Točna 3D rekonstrukcija zasnovana na rotirajućoj platformi i telecentričnoj viziji

This paper presents a camera+telecentric lens that is able to obtain 3D information. We designed and implemented a method which can register and integrate 3D information captured from different viewpoints to build a complete 3D object model. First, a geometric model of a camera+telecentric lens is established. Then a calibration process using a planar checkerboard is developed and implemented. The object is placed on a rotation stage in front of a stationary camera. Normally the rotation axis is considered to be aligned with camera frame. In the description presented in this paper, the rotation matrix and translation vector of the rotation axis are calibrated. At the same time, a three-dimensional reconstruction system based on contour extraction of objects with dimensions less than 50 mm in diameter is developed. Finally, an analysis of the uncertainty model parameters and performance reconstruction of 3D objects are discussed.Članak prestavlja sustav koji se sastoji od kamere i telecentrične leće koji omogućavaju dobivanje 3D informacije o objektu. Dizajnirana je i implementirana metoda koja može registrirati i integrirati 3D informacije iz različitih točaka gledišta, kako bi se izgradio potpuni 3D model. Na početku, uspostavlja se geometrijski model kamere i telecentrične leće. Nakon toga koristi se razvijena metoda kalibracije zasnovana na šahovskoj ploči te se objekt postavlja na rotirajuću platformu ispred stacionarne kamere. Također, pretpostavlja se da je os rotacije poravnta s koordinantim sustavom kamere. U ovome članku kalibriraju se rotacijska matrica i translacijski vektor rotacijske osi. Razvijen je i sustav 3D rekonstrukcija zasnovan na izlučivanju kontura objekta dimenzija manjih od 50 mm u promjeru. Na kraju, provedena je i analiza nesigurnosti parametara modela kao i točnost rekonstrukcije 3D modela

New experimental insights into magneto-mechanical rate dependences of magnetorheological elastomers

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs), consisting of an elastomeric matrix filled with magnetic particles, are one of the most promising multifunctional composites. The main advantage of these materials is their response to external magnetic fields by mechanically deforming and/or changing their magnetorheological properties. This multi-physical nature makes them ideal candidates for timely applications in soft robotics and bioengineering. Although several works have addressed the magneto-mechanical coupling in these composites from both experimental and modelling approaches, there is still a big gap of knowledge preventing the full understanding of their underlying physics. In this regard, there is no experimental work addressing a comprehensive magneto-mechanical characterisation combining different MRE configurations, mechanical deformation modes and magnetic conditions. Furthermore, the interplays of rate dependences into such magnetorheological behaviour still remain elusive. In this work, we provide an unprecedented experimental characterisation of a soft MRE considering more than 100 different experimental conditions involving more than 600 tests. The experiments include monotonous uniaxial compression at different deformation rates and magnetic conditions, magneto-mechanical DMA tests, relaxation tests, oscillatory shear tests at different deformation rates and magnetic conditions, magneto-mechanical shear frequency sweep tests, and novel magneto-mechanical experiments. The results obtained in this work provide full characterisation of soft MREs with a special focus on rate dependences, forming the basis to explain novel multifunctional mechanisms identified behind their coupled response. In addition, it opens the door to new constitutive and modelling approaches.The authors acknowledge support from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 947723, project: 4D-BIOMAP). MAM acknowledges support from the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades, Spain (FPU19/03874) and DGG acknowledges support from the Talent Attraction grant (CM 2018 - 2018-T2/IND-9992) from the Comunidad de Madri

The Dioxin receptor modulates Caveolin-1 mobilization during directional migration: role of cholesterol

