Manipulació d'Objectes en Aplicacions de Realitat Virtual

Aquest Treball de Final de Grau anomenat Manipulació d’Objectes en Aplicacions de Realitat Virtual: Leap Motion té com a objectius, d’una banda, investigar les noves tecnologies d’interacció persona-computador amb la funció de traslladar a l’usuari a una experiència més profunda i propera a la realitat en l’àmbit del joc. D’altra banda, crear una aplicació que contingui escenes 3D en les quals el propi usuari pugui interactuar amb els objectes mitjançant la representació de les seves mans. En els últims temps, el mercat del hardware ha estat portant una àmplia gama de tecnologies basades en noves formes d’interacció de l’usuari amb la computadora. En aquest projecte s’utilitzarà el software Unity3D per la creació de l’aplicació i el dispositiu Leap Motion pel control i seguiment de les mans de l’usuari. Aquest dispositiu està dissenyat per al reconeixement 3D gestual de les nostres mans. Per tant, la versatilitat que ofereix aquesta tecnologia és molt gran, ja que hi ha moltes aplicacions de camps molts diferents en les quals l’ús de gests pot facilitar la interacció persona-màquina. La implementació d’aquest projecte es divideix en diverses línies de desenvolupament: s’han dissenyat 4 escenes virtuals, de les quals cadascuna té una finalitat diferent, per demostrar que la connexió de Unity amb el Leap Motion és possible. La primera escena s’ha programat per que el Leap Motion detecti el que es coneix amb el nom de “pinch”, o pessic en català, que farem amb les mans per agafar objectes i moure’ls de lloc. Les altres tres escenes, en canvi, s’han configurat per que en detectar un gest determinat, ja sigui el moviment d’un o varis dits, del palmell de la mà, o qualsevol altre gest, realitzin una certa acció. Per poder visualitzar les escenes, s’ha dissenyat una interfície d’usuari (UI) amb un menú per accedir més còmodament a l’aplicació. Un cop finalitzat el treball, es pot concloure que es poden crear fàcilment Apps de realitat virtual utilitzant el software Unity i el sensor Leap Motion, i que existeixen infinites possibles aplicacions en múltiples sectors. S’ha provat l’aplicació i s’ha demostrat que es pot interactuar amb la pantalla de l’ordinador sense haver de fer ús del ratolí o del teclat, simplement amb el moviment de les nostres mans

Assessment of healthy and harmful Maillard reaction products in a novel coffee cascara beverage: Melanoidins and acrylamide

Our research aimed to evaluate the formation of Maillard reaction products in sun-dried coffee cascara and their impact on the safety and health promoting properties of a novel beverage called “Instant Cascara” (IC) derived from this coffee by-product. Maillard reaction products in sun-dried coffee cascara have never been reported. “Instant Cascara” (IC) extract was obtained by aqueous extraction and freeze-drying. Proteins, amino acids, lipids, fatty acid profile, sugars, fiber, minerals, and vitamins were analyzed for its nutritional characterization. Acrylamide and caffeine were used as chemical indicators of safety. Colored compounds, also called melanoidins, their stability under 40 °C and in light, and their in vitro antioxidant capacity were also studied. A safe instant beverage with antioxidant properties was obtained to which the following nutritional claims can be assigned: “low fat”, “low sugar” “high fiber” and “source of potassium, magnesium and vitamin C”. For the first time, cascara beverage color was attributed to the presence of antioxidant melanoidins (>10 kDa). IC is a potential sustainable alternative for instant coffee, with low caffeine and acrylamide levels and a healthy composition of nutrients and antioxidants.Fil: Iriondo DeHond, Amaia. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación; EspañaFil: Elizondo, Ana Sofía. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación; EspañaFil: Iriondo DeHond, Maite. Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural; EspañaFil: Ríos, Maria Belén. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación; EspañaFil: Mufari, Jesica Romina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnología de los Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación; EspañaFil: Mendiola, Jose A.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación; EspañaFil: Ibañez, Elena. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación; EspañaFil: del Castillo, Maria Dolores. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación; Españ

