Analysis and spike detection of neural data from a CMOS MEA system

This thesis is intended to deal with the problem of analysis and spike detection in neural data acquired from a CMOS Microelectrode Array (MEA) system. In order for this to be carried out a Graphical User Interface (GUI) application has been created. The data to analyze comes from an in-vitro recording and stimulation system which uses a 65 x 65 CMOS MEA and it is stored in HDF5 files with the .cmcr extension. The GUI application developed in Python is able to read these files and perform a number of tasks which facilitate the detection and visualization of neural activity within the tissue subjected to analysis. This is accomplished by interpreting the voltage measurements at every coordinate of the array over time for the search of Action Potentials (APs) or spikes. Once the spikes are detected the information is stored to be presented in different ways and a comparison is carried out to detect when and where most activity has taken place. The GUI application created enables the visualization of both raw and filtered data at a particular coordinate over time and showing the spikes that have been detected. Moreover, a second type of plot makes it possible to view the whole array filtered data for an exact time sample, as well as which coordinates present most neural activity. Finally, a number of tables show useful information about the pixel coordinates, time and height of these spikes.Outgoin

Aprendiendo con textos multimodales: una experiencia práctica en clases de máster

Las sociedades actuales poseen un carácter eminentemente multimodal, ya que continuamente están lanzando mensajes compuestos por más de un modo de comunicación (texto escrito, imagen, música, etc.). De este modo, los textos multimodales se han de llevar a las aulas por dos motivos. Por un lado, se hace necesario enseñar al alumnado a saber leerlos e interpretarlos. Por otro, es posible incorporar elementos multimodales en el aprendizaje (presentación de power point o prezi, vídeo, etc.) para que éste sea más completo y permita desarrollar a los/as estudiantes distintas capacidades. La asignatura de Hipertextualidad, impartida en el máster de Nuevas Tendencias de la Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, tiene como objetivo, precisamente, enseñar al alumnado a leer textos multimodales. Así, para conocer cómo valoran este aprendizaje se les pasó una encuesta a los/as alumnos/as matriculados en el curso 2013/2014. Los resultados de ésta muestran que el alumnado valora positivamente el uso de herramientas multimodales en las clases. Igualmente, considera que aprender a leer textos multimodales les permite generar una mayor capacidad crítica y descubrir los mensajes que las imágenes ocultan

Introducing culture and critical thinking in the classroom: Analysing multimodal texts from NGOs in a Masters course

The multimodal nature of present societies makes clear that teaching with authentic multimodal texts can contribute to bringing different cultural realities into the classroom. For this reason, it was decided to use texts published by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in order to teach visual grammar (Kress and van Leeuwen, 2006) in a Masters course in Spain. These texts were also selected because they are appropriate to teach cultural aspects, and raise awareness of the realities of poor countries; they may also foster the acquisition of interpersonal competencies. This paper offers textual analysis; this research will point out that teaching students to be critical with the discourse produced by NGOs is essential in order to unveil relationships of domination and power because discourse is always a powerful tool used to reproduce social reality.La naturaleza multimodal de las sociedades actuales deja claro que el aprendizaje con auténticos textos multimodales contribuye a llevar a clase diferentes realidades culturales. En este sentido, se decidió usar textos publicados por Organizaciones No Gubernamentales (ONG) para enseñar gramática visual (Kress y van Leeuwen, 2006) en un máster. Estos textos han sido seleccionados porque eran apropiados para enseñar aspectos culturales y las realidades de los países pobres; éstos también permiten la adquisición de competencias interpersonales. En este artículo se señala que enseñar a los estudiantes a ser críticos con el discurso producido por las ONG es fundamental para desvelar las relaciones de dominación y poder, porque el discurso es siempre una poderosa herramienta utilizada para reproducir la realidad social

Multimodal Approach to the Image of Impoverished: A Visual Analysis of Covers in a Sample from Intermón Oxfam Magazines