Background: Adhesion and migration are relevant physiological functions that must be regulated by the cell under both normal and pathological conditions. The dioxin receptor (AhR) has emerged as a transcription factor regulating both processes in mesenchymal, epithelial and endothelial cells. Indirect results suggest that AhR could cooperate not only with additional transcription factors but also with membrane-associated proteins to drive such processes. Results: In this study, we have used immortalized and primary dermal fibroblasts from wild type (AhR+/+) and AhR-null (AhR-/-) mice to show that AhR modulates membrane distribution and mobilization of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) during directional cell migration. AhR co-immunoprecipitated with Cav-1 and a fraction of both proteins co-localized to detergent-resistant membrane microdomains (DRM). Consistent with a role of AhR in the process, AhR-/-cells had a significant reduction in Cav-1 in DRMs. Moreover, high cell density reduced AhR nuclear levels and moved Cav-1 from DRMs to the soluble membrane in AhR+/+ but not in AhR-/-cells. Tyrosine-14 phosphorylation had a complex role in the mechanism since its upregulation reduced Cav-1 in DRMs in both AhR+/+ and AhR-/-cells, despite the lower basal levels of Y-14-Cav-1 in the null cells. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching revealed that AhR knock-down blocked Cav-1 transport to the plasma membrane, a deficit possibly influencing its depleted levels in DRMs. Membrane distribution of Cav-1 in AhR-null fibroblasts correlated with higher levels of cholesterol and with disrupted membrane microdomains, whereas addition of exogenous cholesterol changed the Cav-1 distribution of AhR+/+ cells to the null phenotype. Consistently, higher cholesterol levels enhanced caveolae-dependent endocytosis in AhR-null cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that AhR modulates Cav-1 distribution in migrating cells through the control of cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomains. Our study also supports the likely possibility of membrane-related, transcription factor independent, functions of AhR.This work was supported by grants to P. M. F-S. from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (SAF2008-00462 and BFU2011-22678) and from the Junta de Extremadura (GR10008). Research at P. M. F-S laboratory is also funded by the Red Tematica de Investigacion Cooperativa en Cancer (RTICC), Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS), Carlos III Institute, Spanish Ministry of Health (RD12/0036/0032). J.R.B. was a F.P.U. program fellow from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Sciences. All Spanish funding is co-sponsored by the European Union FEDER program. The support and help of the Servicio de Tecnicas Aplicadas a las Biociencia (STAB) of the Universidad de Extremadura is greatly acknowledged. We are very grateful to Dr. Lisardo Bosca (Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Madrid, Spain) for providing the Cav-1-GFP and the Cav-1Y14F-GFP expression vectors and to Dr. Miguel A. Alonso Lebrero (Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain) for assistance with the sucrose density gradient method. The technical support of Eva Barrasa is greatly appreciated.S

Validity and reproducibility of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire in Spanish preschoolers - The SENDO project

