Twin Hypercube for Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets and Their Application in Medicine

In this paper, we present a description of intuitionistic fuzzy sets as vectors in twin hypercube. Finally we verify an application of intuitionistic fuzzy sets in medicine using twin hypercube for intuitionistic fuzzy sets.S

Temporal hydrochemical and microbial variations in microcosm experiments from sites contaminated with chloromethanes under biostimulation with lactic acid

The objective of our research is to identify the sequence of degradation processes leading to microbial speciation of microorganisms involved in degradation of CT and CF under natural attenuation and lactic acid biostimulation conditions. To this end, a comparative study of two types of microcosm experiments was carried out to analyze two scenarios: natural attenuation and lactic acid biostimulation. Experiments were carried out with water and sediment from a field site located at a petrochemical complex whose hydrochemical background inhibited the natural attenuation of carbon tetrachloride and chloroform. A significant result of our work was that these experiments allowed us to identify the CT abiotic degradation processes, among which the abiotic degradation induced by the biogenic activity of Dechlorosoma suillum should be noted. Although this is an abiotic degradation, the metabolism of this microorganism generates green rust precipitates, which in turn favor the abiotic reductive dechlorination of CT. Other relevant result was the identification of the biotic reductive dechlorination of CF by a bacterium of the Clostridiales order. This result presented the particularity that an apparent absence of isotopic fractionation was observed because a mixture of chloroform of different origins was produced. Our research showed that these processes were more efficient, in terms of faster degradation rates, when biostimulation with lactic acid was carried out. This biostimulation could therefore be an efficient remediation strategy at sites contaminated by chloromethanes, especially in cases where a complex pollution history results in a rich hydrochemical background that makes it difficult natural attenuation

Algoritmo Evolutivo Multi-Objectivo para la Toma de Decisiones Interactiva en Optimización Dinámica

Debido al creciente interés en el análisis de datos en streaming en entornos Big Data para la toma de decisiones, cada vez es más común la aparición de problemas de optimización dinámica que involucran dos o más objetivos en conflicto. Sin embargo, los enfoques que combinan optimización dinámica multi-objetivo con la articulación de preferencias para la toma de decisiones son todavía escasos. En este artículo, proponemos un nuevo algoritmo de optimización dinámica multi-objetivo llamado InDM2, que permite incorporar preferencias del experto (humano) de cara a la toma de decisiones para guiar el proceso de búsqueda. Con InDM2, el decisor no solo puede expresar sus preferencias mediante uno o más puntos de referencia (que definen la la región de interés deseada), sino que estos puntos también se pueden modificar de manera interactiva. La propuesta incorpora métodos para mostrar gráficamente las diferentes aproximaciones de la región de interés obtenidas durante el proceso de optimización. El decisor puede así inspeccionar y cambiar, en tiempo de optimización, la región de interés de acuerdo con la información mostrada. Las principales características de InDM2 son descritas y se analiza su funcionamiento mediante casos de uso académicos.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Support effects on NiO-based catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane

[EN] We report on the effect of NiO-support interactions on the chemical nature of Ni species in a series of supported NiO catalysts for the ODH of ethane. SiO2, TiO2-anatase, a high surface area TiO2 and a porous clay hetero-structure (PCH) with TiO2 and SiO2 pillars were used as supports, which led to a selectivity to ethylene in the range 30-90% over supported NiO catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by means of XRD, N-2-Adsorption, H-2-TPR, XPS and in situ (under H-2 reductive atmosphere) and ex situ XAS spectroscopy. The catalytic performance of supported materials is discussed in terms of their reducibility and specific reduction kinetics, but also taking into account the specific chemical nature of Ni species on each catalyst. The influence of the particle size and the presence of Ni and O vacancies on the catalytic performance in the ODH of ethane is inferred.Authors would like to thank the DGICYT in Spain CTQ2015-68951-C3-1-R, CTQ2015-68951-C3-3-R, CTQ2012-37925-C03-2 and ENE2017-88818-C2-1-R. Also authors want to acknowledge the ALBA Synchrotron Light Source (Project ID: 2015021258 at CLAESS beamline). Authors from ITQ thank Project SEV-2016-0683 for financial support. D. D. also thanks MINECO and Severo Ochoa Excellence Program for his fellowship (SVP-2014-068669). Authors from UV thank the University of Valencia (UV-INV-AE16-484416 project) and MINECO (MAT2017-84118-C2-1-R project) for funding.Delgado-Muñoz, D.; Sanchís, R.; Cecilia, JA.; Rodríguez-Castellón, E.; Caballero, A.; Solsona, B.; López Nieto, JM. (2019). Support effects on NiO-based catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane. Catalysis Today. 333:10-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2018.07.010S101633

