125 research outputs found
Genetic algorithm optimization of entanglement
We present an application of a genetic algorithmic computational method to
the optimization of the concurrence measure of entanglement for the cases of
one dimensional chains, as well as square and triangular lattices in a simple
tight-binding approach in which the hopping of electrons is much stronger than
the phonon dissipationComment: 26 pages with 13 figures, based on Chapter 3 of the Master thesis of
the first author defended at IPICyT, San Luis Potosi, Mx, on 22nd of February
2006, similar to the published version [Fig. 5 left out but contains the
Appendix figure
Modelos Proxy, alternativa para reducir los tiempos de cómputo durante la simulación numérica
La simulación numérica de yacimientos es una herramienta que ha venido evolucionando de la mano de la industria petrolera, su objetivo fundamental es predecir el comportamiento de un yacimiento dado y posteriormente encontrar el escenario óptimo para aumentar la recuperación de hidrocarburos. Sin embargo, los estudios de simulación numérica pueden llegar a ser muy costosos por factores como: tamaño de la grilla y la robustez del estudio a realizar (asociado a mayores tiempos de cómputo y de análisis de resultados); además del tiempo que implicaría llegar a evaluar los múltiples escenarios posibles para definir la mejor estrategia de explotación. Es por esta razón, que los ingenieros de yacimientos se apoyan en herramientas estadísticas para aplicar los estudios de simulación numérica orientados al ajuste histórico, análisis de sensibilidad, análisis de incertidumbre, predicción y estrategias de optimización de producción. Dentro de estas herramientas estadísticas se encuentran los Modelos Proxy, los cuales surgen como alternativa para reducir los tiempos de cómputo en estudios de imulación numérica que no requieran un alto grado de exactitud en sus resultados. Este artículo busca contextualizar al lector sobre el significado de los modelos proxy y su utilidad durante los estudios de simulación numérica de yacimientos, además de presentar un ejemplo de aplicación.The reservoir simulation is a tool which had been evolving at the same time than the petroleum industry; its main purpose is to predict the behavior of a reservoir and afterward finding the optimum scenario in order to increase the oil recovery. However, numerical simulation studies could be very expensive because factors such as grid size and detail of the study to develop (It is associated to long computational and analysis times). Furthermore the time it would take to evaluate multiple possible scenarios to define the best exploration strategy. For this reason, field engineers use statistical tools during numerical simulation studies oriented to history match, sensitivity analysis, uncertainty analysis, optimization and forecasting. One of these statistical tools is the Proxy model, it appears as an alternative to reduce computational times which does not need a high accuracy grade in the results. This article looks for a reader contextualization about the meaning of Proxy model and its value during reservoir simulation studies, and also to present an application study
Turbidity and Other Effects Resulting from Trafalgar Sandbank Dredging and Palmar Beach Nourishment
Beach-nourishment requirements on the southwestern Spanish coast have led to a significant increase in offshore dredging. Following a new research line, assessment of changes recorded in physicochemical and biological parameters due to dredging and dumping operations was performed at the Cape of Trafalgar and Palmar Beach during June and July 2008. Turbidity, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and suspended-sediment data were collected at 10 stations. At the end of the study, a three-campaign monitoring program was implemented for 1 year to assess the possible effects on biological communities and sediment properties. The relevant results, such as the average extent of the sediment plume (< 400 m) and its persistence in the environment (< 10 min), are discussed in this paper. A precise correlation between turbidity and suspended sediments and the recovery time of ecological balance were also established. Furthermore, minimal and reversible effects caused by dredging and dumping operations in this type of marine environment were identified
DNA copy number variation associated with anti-tumour necrosis factor drug response and paradoxical psoriasiform reactions in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis
Biological drugs targeting tumour necrosis factor are effective for psoriasis. However, 30–50% of patients do not respond to these drugs and may even develop paradoxical psoriasiform reactions. This study search-ed for DNA copy number variations that could predict anti-tumour necrotic factor drug response or the ap-pearance of anti-tumour necrotic factor induced pso-riasiform reactions. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 70 patients with anti-tumour necrotic factor drug-treated moderate-to-severe plaque pso-riasis. Samples were analysed with an Illumina 450K methylation microarray. Copy number variations were obtained from raw methylation data using conumee and Chip Analysis Methylation Pipeline (ChAMP) R packa-ges. One copy number variation was found, harbouring one gene (CPM) that was significantly associated with adalimumab response (Bonferroni-adjusted p-value < 0.05). Moreover, one copy number variation was identified harbouring 3 genes (ARNT2, LOC101929586 and MIR5572) related to the development of paradoxical psoriasiform reactions. In conclusion, this study has identified DNA copy number variations that could be good candidate markers to predict response to ada-limumab and the development of anti-tumour necrotic factor paradoxical psoriasiform reactions.This study was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI 13/01598 and the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Regional Development’s funds (FEDER).
