Superficial characteristics of titanium after treatment of chorreated surface, passive acid, and decontamination with argon plasma

Background. Titanium is characterized by its biocompatibility, resistance to maximum stress, and fatigue and non-toxicity. The composition, surface structure, and roughness of titanium have a key and direct influence on the osseointegration processes when it is used in the form of dental implants. The objective of the present study is to characterize, at chemical, superficial, and biological levels, the result of the application of the sandblasted with large-grit and acid-etched (SLA) treatment consisting of coarse-grained and double-passivated acid blasting with subsequent decontamination with argon plasma on the surface of titanium implants type IV. (2) Methods. Four Oxtein® dental implants (Zaragoza, Spain) were investigated with the following coding: Code L63713T (titanium grade IV, 3.75 mm in diameter, and 13 mm in length). The surface of the implants was SLA type obtained from coarse-grained, double passivated acid, and decontaminated with argon plasma. The samples were in their sealed packages and were opened in our laboratory. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique was used to characterize the chemical composition of the surface, and the scanning electronic microscope (SEM) technique was used to perform topographic surface evaluation. Cell cultures were also performed on both surfaces. (3) Results. The superficial chemical analysis of the studied samples presented the following components, approximately, expressed in atomic percentage: O: 39%; Ti: 18%; C: 39%; N: 2%; and Si: 1%. In the same way, the topographic analysis values were obtained in the evaluated roughness parameters: Ra: 1.5 μm ± 0.02%; Rq: 1.31 μm ± 0.33; Rz: 8.98 μm ± 0.73; Rp: 5.12 μm ± 0.48; Rv: 3.76 μm ± 0.51; and Rc: 4.92 μm ± 0.24. At a biological level, the expression of osteocalcin was higher (p < 0.05) on the micro-rough surface compared to that machined at 48 and 96 h of culture. (4) Conclusions. The data obtained in our study indicate that the total carbon content, the relative concentration of titanium, and the roughness of the treatment performed on the implants are in agreement with those found in the literature. Further, the roughness of the treatment performed on the implants throws a spongy, three-dimensional surface suitable for bone growth on it. The biological results found are compatible with the clinical use of the surface tested

Superficial characteristics of titanium after treatment of chorreated surface, passive acid, and decontamination with argon plasma

Background. Titanium is characterized by its biocompatibility, resistance to maximum stress, and fatigue and non-toxicity. The composition, surface structure, and roughness of titanium have a key and direct influence on the osseointegration processes when it is used in the form of dental implants. The objective of the present study is to characterize, at chemical, superficial, and biological levels, the result of the application of the sandblasted with large-grit and acid-etched (SLA) treatment consisting of coarse-grained and double-passivated acid blasting with subsequent decontamination with argon plasma on the surface of titanium implants type IV. (2) Methods. Four Oxtein® dental implants (Zaragoza, Spain) were investigated with the following coding: Code L63713T (titanium grade IV, 3.75 mm in diameter, and 13 mm in length). The surface of the implants was SLA type obtained from coarse-grained, double passivated acid, and decontaminated with argon plasma. The samples were in their sealed packages and were opened in our laboratory. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique was used to characterize the chemical composition of the surface, and the scanning electronic microscope (SEM) technique was used to perform topographic surface evaluation. Cell cultures were also performed on both surfaces. (3) Results. The superficial chemical analysis of the studied samples presented the following components, approximately, expressed in atomic percentage: O: 39%; Ti: 18%; C: 39%; N: 2%; and Si: 1%. In the same way, the topographic analysis values were obtained in the evaluated roughness parameters: Ra: 1.5 μm ± 0.02%; Rq: 1.31 μm ± 0.33; Rz: 8.98 μm ± 0.73; Rp: 5.12 μm ± 0.48; Rv: 3.76 μm ± 0.51; and Rc: 4.92 μm ± 0.24. At a biological level, the expression of osteocalcin was higher (p < 0.05) on the micro-rough surface compared to that machined at 48 and 96 h of culture. (4) Conclusions. The data obtained in our study indicate that the total carbon content, the relative concentration of titanium, and the roughness of the treatment performed on the implants are in agreement with those found in the literature. Further, the roughness of the treatment performed on the implants throws a spongy, three-dimensional surface suitable for bone growth on it. The biological results found are compatible with the clinical use of the surface tested