NiO diluted in high surface area TiO2 as efficient catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane

[EN] Catalysts consisting of NiO diluted in high surface area TiO2 can be as efficient in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane as the most selective NiO-promoted catalysts reported previously in the literature. By selecting the titania matrix and the NiO loading, yields to ethylene over 40% have been obtained. In the present article, three different titanium oxides (TiO2) have been employed as supports or diluters of nickel oxide and have been tested in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene. All TiO2 used present anatase as the main crystalline phase and different surface areas of 11,55 and 85 m(2) g(-1). It has been observed that by selecting an appropriate nickel loading and the titanium oxide extremely high selectivity towards ethylene can be obtained. Thus, nickel oxide supported on TiO2 with high surface areas (i.e. 55 and 85 m(2) g(-1)) have resulted to give the best catalytic performance although the optimal nickel loading is different for each case. The optimal catalyst has been obtained for NiO-loadings up to 5-10 theoretical monolayers regardless of the TiO2 employed. Free TiO2 is inactive whereas unsupported NiO is active and unselective (forming mainly carbon dioxide) and, therefore, unmodified NiO particles have to be avoided in order to obtain the optimal catalytic performance. The use of low surface area titania (11 m(2) g(-1)) have led to the lowest selectivity to olefin due to the presence of an excess of free NiO particles. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The authors would like to acknowledge the DGICYT in Spain CTQ2012-37925-C03-2, CTQ2015-68951-C3-1-R, CTQ2015-68951-C3-3-R and SEV-2012-0267 Projects for financial support. D.D. also thanks Severo Ochoa Excellence fellowship (SVP-2014-068669). We also thank the University of Valencia (UV-INV-AE-16-484416 project) and SCSIE-UV for assistanceSanchis, R.; Delgado-Muñoz, D.; Agouram, S.; Soriano Rodríguez, MD.; Vázquez, MI.; Rodriguez-Castellon, E.; Solsona, B.... (2017). NiO diluted in high surface area TiO2 as efficient catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane. Applied Catalysis A General. 536:18-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2017.02.012S182653

Synthesis, antioxidant properties and neuroprotection of α-phenyl-tert-butylnitrone derived HomoBisNitrones in in vitro and in vivo ischemia models

We herein report the synthesis, antioxidant power and neuroprotective properties of nine homo-bis-nitrones HBNs1–9 as alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) analogues for stroke therapy. In vitro neuroprotection studies of HBNs1–9 against Oligomycin A/Rotenone and in an oxygen-glucose-deprivation model of ischemia in human neuroblastoma cell cultures, indicate that (1Z,1′Z)-1,1′-(1,3-phenylene)bis(N-benzylmethanimine oxide) (HBN6) is a potent neuroprotective agent that prevents the decrease in neuronal metabolic activity (EC = 1.24 ± 0.39 μM) as well as necrotic and apoptotic cell death. HBN6 shows strong hydroxyl radical scavenger power (81%), and capacity to decrease superoxide production in human neuroblastoma cell cultures (maximal activity = 95.8 ± 3.6%), values significantly superior to the neuroprotective and antioxidant properties of the parent PBN. The higher neuroprotective ability of HBN6 has been rationalized by means of Density Functional Theory calculations. Calculated physicochemical and ADME properties confirmed HBN6 as a hit-agent showing suitable drug-like properties. Finally, the contribution of HBN6 to brain damage prevention was confirmed in a permanent MCAO setting by assessing infarct volume outcome 48 h after stroke in drug administered experimental animals, which provides evidence of a significant reduction of the brain lesion size and strongly suggests that HBN6 is a potential neuroprotective agent against stroke.We would like to thank Soledad Martinez Montero for the excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2015-65586-R to JMC; CTQ2016- 78205-P and CTQ2016-81797-REDC to IF, and NEUROCENTRO-CM S2017/BMD3760 to RMM and DNG), and Camilo José Cela University (UCJC-2018-04) to MJOG. DDI thanks the University of Alcalá and Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for pre-doctoral FPU grants. BCG thanks the Spanish Ministr

