WH-MOEA: A Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm for Wiener-Hammerstein System Identification. A Novel Approach for Trade-Off Analysis Between Complexity and Accuracy

[EN] Several approaches have been presented to identify Wiener-Hammerstein models, most of them starting from a linear dynamic model whose poles and zeros are distributed around the static non- linearity. To achieve good precision in the estimation, the Best Linear Approximation (BLA) has usually been used to represent the linear dynamics, while static non-linearity has been arbitrarily parameterised without considering model complexity. In this paper, identification of Wiener, Hammerstein or Wiener-Hammerstein models is stated as a multiobjective optimisation problem (MOP), with a trade-off between accuracy and model complexity. Precision is quantified with the Mean-Absolute-Error (MAE) between the real and estimated output, while complexity is based on the number of poles, zeros and points of the static non- linearity. To solve the MOP, WH-MOEA, a new multiobjective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) is proposed. From a linear structure, WH-MOEA will generate a set of optimal models considering a static non-linearity with a variable number of points. Using WH-MOEA, a procedure is also proposed to analyse various linear structures with different numbers of poles and zeros (known as design concepts). A comparison of the Pareto fronts of each design concept allows a more in-depth analysis to select the most appropriate model according to the user¿s needs. Finally, a complex numerical example and a real thermal process based on a Peltier cell are identified, showing the procedure¿s goodness. The results show that it can be useful to consider the simultaneously precision and complexity of a block-oriented model (Wiener, Hammerstein or Wiener- Hammerstein) in a non-linear process identification.This work was supported in part by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain, under Grant RTI2018-096904-B-I00-AR, and in part by the Salesian Polytechnic University of Ecuador through a Ph.D. scholarships granted to J. Zambrano.Zambrano, J.; Sanchís Saez, J.; Herrero Durá, JM.; Martínez Iranzo, MA. (2020). WH-MOEA: A Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm for Wiener-Hammerstein System Identification. A Novel Approach for Trade-Off Analysis Between Complexity and Accuracy. IEEE Access. 8:228655-228674. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3046352228655228674

Estudio fisicoquímico funcional de los aislados proteicos en semillas de maracuya (Passiflora edulis f).

En este trabajo se presentan las propiedades funcionales de la harina y aislados proteicos de semillas de maracuyá (Passiflora edulis f.). Los aislados proteicos fueron obtenidos de la harina desengrasada por solubilización alcalina a diferentes concentraciones de NaCl seguidas de precipitación isoeléctrica, con un contenido proteico cercano al 90 %. Se evaluaron las distintas propiedades funcionales como; capacidad de retención de agua (CRA), absorción de grasa (CRL), capacidad de hinchamiento (CH), densidad aparente (DA), actividad emulsificantes (IAE) en el rango de pH 2-10 y capacidad espumante (CE). El incremento de la concentración de NaCl contribuye a exponer más grupos hidrófilos en la superficie, lo que explica la alta CRA y baja CRL, las propiedades de emulsión fueron dependientes del pH y concentración de NaCl. Una alta capacidad espumante y estabilidad de la espuma formada fue observada para los aislados obtenidos

Pig manure treatment with housefly (Musca domestica) rearing – an environmental life cycle assessment

The largest portion of a product’s environmental impacts and costs of manufacturing and use results from decisions taken in the conceptual design phase long before its market entry. To foster sustainable production patterns, applying life cycle assessment in the early product development stage is gaining importance. Following recent scientific studies on using dipteran fly species for waste management, this paper presents an assessment of two insect-based manure treatment systems. Considering the necessity of manure treatment in regions with concentrated animal operations, reducing excess manure volumes with the means of insects presents a potentially convenient method to combine waste reduction and nutrient recovery. An analytical comparison of rearing houseflies on fresh and pre-treated pig manure is reported with reference to agricultural land occupation, water and fossil depletion potential. Based on ex-ante modelled industrial scale rearing systems, the driving factors of performance and environmentally sensitive aspects of the rearing process have been assessed. Expressed per kg manure dry matter reduction, the estimated agricultural land occupation varied between 1.4 and 2.7 m2yr, fossil depletion potential ranged from 1.9 to 3.4 kgoil eq and the obtained water depletion potential was calculated from 36.4 to 65.6 m3. System improvement potential was identified for heating related energy usage and water consumption. The geographical context and the utility of the co-products, i.e. residue substrates and insect products, were determined as influential variables to the application potential of this novel manure treatment concept. The results of this study, applied at the earliest stages of the design of the process, assist evaluation of the feasibility of such a system and provide guidance for future research and development activities.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no. 312084 (PROteINSECT)

Gut Microbiota Induced by Pterostilbene and Resveratrol in High-Fat-High-Fructose Fed Rats: Putative Role in Steatohepatitis Onset

Resveratrol and its 2-methoxy derivative pterostilbene are two phenolic compounds that occur in foodstuffs and feature hepato-protective effects. This study is devoted to analysing and comparing the metabolic effects of pterostilbene and resveratrol on gut microbiota composition in rats displaying NAFLD induced by a diet rich in saturated fat and fructose. The associations among changes induced by both phenolic compounds in liver status and those induced in gut microbiota composition were also analysed. For this purpose, fifty Wistar rats were distributed in five experimental groups: a group of animals fed a standard diet (CC group) and four additional groups fed a high-fat high-fructose diet alone (HFHF group) or supplemented with 15 or 30 mg/kg bw/d of pterostilbene (PT15 and PT30 groups, respectively) or 30 mg/kg bw/d of resveratrol (RSV30 group). The dramatic changes induced by high-fat high-fructose feeding in the gut microbiota were poorly ameliorated by pterostilbene or resveratrol. These results suggest that the specific changes in microbiota composition induced by pterostilbene (increased abundances of Akkermansia and Erysipelatoclostridium, and lowered abundance of Clostridum sensu stricto 1) may not entirely explain the putative preventive effects on steatohepatitis.This research was funded by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad-Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (grant number AGL-2015-65719-R MINECO/FEDER, UE), Instituto de Salud Carlos III CIBERobn (grant number CB12/03/30007); University of the Basque Country (grant number GIU 18/173)

Genetic footprints of iberian cattle in America 500 years after the arrival of Columbus.

American Creole cattle presumably descend from animals imported from the Iberian Peninsula during the period of colonization and settlement, through different migration routes, andmay have also suffered the influence of cattle directly imported from Africa. The introduction of European cattle, which began in the 18th century, and later of Zebu from India, has threatened the survival of Creole populations, some of which have nearly disappeared or were admixed with exotic breeds. Assessment of the genetic status of Creole cattle is essential for the establishment of conservation programs of these historical resources. Methodology/Principal Findings: We sampled 27 Creole populations, 39 Iberian, 9 European and 6 Zebu breeds. We used microsatellite markers to assess the origins of Creole cattle, and to investigate the influence of different breeds on their genetic make-up. The major ancestral contributions are from breeds of southern Spain and Portugal, in agreement with the historical ports of departure of ships sailing towards the Western Hemisphere. This Iberian contribution to Creoles may also include some African influence, given the influential role that African cattle have had in the development of Iberian breeds, but the possibility of a direct influence on Creoles of African cattle imported to America can not be discarded. In addition to the Iberian influence, the admixture with other European breeds was minor. The Creoles from tropical areas, especially those from the Caribbean, show clear signs of admixture with Zebu. Conclusions/Significance: Nearly five centuries since cattle were first brought to the Americas, Creoles still show a strong and predominant signature of their Iberian ancestors. Creole breeds differ widely from each other, both in genetic structure and influences from other breeds. Efforts are needed to avoid their extinction or further genetic erosion, which would compromise centuries of selective adaptation to a wide range of environmental conditions

Adherencia, satisfacción al tratamiento y calidad de vida de pacientes con cáncer de mama en el Hospital Universitario del Caribe.(Cartagena, Colombia)

