Spatial matching of M configurations of points with a bioinformatics application

In this paper, we present a model to deal with the problem of matching M objects or configurations of points. This is a generalization of the model proposed by Green and Mardia (2006). We consider, as a direct and simple application, the case of three configurations with labelled and with unlabelled points. In both cases, we consider data from a microarray experiment of gorilla, bonobo and human cultured fibroblasts published by Karaman et al. (2003). We find out the matchings and the best affine transformation between the projections of genes in a two dimensional space, obtained by a Multidimensional Scaling technique.

Acute-Stress Biomarkers in Three Octopodidae Species After Bottom Trawling

Several Octopodidae species have a great potential for the diversification of worldwide aquaculture. Unfortunately, the lack of stress-related biomarkers in this taxon results an obstacle for its maintenance in conditions where animal welfare is of paramount relevance. In this study, we made a first approach to uncover physiological responses related to fishing capture in Eledone moschata, Eledone cirrhosa, and Octopus vulgaris. Captured octopus from all three species were individually maintained in an aquaculture system onboard of oceanographic vessel in south-western waters of Europe. Haemolymph plasma and muscle were collected in animals at the moment of capture, and recovery was evaluated along a time-course of 48 h in Eledone spp., and 24 h for O. vulgaris. Survival rates of these species captured in spring and autumn were evaluated. Physiological parameters such as plasma pH, total CO2, peroxidase activity, lysozyme, hemocyanin, proteases, pro-phenoloxidase, anti-proteases, free amino acids, lactate and glucose levels, as well as muscle water percentage, free amino acids, lactate, glycogen and glucose values were analyzed. The immune system appears to be compromised in these species due to capture processes, while energy metabolites were mobilized to face the acute-stress situation, but recovery of all described parameters occurs within the first 24 h after capture. Moreover, this situation exerts hydric balance changes, as observed in the muscle water, being these responses depending on the species assessed. In conclusion, three Octopodidae species from south-western waters of Europe have been evaluated for stress-related biomarkers resulting in differentiated mechanisms between species. This study may pave the way to further study the physiology of stress in adult octopuses and develop new methodologies for their growth in aquaculture conditions

Sistemas de producción de musáceas en Perú

Este documento se elaboró como parte de las actividades del proyecto “Fortaleciendo conocimientos, capacidad de diagnóstico y buenas prácticas frente a la amenaza de Fusarium y otros problemas fitosanitarios para las familias productoras de plátanos del Perú”, implementado por la Alianza de Bioversity International y el CIAT, el Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), el Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agraria (SENASA) y la Secretaría Técnica de CGIAR en Perú. Está orientado a productores, estudiantes, técnicos y profesionales del rubro musáceas, que buscan ampliar sus conocimientos y fortalecer sus capacidades técnicas para mejorar la toma de decisiones en los sistemas productivos de estos cultivos

Degradacion de naranja de metilo en un nuevo fotorreactor solar de placa plana con superficie corrugada

Se estudió la degradación de naranja de metilo NM por fotocatálisis heterogénea utilizando dióxido de titanio Degussa P-25 y radiación solar en un fotorreactor de placas corrugadas; las variables estudiadas fueron la concentración inicial de NM, la cantidad de TiO2 y la disposición del catalizador. La degradación de NM alcanzó valores de 99 por ciento y siguió una cinética ajustada al modelo de Langmuir – Hinshelwood siguiendo un aparente primer orden de reacción respecto al NM y un aumento en la constante de velocidad al aumentar la cantidad de catalizador suspendido en el sistema y disminuir la concentración inicial del NM

Degradacion de naranja de metilo en un nuevo fotorreactor solar de placa plana con superficie corrugada

Se estudió la degradación de naranja de metilo NM por fotocatálisis heterogénea utilizando dióxido de titanio Degussa P-25 y radiación solar en un fotorreactor de placas corrugadas; las variables estudiadas fueron la concentración inicial de NM, la cantidad de TiO2 y la disposición del catalizador. La degradación de NM alcanzó valores de 99 por ciento y siguió una cinética ajustada al modelo de Langmuir – Hinshelwood siguiendo un aparente primer orden de reacción respecto al NM y un aumento en la constante de velocidad al aumentar la cantidad de catalizador suspendido en el sistema y disminuir la concentración inicial del NM

Resting-state functional connectivity and socioemotional processes in male perpetrators of intimate partner violence against women

Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is a serious and overwhelming public concern. Neuroimaging techniques have provided insights into the brain mechanisms underlying IPVAW perpetration. The purpose of this study is to examine the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) involving the process of social decision-making of male perpetrators. Twenty-six male perpetrators convicted for an IPVAW crime were compared to 29 men convicted for crimes other than IPVAW (other offenders) and 29 men with no criminal records (non-offenders) using a seed-based approach. Seeds were located in areas involved in reflective (prefrontal), impulsive (amygdala and striatum) and interoceptive (insula) processing. Then, as an exploratory analysis, the connectivity networks on male perpetrators were correlated with measures of executive functions and socioemotional self-report measures. Male perpetrators in comparison to other offenders and non-offenders, presented higher rsFC between prefrontal, limbic, brainstem, temporal and basal ganglia areas. Also male perpetrators showed higher rsFC between insula, default mode network and basal ganglia, while lower rsFC was found between prefrontal and motor areas and between amygdala, occipital and parietal areas. Exploratory correlations suggest that the specific rsFC in male perpetrators might be more related to socioemotional processes than to executive functions. These results showed that male perpetrators present a specific rsFC in brain systems that are essential for an adaptive social decision-making

Repetibilidade e variabilidade de medições de produção de metano e dióxido de carbono em bovinos alojados em câmaras de respiração de circuito aberto

Las pruebas de recuperación de gases son necesarias cuando se emplea la técnica de cámara de respiración para medir los gases de efecto invernadero exhalados por animales domésticos. Se obtuvo un conjunto de datos de 98 mediciones individuales de producción de metano y dióxidos de carbono de ganado alojado en dos cámaras de respiración para evaluar la recolección y repetibilidad de las mediciones realizadas. Se realizó un análisis de varianza para evaluar si existían diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre cámaras y entre animales. Los resultados mostraron las ocurrencias de variaciones en la produccion de metano entre las camaras.Estas variaciones pueden deberse muy probablemente a la fuga de aire de las cámaras oa las incertidumbres en los conductos de muestra de aire y las mediciones de flujo.Se requieren experimentos de recuperación de gases cuando la técnica de cámaras de respiración es empleada para la medición de gases de efecto invernadero exhalados por los animales domésticos. Un juego de 98 mediciones de metano y dióxidos de carbono producidos por bovinos alojados en dos cámaras de respiración fueron para estimar la escasez y repetibilidad de las mediciones realizadas. Se realizó un análisis de varianza de los datos para evaluar si existían diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las cámaras y entre los animales. Los resultados mostraron las ocurrencias de variaciones en la medicion de metano entre las camaras.Estas variaciones pueden deberse probablemente a fugas de aire de las cámaras oa la incertidumbre en el ducto de prueba de aire o en la medición del flujo de aire.Experimentos de recuperação de gases são necessários quando a técnica da câmara de respiração é used to mid gases of efeito estufa exalados by animais domestics. Um conjunto de 98 medições de metano y dióxido de carbono producido por bovinos alojados em duas câmaras de respiração foi used to estimar a consumere e repetibilidad das medições used. Uma análise de variância dos dados foi realizado para avaliar se havia diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre as câmaras e entre os animais. Os resultados muestran una ocorrência de variações na medição de metano entre as câmaras. Essas variações são provavelmente devido a vazamentos de ar das câmaras ou incerteza no duto de amostragem de ar ou na medição do fluxo de ar

Pyridazino-pyrrolo-quinoxalinium salts as highly potent and selective leishmanicidal agents targeting trypanothione reductase

Fifteen pyridazino-pyrrolo-quinoxalinium salts were synthesized and tested for their antiprotozoal activity against Leishmania infantum amastigotes. Eleven of them turned out to be leishmanicidal, with EC50 values in the nanomolar range, and displayed low toxicity against the human THP-1 cell line. Selectivity indices for these compounds range from 10 to more than 1000. Compounds 3b and 3f behave as potent inhibitors of the oxidoreductase activity of the essential enzyme trypanothione disulfide reductase (TryR). Interestingly, binding of 3f is not affected by high trypanothione concentrations, as revealed by the noncompetitive pattern of inhibition observed when tested in the presence of increasing concentrations of this substrate. Furthermore, when analyzed at varying NADPH concentrations, the characteristic pattern of hyperbolic uncompetitive inhibition supports the view that binding of NADPH to TryR is a prerequisite for inhibitor-protein association. Similar to other TryR uncompetitive inhibitors for NADPH, 3f is responsible for TryR-dependent reduction of cytochrome c in a reaction that is typically inhibited by superoxide dismutase.Comunidad de MadridMinisterio de Economía y CompetitividadMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidade

(Pre)treatment risk factors for late fatigue and fatigue trajectories following radiotherapy for breast cancer

