Incidence and type of bicuspid aortic valve in two model species

Incidence and type of bicuspid aortic valve in two model species. MC Fernández 1,2, A López-García 1,2, MT Soto 1, AC Durán 1,2 and B Fernández 1,2. 1 Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga, Spain. 2 Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga (IBIMA), University of Málaga, Spain. Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most frequent human congenital cardiac malformation, with an incidence of 1–2% worldwide. Two morphological types exist: type A (incidence 0.75–1.25%) and type B (incidence 0.25–0.5%), each with a distinct aetiology and natural history. Currently, ten animal models of BAV have been described in two different rodent species: one spontaneous Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) model of BAV type A and nine mutant laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) models of BAV type B. It remains to be elucidated whether the mutations leading to BAV in these models are typespecific or whether there are inter-specific differences regarding the type of BAV that hamsters, mice and humans may develop. To solve this issue, we have characterized the incidence and types of BAVs in four inbred, two outbred and two hybrid lines of Syrian hamsters (n=4,340) and in three inbred, three outbred and one hybrid lines of laboratory mice (n=1,661) by means of stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, we have reviewed and calculated the incidence and type of BAVs in the published papers dealing with this anomaly in mice. Our results indicate that the Syrian hamster develops BAVs type A and B including a variety of morphologies comparable to those of humans, whereas the mouse develops only BAVs type B with a short spectrum of valve morphologies. Thus, inter-specific differences between human and mouse aortic valves must be taken into consideration when studying valve disease in murine models. This work was supported by P10-CTS-6068.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. P10-CTS-6068

Caracterización in-situ de la concentración de 1-hexeno con un láser Helio-Neón en la presencia de catalizador sólido

This study provides evidence that a helium-neon (He-Ne) laser operating in the Mid-infrared (MIR) at a wavelength of 3.39 μm can detect variations in 1-hexene concentration in the presence of a solid catalyst. The in-situ and online characterization of the concentration of 1-hexene, as an example of a hydrocarbon, is relevant to enhance the current understanding of the interaction between hydrodynamics and chemistry in different heterogeneous catalytic processes. We designed and built a laboratory-scale downer unit that enabled us to analyze heterogeneous catalytic reactions and provided optical access. The lab-scale reactor was 180-cm long, had an internal diameter of 1.3 cm, and was made of fused quartz to allow the passage of the laser beam. 1-hexene was carefully measured, vaporized, and fed into the reactor through two inlets located at an angle of 45 degrees from the vertical descendent flow and 70 cm below the input of a solid catalyst and a purge flow entraining N2. A system of five heaters, which can be moved in the vertical direction to allow the passage of the laser beam, guaranteed temperatures up to 823 K. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of the hydrodynamics of the system indicated that a uniform temperature profile in the reaction section was reached after the catalyst and the feed mixed. The estimated catalyst to oil ratio and time on stream in the experiments were, respectively, 0.4 to 1.3 and 2 s. After a correction for laser power drift, the experimental results showed a linear response of the fractional transmission to the 1-hexene concentration that was independent of temperature in the 373 K–673 K range. Even in the presence of a catalyst, the absorption of 1-hexene at the MIR frequency of the laser was high enough to enable the detection of 1-hexene since the fractional absorption of the absorbing path length in these experiments was close to zero (0.013 m) and the 1-hexene concentrations were higher than 1.254 × 10-5 mol/cm3. This result demonstrated the ability of the laser system to measure the concentration of 1-hexene in the presence of a catalyst and indicates that it can be used to better decouple hydrodynamics from kinetics in heterogeneous catalytic processes.Se presenta evidencia de que un láser de helio-neón (He-Ne), que opera en el infrarrojo medio (MIR) a una longitud de onda de 3.39 μm, puede detectar variaciones de la concentración de 1-hexeno en presencia de catalizador sólido. La caracterización in situ y en línea de la concentración de 1-hexeno, un ejemplo de hidrocarburo, es importante para mejorar el entendimiento de la interacción entre la química y la hidrodinámica en procesos de reacción heterogénea. En esta investigación, se diseñó y construyó una unidad downer a escala de laboratorio. El reactor tiene una longitud de 180 cm, un diámetro interno de 1.3 cm y fue fabricado en cuarzo fundido para permitir el paso del rayo láser. El 1-hexeno se dosificó, se vaporizó y se introdujo en el reactor a través de dos entradas ubicadas en un ángulo de 45 grados desde el flujo descendente vertical y 70 cm por debajo de la entrada de un catalizador (0.5 g / s) y un flujo de 0.55 lpm de purga de N2 de arrastre. Un sistema de cinco calentadores, que se puede desplazar en dirección vertical para permitir el paso del rayo láser, garantiza temperaturas de hasta 823 K. Simulaciones de dinámica de fluidos computacional (CFD) de la hidrodinámica del sistema muestra que se alcanza un perfil de temperatura uniforme en la sección de reacción luego de la mezcla del catalizador con la alimentación. La relación estimada de catalizador a aceite y el tiempo en la corriente en los experimentos fueron de 0.4 a 1.3 y 2 s, respectivamente. Después de la corrección de la variación de potencia del láser, los resultados experimentales mostraron una respuesta lineal de la transmisión fraccional con la concentración de 1-hexeno que era independiente de la temperatura en el rango de 373 K a 673 K. Incluso en presencia de catalizador, la absorción de 1-hexeno en la frecuencia del MIR del láser utilizado en los experimentos es lo suficientemente alta como para permitir la detección de 1-hexeno ya que la absorción fraccional es cercana a cero para la longitud del camino de absorción ( 0.013 m) de estos experimentos y concentraciones de 1-hexeno superiores a 1.254 × 10-5 mol/cm3. La configuración experimental permitió demostrar la capacidad del sistema láser para medir la concentración de 1-hexeno incluso en presencia de un catalizador. Esto indica que es posible su uso para distinguir mejor el efecto de la hidrodinámica de la cinética en procesos de catálisis heterogénea

