Identificación de subpoblaciones en relación a las trayectorias de vuelo del Larus Audouinii

La gaviota de Audouin (Larus audouinii) es un ave marina que se encuentra en estado vulnerable debido a una rápida disminución de su población. Estudios anteriores revelaron que la población de la colonia del delta del Ebro ha sabido adaptar su comportamiento a la actividad pesquera, aunque es posible que esta adaptación haya ocurrido de forma desigual en los individuos de la colonia. En este trabajo se analizan los datos de las trayectorias de 36 gaviotas de Audouin de la colonia del delta del Ebro, 38090 localizaciones espaciotemporales recogidas con dispositivos GPS, con el objetivo de evaluar la posible existencia de subpoblaciones de gaviotas. Primero, se desarrolla e implementa un algoritmo eficiente para el cálculo de la distancia de Hausdorff mediante el software R, logrando reducir notablemente el tiempo computacional de la operación. Luego, se lleva a cabo un análisis clúster segregando las trayectorias por los diferentes momentos de la actividad pesquera (presencia diurna, presencia nocturna y ausencia de pesca) con los que se consigue identificar gaviotas con comportamientos extremos y se confirma la necesidad de la segregación

El modelo de regresión log-binomial: una alternativa al modelo de regresión logística en estudios de cohortes y transversales.

Treballs Finals de Grau en Estadística UB-UPC, Facultat d'Economia i Empresa (UB) i Facultat de Matemàtiques i Estadística (UPC), Curs: 2018-2019, Tutor: Klaus Langohr(cast) El modelo de regresión logística es probablemente el modelo de regresión más utilizado en epidemiolog ía. Está implementado en todos los grandes paquetes estadísticos (R, SAS, Stata, SPSS) y provee una estimación del odds ratio asociado a una variable de interés y, de esta manera, una aproximación del riesgo relativo. No obstante, la estimación del riesgo relativo mediante el odds ratio puede ser errónea y es deseable estimar el riesgo relativo directamente. Tal estimación es posible si se utiliza el modelo de regresión log-binomial, que es una alternativa al modelo de regresión logística en caso de estudios de cohorte y transversales. En este trabajo se presenta con detalle el modelo log-binomial incluyendo, entre otros aspectos, la estimación de parámetros, la implementación en el software R y su interpretación. Además, al producirse en muchas ocasiones problemas de convergencia y la consecuente imposibilidad de obtener la estimación de los parámetros del modelo, se presentan diversos métodos para solucionar estas situaciones. Por último, se ilustraría el uso del modelo de regresión log-binomial a partir de los datos de un estudio sobre la depresión posparto mediante varias funciones de R, comparando y definiendo los beneficios y limitaciones de cada una.(eng) The logistic regression model is probably the most used regression model in epidemiology. It is implemented in most of the commonly used statistical softwares (R, SAS, Stata, SPSS) and provides an estimation of the odds ratio associated to a variable of interest and, consequently, an approximation of the relative risk. However, the estimation of the relative risk through the odds ratio can be erroneous and it is desirable to estimate the relative risk directly. Such an estimate is possible, if the log-binomial regression model is used, which is an alternative to the logistic regression model in the case of cohort and cross-sectional studies. In this paper, we present in detail the log-binomial model including, among other aspects, the parameter estimation, the implementation in the R software, and its interpretation. In addition, as convergence problems and the consequent impossibility of obtaining the estimation of the parameters of the model frequently occur, several methods to solve these situations are presented. Finally, we will illustrate the use of the log-binomial regression model with the data of a postpartum depression survey by means of several R functions, comparing and defining the advantages and limitations of each one

Thermo-acoustic performance of green roof substrates in dynamic hygrothermal conditions