Breast cancer; Fatigue; RadiotherapyCáncer de mama; Fatiga; RadioterapiaCàncer de mama; Fatiga; RadioteràpiaFatigue is common in breast-cancer survivors. Our study assessed fatigue longitudinally in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) and aimed to identify risk factors associated with long-term fatigue and underlying fatigue trajectories. Fatigue was measured in a prospective multicenter cohort (REQUITE) using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) and analyzed using mixed models. Multivariable logistic models identified factors associated with fatigue dimensions at 2 years post-RT and latent class growth analysis identified individual fatigue trajectories. A total of 1443, 1302, 1203 and 1098 patients completed the MFI-20 at baseline, end of RT, after 1 and 2 years. Overall, levels of fatigue significantly increased from baseline to end of RT for all fatigue dimensions (P < .05) and returned to baseline levels after 2 years. A quarter of patients were assigned to latent trajectory high (23.7%) and moderate (24.8%) fatigue classes, while 46.3% and 5.2% to the low and decreasing fatigue classes, respectively. Factors associated with multiple fatigue dimensions at 2 years include age, BMI, global health status, insomnia, pain, dyspnea and depression. Fatigue present at baseline was consistently associated with all five MFI-20 fatigue dimensions (ORGeneralFatigue = 3.81, P < .001). From latent trajectory analysis, patients with a combination of factors such as pain, insomnia, depression, younger age and endocrine therapy had a particularly high risk of developing early and persistent high fatigue years after treatment. Our results confirmed the multidimensional nature of fatigue and will help clinicians identify breast cancer patients at higher risk of having persistent/late fatigue so that tailored interventions can be delivered.We thank all patients who participated in the REQUITE study and all the REQUITE staff involved in this project. Belgium: Ghent University Hospital; KU Leuven. France: ICM Montpellier, CHU Nîmes (Department of Radiation Oncology, CHU Nîmes, Nîmes, France). Germany: Zentrum für Strahlentherapie Freiburg (Dr. Petra Stegmaier); Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe (Dr. Bernhard Neu); ViDia Christliche Kliniken Karlsruhe (Prof. Johannes Claßen); Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen GmbH (PD Dr. Thomas Schnabel); Universitätsklinikum Mannheim: Anette Kipke and Christiane Zimmermann; Strahlentherapie Speyer (Dr. Jörg Schäfer). The researchers at DKFZ also thank Anusha Müller, Irmgard Helmbold, Thomas Heger, Sabine Behrens, Axel Benner, Nicholas Schreck. Petra Seibold is supported by ERA PerMed 2018 funding (BMBF #01KU1912) and BfS funding (#3619S42261). Italy: Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano; Candiolo Cancer Institute – FPO, IRCCS. Tiziana Rancati was partially funded by Fondazione Italo Monzino. The Netherlands: Sylvie Canisius at Maastro Clinics, Maastricht. Spain: Barcelona: Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus; VHIO acknowledge the Cellex Foundation for providing research facilities and thank CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support. Sara Gutiérrez-Enríquez is supported by ERAPerMed JTC2018 funding (ERAPERMED2018-244 and SLT011/18/00005). Santiago: Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago. Ana Vega: supported by Spanish Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) funding, an initiative of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Innovation partially supported by European Regional Development FEDER Funds (PI22/00589, PI19/01424; INT20/00071); the ERAPerMed JTC2018 funding (AC18/00117); the Autonomous Government of Galicia (Consolidation and structuring program: IN607B), by the Fundación Mutua Madrileña (call 2018) and by the AECC (PRYES211091VEGA); UK: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust; Theresa Beaver, Kaitlin Walker and Sara Barrows. Dr Tim Rattay was funded by a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Lectureship (CL 2017-11-002) and is currently supported by the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre. He was previously funded by a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Doctoral Research Fellowship (DRF 2014-07-079). This publication presents independent research funded by the NIHR. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. Manchester: Catharine West and Rebecca Elliott are supported by NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre and Catharine West is supported by Cancer Research UK (C1094/A18504, C147/A25254). USA: Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL

Twenty-year follow-up of kangaroo mother care versus traditional care

Q1Q1e20162063BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is a multifaceted intervention for preterm and low birth weight infants and their parents. Short- and mid-term benefits of KMC on survival, neurodevelopment, breastfeeding, and the quality of mother–infant bonding were documented in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Colombia from 1993 to 1996. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the persistence of these results in young adulthood. METHODS: From 2012 to 2014, a total of 494 (69%) of the 716 participants of the original RCT known to be alive were identified; 441 (62% of the participants in the original RCT) were re-enrolled, and results for the 264 participants weighing ≤1800 g at birth were analyzed. The KMC and control groups were compared for health status and neurologic, cognitive, and social functioning with the use of neuroimaging, neurophysiological, and behavioral tests. RESULTS: The effects of KMC at 1 year on IQ and home environment were still present 20 years later in the most fragile individuals, and KMC parents were more protective and nurturing, reflected by reduced school absenteeism and reduced hyperactivity, aggressiveness, externalization, and socio-deviant conduct of young adults. Neuroimaging showed larger volume of the left caudate nucleus in the KMC group. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that KMC had significant, long-lasting social and behavioral protective effects 20 years after the intervention. Coverage with this efficient and scientifically based health care intervention should be extended to the 18 million infants born each year who are candidates for the method