Study of Rgmc regulation by iron levels, anemia, inflammation and hypoxia

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal

Factores que influyen en el acoso sexual de docentes, estudiantes y empleados de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo

El presente trabajo de titulación efectuó la identificación de los factores que influyen en la generación de situaciones de acoso sexual que involucran a los estudiantes, docentes y personal administrativo y de servicios de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. La información utilizada para el análisis fue recolectada y provista por el Grupo de Investigación de las Sexualidades (GIS) perteneciente a la institución. La población en estudio está constituida por los estudiantes, docentes y miembros del personal administrativo y de servicio de la institución, grupos en estudio de los cuales se tomaron muestras 3731, 484 y 376 individuos respectivamente. Para realizar el análisis exploratorio de datos, pre procesado de datos, construcción de modelos, y la generación de gráficos se utilizó en software R 4.0.4. y el entorno de desarrollo RStudio 1.4.1106. Las técnicas utilizadas fueron la construcción de árboles de decisión y de modelos de regresión logística dada la naturaleza cualitativa de casi la totalidad de las variables en estudio y, además, se realizó una comparación entre los resultados obtenidos de ambas técnicas. Para las muestras correspondientes a estudiantes y docentes, el modelo logístico registró un mejor rendimiento en su capacidad predictiva evaluada por medio del porcentaje de Área bajo la curva (AUC) observado mediante las tablas de confusión correspondientes para cada muestra. Para los estudiantes se obtuvo un AUC = 83.3% y para los docentes un AUC = 93.9%. Para la muestra del personal administrativo y de servicio la mejor técnica fue el árbol de decisión con un AUC = 78.82%. Se recomienda el uso de los modelos logísticos para estudios similares por su mayor poder predictivo y facilidad de interpretación, además del uso de RStudio para el manejo de grandes cantidades de datos.This degree project identified the factors that influence the generation of sexual harassment situations involving students, teachers and administrative and service personnel of the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. The information used for the analysis was collected and provided by the Sexualities Research Group (GIS) belonging to the institution. The study population is formed by students, teachers and members of the administrative and service staff of the institution, 3731, 484 and 376 individuals were sampled respectively. The exploratory data analysis, data pre-processing, model building, and the generation of graphs was carried out using R 4.0.4 software and the RStudio 1.4.1106 development environment. The techniques used were the construction of decision trees and logistic regression models, given the qualitative nature of almost all the variables under study, a comparison was also made between the results obtained from both techniques. For the simples corresponding to students and teachers, the logistic model showed a better performance in its predictive capacity evaluated by means of the percentage of Area Under the Curve (AUC) observed by means of the corresponding confusion tables for each sample. AUC = 83.3% was obtained for students and AUC = 93.9% for teachers. For the administrative and service personnelsample, the best technique was the decision tree with an AUC = 78.82%. The use of logistic models is recommended for similar studies because of their greater predictive power and ease of interpretation, in addition to the use of RStudio for handling large amounts of data

Cebos para Anastrepha fraterculus con proteína hidrolizada de subproductos agroindustriales pretratados con Radiación Gamma

The fruit fly (Anastrepha fraterculus) affects several Ecuadorian crops with export potential. Currently, a costly imported bait is used to monitor and control this pest. The aim of the present investigation was to formulate baits for the fruit fly that could replace the commercial bait. Soy cake, palm kernel cake, bovine blood and whey were used as raw material. Each material was irradiated with a dose of 20 kGy with a Cobalt-60 source, as a pretreatment. Then, the protein was extracted and hydrolyzed with a 0.025 AU/mL bromelain solution at pH 7.0 and 50 °C, for 30 min. The baits were formulated with hydrolyzed protein, molasses, water and borax, and they were placed in McPhail traps. The field evaluation was carried out in cherimoya (Annona cherimola) and guava (Psidium guajava) orchards. The hydrolysis degrees that were reached in the enzymatic process had values between 19.16 and 26.64 %. According to an SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, the hydrolysates had peptides with molecular weights between 5 and 20 kDa. The bait made with palm kernel cake hydrolyzed protein and the commercial bait were statistically equal in the number of captured flies, whereas the bait made with whey protein had a higher FTD index (flies caught per trap, per day). The formulated baits could be an inexpensive alternative to the commercial bait for monitoring fruit flies in Ecuador.La mosca de la fruta (Anastrepha fraterculus) afecta a varios cultivos ecuatorianos con potencial de exportación. En la actualidad, para el monitoreo de esta plaga, se emplea un cebo importado que tiene un alto costo. La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo formular cebos atrayentes de mosca de la fruta que puedan reemplazar al cebo comercial. Como materia prima se empleó torta de soya, torta de palmiste, sangre bovina y suero de leche; cada material fue irradiado con una dosis de 20 kGy, en una fuente de cobalto-60, como pretratamiento. Luego, la proteína se extrajo y se hidrolizó con una solución de bromelina de 0,025 UA/mL, a pH 7,0 y 50 °C, durante 30 min. Los cebos fueron formulados con proteína hidrolizada, melaza, agua y bórax y fueron colocados en trampas McPhail. La evaluación en campo se llevó a cabo en cultivos de chirimoya (Annona cherimola) y guayaba (Psidium guajava). En el proceso enzimático se alcanzaron grados de hidrólisis entre el 19,16 y 26,64 %. Por electroforesis SDS-PAGE, se determinó que los hidrolizados proteicos contenían péptidos con pesos moleculares entre 5 y 20 kDa. Se encontró que el cebo de proteína hidrolizada de palmiste y el cebo comercial fueron estadísticamente iguales en la cantidad de moscas atrapadas, mientras que el de lactosuero presentó un mayor índice MTD (moscas capturadas por trampa, por día). Los cebos formulados podrían ser una alternativa más económica que el cebo importado para el monitoreo de la mosca de la fruta en el Ecuador