Introduction: nowadays, it is important to determine whether food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) are valid tools to collect information on usual diet in children. Objective: we evaluated the reproducibility and validity of the semi-quantitative FFQ used in a Spanish cohort of children aged 4-7 years. Methods: to explore its reproducibility, parents filled a 138-item FFQ at baseline (FFQ-0) and then one year later (FFQ-1). To explore its validity, the FFQ-1 was compared with four weighed 3-day dietary records (DRs) that were used as standard of reference. To estimate associations we calculated deattenuated Pearson’s correlation coefficients to correct for season-to-season variability, and the Bland-Altman index. We also calculated the weighted kappa index and assessed participant’s gross misclassification across quintiles. We analyzed data from 67 (for reproducibility) and 37 (for validity) children aged 4-7 years old, recruited by the pilot study of the SENDO project. Results: regarding reproducibility, we found mean Bland-Altman indexes of 0-10.45 % for nutrients and 1.49 %-10.45 % for foods. The adjusted r ranged between 0.29 and 0.71, and between 0.27 and 0.74 for nutrients and foods, respectively. Regarding validity, we found mean Bland-Altman indexes of 0 %-16.22 % and 0 %-10.81 % for nutrients and for food groups, respectively. The deattenuated r ranged between 0.38 and 0.81 for nutrients, and between 0.53 and 0.68 for foods. The weighted kappa index for agreement across quintiles ranged from 54.1 to 85.1 for nutrients, and from 55.4 to 78.4 for food groups. Conclusions: our results showed acceptable levels of both reproducibility and validity, and that the ad-hoc developed FFQ is a valid tool for assessing usual diet in Spanish preschoolers.Introducción: es importante determinar si los cuestionarios de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos (CFCA) son herramientas válidas para recopilar información sobre la dieta habitual en los niños. Objetivo: evaluar la reproducibilidad y validez del CFCA semi-cuantitativo de una cohorte española de niños de 4 a 7 años. Métodos: en total se estudiaron 67 (para reproducibilidad) y 37 (para validez) niños de 4 a 7 años de edad del estudio piloto del proyecto SENDO. Para explorar la reproducibilidad, los padres cumplimentaron el CFCA basalmente (CFCA-0) y al año (CFCA-1). Para explorar la validez, el CFCA-1 se comparó con cuatro registros dietéticos (DR) pesados de 3 días. Calculamos coeficientes de correlación de Pearson desatenuados para corregir la variabilidad inter-estacional, y el índice de Bland-Altman. El índice kappa ponderado permitió evaluar la clasificación errónea de los participantes entre quintiles. Resultados: respecto a la reproducibilidad, encontramos índices promedio de Bland-Altman de 0-10,45 % para los nutrientes y de 1,49-10,45 % para los alimentos. La r ajustada varió entre 0,29 y 0,71, y entre 0,27 y 0,74 para nutrientes y alimentos, respectivamente. En cuanto a la validez, encontramos índices promedio de Bland-Altman de 0-16,22 % y 0-10,81 % para nutrientes y alimentos, respectivamente. La r desatenuada osciló entre 0,38 y 0,81 para los nutrientes y entre 0,53 y 0,68 para los alimentos. El índice kappa ponderado para el acuerdo entre quintiles varió entre 54,1 y 85,1 para los nutrientes y entre 55,4 y 78,4 para los grupos de alimentos. Conclusiones: nuestros resultados mostraron niveles aceptables tanto de reproducibilidad como de validez. El FFQ desarrollado ad hoc es una herramienta válida para evaluar nutrientes y alimentos en preescolares españoles

A Holistic Solution to Icing by Acoustic Waves: De-Icing, Active Anti-Icing, Sensing with Piezoelectric Crystals, and Synergy with Thin Film Passive Anti-Icing Solutions

Icing has become a hot topic both in academia and in the industry given its implications in transport, wind turbines, photovoltaics, and telecommunications. Recently proposed de-icing solutions involving the propagation of acoustic waves (AWs) at suitable substrates may open the path for a sustainable alternative to standard de-icing or anti-icing procedures. Herein, the fundamental interactions are unraveled that contribute to the de-icing and/or hinder the icing on AW-activated substrates. The response toward icing of a reliable model system consisting of a piezoelectric plate activated by extended electrodes is characterized at a laboratory scale and in an icing wind tunnel under realistic conditions. Experiments show that surface modification with anti-icing functionalities provides a synergistic response when activated with AWs. A thoughtful analysis of the resonance frequency dependence on experimental variables such as temperature, ice formation, or wind velocity demonstrates the application of AW devices for real-time monitoring of icing processes

Bioética. El final de la vida y las voluntades anticipadas

Esta obra contiene textos elaborados por investigadores de diferentes áreas del conocimiento: medicina, filosofía, derecho, entre otras especialidades, pertenecientes a distintos países: España, Chile y México. El objetivo principal de este libro es servir de referente teórico a otros investigadores de bioética, y especialmente a los que son o desean estar especializados en la comprensión del final de la vida y las voluntades anticipadas en el ámbito sanitario en cualquier país del mundo

SARS-CoV-2-spike antibody and T-cell responses elicited by a homologous third mRNA COVID-19 dose in hemodialysis and kidney transplant recipients