Objetivos: Determinar la adherencia, satisfacción al tratamiento y calidad de vida de pacientes con cáncer de mama. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, trasversal,  desarrollado en el Hospital Universitario del Caribe, entre agosto de 2014 y  abril de 2015. La muestra fueron 23 pacientes, diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama. La adherencia, satisfacción al tratamiento y calidad de vida se determinaron con los instrumentos siguientes: Cuestionario simplified medication adherence questionnaire (SMAQ), registro de dispensación del hospital (RD), test de satisfacción ESTAR del Estudio ARPAS adaptado y el cuestionario WHOQOL BREF respectivamente. El cuestionario ESTAR fue  validado por expertos y mediante alfa de Cronbach.   Resultados: El 54,78% de las pacientes (según SMAQ), fueron no  adherentes a quimioterápicos, la satisfacción fue de 3,94 (rango 0-6). La calidad de vida estuvo en un promedio de 3.2 (rango 1-5), con valores de 14,5% y 7,14% en el nivel 5 del rango. La mayoría de dimensiones del cuestionario de calidad de vida guardan una correlación directamente  proporcional con el nivel total de satisfacción al tratamiento; arrojando un dato negativo (-0,3207) únicamente en la dimensión de satisfacción con la eficacia al tratamiento   Conclusiones: La calidad de vida fue media y baja, la adherencia y  satisfacción al tratamiento fueron bajas y se presentó una correlación inversa entre calidad de vida y la satisfacción al tratamiento, probablemente a causa de reacciones adversas indeseables que se constituyen en disminución de la calidad de vida

Melatonin decreases human adipose tissue insulin sensitivity

© 2024 The Author(s). This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. This document is the Published version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of Pineal Research. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1111/jpi.12965Melatonin is a pineal hormone that modulates the circadian system and exerts soporific and phase‐shifting effects. It is also involved in many other physiological processes, such as those implicated in cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and metabolic functions. However, the role of melatonin in glucose metabolism remains contradictory, and its action on human adipose tissue (AT) explants has not been demonstrated. We aimed to assess whether melatonin (a pharmacological dose) influences insulin sensitivity in human AT. This will help better understand melatonin administration's effect on glucose metabolism. Abdominal AT (subcutaneous and visceral) biopsies were obtained from 19 participants with severe obesity (age: 42.84 ± 12.48 years; body mass index: 43.14 ± 8.26 kg/m2 ) who underwent a laparoscopic gastric bypass. AT biopsies were exposed to four different treatments: control (C), insulin alone (I) (10 nM), melatonin alone (M) (5000 pg/mL), and insulin plus melatonin combined (I + M). All four conditions were repeated in both subcutaneous and visceral AT, and all were performed in the morning at 8 a.m. (n = 19) and the evening at 8 p.m. (in a subsample of n = 12). We used western blot analysis to determine insulin signaling (using the pAKT/ tAKT ratio). Furthermore, RNAseq analyses were performed to better understand the metabolic pathways involved in the effect of melatonin on insulin signaling. As expected, insulin treatment (I) increased the pAKT/ tAKT ratio compared with control (p < .0001). Furthermore, the addition of melatonin (I + M) resulted in a decrease in insulin signaling as compared with insulin alone (I); this effect was significant only during the evening time (not in the morning time). Further, RNAseq analyses in visceral AT during the evening condition (at 8 p.m.) showed that melatonin resulted in a prompt transcriptome response (around 1 h after melatonin addition), particularly by downregulating the insulin signaling pathway. Our results show that melatonin reduces insulin sensitivity in human AT during the evening. These results may partly explain the previous studies showing a decrease in glucose tolerance after oral melatonin administration in the evening or when eating late when endogenous melatonin is present

AISLAMIENTO DE CEPAS DE BRUCCELLA sp., EN MUESTRAS DE LECHE BOVINA PRODUCIDAS EN FINCAS DEL SECTOR EL DOS DE SOCOPO, ESTADO DE BARINAS, VENEZUELA