Análisis de la norma contable aplicada en el proceso de revalorización de los activos fijos de la cooperativas de transporte del Ecuador

El objeto de la presente investigación es promover que las Cooperativas de transporte agrupadas en el sector no financiero posean un proceso contable eficiente y bajo las disposiciones del ente de control. La finalidad de fortalecer la calidad de vida de los socios, promoviendo el desarrollo económico basado en el proceso de revalorización de los activos fijos. Para lo cual, se aplicó encuestas para recolectar información tanto a los contadores como a los directivos de las cooperativas, conjuntamente se desarrolló el Estudio de Mercado, Técnico, Administrativo Legal, Financiero y Económico. En donde se obtuvo los resultados que permiten dar conclusiones y recomendaciones importantes al sector del transporte en el Ecuador, se cuenta con excelente demanda según lo manifiesta la población y previa la evaluación del análisis económico financiero se obtiene un proceso deficiente en la revalorización. Se concluye que la propuesta planteada es factible

CEBOS PARA Anastrepha fraterculus CON PROTEÍNA HIDROLIZADA DE SUBPRODUCTOS AGROINDUSTRIALES PRETRATADOS CON RADIACIÓN GAMMA

La mosca de la fruta (Anastrepha fraterculus) afecta a varios cultivos ecuatorianos con potencial de exportación. En la actualidad, para el monitoreo de esta plaga, se emplea un cebo importado que tiene un alto costo. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo formular cebos atrayentes de mosca de la fruta que puedan reemplazar al cebo comercial. Como materia prima se empleó torta de soya, torta de palmiste, sangre bovina y suero; cada material fue irradiado con una dosis de 20 kGy, en una fuente de cobalto-60 como pretratamiento. Luego, la proteína se extrajo y se hidrolizó con una solución de bromelina de 0,025 UA mL1, a pH 7;0 y 50 C durante 30 min. Los cebos fueron formulados con proteína hidrolizada, melaza, agua y bórax y se colocaron en trampas McPhail. La evaluación en campo se llevó a cabo en cultivos de chirimoya (Annona cherimola) y guayaba (Psidium guajava). En el proceso enzimático se alcanzaron grados de hidrólisis entre 19,16 y 26,64%. Por electroforesis SDS-PAGE se determinó que los hidrolizados proteicos contenían péptidos con pesos moleculares entre 5 y 20 kDa. Se encontró que el cebo de proteína hidrolizada de palmiste y el cebo comercial fueron estadísticamente iguales en la cantidad de moscas atrapadas, mientras que el de suero presentó un mayor índice MTD (moscas capturadas por trampa, por día). Los cebos formulados podrían ser una alternativa más económica que el cebo importado para el monitoreo de la mosca de la fruta en el Ecuador.//The fruit fly (Anastrepha fraterculus) affects several Ecuadorian crops with export potential. Currently, a costly imported bait is used to monitor and control this pest. The aim of this research is to formulate baits for the fruit fly that could replace the commercial bait. Soy cake, palm kernel cake, bovine blood and whey were used as raw material. Each material was irradiated with a dose of 20 kGy with a Cobalt-60 source as a pretreatment. Then, the protein was extracted and hydrolyzed with a 0.025 AU mL1 bromelain solution at pH 7;0 and 50 C, for 30 min. The baits were formulated with hydrolyzed protein, molasses, water, and borax, and they were placed in McPhail traps. The field evaluation was carried out in cherimoya (Annona cherimola) and guava (Psidium guajava) orchards. The hydrolysis degrees that were reached in the enzymatic process had values between 19.16 and 26.64%. According to an SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, the hydrolysates had peptides with molecular weights between 5 and 20 kDa. The bait made with palm kernel cake hydrolyzed protein and the commercial bait were statistically equal in the number of captured flies, whereas the bait made with whey protein had a higher FTD index (flies caught per trap, per day). The formulated baits could be an inexpensive alternative to the commercial bait for monitoring fruit flies in Ecuador