Este artículo pretende ofrecer una aproximación al modo en el que las ONG representan a la población en países ricos y pobres así como a su propia representación como ONG de Desarrollo. Nuestro corpus consiste en todos los números de la publicación Revista IO publicados durante el año 2012 por Intermón Oxfam. Se ofrecerá un análisis detallado de las portadas por ser éstas la primera página que ven los lectores y por tratarse de la parte de la revista en las que la ONG se presenta. El análisis crítico del discurso, y específicamente el modelo propuesto por van Leeuwen (2008) así como la gramática visual de Kress y van Leeuwen (2006) serán empleados con el fin de ofrecer un análisis detallado de dichas portadas y con el objetivo de observar las principales características visuales empleadas para representar a personas de países del Sur y del Norte en una muestra de las revistas publicadas por Intermón Oxfam. Tras el análisis llegamos a la conclusión de que esta ONG crea una dicotomía entre las personas que trabajan con materias primas y artesanías, situadas en países pobres, y los consumidores de esos productos, situados en países ricos. De ahí que las relaciones entre ellos aparezcan mediatizadas por el dinero en lugar de por principios universales como la igualdad o la justicia social.This article intends to approach the way NGOs represent the population in poor and rich countries and their own representation as NGOs of Development. Our corpus consists of all the issues from the Intermón Oxfam’s magazine called Revista IO published in 2012. We will offer a detailed analysis of the covers because this is the first page seen by the readers and because this is the way in which the NGO introduces itself. Critical discourse analysis, specifically the model proposed by van Leeuwen (2008) and Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) visual grammar will be used in order to provide a detailed analysis of the covers and to observe the main visual characteristics used for presenting people from poor countries in a sample from Intermón Oxfam’s magazines. After analysing the said covers we conclude that this NGO creates a dichotomy between producers of raw materials and handicrafts, located in poor countries, and consumers of these products, located in rich countries. Thus, the relations between them appear mediated by money and not by universal values such as the equality or social justice

Visible light harvesting alkyne hydrosilylation mediated by pincer platinum complexe

In this manuscript we assess the catalytic properties of pincer platinum complexes in alkyne hydrosilylation either under photo or thermal conditions. The visible light-induced hydrosilylation proved to be more efficient. It can be performed at room temperature and required lower catalyst loadings than that operating under thermal conditions. The platinum complexes play a dual role in photohydrosilylation as serve as a photosensitizer and a catalyst enabling species in bond breaking/forming transformations. In addition, alkyne hydrosilylation is achieved with moderate regio- and stereoselectivity but is enhanced under photocatalytic conditions and in the case of terminal alkynes we have observed the formation of β(Z) products not observable under thermal conditions. Such differences in selectivity constitute an example of stereodivergent catalysis dictated under photochemical or thermal conditions. The selectivity differences are ascribed to a distinctive reaction mechanism for the light- vs thermally-induced process that involve radical or organometallic intermediates, respectively.MICIU/AEI/FEDER (PID2021-126071OB-C22 and PID2019-104121GB-I00). Universitat Jaume I (UJI-B2022-23). Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEU/2020/028).Thanks to PID2021-126071OB-C22 and PID2019-104121GB-I00 funded by MICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER “Una manera de hacer Europa”. Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEU/2020/028) and Universitat Jaume I (UJI-B2022-23). L. I-I. thanks MICIN for grant (FPU20/04385). The authors thank ‘Servei Central d’Instrumentació Científica (SCIC) de la Universitat Jaume I’

Big Five Personality Trait Short Questionnaire: Preliminary Validation with Spanish Adults

There are two major advantages of the Big Five Personality Trait Short Questionnaire (BFPTSQ) over other non-commercial short Five-Factor Model personality measures: widen conceptual breadth, and its use in both adolescents and adults. The aim of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of this questionnaire in an adult Spanish sample. Factor, convergent (using the NEO-PI-R), and criterion (using scales that assess happiness and alcohol consumption) validities, internal consistency as well as test-retest reliabilities of the BFPTSQ were evaluated. The sample was composed of 262 participants; a subsample of 71 individuals also answered the NEO-PI-R, and another subsample of 42 respondents filled the BFPTSQ out again a month later. The results indicated that the expected factor structure was recovered using exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). The ESEM showed satisfactory fit indices, with CFI and TLI around .90, as well as RMSEA and SRMR below .06. Moreover, coefficient alphas ranged from .75 to .85 and test-retest correlations ranged from .72 to .93 (p < .001). Regarding the associations of BFPTSQ with NEO-PI-R scales, the correlations with the broad-trait scales ranged from .57 to .80 (p < .001), and 27 out of 30 correlations with the facet scales were significant (p < .05 or lower). We also found that extraversion and emotional stability were associated with subjective well-being (p < .001), and extraversion and conscientiousness were related to alcohol consumption (p < .01). This study supports the construct validity of the Spanish version of the BFPTSQ in adults