Human THO–Sin3A interaction reveals new mechanisms to prevent R-loops that cause genome instability

R-loops, formed by co-transcriptional DNA–RNA hybrids and a displaced DNA single strand (ssDNA), fulfill certain positive regulatory roles but are also a source of genomic instability. One key cellular mechanism to prevent R-loop accumulation centers on the conserved THO/TREX complex, an RNA-binding factor involved in transcription elongation and RNA export that contributes to messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) assembly, but whose precise function is still unclear. To understand how THO restrains harmful R-loops, we searched for new THO-interacting factors. We found that human THO interacts with the Sin3A histone deacetylase complex to suppress co-transcriptional R-loops, DNA damage, and replication impairment. Functional analyses show that histone hypo-acetylation prevents accumulation of harmful R-loops and RNA-mediated genomic instability. Diminished histone deacetylase activity in THO- and Sin3A-depleted cell lines correlates with increased R-loop formation, genomic instability, and replication fork stalling. Our study thus uncovers physical and functional crosstalk between RNA-binding factors and chromatin modifiers with a major role in preventing R-loop formation and RNA-mediated genome instability.European Research Council ERC2014 AdG669898 TARLOOPMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad BFU2013-42918-P, BFU2016-75058-PJunta de Andalucía BIO123

Diseño, implementación y evaluación de un sistema de detección y seguimiento de la pose tridimensional de personas basado en “Deep Learning”

En el presente trabajo se va a abordar el tema de la detección de las articulaciones y la pose tridimensional del cuerpo humano en el contexto de la valoración funcional de personas. El objetivo final sería evaluar el grado de dependencia, discapacidad y/o limitaciones que las personas puedan llegar a tener, en particular las de avanzada edad, al realizar actividades de la vida diaria, con especial énfasis en las actividades básicas, como pueden ser: comer, lavarse los dientes, sentarse, limpiar, etc. Con esto se pretende ayudar a los terapeutas ocupacionales a detectar limitaciones de forma temprana y obtener valoraciones objetivas a través del sistema automático, eliminando la subjetividad del personal evaluador y las interferencias que la presencia de este pueda ejercer en las personas que están siendo evaluadas. En el trabajo se estudiarán y aportarán algoritmos que proporcionen parámetros de destreza y funcionalidad. Para ello se han analizado las redes neuronales y las posibles arquitecturas que se podrían aplicar para resolver el problema mencionado. A tal efecto, se ha indagado en las redes que sean capaces de estimar la posición tridimensional de las articulaciones del cuerpo humano a partir de imágenes de profundidad y en RGB, con el fin de evaluar funcionalmente a las personas y obtener una valoración clínica valida.This project will address the issue of joint detection and the three-dimensional pose of the human body in the context of the functional assessment of people. The final objective would be to evaluate the degree of dependence, disability and/or limitations that people may have, particularly the elderly, when performing activities of daily living, with special emphasis on basic activities, such as: eating, brushing teeth, sitting, cleaning, etc. With this we aim to help occupational therapists to detect limitations early and obtain objective evaluations through the automatic system, eliminating the subjectivity of the evaluating personnel and the interferences that the presence of the latter may exert on the people being evaluated. This proyect will study and provide algorithms that offer dexterity and functionality parameters. For this purpose, neural networks and the possible architectures that could be applied to solve the aforementioned problem has been analyzed. To this end, we have investigated networks capable of estimating the three-dimensional position of the joints of the human body from depth and RGB images, in order to functionally evaluate people and obtain a valid clinical assessment.Máster Universitario en Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (M125

Musicoterapia una intervención de enfermería en pacientes con demencia

Musicoterapia una intervención de enfermería en pacientes con demenciaGrado en Enfermería2017-09-2

Diseño y fabricación de un mecanismo de avance para el corte de planchas metálicas con muelas abrasivas

Els processos de tall han estat sota un constant canvi degut a la creixent necessitat de la indústria de desenvolupar productes finals amb característiques òptimes que agilitzin la seva introducció al mercat. Existeixen centenars de processos diferents per a aplicacions molt variades dels quals el tall de xapa metàl·lica forma part. En aquest projecte, una vegada estudiat, comprès i analitzat els diferents mètodes de tall de xapa metàl·lica, es pretén fer una contribució al disseny i fabricació de mecanismes d'avanç per al tall de planxes metàl·liques amb queixals abrasius creant un disseny viable per a poder tallar planxes metàl·liques de grans dimensions en el taller de mecànica de la Universitat. D'aquesta manera, es mostren les diferents etapes implicades, des del naixement de la idea fins a la conceptualització, així com els càlculs necessaris per a demostrar la viabilitat del disseny i els processos de fabricació implicats. Per a poder dur a terme aquesta tasca, l'autor ha fet ús de recursos de recerca, com a patentes, fitxes tècniques, catàlegs i anàlisis d'antecedents per a consolidar una base sobre la qual poder treballar. Atès que el mecanisme d'avanç per al tall de planxes metàl·liques té com a finalitat el tall de xapes de grans dimensions, perquè així estudiants i professorat de la Universitat disposin d'una eina de treball que els ofereixi poder treballar amb menys limitacions, implica conèixer l'espai de treball on anirà situat el mecanisme així com les necessitats dels usuaris. Amb aquest punt de partida, s'apliquen eines específiques del grau de Disseny Industrial i Desenvolupament de Producte, per a així poder elaborar una proposta vàlida conceptual que satisfaci els objectius fixats en el projecte.Los procesos de corte han estado bajo un constante cambio debido a la creciente necesidad de la industria de desarrollar productos finales con características óptimas que agilicen su introducción al mercado. Existen cientos de procesos diferentes para aplicaciones muy variadas de los cuales el corte de chapa metálica forma parte. En este proyecto, una vez estudiado, comprendido y analizado los diferentes métodos de corte de chapa metálica, se pretende hacer una contribución al diseño y fabricación de mecanismos de avance para el corte de planchas metálicas con muelas abrasivas creando un diseño viable para poder cortar planchas metálicas de grandes dimensiones en el taller de mecánica de la Universidad. De esta manera, se muestran las diferentes etapas implicadas, desde el nacimiento de la idea hasta la conceptualización, así como los cálculos necesarios para demostrar la viabilidad del diseño como los procesos de fabricación implicados. Para poder llevar a cabo esta tarea, el autor ha hecho uso de recursos de investigación, como patentes, fichas técnicas, catálogos y análisis de antecedentes para consolidar una base sobre la cual poder trabajar. Dado que el mecanismo de avance para el corte de planchas metálicas tiene como finalidad el corte de chapas de grandes dimensiones para que estudiantes y profesorado de la Universidad dispongan de una herramienta de trabajo que les ofrezca poder trabajar con menos limitaciones, esto implica conocer el espacio de trabajo dónde va a ir ubicado el mecanismo así como las necesidades de los usuarios. Con este punto de partida, se aplican herramientas específicas del grado de Diseño Industrial y Desarrollo de Producto, para así poder elaborar una propuesta válida conceptual que satisfaga los objetivos fijados en el proyecto.The cutting processes have been under constant change due to the growing need of the industry to develop final products with optimal characteristics that speed up their introduction to the market. There are hundreds of different processes for very varied applications of which sheet metal cutting is a part. In this project, once the different sheet metal cutting methods have been studied, understood and analyzed, it is intended to make a contribution to the design and manufacture of feed mechanisms for cutting sheet metal with abrasive wheels, creating a viable design to be able to cut sheets. large metal parts in the mechanical workshop of the University. In this way, the different stages involved are shown, from the birth of the idea to the conceptualization, as well as the necessary calculations to demonstrate the feasibility of the design as well as the manufacturing processes involved. In order to carry out this task, the author has made use of research resources, such as patents, technical sheets, catalogs and background analysis to consolidate a base on which to work. Given that the advance mechanism for cutting metal plates with abrasive wheels is intended to cut large sheets so that students and faculty of the University have a work tool that offers them to work with fewer limitations, this It implies knowing the workspace where the mechanism will be located as well as the needs of the users. With this starting point, specific tools of the degree of Industrial Design and Product Development are applied, in order to be able to elaborate a valid conceptual proposal that satisfies the objectives set in the project

Ruminant nutrition and function: understanding methane mitigation routes and impacts

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 21 times that of carbon dioxide. Globally, ruminants are the main anthropogenic contributors to methane release to the atmosphere. Methane is produced in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants, mostly within the rumen by methanogenic archaea. However, methane production represents a loss of 2 to 12% of dietary gross energy for the animal, which could otherwise be available for growth or milk production. Therefore, mitigation of methane production by ruminants could produce both economic and environmental benefits, with more sustainable and energy efficient livestock, and offering a promising way of slowing global warming. Despite extensive research undertaken to find ways of reducing methane emissions from ruminants, progress has been relatively limited. Furthermore, there is still a lack of studies linking rumen microbiology and ruminant nutrition and production. The central purpose of this research was to investigate feed additives to reduce methane emissions and to understand associated changes that occur in the rumen microbiota. For the first experiment (Chapter 2), biochar was evaluated as an antimethanogenic compound for beef cattle. The in vitro gas production technique was used to study the effects of biochar on rumen fermentation and methane production. Overall, methane production was reduced by 5% by the addition of biochar compounds (10 g/kg of substrate). The observed reduction in methane produced was not associated with a change in volatile fatty acid profile suggesting biochar primarily inhibited fermentation. Ammonia concentration was significantly reduced with biochar inclusion. Because different biochars had different effects on methane production, further investigation of relationships between the physicochemical properties of biochars and antimethanogenic effects are necessary. However, due to the small reduction in methane production recorded, research with biochar was discontinued. Encapsulated nitrate was then explored as an antimethanogenic additive and as an alternative non-protein nitrogen source to urea (Chapter 3). The effect of using encapsulated nitrate as a replacement for urea or dietary protein, plus the addition of inorganic sulphur, on enteric methane emissions, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilization and microbial protein synthesis from crossbred beef steers were studied. In addition, nitrate toxicity and eating behaviour were investigated. The inclusion of encapsulated nitrate reduced methane production compared to urea and a true protein source, with no adverse effects on rumen fermentation or nitrogen metabolism and no effects with the inclusion of elemental sulphur. The level of addition of encapsulated nitrate (14.3 g nitrate /kg DM) and the time of adaptation chosen for this study (14 days) were adequate to avoid nitrate toxicity. Finally, the effects of adding nitrate inclusion to different basal diets on rumen microbial populations and relationships of these populations with methane production were investigated (Chapter 4). The V4 hypervariable regions of the bacterial and archaea 16S rRNA genes were amplified and sequenced. Effects on microbial population induced by nitrate were dependant on the basal diet but nitrate altered specific archaeal and bacterial OTUs consistently between studies. A direct and strong correlation between some archaea taxonomic groups and OTUs with methane production was observed

Capture and evolution of web requirements using WebSpec

Developing Web applications is a complex and time consuming process that involves different kind of people, ranging from customers to developers. Requirement artefacts play an important role as they are used by these people to perform their daily activities. However, state of the art in requirement management for Web applications disregards valuable features that tend to improve the development process, such as quick validation during elicitation, automatic requirement validation on the final application and useful change management support. To tackle these problems we introduce WebSpec, a requirement artefact for specifying interaction and navigation features in Web applications. We show its use through the development of an example application in the social networking area, and its implementation as an Eclipse plugin.Publicado en Lecture Notes in Computer Science book series (LNCS, vol. 6385).Facultad de Informátic

Capture and evolution of web requirements using WebSpec

Developing Web applications is a complex and time consuming process that involves different kind of people, ranging from customers to developers. Requirement artefacts play an important role as they are used by these people to perform their daily activities. However, state of the art in requirement management for Web applications disregards valuable features that tend to improve the development process, such as quick validation during elicitation, automatic requirement validation on the final application and useful change management support. To tackle these problems we introduce WebSpec, a requirement artefact for specifying interaction and navigation features in Web applications. We show its use through the development of an example application in the social networking area, and its implementation as an Eclipse plugin.Publicado en Lecture Notes in Computer Science book series (LNCS, vol. 6385).Facultad de Informátic

Estudio del gen WT1 en la leucemia mieloblástica aguda

En los últimos años se ha producido un notable progreso en la elucidación de la patogénesis molecular de las Leucemias Mieloblásticas Agudas (LMA). Sin embargo, la mayoría de las alteraciones genéticas que subyacen en esta patología son todavía desconocidas. La LMA se caracteriza por la presencia de un “stop madurativo” de las células de la línea mieloide, que escapan de la inhibición de las señales anti-proliferativas y adquieren una capacidad indefinida de auto-renovación. Los posibles mecanismos que pueden explicar el crecimiento incontrolado de las células cancerígenas son la pérdida de función de los genes supresores de tumores y/o la activación de los oncogenes. Aunque ambas son funciones opuestas que en principio deberían ser mutuamente excluyentes en una misma proteína, existen evidencias de que una misma proteína puede mostrar ambas funciones bajo condiciones celulares diferentes. Un ejemplo de ello es el gen del tumor de Wilms (WT1), el cual presenta este tipo de comportamiento dual dependiendo del tipo celular donde se está expresando. El gen WT1 fue originariamente definido como un gen supresor tumoral al encontrarse mutado en un 15% de los tumores de Wilms. Sin embargo, el estudio del papel de WT1 en las células cancerígenas ha revelado un inesperado papel como oncogén. La mayoría de estudios se ha realizado en casos de leucemia donde se ha demostrado la importancia biológica y clínica de WT1 en la supervivencia, diferenciación y proliferación celular. En la presente tesis se ha estudiado a un total de 274 pacientes diagnosticados de LMA de novo en un sólo centro para analizar en profundidad el papel de la expresión total de WT1, la expresión de sus 4 isoformas principales, las variaciones genéticas del gen, tanto mutaciones como el polimorfismo SNP rs16754 y la expresión de los miRNA que podrían estar involucrados en la regulación epigenética de WT1, con el objetivo de elucidar el papel de WT1 en la leucemogénesis. Los resultados de esta tesis muestran una expresión de WT1 total mayor en la leucemia en comparación con su contrapartida sana de células CD34+ de sangre de cordón umbilical, que, además, parece conferir una peor supervivencia a los pacientes que pertenecen al subgrupo FAB M0. En cuanto a las cuatro isoformas principales de WT1, los resultados de esta tesis parecen sugerir que dicha sobreexpresión de WT1 total pueda ser debida a un aumento en la expresión de las isoformas A, B y/o C junto a una disminución relativa de la isoforma D. Además, la mejor supervivencia observada en los pacientes que sobreexpresan la isoforma D hace presuponer que dicha isoforma pueda tener un papel protector en la LMA, aunque este resultado debería ser confirmado con futuros estudios funcionales. Tras el cribado de alteraciones genéticas de WT1 por High Resolution Melting, se encontró la presencia de un 30% de pacientes con la presencia del SNP rs16754 de WT1 en heterocigosis, consistente con lo esperable en la población caucásica. La presencia del alelo menor de dicho SNP no mostró diferencias significativas en términos de supervivencia. Además se detectaron mutaciones del gen WT1 en el 4% de la serie de pacientes, asociándose con un valor pronóstico desfavorable independiente en la serie global. Para averiguar los posible microRNAs potencialmente implicados en la