Characterization of Carotid Smooth Muscle Cells during Phenotypic Transition

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are central players in carotid atherosclerosis plaque development. Although the precise mechanisms involved in plaque destabilization are not completely understood, it is known that VSMC proliferation and migration participate in plaque stabilization. In this study, we analyzed expression patterns of genes involved in carotid atherosclerosis development (e.g., transcription factors of regulation of SMC genes) of VSMCs located inside or outside the plaque lesion that may give clues about changes in phenotypic plasticity during atherosclerosis. VSMCs were isolated from 39 carotid plaques extracted from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients by endarterectomy. Specific biomarker expression, related with VSMC phenotype, was analyzed by qPCR, western immunoblot, and confocal microscopy. MYH11, CNN1, SRF, MKL2, and CALD1 were significantly underexpressed in VSMCs from plaques compared with VSMCs from a macroscopically intact (MIT) region, while SPP1, KLF4, MAPLC3B, CD68, and LGALS3 were found significantly upregulated in plaque VSMCs versus MIT VSMCs. The gene expression pattern of arterial VSMCs from a healthy donor treated with 7-ketocholesterol showed high similarity with the expression pattern of carotid plaque VSMCs. Our results indicate that VSMCs isolated from plaque show a typical SMC dedifferentiated phenotype with macrophage-like features compared with VSMCs isolated from a MIT region of the carotid artery. Additionally, MYH11, KLF5, and SPP1 expression patterns were found to be associated with symptomatology of human carotid atherosclerosis.This work was supported by Spanish Institute for Health Carlos III, RETICS program (Grant Number RD16/0019/0007) and by Basque Government, Education Department, Consolidated Groups program (Grant Number IT512-10)

Exploring genetic factors involved in huntington disease age of onset. E2F2 as a new potential modifier gene

Age of onset (AO) of Huntington disease (HD) is mainly determined by the length of the CAG repeat expansion (CAGexp) in exon 1 of the HTT gene. Additional genetic variation has been suggested to contribute to AO, although the mechanism by which it could affect AO is presently unknown. The aim of this study is to explore the contribution of candidate genetic factors to HD AO in order to gain insight into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying this disorder. For that purpose, two AO definitions were used: the earliest age with unequivocal signs of HD (earliest AO or eAO), and the first motor symptoms age (motor AO or mAO). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed between genetic variation within 20 candidate genes and eAO or mAO, using DNA and clinical information of 253 HD patients from REGISTRY project. Gene expression analyses were carried out by RT-qPCR with an independent sample of 35 HD patients from Basque Country Hospitals. We found suggestive association signals between HD eAO and/or mAO and genetic variation within the E2F2, ATF7IP, GRIN2A, GRIN2B, LINC01559, HIP1 and GRIK2 genes. Among them, the most significant was the association between eAO and rs2742976, mapping to the promoter region of E2F2 transcription factor. Furthermore, rs2742976 T allele patient carriers exhibited significantly lower lymphocyte E2F2 gene expression, suggesting a possible implication of E2F2-dependent transcriptional activity in HD pathogenesis. Thus, E2F2 emerges as a new potential HD AO modifier factor

Mulheres liderando ciência e tecnologia

Daniela Castro is Secretary of Research, Industrial Policy and Production for Defense. Ana Franchi is president of the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET). Mirta Iriondo chairs the Argentine Aircraft Factory (FAdeA). Celeste Saulo is director of the National Meteorological Service (SMN). Adriana Serquis is president of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA).Daniela Castro es Secretaria de Investigación, Política Industrial y Producción para la Defensa. Ana Franchi es presidenta del Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Mirta Iriondo preside la Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA). Celeste Saulo es directora del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN). Adriana Serquis es presidenta de la Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA).Daniela Castro é Secretária de Pesquisa, Política Industrial e Produção para a Defesa. Ana Franchi é presidente do Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas Científicas e Técnicas (CONICET). Mirta Iriondo preside a Fábrica de Aeronaves Argentina (FAdeA). Celeste Saulo é diretora do Serviço Meteorológico Nacional (SMN). Adriana Serquis é presidente da Comissão Nacional de Energia Atômica (CNEA)

Adverse events related to central venous catheters (CVC) and the influence of CVC characteristics on peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cell collection in children

Introduction: The use of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) as a source for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric healthy donors is still under debate. The risk of a central venous catheter (CVC) placement and catheter-related complications continue to be the main arguments to discourage its use. Methods: we present a retrospective analysis of 140 PBPC collections in pediatric patients and donors, describing adverse events (AE) related to CVCs as well as the influence of catheterrelated variables on the efficiency of the leukapheresis. Results: 14 CVC-related AEs were recorded (10%). The most common was fever in 5 patients, 4 of which had a catheter-related bacteriemia. Thrombotic events were only observed in 3 patients with active malignancy. A healthy donor presented a moderate bleeding after catheter withdrawal that resolved with local measures, and none of the rest presented any AE. Regarding variables related to the development of AEs, the subject group (patient or donor) was the only one significantly associated (p < 0.0001). Of interest, efficiency was also related to catheter location, being worse in those located in the femoral vein than in into the jugular or the subclavian veins (p < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis, the only variable significantly associated was catheter size (beta 0.238, p < 0.01). Discussion: Placing a CVC for PBPC collection in pediatric subjects is overall safe; CVC-related complications in pediatric healthy donors are very rare. Furthermore, we should try to place catheters of the largest caliber possible, since the efficiency of the collection is related to this variabl

Molecular characterization of new FBXL4 mutations in patients with mtDNA depletion syndrome