Development and Validation of the Marijuana Motives Measure Short Form

Marijuana motives are a proximal variable to marijuana use. This research aimed to adapt and validate the short form of the Marijuana Motives Measure (MMM; Simons, Correia, Carey, y Borsari, 1998), the MMM SF, in Spanish. The sample comprised 232 participants (mean age = 25.11 (7.58), 50.43% males) who had tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime. Item and Rasch analyses were performed to choose the final pool of 15 items. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) showed an adequate 5-factor structure (S-BX2(80) = 121.30, p = .002; NNFI = .944; CFI = .958; IFI = .959; MFI = .915; RMSEA = .047(0.029, 0.063); AIC = -38.70), and the multi-group CFA between males and females showed acceptable fit indices (S-BX2(160) = 230.01, p = .000; NNFI = .900; CFI = .924; IFI = .927; MFI = .860; RMSEA = .062(.043, .078); AIC = -89.99). The questionnaire indicated metric (S-BX2diff (15) = 13.61, p = .556)), scalar (S-BX2diff (15) = 23.15, p = .081)) and error measurement invariance (S-BX2diff (15) = 8.65, p = .895)) between gender groups. The internal consistencies and ordinal omega of the scales were between .79 and .90. In the regression analysis, enhancement, coping and low conformity motives predicted frequency and quantity of marijuana smoked. The best predictor of frequency and quantity consumed during the heaviest smoking period was enhancement, while coping and, to a lesser extent, low conformity, were the only predictors of cannabis-related problems when marijuana frequency and quantity were controlled for. The MMM SF shows adequate psychometric properties and is a suitable instrument to assess marijuana motives, especially during time-limited sessions.Los motivos de consumo son una variable proximal al uso de marihuana. Este estudio pretende adaptar y validar la versión española breve del Marijuana Motives Measure (MMM; Simons, Correia, Carey, y Borsari, 1998), el MMM SF. La muestra estaba compuesta por 232 participantes (edad media = 25,11 (7,58), 50,43% hombres) que habían probado la marihuana al menos una vez. Se realizaron análisis de los ítems y de Rasch para seleccionar los 15 ítems. El Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (AFC) mostró una estructura de cinco factores adecuada (S-BX2(80) = 121,30, p = ,002; NNFI = 0,944; CFI = 0,958; IFI = 0,959; MFI = 0,915; RMSEA = 0,047(0,029, 0,063); AIC = -38,70), y el AFC multigrupo entre hombres y mujeres mostró índices de ajuste aceptables (S-BX2(160) = 230,01, p = ,000; NNFI = 0,900; CFI = 0,924; IFI = 0,927; MFI = 0,860; RMSEA = 0,062(0,043, 0,078); AIC = -89,99). El cuestionario mostró invarianza métrica (S-BX2dif (15) = 13,61, p = ,556)), escalar (S-BX2dif (15) = 23,15, p = ,081)) y de los errores de medida (S-BX2dif (15) = 8,65, p = ,895)) entre grupos de género. Los alfas de Cronbach y omega ordinal de las escalas fueron de 0,79 a 0,90. Los motivos de animación, afrontamiento y bajos motivos de conformidad predijeron el consumo de marihuana. El mejor predictor durante la época de mayor consumo fueron los motivos de animación, mientras que los motivos de afrontamiento, y en menor medida los bajos motivos de conformidad, fueron los mejores predictores de los problemas derivados una vez se controló el efecto de frecuencia y cantidad fumada. El MMM SF presenta unas propiedades psicométricas adecuadas y es una medida útil para evaluar los motivos de consumo de marihuana, especialmente durante sesiones de evaluación con tiempo limitado

Effect of the Addition of Alkaline Earth and Lanthanide Metals for the Modification of the Alumina Support in Ni and Ru Catalysts in CO2 Methanation