Green roofs can be considered as effective and esthetically appreciated passive tools for energy saving systems in buildings. In particular, the effect of evapotranspiration and the large thermal inertia of such solutions, represent highly attractive properties to be implemented in advanced building envelope components. Although these properties are deeply influenced by external factors such as weather conditions, and greenery dynamics, the materials used in substrate and drainage layers are too commonly assumed as constant thermal insulation layers depending only on their physical properties and water content. In particular, common disaggregated materials used in internal layers of extensive green roofs, generally are characterized by a highly complex matrix, and consequently, such materials usually lack of realistic thermal-acoustic properties evaluation. The main objective of the study is to investigate the impact of water content on the thermo-acoustic performance of different disaggregated materials from green roofs substrates commonly used in Mediterranean climates. In particular, the TPS method was used to assess the effect of humidification and raining processes on the final performance of the considered samples. An extensive acoustic characterization was also developed, based on the acoustic transfer function method. Results show that raining processes can highly influence the thermal performance of such materials, which depending on their density, can even triple their thermal conductivity value and achieve twice the volumetric specific heat at ambient conditions. Furthermore, the acoustic characterization procedure showed that the biggest modification on the final acoustic absorption and insulation capability, i.e. about 20 dB when the 80 mm samples, was produced by increasing the water content of the system from 10% to 30% RH. On the contrary, the conditioning at 90% RH does not produce significant differences of the final acoustic behavior of the substrates. Keywords: green roofs, substrates, dynamicAcknowledgments are due to the “CIRIAF program for UNESCO” in the framework of the UNESCO Chair “Water Resources Management and Culture”. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 657466 (INPATH-TES). The work is also partially funded by COOL CRETE Project, under the framework of Call L. 598/94 Art. 11 – Industrial research and experimental development (Energy sector) supported by Luigi Metelli S.p.A., and by the Spanish governmentENE2015-64117-C5-1-R (MINECO/FEDER) in collaboration with the company Buresinnova S.A (Mercabarna Flor - Local n. 412 Ctra. Antiga de València, 1. 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat. www.buresinnova.com). The authors would like to thank the Catalan Government for the quality accreditation given to their research group (2017 SGR 1537). GREA is certified agent TECNIO in the category of technology developers from the Government of Catalonia. Julià Coma would like to thank Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad de España for Grant Juan de la Cierva, FJCI-2016-30345

La percepción subjetiva de la crisis: una aproximación alternativa a procesos de empobrecimiento y amenaza de desclasamiento

Muchos son los trabajos que han rastreado los efectos socioeconómicos de la crisis, apoyándose en indicadores objetivos de renta, gasto o situación laboral. En este artículo se explora cómo ha afectado la crisis a estados subjetivos de las personas en función de su ubicación objetiva en esquemas de clase. Con este fin, se examinan evolutivamente indicadores extraídos de distintas encuestas realizadas en España durante ese período

Peptide-Grafted Nontoxic Cyclodextrins and Nanoparticles against Bacteriophage Infections

One of the biggest threats for bacteria-based bioreactors in the biotechnology industry is infections caused by bacterial viruses called bacteriophages. More than 70% of companies admitted to encountering this problem. Despite phage infections being such a dangerous and widespread risk, to date, there are no effective methods to avoid them. Here we present a peptide-grafted compounds that irreversibly deactivate bacteriophages and remain safe for bacteria and mammalian cells. The active compounds consist of a core (cyclodextrin or gold nanoparticle) coated with a hydrophobic chain terminated with a peptide selective for bacteriophages. Such peptides were selected via a phage display technique. This approach enables irreversible deactivation of the wide range of T-like phages (including the most dangerous in phage infections, phage T1) at 37 degrees C in 1 h. We show that our compounds can be used directly inside the environment of the bioreactor, but they are also a safe additive to stocks of antibiotics and expression inducers (such as isopropyl beta-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside, i.e., IPTG) that cannot be autoclaved and are a common source of phage infections

Switching from a protease inhibitor-based regimen to a dolutegravir-based regimen : a randomized clinical trial to determine the effect on peripheral blood and ileum biopsies from antiretroviral therapy-suppressed human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals

Background: Optimization of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) can impact the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir. We evaluated the effect on the HIV reservoir in peripheral blood and ileum biopsies in patients switching from boosted protease inhibitor (PI/r)-based therapy to dolutegravir (DTG)-based therapy. Methods: Impact of Integrase-inhibitor DOlutegravir On the viral Reservoir (INDOOR) is a phase 4 open-label clinical trial that randomly included 42 HIV type 1-infected individuals on effective cART: 20 who switched from PI/r-based to DTG-based cART (switch group), and 22 who remained in PI/r-based regimens (control group). We analyzed blood and ileum biopsies to quantify episomal, total, and integrated HIV DNA, cell-associated HIV RNA, residual plasma viremia, T-cell subsets, cell activation, and inflammation markers. Results: There were no related adverse events or treatment discontinuations due to drug intolerance. The HIV reservoir was consistently larger in ileal than in peripheral CD4(+) T cells in both groups (P <.01). Residual viremia in plasma decreased in the switch group (P =.03). However, we did not observe significant longitudinal changes in low-level viral replication, total and integrated HIV reservoir, HIV transcription, T-cell maturation subsets, immunoactivation markers, inflammatory soluble proteins, or cellular markers of latently infected cells. Conclusions: The INDOOR study is the first evaluation of changes in HIV reservoir size in ileum biopsies and in peripheral blood in individuals switched from PI/r- to DTG-based cART. Although this switch was safe and well tolerated, it had no impact on a large array of immunological and inflammatory markers or on HIV reservoir markers in peripheral or in ileal CD4(+) T cells