Building blocks for protein interaction devices

Here, we propose a framework for the design of synthetic protein networks from modular protein–protein or protein–peptide interactions and provide a starter toolkit of protein building blocks. Our proof of concept experiments outline a general work flow for part–based protein systems engineering. We streamlined the iterative BioBrick cloning protocol and assembled 25 synthetic multidomain proteins each from seven standardized DNA fragments. A systematic screen revealed two main factors controlling protein expression in Escherichia coli: obstruction of translation initiation by mRNA secondary structure or toxicity of individual domains. Eventually, 13 proteins were purified for further characterization. Starting from well-established biotechnological tools, two general–purpose interaction input and two readout devices were built and characterized in vitro. Constitutive interaction input was achieved with a pair of synthetic leucine zippers. The second interaction was drug-controlled utilizing the rapamycin-induced binding of FRB(T2098L) to FKBP12. The interaction kinetics of both devices were analyzed by surface plasmon resonance. Readout was based on Förster resonance energy transfer between fluorescent proteins and was quantified for various combinations of input and output devices. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of parts-based protein synthetic biology. Additionally, we identify future challenges and limitations of modular design along with approaches to address them

A Biobrick Library for Cloning Custom Eukaryotic Plasmids

Researchers often require customised variations of plasmids that are not commercially available. Here we demonstrate the applicability and versatility of standard synthetic biological parts (biobricks) to build custom plasmids. For this purpose we have built a collection of 52 parts that include multiple cloning sites (MCS) and common protein tags, protein reporters and selection markers, amongst others. Importantly, most of the parts are designed in a format to allow fusions that maintain the reading frame. We illustrate the collection by building several model contructs, including concatemers of protein binding-site motifs, and a variety of plasmids for eukaryotic stable cloning and chromosomal insertion. For example, in 3 biobrick iterations, we make a cerulean-reporter plasmid for cloning fluorescent protein fusions. Furthermore, we use the collection to implement a recombinase-mediated DNA insertion (RMDI), allowing chromosomal site-directed exchange of genes. By making one recipient stable cell line, many standardised cell lines can subsequently be generated, by fluorescent fusion-gene exchange. We propose that this biobrick collection may be distributed peer-to-peer as a stand-alone library, in addition to its distribution through the Registry of Standard Biological Parts (http://partsregistry.org/)

Exclusion of mutations in the PRNP, JPH3, TBP, ATN1, CREBBP, POU3F2 and FTL genes as a cause of disease in Portuguese patients with a Huntington-like phenotype

Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterised by chorea, cognitive impairment, dementia and personality changes, caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in the HD gene. Often, patients with a similar clinical presentation do not carry expansions of the CAG repeat in this gene [Huntington disease-like (HDL) patients]. We report the genetic analysis of 107 Portuguese patients with an HDL phenotype. The HDL genes PRNP and JPH3, encoding the prion protein and junctophilin-3, respectively, were screened for repeat expansions in these patients. Given the partial clinical overlap of SCA17, DRPLA and neuroferritinopathy with HD, their causative genes (TBP, ATN1, and FTL, respectively) were also analysed. Finally, repeat expansions in two candidate genes, CREBBP and POU3F2, which encode the nuclear transcriptional coactivator CREB-binding protein and the CNS-specific transcription factor N-Oct-3, respectively, were also studied. Expansions of the repetitive tracts of the PRNP, JPH3, TBP, ATN1, CREBBP and POU3F2 genes were excluded in all patients, as were sequence alterations in the FTL gene. Since none of the genes already included in the differential diagnosis of HD was responsible for the disease in our sample, the genetic heterogeneity of the HDL phenotype is still open for investigation.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and FEDER (grant CBO/33485/99). BIC included in grant CBO/33485/99, respectivel

Avoiding transcription factor competition at promoter level increases the chances of obtaining oscillation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ultimate goal of synthetic biology is the conception and construction of genetic circuits that are reliable with respect to their designed function (e.g. oscillators, switches). This task remains still to be attained due to the inherent synergy of the biological building blocks and to an insufficient feedback between experiments and mathematical models. Nevertheless, the progress in these directions has been substantial.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It has been emphasized in the literature that the architecture of a genetic oscillator must include positive (activating) and negative (inhibiting) genetic interactions in order to yield robust oscillations. Our results point out that the oscillatory capacity is not only affected by the interaction polarity but by how it is implemented at promoter level. For a chosen oscillator architecture, we show by means of numerical simulations that the existence or lack of competition between activator and inhibitor at promoter level affects the probability of producing oscillations and also leaves characteristic fingerprints on the associated period/amplitude features.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In comparison with non-competitive binding at promoters, competition drastically reduces the region of the parameters space characterized by oscillatory solutions. Moreover, while competition leads to pulse-like oscillations with long-tail distribution in period and amplitude for various parameters or noisy conditions, the non-competitive scenario shows a characteristic frequency and confined amplitude values. Our study also situates the competition mechanism in the context of existing genetic oscillators, with emphasis on the Atkinson oscillator.</p