This article belongs to the Section Medical Microbiology.The effect of a third vaccine dose (3D) of homologous mRNA vaccine on blood levels of SARS-CoV-2-receptor binding domain (RBD)-total antibodies was assessed in 40 hemodialysis patients (HD) and 21 kidney transplant recipients (KTR) at a median of 46 days after 3D. Anti-RBD antibodies were detected in 39/40 HD and 19/21 KTR. Overall, 3D boosted anti-RBD antibody levels (median: 58-fold increase). Neutralizing antibodies (NtAb) against the Wuhan-Hu-1, Delta, and Omicron variants were detected in 14, 13, and 11 out of 14 HD patients, and in 5, 5, and 4 out of 8 KTR patients, respectively. The median fold increase in NtAb titers in HD patients was 77, 28, and 5 and 56, 37, and 9 in KTR patients for each respective variant. SARS-CoV-2-S S-IFN-γ-producing CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses were detected in the majority of HD (35 and 36/37, respectively) and all KTR (16/16) patients at 3D. Overall, the administration of 3D boosted T-cell levels in both population groups. In conclusion, a homologous mRNA COVID-19 vaccine 3D exerts a booster effect on anti-RBD antibodies, NtAb binding to Wuhan-Hu-1, Delta, and Omicron variants, and SARS-CoV-2-S-IFN-γ-producing T cells in both HD and KTR patients. The magnitude of the effect was more marked in HD than KTR patients.This research work was supported by funding from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain (FIS, PI21/00563) to DN and by funding from the European Commission NextGenerationEU fund (EU 2020/2094), through CSIC’s Global Health Platform (PTI Salud Global), to RG, and funding from the Valencian Society of Neprology. The project received the Isabel Burches grant from the Valencian Society of Nephrology (2/2/21).Peer reviewe

Atrasentan and renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (SONAR): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Short-term treatment for people with type 2 diabetes using a low dose of the selective endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan reduces albuminuria without causing significant sodium retention. We report the long-term effects of treatment with atrasentan on major renal outcomes. Methods: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at 689 sites in 41 countries. We enrolled adults aged 18–85 years with type 2 diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)25–75 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 of body surface area, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)of 300–5000 mg/g who had received maximum labelled or tolerated renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 4 weeks. Participants were given atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily during an enrichment period before random group assignment. Those with a UACR decrease of at least 30% with no substantial fluid retention during the enrichment period (responders)were included in the double-blind treatment period. Responders were randomly assigned to receive either atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily or placebo. All patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite of doubling of serum creatinine (sustained for ≥30 days)or end-stage kidney disease (eGFR <15 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 sustained for ≥90 days, chronic dialysis for ≥90 days, kidney transplantation, or death from kidney failure)in the intention-to-treat population of all responders. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned study treatment. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01858532. Findings: Between May 17, 2013, and July 13, 2017, 11 087 patients were screened; 5117 entered the enrichment period, and 4711 completed the enrichment period. Of these, 2648 patients were responders and were randomly assigned to the atrasentan group (n=1325)or placebo group (n=1323). Median follow-up was 2·2 years (IQR 1·4–2·9). 79 (6·0%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 105 (7·9%)of 1323 in the placebo group had a primary composite renal endpoint event (hazard ratio [HR]0·65 [95% CI 0·49–0·88]; p=0·0047). Fluid retention and anaemia adverse events, which have been previously attributed to endothelin receptor antagonists, were more frequent in the atrasentan group than in the placebo group. Hospital admission for heart failure occurred in 47 (3·5%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 34 (2·6%)of 1323 patients in the placebo group (HR 1·33 [95% CI 0·85–2·07]; p=0·208). 58 (4·4%)patients in the atrasentan group and 52 (3·9%)in the placebo group died (HR 1·09 [95% CI 0·75–1·59]; p=0·65). Interpretation: Atrasentan reduced the risk of renal events in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease who were selected to optimise efficacy and safety. These data support a potential role for selective endothelin receptor antagonists in protecting renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of developing end-stage kidney disease. Funding: AbbVie

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo