Algorismes d'interacció amb l'entorn per al robot DarwinOP

El robot humanoide DarwinOP disposa d'un programari bàsic que serveix per a realitzar tasques bàsiques, com ara caminar i fer gestos. Aquest projecte vol dotar al robot d'un nou programari de base, que amplii aquestes capacitats i que permeti realitzar taques més complexes, per exemple, observar l'entorn i reaccionar davant de diferents escenaris. Per avaluar i comparar els resultats ens fixarem en tasques usuals en aquests tipus de robots extretes de diferents concursos

Autofluorescence of stingray skeletal cartilage: hyperspectral imaging as a tool for histological characterization

Tessellated cartilage is a distinctive composite tissue forming the bulk of the skeleton of cartilaginous fishes (e.g. sharks and rays), built from unmineralized cartilage covered at the surface by a thin layer of mineralized tiles called tesserae. The finescale structure and composition of elasmobranch tessellated cartilage has largely been investigated with electron microscopy, micro-computed tomography and histology, but many aspects of tissue structure and composition remain uncharacterized. In our study, we demonstrate that the tessellated cartilage of a stingray exhibits a strong and diverse autofluorescence, a native property of the tissue which can be harnessed as an effective label-free imaging technique. The autofluorescence signal was excited using a broad range of wavelengths in confocal and light sheet microscopy, comparing several sample preparations (fresh; demineralized and paraffin-embedded; non-demineralized and plastic-embedded) and imaging the tissue at different scales. Autofluorescence varied with sample preparation with the signal in both plastic- and paraffin-embedded samples strong enough to allow visualization of finescale (=¿1 µm) cellular and matrix structures, such as cell nuclei and current and former mineralization fronts, identifiable by globular mineralized tissue. A defined pericellular matrix (PCM) surrounding chondrocytes was also discernible, described here for the first time in elasmobranchs. The presence of a PCM suggests similarities with mammalian cartilage regarding how chondrocytes interact with their environment, the PCM in mammals acting as a transducer for biomechanical and biochemical signals. A posterior analysis of hyperspectral images by an MCR-ALS unmixing algorithm allowed identification of several distinct fluorescence signatures associated to specific regions in the tissue. Some fluorescence signatures identified could be correlated with collagen type II, the most abundant structural molecule of cartilage. Other fluorescence signatures, however, remained unidentified, spotlighting tissue regions that deserve deeper characterization and suggesting the presence of molecules still unidentified in elasmobranch skeletal cartilage. Our results show that autofluorescence can be a powerful exploratory imaging tool for characterizing less-studied skeletal tissues, such as tessellated cartilage. The images obtained are largely comparable with more commonly used techniques, but without the need for complicated sample preparations or external staining reagents standard in histology and electron microscopy (TEM, SEM).Postprint (published version

Case report : Challenges in immune reconstitution following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for CTLA-4 insufficiency-like primary immune regulatory disorders

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) haploinsufficiency is a T-cell hyperactivation disorder that can manifest with both immunodeficiency and immune dysregulation. Approximately one-third of patients may present mild symptoms and remain stable under supportive care. The remaining patients may develop severe multiorgan autoimmunity requiring lifelong immunosuppressive treatment. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is potentially curable for patients with treatment-resistant immune dysregulation. Nevertheless, little experience is reported regarding the management of complications post-HSCT. We present case 1 (CTLA-4 haploinsufficiency) and case 2 (CTLA-4 insufficiency-like phenotype) manifesting with severe autoimmunity including cytopenia and involvement of the central nervous system (CNS), lung, and gut and variable impairment of humoral responses. Both patients underwent HSCT for which the main complications were persistent mixed chimerism, infections, and immune-mediated complications [graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and nodular lung disease]. Detailed management and outcomes of therapeutic interventions post-HSCT are discussed. Concretely, post-HSCT abatacept and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donor lymphocyte infusions may be used to increase T-cell donor chimerism with the aim of correcting the immune phenotype of CTLA-4 haploinsufficiency

G9a Inhibition Promotes Neuroprotection through GMFB Regulation in Alzheimer’s Disease

Epigenetic alterations are a fundamental pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Herein, we show the upregulation of G9a and H3K9me2 in the brains of AD patients. Interestingly, treatment with a G9a inhibitor (G9ai) in SAMP8 mice reversed the high levels of H3K9me2 and rescued cognitive decline. A transcriptional profile analysis after G9ai treatment revealed increased gene expression of glia maturation factor β (GMFB) in SAMP8 mice. Besides, a H3K9me2 ChIP-seq analysis after G9a inhibition treatment showed the enrichment of gene promoters associated with neural functions. We observed the induction of neuronal plasticity and a reduction of neuroinflammation after G9ai treatment, and more strikingly, these neuroprotective effects were reverted by the pharmacological inhibition of GMFB in mice and cell cultures; this was also validated by the RNAi approach generating the knockdown of GMFB/Y507A.10 in Caenorhabditis elegans. Importantly, we present evidence that GMFB activity is controlled by G9a-mediated lysine methylation as well as we identified that G9a directly bound GMFB and catalyzed the methylation at lysine (K) 20 and K25 in vitro. Furthermore, we found that the neurodegenerative role of G9a as a GMFB suppressor would mainly rely on methylation of the K25 position of GMFB, and thus G9a pharmacological inhibition removes this methylation promoting neuroprotective effects. Then, our findings confirm an undescribed mechanism by which G9a inhibition acts at two levels, increasing GMFB and regulating its function to promote neuroprotective effects in age-related cognitive decline</p

Disseny i aplicació d'un SCADA en una Instal·lació dessalinitzadora d'aigua de mar