Metagenomics and Diagnosis of Zoonotic Diseases

Zoonotic diseases represent a public health problem worldwide, since approximately 60% of human pathogens have a zoonotic origin. A variety of methodologies have been developed to diagnose zoonosis, including culture-dependent and immunological-based methods, which allow the identification of a huge range of pathogens. However, some of them are not detected easily with these approaches. Additionally, molecular tests have been developed, and they are designed to identify a single pathogen or mixtures of them. In this context, metagenomics comes as an alternative to get genome sequences of different microorganisms, which comprise a microbial community. Metagenomics have been used to characterize microbiomes and viromes, which are not cultivable under laboratory conditions. This methodology could be a powerful tool in the diagnosis of zoonotic diseases because it allows not only identification of genus and species, but also detection of some proteins in specific conditions on specific tissues, through structural and functional metagenomics, respectively

Boletín MOMENTO ECONÓMICO, año 3, núms. 38-39, Octubre-Noviembre de 2013.

A escasos días de cumplirse el primer año del retorno priista a la Presidencia de la República, el saldo es más que negativo en prácticamente todos los aspectos de la vida económica: crecimiento esperado sumamente mediocre, tendencias recesivas en la industria, en la actividad minera y de la construcción; en el comercio minorista se ahondó la caída de las ventas, aunque con una relativa mejoría durante el “Buen Fin” y la recuperación estacional que tendrá el próximo mes y reforma fiscal pro-cíclica, entre otros. Con la finalidad de presentar una reflexión detenida, al respecto, César Armando Salazar, investigador del IIEc, en el artículo “La economía mexicana en 2013 y perspectivas para 2014”, señala que el principal determinante del magro desempeño económico es, fundamentalmente, un mercado interno sumamente débil y que, en cuanto al que se espera para el próximo año, hay dos elementos que incidirán en el crecimiento: las condiciones financieras internacionales y el gasto público. Termina sugiriendo un conjunto de condiciones para evitar la continuidad de un crecimiento mediocre que sólo se acompaña de una gran concentración del ingreso y un débil mercado interno

Planteamiento y operación de los Grupos No Presenciales a nivel licenciatura en la División de CBI-A

1 archivo PDF (23 páginas)."Durante 2011 la División de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería de la UAMAzcapotzalco diversificó la oferta de Unidades de Enseñanza-Aprendizaje a nivel Licenciatura añadiendo formalmente y de manera sistemática a la modalidad de conducción presencial y el Sistema de Aprendizaje Individualizado, la modalidad no presencial. Esta decisión, que indudablemente representa un hito institucional, fue posible gracias a una gran inversión en hardware y software, así como a la recuperación y coordinación de múltiples experiencias en manejo de tecnologías de la información y uso de aulas virtuales, producto del esfuerzo relativamente aislado por parte de diversos profesores de la División. En total, durante el trimestre 11-O, en el que arrancó formalmente esta modalidad, se atendieron 2130 inscripciones en 8 UEA diferentes, con un índice de aprovechamiento promedio del 81%. Este artículo describe el proceso de planeación y desarrollo del proyecto, así como algunas observaciones y recomendaciones basadas en esta experiencia institucional.