Preclinical Characterization of Antioxidant Quinolyl Nitrone QN23 as a New Candidate for the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke

Nitrones are encouraging drug candidates for the treatment of oxidative stress-driven diseases such as acute ischemic stroke (AIS). In a previous study, we found a promising quinolylnitrone, QN23, which exerted a neuroprotective effect in neuronal cell cultures subjected to oxygen–glucose deprivation and in experimental models of cerebral ischemia. In this paper, we update the biological and pharmacological characterization of QN23. We describe the suitability of intravenous administration of QN23 to induce neuroprotection in transitory four-vessel occlusion (4VO) and middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) experimental models of brain ischemia by assessing neuronal death, apoptosis induction, and infarct area, as well as neurofunctional outcomes. QN23 significantly decreased the neuronal death and apoptosis induced by the ischemic episode in a dose-dependent manner and showed a therapeutic effect when administered up to 3 h after post-ischemic reperfusion onset, effects that remained 11 weeks after the ischemic episode. In addition, QN23 significantly reduced infarct volume, thus recovering the motor function in a tMCAO model. Remarkably, we assessed the antioxidant activity of QN23 in vivo using dihydroethidium as a molecular probe for radical species. Finally, we describe QN23 pharmacokinetic parameters. All these results pointing to QN23 as an interesting and promising preclinical candidate for the treatment of AIS.This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-financed by the European Development Regional Fund (FEDER) through grants PI18/00255, RD16/0019/0006, and RD21/0006/0019 to J.M. and A.A., and RD16/0019/0008 and RD21/0006/0014 to J.B.S.; the MINECO grant SAF2015-65586-R to J.M.-C.; and the Comunidad de Madrid Neurocentro project B2017/BMD-3760 to D.G.-N

Verdad, objetividad y neutralidad: ¿ilusiones del conocimiento científico?

El ensayo aborda la postura de las epistemologías críticas surgidas a mediados del siglo pasado respecto a las características del conocimiento científico consideradas cruciales por el positivismo y el neopositivismo: la verdad, la objetividad y la neutralidad de la ciencia.El ensayo aborda la postura de las epistemologías críticas surgidas a mediados del siglo pasado respecto a las características del conocimiento científico consideradas cruciales por el positivismo y el neopositivismo: la verdad, la objetividad y la neutralidad de la ciencia

Circulating MIR148A associates with sensitivity to adiponectin levels in human metabolic surgery for weight loss

Objective: We sought to discover secreted biomarkers to monitor the recovery of physiological adiponectin levels with metabolic surgery, focusing on epigenetic changes that might predict adiponectin function. Design: We conducted a prospective observational study of patients undergoing metabolic surgery by Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) for weight loss in a single center (IRB GHS # 1207-27). Methods: All patients (n = 33; 27 females; 6 males) signed informed consent. Metabolites, adiponectin and MIR148A were measured in fasting plasma. We followed MIQE for transcript profiles. Results: Patients lost on average 47 ± 12% excess BMI (%EBMI) after 12 weeks. Adiponectin pre, post or delta (post minus pre) did not correlate with %EBMIL. A decrease in adiponectin following weight loss surgery was observed in a subset of patients, chi-square test of independence rejects the null hypotheses that the liver DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and delta adiponectin are independent (chi-square statistics χ2 = 6.9205, P = 0.00852, n = 33), as well as MIR148A and delta adiponectin are independent (chi-square statistics χ2 = 9.6823, P = 0.00186, n = 33). The presence of plasma MIR148A allows identification of patients that appear to be adiponectin insensitive at baseline. Conclusion: We combined the presence of plasma MIR148A, the concentration of total adiponectin and the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in liver biopsy tissue to identify patients with non-physiological adiponectin. Weight loss and physical activity interventions complemented with the new method presented here could serve to monitor the physiological levels of adiponectin, thought to be important for long-term weight loss maintenance