Potential Role of Nuclear Factor κB in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Diabetic cardiomyopathy entails the cardiac injury induced by diabetes independently of any vascular disease or hypertension. Some transcription factors have been proposed to control the gene program involved in the setting and development of related processes. Nuclear factor-kappa B is a pleiotropic transcription factor associated to the regulation of many heart diseases. However, the nuclear factor-kappa B role in diabetic cardiomyopathy is under investigation. In this paper, we review the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway and its role in several processes that have been linked to diabetic cardiomyopathy, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, fibrosis, hypertrophy and apoptosis

Study of a Solution with COTS for the LHCb Calorimeter Upgrade

AbstractWe present a solution made out of Components Out of Shelf (COTS) for the analog processing of the signal of the LHCb calorimeters in the framework of the foreseen upgrade of the detector. The present proposal is based on the current functional solution, yet, to meet the stringent noise requirements, a number of modifications are proposed. Preliminary results on the prototype boards show promising results

Integrated test environment for a part of the LHCb calorimeter - TWEPP09

An integrated test environment for the data acquisition electronics of the Scintillator Pad Detector (SPD) from the calorimeter of the LHCb experiment is presented. It allows to test separately every single board or to perform global system tests, while being able to emulate every part of the system and debug it. This environment is foreseen to test the production of spare electronic boards and help the maintenance of the SPD electronics along the life of the detector. The heart of the system is an Altera Stratix II FPGA while the main board can be controlled over USB, Ethernet or WiFi

Sitagliptin improved glucose assimilation in detriment of fatty-acid utilization in experimental type-II diabetes: Role of GLP-1 isoforms in Glut4 receptor trafficking

Background: The distribution of glucose and fatty-acid transporters in the heart is crucial for energy consecution and myocardial function. In this sense, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) enhancer, sitagliptin, improves glucose homeostasis but it could also trigger direct cardioprotective actions, including regulation of energy substrate utilization. Methods: Type-II diabetic GK (Goto-Kakizaki), sitagliptin-treated GK (10 mg/kg/day) and wistar rats (n = 10, each) underwent echocardiographic evaluation, and positron emission tomography scanning for [ 18 F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose ( 18 FDG). Hearts and plasma were isolated for biochemical approaches. Cultured cardiomyocytes were examined for receptor distribution after incretin stimulation in high fatty acid or high glucose media. Results: Untreated GK rats exhibited hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and plasma GLP-1 reduction. Moreover, GK myocardium decreased 18 FDG assimilation and diastolic dysfunction. However, sitagliptin improved hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and GLP-1 levels, and additionally, enhanced 18 FDG uptake and diastolic function. Sitagliptin also stimulated the sarcolemmal translocation of the glucose transporter-4 (Glut4), in detriment of the fatty acyl translocase (FAT)/CD36. In fact, Glut4 mRNA expression and sarcolemmal translocation were also increased after GLP-1 stimulation in high-fatty acid incubated cardiomyocytes. PI3K/Akt and AMPKα were involved in this response. Intriguingly, the GLP-1 degradation metabolite, GLP-1(9-36), showed similar effects. Conclusions: Besides of its anti-hyperglycemic effect, sitagliptin-enhanced GLP-1 may ameliorate diastolic dysfunction in type-II diabetes by shifting fatty acid to glucose utilization in the cardiomyocyte, and thus, improving cardiac efficiency and reducing lipolysisThis work was supported by national grants from Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (SAF2009-08367), Comunidad de Madrid (CCG10-UAM/BIO-5289), and PIE13/00051 and PI14/00386 (IS. Carlos III). Merck Sharp and Dohme (Darmstadt, Germany) provided sitagliptin and partial financial support to the conduct of the stud

La utilización del vídeo como recurso de aprendizaje activo en un entorno de aula invertida

The present study presents an alternative to traditional teaching practices by using the video as a teaching resource in a flipped classroom environment by students. Based on an analysis carried out in three subjects belonging to the field of applied economics of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Universidad A Coruna during the 2022/2023 academic year, an innovative continuous assessment project is introduced, where the students must create videos from materials provided by the teacher. The results show that using the video increases students’ motivation, increasing their interest in the subjects and their expectations of obtaining a better grade. A gender pattern in the results is not detected, since there are no differences between men and women. These results suggest an important reflection regarding the future of teaching economics subjects in a globalized environment. En el presente estudio, se presenta una alternativa a las prácticas docentes tradicionales mediante la utilización del vídeo como recurso docente en un entorno de aula invertida por parte del estudiantado. A partir de un análisis efectuado en tres asignaturas pertenecientes al ámbito de economía aplicada en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid y la Universidad de A Coruña durante el curso 2022/2023, se introduce un proyecto novedoso de evaluación continua, donde el estudiantado debe elaborar vídeos a partir de materiales facilitados por el docente. Los resultados muestran que la utilización del vídeo aumenta la motivación del estudiantado, aumentando el interés en las asignaturas y en sus expectativas de obtener una buena calificación. No se detecta, sin embargo, la existencia de un patrón de género en los resultados, ya que no existen diferencias entre hombres y mujeres. Estos resultados sugieren una importante reflexión en cuanto al futuro de la docencia de asignaturas de economía en un entorno globalizado

HRFlexToT: A High Dynamic Range ASIC for Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography

Time-of-Flight positron emission tomography scanners demand fast and efficient photo sensors and scintillators coupled to fast readout electronics. This article presents the high resolution flexible Time-over-Threshold (HRFlexToT), a 16-channel application-specific-integrated circuit for silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) anode readout manufactured using XFAB 0.18- \mu \text{m} CMOS technology. The main features of the HRFlexToT are a linear Time-over-Threshold with an extended dynamic range (10 bits) for energy measurement, low power consumption (≈ 3.5 mW/ch), and an excellent timing response. The experimental measurements show an energy linearity error of ≈ 3% and an energy resolution of about 12% at 511 keV. Single-photon time resolution measurements performed using an Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) SiPM NUV-HD ( 4 \times 4 mm2 pixel, 40- \mu \text{m} cell) and a Hamamatsu SiPM S13360-3050CS are around 142 and 167 ps full width at half maximum (FWHM), respectively. Coincidence time resolution (CTR) measurements with small cross-section pixelated crystals (LSO:Ce,Ca 0.4%, 2 \times 2 \times 5 mm3) coupled to the same Hamamatsu S13360-3050CS and FBK NUV-HD sensors yield a CTR of 117 ps and 119 ps, respectively. Measurements performed with a large cross-section monolithic crystal (LFS crystal measuring 25 \times 25 \times 20 mm3) and a Hamamatsu SiPM array S13361-6050NE-04 show a CTR of 324 ps FWHM after time-walk and time-skew correction

The Front End Electronics of the Scintillator Pad Detector of LHCb Calorimeter

In this paper the Front End electronics of the Scintillator Pad Detector (SPD) is outlined. The SPD is a sub-system of the Calorimeter of the LHCb experiment designed to discriminate between charged and neutral particles for the first level trigger. The system design is presented, describing its different functionalities implemented through three different cards and several ASICs. These functionalities are signal processing and digitization, data transmission, interface with control and timing systems of the experiment, low voltage power supply distribution and monitoring. Special emphasis is placed on installation and commissioning subjects such as cabling, grounding, shielding and power distribution

HRFlexToT: A High Dynamic Range ASIC for Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography

Abstract: Time-of-Flight positron emission tomography scanners demand fast and efficient photo sensors and scintillators coupled to fast readout electronics. This article presents the high resolution flexible Time-over-Threshold (HRFlexToT), a 16-channel application-specific-integrated circuit for silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) anode readout manufactured using XFAB 0.18- μm CMOS technology. The main features of the HRFlexToT are a linear Time-over-Threshold with an extended dynamic range (10 bits) for energy measurement, low power consumption (≈ 3.5 mW/ch), and an excellent timing response. The experimental measurements show an energy linearity error of ≈ 3% and an energy resolution of about 12% at 511 keV. Single-photon time resolution measurements performed using an Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) SiPM NUV-HD ( 4×4 mm2 pixel, 40- μm cell) and a Hamamatsu SiPM S13360-3050CS are around 142 and 167 ps full width at half maximum (FWHM), respectively. Coincidence time resolution (CTR) measurements with small cross-section pixelated crystals (LSO:Ce,Ca 0.4%, 2×2×5 mm3) coupled to the same Hamamatsu S13360-3050CS and FBK NUV-HD sensors yield a CTR of 117 ps and 119 ps, respectively. Measurements performed with a large cross-section monolithic crystal (LFS crystal measuring 25×25×20 mm3) and a Hamamatsu SiPM array S13361-6050NE-04 show a CTR of 324 ps FWHM after time-walk and time-skew correction

Ultra low background Micromegas detectors for BabyIAXO solar axion search

The International AXion Observatory (IAXO) is a large scale axion helioscope that will look for axions and axion-like particles produced in the Sun with unprecedented sensitivity. BabyIAXO is an intermediate experimental stage that will be hosted at DESY (Germany) and that will test all IAXO subsystems serving as a prototype for IAXO but at the same time as a fully-fledged helioscope with potential for discovery. One of the crucial components of the project is the ultra-low background X-ray detectors that will image the X-ray photons produced by axion conversion in the experiment. The baseline detection technology for this purpose are Micromegas (Microbulk) detectors. We will show the quest and the strategy to attain the very challenging levels of background targeted for BabyIAXO that need a multi-approach strategy coming from ground measurements, screening campaigns of components of the detector, underground measurements, background models, in-situ background measurements as well as powerful rejection algorithms. First results from the commissioning of the BabyIAXO prototype will be shown.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, submitted for the proceedings of the International Conference on Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors, December 2022, Israe