Muscle Activity and Muscle Strength in Atypical Swallowing

Objective:   To characterize muscle activity and muscle strength in patients with atypical swallowing (AS; n = 88) and competent lips (CL) or incompetent lips (IL) versus a control group (Ctrl; n = 90) Methods and materials: an analytical case-control study was conducted using surface electromyography (sEMG) of the orbicularis oris, mentalis and masseter muscles. Compression forces of the orbicularis oris,  right  and left masseters muscle (Cfrmm, Cflmm)) , tongue tensile strength (Tts) via myoscan analysis and resistance of the orbicularis oris (Roo) via dynamometry were determined. Comparisons were made with the Mann-Whitney U test   under a 95% confidence interval. Results: The amplitude of the sEMG record of the orbicularis oris muscle, in maximal contraction, was lower (p<0.01) in the atypical swallowing group (596.40 ± 175.83) compared to controls (659.83 ± 203.79). The muscle strength studied in the experimental group was lower (p<0.01) than in controls (CFo: AS: 0.31 ± 0.13; Ctrl: 0.38 ± 0, 11; Cfrmm: AS: 0.40 ± 0.08; Ctrl: 0.50 ± 0.11; Cflmm: AS: 0.41 ± 0.08; Ctrl: 0.58 ± 0.59; Tts, AS: 0.52 ± 0.14, Ctrl: 0.65 ± 0.14, and Roo: AS: 2.47 ± 0.61; Ctrl: 2.73 ± 0.60). Patients with incompetent lips had a greater muscle activity of the orbicularis oris in swallowing (AS of IL: 197.01 ± 85.84; AS of CL: 160.54 ± 97.03; Ctrl: 147.18 ± 80.10). Conclusion: Patients with atypical swallowing showed differences in the strength of studied muscles and the muscle activity of the orbicular oris muscle compared to controls.Objective:   To characterize muscle activity and muscle strength in patients with atypical swallowing (AS; n = 88) and competent lips (CL) or incompetent lips (IL) versus a control group (Ctrl; n = 90) Methods and materials: an analytical case-control study was conducted using surface electromyography (sEMG) of the orbicularis oris, mentalis and masseter muscles. Compression forces of the orbicularis oris,  right  and left masseters muscle (Cfrmm, Cflmm)) , tongue tensile strength (Tts) via myoscan analysis and resistance of the orbicularis oris (Roo) via dynamometry were determined. Comparisons were made with the Mann-Whitney U test   under a 95% confidence interval. Results: The amplitude of the sEMG record of the orbicularis oris muscle, in maximal contraction, was lower (p<0.01) in the atypical swallowing group (596.40 ± 175.83) compared to controls (659.83 ± 203.79). The muscle strength studied in the experimental group was lower (p<0.01) than in controls (CFo: AS: 0.31 ± 0.13; Ctrl: 0.38 ± 0, 11; Cfrmm: AS: 0.40 ± 0.08; Ctrl: 0.50 ± 0.11; Cflmm: AS: 0.41 ± 0.08; Ctrl: 0.58 ± 0.59; Tts, AS: 0.52 ± 0.14, Ctrl: 0.65 ± 0.14, and Roo: AS: 2.47 ± 0.61; Ctrl: 2.73 ± 0.60). Patients with incompetent lips had a greater muscle activity of the orbicularis oris in swallowing (AS of IL: 197.01 ± 85.84; AS of CL: 160.54 ± 97.03; Ctrl: 147.18 ± 80.10). Conclusion: Patients with atypical swallowing showed differences in the strength of studied muscles and the muscle activity of the orbicular oris muscle compared to controls

A new algorithm for ring artifact reduction in cone-beam computed tomography: preliminary results

[Abstract] 22nd International Congress and Exhibition, Barcelona, Spain, June 25-28, 2008In this work we present a new method for ring artifact compensation, suitable for cone beam data. Starting from the idea of Sijbers et al., we have developed an improved procedure that operates on the projection data before the reconstruction and does not require interpolations, thus avoiding image degradation and reducing the computational burden. Results on phantoms and rodent studies are presentedPublicad

Reduction of respiratory blurring in small-animal CT scans based on a fast retrospective gating method

[Abstract] The 22nd International Congress and Exhibition, Barcelona, Spain, June 25-28, 2008The purpose of the present work was to develop a fast retrospective method to extract the respiratory signal from the CT projections in cone beam geometry and to obtain dynamic breathing studies in small animal scans. The whole process had to be software-based and automatic, avoiding the use of any additional respiratory gating instrumentsPublicad