A coumarin based gold(I)-alkynyl complex: a new Q1 class of supramolecular hydrogelators

A phosphine-gold(I)-alkynyl-coumarin complex, [Au{7-(prop-2-ine-1-yloxy)-1-benzopyran-2-one}-(DAPTA)] (1), was synthesized and the formation of long luminescent fibers in solution was characterized via fluorescence microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The fibers presented strong blue and green luminescence, suggesting that the gold(I) in the complex increased intersystem crossing due to the heavy atom effect, resulting in a significant increase in triplet emission. The X-ray structure of the fibers indicates that both aurophilic, π-π interactions and hydrogen bonding contribute to their formation in aqueous solvents

Writing Sociology at University

User guide to written communication in academic disciplines (in this case sociology) for teachers and students

Metabolomics of Therapy Response in Preclinical Glioblastoma : a Multi-Slice MRSI-Based Volumetric Analysis for Noninvasive Assessment of Temozolomide Treatment

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, with a short survival time even after aggressive therapy. Non-invasive surrogate biomarkers of therapy response may be relevant for improving patient survival. Previous work produced such biomarkers in preclinical GBM using semi-supervised source extraction and single-slice Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI). Nevertheless, GBMs are heterogeneous and single-slice studies could prevent obtaining relevant information. The purpose of this work was to evaluate whether a multi-slice MRSI approach, acquiring consecutive grids across the tumor, is feasible for preclinical models and may produce additional insight into therapy response. Nosological images were analyzed pixel-by-pixel and a relative responding volume, the Tumor Responding Index (TRI), was defined to quantify response. Heterogeneous response levels were observed and treated animals were ascribed to three arbitrary predefined groups: high response (HR, n = 2), TRI = 68.2 ± 2.8%, intermediate response (IR, n = 6), TRI = 41.1 ± 4.2% and low response (LR, n = 2), TRI = 13.4 ± 14.3%, producing therapy response categorization which had not been fully registered in single-slice studies. Results agreed with the multi-slice approach being feasible and producing an inverse correlation between TRI and Ki67 immunostaining. Additionally, ca. 7-day oscillations of TRI were observed, suggesting that host immune system activation in response to treatment could contribute to the responding patterns detected

Generation and characterization of a defective HIV-1 Virus as an immunogen for a therapeutic vaccine

Background The generation of new immunogens able to elicit strong specific immune responses remains a major challenge in the attempts to obtain a prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine against HIV/AIDS. We designed and constructed a defective recombinant virus based on the HIV-1 genome generating infective but non-replicative virions able to elicit broad and strong cellular immune responses in HIV-1 seropositive individuals. Results Viral particles were generated through transient transfection in producer cells (293-T) of a full length HIV-1 DNA carrying a deletion of 892 base pairs (bp) in the pol gene encompassing the sequence that codes for the reverse transcriptase (NL4-3/ΔRT clone). The viral particles generated were able to enter target cells, but due to the absence of reverse transcriptase no replication was detected. The immunogenic capacity of these particles was assessed by ELISPOT to determine γ-interferon production in a cohort of 69 chronic asymptomatic HIV-1 seropositive individuals. Surprisingly, defective particles produced from NL4-3/ΔRT triggered stronger cellular responses than wild-type HIV-1 viruses inactivated with Aldrithiol-2 (AT-2) and in a larger proportion of individuals (55% versus 23% seropositive individuals tested). Electron microscopy showed that NL4-3/ΔRT virions display immature morphology. Interestingly, wild-type viruses treated with Amprenavir (APV) to induce defective core maturation also induced stronger responses than the same viral particles generated in the absence of protease inhibitors. Conclusions We propose that immature HIV-1 virions generated from NL4-3/ΔRT viral clones may represent new prototypes of immunogens with a safer profile and stronger capacity to induce cellular immune responses than wild-type inactivated viral particles