In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are reaching alarming levels in the atmosphere, capture, recovery, and transformation of carbon dioxide emitted to methane is considered a potentially profitable process. This transformation, known as methanation, is a catalytic reaction that mainly uses catalysts based on noble metals such as Ru and, although with less efficiency, on transition metals such as Ni. In order to improve the efficiency of these conventional catalysts, the effect of adding alkaline earth metals (Ba, Ca, or Mg at 10 wt%) and lanthanides (La or Ce at 14 wt%) to nickel (13 wt%), ruthenium (1 wt%), or both-based catalysts has been studied at temperatures between 498 and 773 K and 10 bar pressure. The deactivation resistance in presence of H2S was also monitored. The incorporation of La into the catalyst produces interactions between active metal Ni, Ru, or Ru-Ni and the alumina support, as determined by the characterization. This fact results in an improvement in the catalytic activity of the 13Ni/Al2O3 catalyst, which achieves a methane yield of 82% at 680 K for 13Ni/14La-Al2O3, in addition to an increase in H2S deactivation resistance. Furthermore, 89% was achieved for 1Ru-13Ni/14La-Al2O3 at 651 K, but it showed to be more vulnerable to H2S presence

Prostaglandin transporter PGT as a new pharmacological target in the prevention of inflammatory cytokine-induced injury in renal proximal tubular HK-2 cells

Aims: Inflammatory cytokines contribute to proximal tubular cell (PTC) injury leading to the deterioration of renal function and acute kidney injury (AKI) development. They also stimulate cyclo‑oxygenase-2 (COX-2)- dependent production and release to the extracellular medium of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a mediator of PTC injury. However, in several settings PGE2 re-uptake by prostaglandin transporter (PGT) is critical for PGE2- mediated PTC injury. Here we investigated several deleterious effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines in PTC and their prevention by PGT targeting. Main methods: In human kidney-2 (HK-2) PTC exposed to an inflammatory cytokine cocktail, consisting of interleukins (IL) IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-2, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), were determined the changes in several parameters related to PTC injury, their dependency on PGE2 (through modulation by antagonists of PGE2 receptors) and the preventive effect of PGT inhibitor bromosulfophthalein. Key findings: The cytokine cocktail induced a COX-2-dependent increase in intracellular PGE2 (iPGE2) and cell death, together to a decrease in cell number and cell proliferation. There was also loss of adherent cells to collagen IV, changes in actin cytoskeleton and loss of monolayer integrity, together to an increase in paracellular permeability. All the changes were sensitive to antagonist of PGE2 receptors AH6809 and were fully prevented by bromosulfophthalein. Significance: These results indicate that PGT-, iPGE2-dependent mechanisms mediate inflammatory cytokineinduced HK-2 cell injury and suggest that treatment with PGT inhibitors might help to prevent AKI induced by sepsis, renal ischemia/reperfusion and other pathological conditions in which inflammatory cytokines contribute to PTC damageThis work was supported by a grant COVID-19 2021 2020/00003/ 016/001/009 from the Universidad de Alcala and a grant Ayudas a la Investigacion ´ Departamento de Biología UAM. This research is part of the project on COVID-19 and diabetes (REACT UE-CM2021-02) funded by the Community of Madrid in agreement with the University of Alcala, ´ and co-funded with REACT-EU resources from the European Regional Development Fund “A way to make Europe

Empathy among health science undergraduates toward the diagnosis of chronic pain: An experimental study.

Objectives: To analyse the empathetic response of future health professionals toward people diagnosed with chronic pain differentiated by the degree of visibility and credibility of symptoms. Methods: A total of 203 undergraduates performed an experimental task using vignettes depicting different diagnoses of chronic pain and completed questionnaires measuring dispositional and situational empathy. A MANCOVA analysis was conducted. Results: The main effects of chronic pain diagnoses did not significantly affect situational empathy (p = .587, η2 = 0.007, d = 0.229). The dispositional empathy variables perspective-taking and personal distress affected the situational empathy scores (p = .002, η2 = 0.072, d = 0.906, and p = .043, η2 = 0.032, d = 0.547, respectively). Conclusions: It would seem appropriate to foster intra-individual empathy factors among health science undergraduates such that they can more readily understand the process of individual adaptation to chronic pain and thus manage it more effectively. Practice implications: It would be useful for dispositional empathy to form part of the transversal competences of the training programmes of future health professionals from the beginning of their studies