Una instal·lació Dessalinitzadora d'Aigua de Mar és una planta que aprofita aigua de mar per obtenir aigua potabilitzada per al consum humà. Aquest projecte vol dotar a aquesta IDAM d'un SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition). Per una banda, es representaran valors, events i alarmes, per tal d'estudiar comportaments i tendències i obtenir un estudi en temps real de la planta. Per l'altra bandaes crearà una HMI(Human Machine Interface), per tal que l'usuari pugui interaccionar amb aquesta, controlant els elements de la planta,generant alarmes quan la planta contingui errors. Finalment, es crearà una aplicació per visualitzar la localització de la planta, les parts que la conformen, els gràfics i la informació en temps real i, finalment, la interacció de l'usuari amb la planta

Disseny i aplicació d'un SCADA en una Instal·lació dessalinitzadora d'aigua de mar

Una instal·lació Dessalinitzadora d'Aigua de Mar és una planta que aprofita aigua de mar per obtenir aigua potabilitzada per al consum humà. Aquest projecte vol dotar a aquesta IDAM d'un SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition). Per una banda, es representaran valors, events i alarmes, per tal d'estudiar comportaments i tendències i obtenir un estudi en temps real de la planta. Per l'altra bandaes crearà una HMI(Human Machine Interface), per tal que l'usuari pugui interaccionar amb aquesta, controlant els elements de la planta,generant alarmes quan la planta contingui errors. Finalment, es crearà una aplicació per visualitzar la localització de la planta, les parts que la conformen, els gràfics i la informació en temps real i, finalment, la interacció de l'usuari amb la planta

Algorismes d'interacció amb l'entorn per al robot DarwinOP

El robot humanoide DarwinOP disposa d'un programari bàsic que serveix per a realitzar tasques bàsiques, com ara caminar i fer gestos. Aquest projecte vol dotar al robot d'un nou programari de base, que amplii aquestes capacitats i que permeti realitzar taques més complexes, per exemple, observar l'entorn i reaccionar davant de diferents escenaris. Per avaluar i comparar els resultats ens fixarem en tasques usuals en aquests tipus de robots extretes de diferents concursos

Disseny i aplicació d'un SCADA en una Instal·lació dessalinitzadora d'aigua de mar

Una instal·lació Dessalinitzadora d'Aigua de Mar és una planta que aprofita aigua de mar per obtenir aigua potabilitzada per al consum humà. Aquest projecte vol dotar a aquesta IDAM d'un SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition). Per una banda, es representaran valors, events i alarmes, per tal d'estudiar comportaments i tendències i obtenir un estudi en temps real de la planta. Per l'altra bandaes crearà una HMI(Human Machine Interface), per tal que l'usuari pugui interaccionar amb aquesta, controlant els elements de la planta,generant alarmes quan la planta contingui errors. Finalment, es crearà una aplicació per visualitzar la localització de la planta, les parts que la conformen, els gràfics i la informació en temps real i, finalment, la interacció de l'usuari amb la planta

Image_2_Electrophysiological effects of adipose graft transposition procedure (AGTP) on the post-myocardial infarction scar: A multimodal characterization of arrhythmogenic substrate.JPEG

ObjectiveTo assess the arrhythmic safety profile of the adipose graft transposition procedure (AGTP) and its electrophysiological effects on post-myocardial infarction (MI) scar.BackgroundMyocardial repair is a promising treatment for patients with MI. The AGTP is a cardiac reparative therapy that reduces infarct size and improves cardiac function. The impact of AGTP on arrhythmogenesis has not been addressed.MethodsMI was induced in 20 swine. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (ce-MRI), electrophysiological study (EPS), and left-ventricular endocardial high-density mapping were performed 15 days post-MI. Animals were randomized 1:1 to AGTP or sham-surgery group and monitored with ECG-Holter. Repeat EPS, endocardial mapping, and ce-MRI were performed 30 days post-intervention. Myocardial SERCA2, Connexin-43 (Cx43), Ryanodine receptor-2 (RyR2), and cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) gene and protein expression were evaluated.ResultsThe AGTP group showed a significant reduction of the total infarct scar, border zone and dense scar mass by ce-MRI (p = 0.04), and a decreased total scar and border zone area in bipolar voltage mapping (p ConclusionAGTP is a safe reparative therapy in terms of arrhythmic risk and provides additional protective effect against adverse electrophysiological remodeling in ischemic heart disease.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Electrophysiological effects of adipose graft transposition procedure (AGTP) on the post-myocardial infarction scar: A multimodal characterization of arrhythmogenic substrate.pdf

ObjectiveTo assess the arrhythmic safety profile of the adipose graft transposition procedure (AGTP) and its electrophysiological effects on post-myocardial infarction (MI) scar.BackgroundMyocardial repair is a promising treatment for patients with MI. The AGTP is a cardiac reparative therapy that reduces infarct size and improves cardiac function. The impact of AGTP on arrhythmogenesis has not been addressed.MethodsMI was induced in 20 swine. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (ce-MRI), electrophysiological study (EPS), and left-ventricular endocardial high-density mapping were performed 15 days post-MI. Animals were randomized 1:1 to AGTP or sham-surgery group and monitored with ECG-Holter. Repeat EPS, endocardial mapping, and ce-MRI were performed 30 days post-intervention. Myocardial SERCA2, Connexin-43 (Cx43), Ryanodine receptor-2 (RyR2), and cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) gene and protein expression were evaluated.ResultsThe AGTP group showed a significant reduction of the total infarct scar, border zone and dense scar mass by ce-MRI (p = 0.04), and a decreased total scar and border zone area in bipolar voltage mapping (p ConclusionAGTP is a safe reparative therapy in terms of arrhythmic risk and provides additional protective effect against adverse electrophysiological remodeling in ischemic heart disease.</p