regulación epigenética de WT1 se hibridaron chips de arrrays de miRNA en 10 muestras de pacientes seleccionados en función de su expresión de WT1 total, encontrándose 9 miRNAs con expresión diferencial que fueron validados mediante PCR cuantitativa en la serie de pacientes y controles. Los resultados de la validación sugieren que algunos de los microRNAs estudiados presentan patrones de expresión diferentes a la normalidad pudiendo estar implicados en la regulación de la diferenciación celular. Además, se observó una mejor supervivencia para la infraexpresión de los miR-223, miR-425, miR-500 y miR-1307 en la serie global, aunque no se pudo demostrar su valor pronóstico independiente.In recent years there has been considerable progress in the elucidation of the molecular pathogenesis of the acute Myeloblastic leukemia (AML). However, most of the genetic changes that underlie this disease are still unknown. The AML is characterized by the presence of a maturation stop of the myeloid cell line that escapes from inhibition of anti-proliferative signals and acquire an indefinite self-renewal capacity. The possible mechanisms that may explain the uncontrolled cancer cells growth are the loss of function of the tumor suppressor genes and the activation of oncogenes. Although both are opposing functions that should be mutually exclusive in the same protein, there is evidence that a same protein may show both functions under different cellular conditions. An example of this is the Wilms tumor 1 gene (WT1), presenting this double behavior depending on the cell type where it's expressed. The WT1 gene was originally defined as a suppressor tumor gene based on mutations found in 15% of Wilms tumors. However, the study of the WT1 gene in cancer cells has revealed an unexpected role as oncogene. Most of the studies were made in leukemia and have shown the biological and clinical importance of WT1 in survival, differentiation and cell proliferation. In the present thesis a total of 274 patients diagnosed with de novo AML in a single center has been studied to analyze in depth the role of the total WT1 expression, the expression of their main 4 isoforms, genetic variations including mutations and the polymorphism rs16754, and expression of miRNA that could potentially be involved in the epigenetic regulation of WT1, in order to clarify the role of WT1 in leukemogenesis. The results of this thesis showed an overexpression of total WT1 in leukemia cells in comparison with its healthy counterpart of CD34 cells from the umbilical cord blood. On the other hand, it seems that it confer a worse survival in patients belonging to FAB M0 subgroup. Referring to the four main WT1 isoforms, the results suggest that such total WT1 overexpression in AML may be due to an increase in the expression of the A, B and C isoforms, together with a relative decrease of isoform D. In addition, the better prognosis observed in patients that over-expressed D isoform presuppose that this isoform might have a protective role in AML, although this result should be confirmed with further functional studies. After the screening of genetic variations of WT1 with the High Resolution Melting tool, the presence of the SNP rs16754 of WT1 in heterozygosis was found in 30% of the patients, consistent with the expected frequency in the Caucasian population. The presence of the minor allele genotype of the SNP (WT1AG) showed no significant difference in terms of survival. In addition, mutations in the WT1 gene were detected in 4% of the series and were associated with an unfavorable prognosis in the multivariate analysis. To find out the microRNAs potentially involved in the epigenetic regulation of WT1, 10 samples of patients selected on the basis of the total WT1 expression (5 with over-expression and 5 with down-expression) were hybridized with miRNA arrays, showing 9 miRNAs with differential expression that were validated by quantitative PCR in patients and controls samples. The validation results suggested that some of the studied microRNAs had different expression patterns and might be involved in the regulation of cell differentiation. On the other hand, an improvement in survival was found for the down-expression of miR-223, miR-425, miR-500 and miR-1307 in the univariate analysis, although its independent prognostic value could not be demonstrated