied with different diagnoses and were grouped according to the characteristics of speckle patterns. Speckle patterns were obtained by illuminating the samples with green laser. Morphological parameters of the speckle patterns reveal existence of 3 descriptors: the average grain size, hydraulic radius and the radio of the Weddel disc, which showed a high, intermediate and low value. The comparison shows agreement between the histopathological diagnosis and the values obtained by the speckle technique, making this technique emerge as a new classification system for quantitative diagnosis of precancerous lesions.Facultad de Ingenierí

Identification of gastric cancer from speckle patterns

Speckle technique is based on the light intensity distribution randomly formed when a laser light is reflected on a rough surface, creating a pattern of illuminated grains (constructively) and dark (destructive) on scales of 1 μm. When the samples are displaced or deformed, the speckle pattern is altered. In this paper we present speckle patterns obtained from samples of gastric mucosa that is physically altered for the carcinogenesis process. Biopsies were studied with different diagnoses and were grouped according to the characteristics of speckle patterns. Speckle patterns were obtained by illuminating the samples with green laser. Morphological parameters of the speckle patterns reveal existence of 3 descriptors: the average grain size, hydraulic radius and the radio of the Weddel disc, which showed a high, intermediate and low value. The comparison shows agreement between the histopathological diagnosis and the values obtained by the speckle technique, making this technique emerge as a new classification system for quantitative diagnosis of precancerous lesions.Facultad de Ingenierí