Encephalomyopathic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion syndrome 13 (MTDPS13) is a rare genetic disorder caused by defects in F-box leucine-rich repeat protein 4 (FBXL4). Although FBXL4 is essential for the bioenergetic homeostasis of the cell, the precise role of the protein remains unknown. In this study, we report two cases of unrelated patients presenting in the neonatal period with hyperlactacidemia and generalized hypotonia. Severe mtDNA depletion was detected in muscle biopsy in both patients. Genetic analysis showed one patient as having in compound heterozygosis a splice site variant c.858+5G>C and a missense variant c.1510T>C (p.Cys504Arg) in FBXL4. The second patient harbored a frameshift novel variant c.851delC (p.Pro284LeufsTer7) in homozygosis. To validate the pathogenicity of these variants, molecular and biochemical analyses were performed using skin-derived fibroblasts. We observed that the mtDNA depletion was less severe in fibroblasts than in muscle. Interestingly, the cells harboring a nonsense variant in homozygosis showed normal mtDNA copy number. Both patient fibroblasts, however, demonstrated reduced mitochondrial transcript quantity leading to diminished steady state levels of respiratory complex subunits, decreased respiratory complex IV (CIV) activity, and finally, low mitochondrial ATP levels. Both patients also revealed citrate synthase deficiency. Genetic complementation assays established that the deficient phenotype was rescued by the canonical version of FBXL4, confirming the pathological nature of the variants. Further analysis of fibroblasts allowed to establish that increased mitochondrial mass, mitochondrial fragmentation, and augmented autophagy are associated with FBXL4 deficiency in cells, but are probably secondary to a primary metabolic defect affecting oxidative phosphorylation

Working group on cephalopod fisheries and life history (WGCEPH; outputs from 2019 meeting)

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Management for sustainable cephalopod fisheries in Europe: review and recommendations

Although cephalopod fisheries are of world-wide importance, in Europe catching cephalopods is managed only in small-scale fisheries, at national level, and few stocks are formally assessed. Because cephalopods are not quota species under the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, there is currently no requirement for assessment or management at European level. Given increasing interest in targeting cephalopods in Europe, there is a risk that they will be fished unsustainably. Although there have been recent review papers on progress in stock assessment and fishery forecasting for commercially fished cephalopods there has been no recent review of cephalopod fishery management. We aim to fill this gap, with a particular focus on European cephalopod fisheries.We review potential barriers to sustainable fishing and reasons why management of cephalopod fisheries differs from that for finfish fisheries, e.g. due to the high inherent volatility and the possibly cyclic nature of year-to-year variation in cephalopod abundance, reflecting their short lifespan, rapid growth and high sensitivity to environmental conditions. We review fishery management approaches in important cephalopod fisheries worldwide (e.g. in the USA, Japan, Falklands, South Africa, Australia and Russia) and current management of small-scale cephalopod fisheries in Europe. We identify knowledge gaps and limitations to current monitoring programmes and stock assessments and discuss the options available for cephalopod fishery management in Europe, considering the suitability or otherwise of catch and effort limits, use of closed areas and seasons, restrictions on sizes caught and types of fishing gear, and the ole of market-based sustainability pathways.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Changes in fatty acid dietary profile affect the brain–gut axis functions of healthy young adult rats in a sex-dependent manner

This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Management of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Disorders.Dietary modifications, including those affecting dietary fat and its fatty acid (FA) composition, may be involved in the development of brain–gut axis disorders, with different manifestations in males and females. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of three purified diets with different FA composition on the brain–gut axis in rats of both sexes. Male and female Wistar rats fed a cereal-based standard diet from weaning were used. At young adult age (2–3 months old), animals were divided into three groups and treated each with a different refined diet for 6 weeks: a control group fed on AIN-93G diet containing 7% soy oil (SOY), and two groups fed on AIN-93G modified diets with 3.5% soy oil replaced by 3.5% coconut oil (COCO) or 3.5% evening primrose oil (EP). Different brain–gut axis parameters were evaluated during 4–6 weeks of dietary intervention. Compared with SOY diet (14% saturated FAs, and 58% polyunsaturated FAs), COCO diet (52.2% saturated FAs and 30% polyunsaturated FAs) produced no changes in brain functions and minor gastrointestinal modifications, whereas EP diet (11.1% saturated FAs and 70.56% polyunsaturated FAs) tended to decrease self-care behavior and colonic propulsion in males, and significantly increased exploratory behavior, accelerated gastrointestinal transit, and decreased cecum and fecal pellet density in females. Changes in FA composition, particularly an increase in ω-6 polyunsaturated FAs, seem to facilitate the development of brain–gut axis alterations in a sex-dependent manner, with a relatively higher risk in females.We thank Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid for the technician contract of Lorena Blanco (PEJ15/BIO/TL-0580) and the predoctoral contract of Yolanda López-Tofiño (PEJD-2017-PRE/BMD-3924), and URJC for the predoctoral contracts of Yolanda López-Tofiño and Carlos Gálvez-Robleño (both under PREDOC20-054 call). Damian Jacenik was a recipient of fellowship funded by Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Poland.Peer reviewe