La brucelosis es una enfermedad transmitida al ser humano; a través del contacto con los animales o consumo de productos lácteos sin pasteurizar. Es producida por una bacteria que pertenece al género Brucella. En el hombre la enfermedad causa problemas de salud y socioeconómicos; el riesgo de infección es mayor cuando existen deficientes hábitos sanitarios en la fabricación de productos lácteos y sus derivados provenientes de sitios que no cuentan con los debidos permisos sanitarios. Es por ello; que el presente trabajo de investigación tuvo como finalidad determinar la presencia de Brucella sp.; en leche cruda proveniente de rebaños lecheros ubicados en el sector El Dos de Socopó; Estado Barinas; mediante el aislamiento en agar Brucella. La identificación de las colonias aisladas se llevó a cabo por medio de pruebas bioquímicas estandarizadas para género Brucella y comparado con el sistema API 20 NE. Los resultados arrojaron el aislamiento e identificación de una cepa delgénero Brucella sp.; en una de las colonias representando el 8% de los aislamientos bacterianos. Esto nos permite concluir que la bacteria está presente en las fincas lecheras de esta región. Se sugiere a las autoridades competentes tomar medidas adecuadas de prevención y control en esta zoonosis. Abstract Brucellosis is an important disease transmitted to human; through no pasteurized dairy products. This pathology is caused by the genus Brucella.  In humans, causes health and socioeconomic problems; the infection risk is high when sanitary status in the dairy industry is low; usually in crafts factories without sanitary license . For this reason; the present investigation; has how initial objective to found antibodies against Brucella sp.; in raw milk samples from El Dos town in Socopo County of Barinas State; by isolation in Brucella medium.  Then; we were identifying by bacteriological methods described for Brucella and the API 20 NE system. The final results found a Brucella strain; it has been 8% of the isolates colonies. We has concluded that Brucella has been present in the dairy farms in this area; and recommend to official authorities that is necessary a efficient control and eradication plan in this zoonosis. Palabras claves: Brucella; aislamiento; rebaño lechero, dairy farms.

Adherencia, satisfacción al tratamiento y calidad de vida de pacientes con cáncer de mama en el Hospital Universitario del Caribe.(Cartagena, Colombia)

Objetivos: Determinar la adherencia, satisfacción al tratamiento y calidad de vida de pacientes con cáncer de mama. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, trasversal,  desarrollado en el Hospital Universitario del Caribe, entre agosto de 2014 y  abril de 2015. La muestra fueron 23 pacientes, diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama. La adherencia, satisfacción al tratamiento y calidad de vida se determinaron con los instrumentos siguientes: Cuestionario simplified medication adherence questionnaire (SMAQ), registro de dispensación del hospital (RD), test de satisfacción ESTAR del Estudio ARPAS adaptado y el cuestionario WHOQOL BREF respectivamente. El cuestionario ESTAR fue  validado por expertos y mediante alfa de Cronbach.   Resultados: El 54,78% de las pacientes (según SMAQ), fueron no  adherentes a quimioterápicos, la satisfacción fue de 3,94 (rango 0-6). La calidad de vida estuvo en un promedio de 3.2 (rango 1-5), con valores de 14,5% y 7,14% en el nivel 5 del rango. La mayoría de dimensiones del cuestionario de calidad de vida guardan una correlación directamente  proporcional con el nivel total de satisfacción al tratamiento; arrojando un dato negativo (-0,3207) únicamente en la dimensión de satisfacción con la eficacia al tratamiento   Conclusiones: La calidad de vida fue media y baja, la adherencia y  satisfacción al tratamiento fueron bajas y se presentó una correlación inversa entre calidad de vida y la satisfacción al tratamiento, probablemente a causa de reacciones adversas indeseables que se constituyen en disminución de la calidad de vida

Sodium caseinate induces secretion of macrophage colony-stimulating factor from neutrophils

Abstract In this work we provide evidence that granulocytes produce macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in the band cell stage and secrete it upon sodium caseinate-mediated differentiation to polymorphonuclear cells. We identified M-CSF in an enriched population of myeloid band cells from murine bone marrow using a chromophorelabeled monoclonal anti-M-CSF antibody. An ELISA assay was then used to detect secreted M-CSF in culture supernatants of enriched band cells differentiated to mature neutrophils using sodium caseinate. Colony formation in vitro by the supernatants from differentiating band cells was blocked by anti-M-CSF, thus suggesting that this factor is the only one responsible for this activity. Our data imply that casein can modulate hematopoiesis possibly via M-CSF production. Finally we discuss the possibility whether this M-CSF in concert with G-CSF could establish a cellular communication network between macrophages and granulocytes allowing them to simultaneously arrive at the inflammatory site