Conflicts of interest. FA-S has been a consultant or investigator in clinical trials sponsored by the following pharmaceutical companies: Abbott, Alter, Chemo, Farmalíder, Ferrer, GlaxoSmithKline, Gilead, Janssen-Cilag, Kern, Normon, Novartis, Servier, Teva, and Zambon. ED has potential conflicts of interest (advisory board member, consultant, grants, research support, participation in clinical trials, honoraria for speaking, and research support) with the following pharmaceutical companies: AbbVie (Abbott), Amgen, Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, MSD, Lilly and Celgene. ML-V has potential conflicts of interest as she has participated in clinical trials or as consultant with Abbvie (Abbott), Galderma, Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma, Pfizer, Novarties, Lilly, Almirall and Celgene. MCO-B has potential conflicts of interest (honoraria for speaking and research support) with Janssen-Cilag and Leo Pharma. The other authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. AS-T has served as a consultant and/or paid speaker for and/or participated in clinical trials sponsored by companies that manufacture drugs used for the treatment of psoriasis, including AbbVie, Celgene, Janssen-Cilag, LEO Pharma, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer. RB-E has served as a consultant and/or paid speaker for and/or participated in clinical trials sponsored by companies that manufacture drugs used for the treatment of psoriasis, including AbbVie, Celgene, Janssen-Cilag, LEO Pharma, Lilly, Novartis and Pfizer
Dendritic cell deficiencies persist seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection induces an exacerbated inflammation driven by innate immunity components. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the defense against viral infections, for instance plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), have the capacity to produce vast amounts of interferon-alpha (IFN-α). In COVID-19 there is a deficit in DC numbers and IFN-α production, which has been associated with disease severity. In this work, we described that in addition to the DC deficiency, several DC activation and homing markers were altered in acute COVID-19 patients, which were associated with multiple inflammatory markers. Remarkably, previously hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients remained with decreased numbers of CD1c+ myeloid DCs and pDCs seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the expression of DC markers such as CD86 and CD4 were only restored in previously nonhospitalized patients, while no restoration of integrin β7 and indoleamine 2,3-dyoxigenase (IDO) levels were observed. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the immunological sequelae of COVID-19
Obstetricia integral siglo XXI. Tomo II
El libro Obstetricia Integral siglo XXI, Tomo II, es una publicación virtual de la Facultad de Medicina, se trata de la continuación sobre el análisis detallado de los principales tópicos en el área de la obstetricia, realizada por un grupo interdisciplinario de investigadores comprometidos con el mejoramiento de la calidad en el cuidado de la salud de la mujer gestante. Se ha procurado un balance entre los aspectos básicos de fisiopatología y las guías de atención clínica soportadas en evidencias científicas, con el ánimo de brindarle al lector un equilibrio entre las bases biopsico-sociales de la salud y la enfermedad y los aspectos prácticos de la atención clínica.Vargas Fiesco, Diana Carolina and Rubio Romero, Jorge Andrés and Ruiz Parra, Ariel Iván and Rodríguez, Luis Martín and Aragón, Miguel Eduardo and Arteaga Díaz, Clara Eugenia and Riaño, Jorge Enrique and Arenas Gamboa, Jaime and Ramírez Martínez, Javier Andrés and Amaya Guío, Jairo and Gaitán , Magda Alexandry and Gallego Arbeláez, Jaime and Cortés Díaz, Daniel Otálvaro and Ángel Müller, Edith and Bracho Ch., Alcides C. and Bautista Charry, Alejandro and Rodríguez Ramos, Marcela and Navarro Milanés, Alfonso and Díaz Cruz, Luz Amparo and Mercado Pedroza, Manuel Esteban and Gaitán Duarte, Hernando and Gómez Sánchez, Pio Iván and Peña, Diana Marcela and Calvo Gómez, José Manuel and Parra Pineda, Mario Orlando and Cárdenas Muñoz, María Luisa (2010) Obstetricia integral siglo XXI. Tomo II. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. ISBN 978958447618
Inhibition of LDL-oxidation and antioxidant properties related to polyphenol content of hydrophilic fractions from seaweed Halimeda Incrassata (Ellis) Lamouroux
Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.
BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362
Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2
The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality
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