Characterising epithelial tissues using persistent entropy

In this paper, we apply persistent entropy, a novel topological statis- tic, for characterization of images of epithelial tissues. We have found out that persistent entropy is able to summarize topological and geomet- ric information encoded by -complexes and persistent homology. After using some statistical tests, we can guarantee the existence of signi cant di erences in the studied tissues.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MTM2015-67072-

Persistent entropy: a scale-invariant topological statistic for analyzing cell arrangements

In this work, we develop a method for detecting differences in the topological distribution of cells forming epithelial tissues. In particular, we extract topological information from their images using persistent homology and a summary statistic called persistent entropy. This method is scale invariant, robust to noise and sensitive to global topological features of the tissue. We have found significant differences between chick neuroepithelium and epithelium of Drosophila wing discs in both, larva and prepupal stages. Besides, we have tested our method, with good results, with images of mathematical tesselations that model biological tissues

Stable topological summaries for analyzing the organization of cells in a packed tissue

We use topological data analysis tools for studying the inner organization of cells in segmented images of epithelial tissues. More specifically, for each segmented image, we compute different persistence barcodes, which codify the lifetime of homology classes (persistent homology) along different filtrations (increasing nested sequences of simplicial complexes) that are built from the regions representing the cells in the tissue. We use a complete and well-grounded set of numerical variables over those persistence barcodes, also known as topological summaries. A novel combination of normalization methods for both the set of input segmented images and the produced barcodes allows for the proven stability results for those variables with respect to small changes in the input, as well as invariance to image scale. Our study provides new insights to this problem, such as a possible novel indicator for the development of the drosophila wing disc tissue or the importance of centroids’ distribution to differentiate some tissues from their CVT-path counterpart (a mathematical model of epithelia based on Voronoi diagrams). We also show how the use of topological summaries may improve the classification accuracy of epithelial images using a Random Forest algorithm.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PID2019-107339GB-I0

Acercando la práctica penal a las aulas: el juicio oral a golpe de un click

El proyecto tiene como finalidad acercar a los estudiantes a la práctica procesal penal durante su etapa de formación básica mediante el uso de las nuevas tecnologías y las herramientas disponibles en el campus virtual

Serum levels of anti-alphaGalactosyl antibodies predict survival and peritoneal dialysis-related enteric peritonitis rates in patients undergoing renal replacement therapy

[Abstract] Background: Anti-Galα1-3Gal antibodies (anti-αGal) represent a significant fraction of natural antibodies and were implicated in several disease states, yet their origin and physiological significance remain largely undisclosed. Methods: Under a prospective observational design, we estimated anti-αGal immunoglobulin G (IgG)/IgM and antipig hemolytic antibody (APA) levels in 133 patients starting dialysis therapy and again after a 1-year follow-up. We used baseline data to show correlations with demographic, nutritional, inflammatory, and anemia markers and analyzed their correlation with outcomes by using univariate and multivariate strategies of survival analysis. Results: Serum anti-αGal and APA levels showed wide baseline variability, but remained relatively stable in time. Both were measurable in dialysate of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, showing close correlation to serum levels. We observed no association between levels of anti-αGal/APA and nutritional markers, but showed direct correlations of anti-αGal IgM (P = 0.005) and APA levels (P = 0.001) with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels. High APA levels also were associated with severe anemia (P = 0.006). High baseline anti-αGal IgM (P = 0.03) and APA levels (P = 0.045) predicted later risk for enteric peritonitis in PD patients. Finally, univariate and multivariate analyses showed a consistent association between high baseline anti-αGal IgM (P = 0.014) and APA (P = 0.021) levels and global risk for mortality during follow-up. Conclusion: Anti-αGal IgM and APA levels at the start of dialysis therapy are significant predictors of later risk for mortality and, in PD patients, enteric peritonitis. Both correlate directly with TNF-α levels and, in the case of APA, severity of anemia in these patients

Derecho civil 1: Parte general y Derecho de la persona. Grado en Derecho

Memoria ID11-180. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2011-2012

Tablets for access to electronic resources and for use as teaching support in the university library: A case study

The experience of the Library of the Faculty of Law of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) is presented, where patrons use tablets to access books that have been acquired in electronic format. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of titles that are being distributed in paper with an electronic copy attached (duo). These are characterized by the indivisibility of the pack and the increase in their price. This system encourages both the individual and private use of the copies by using a code associated with the user’s profile. The creation of a specific system based on the use of a tablet in order to provide the user public access to these copies is described. The system duplicates the number of copies available to users. In addition to access to e-books, a selection of electronic resources and programs previously offered by the University has been included in the tablets. The tablets are also configured for teaching uses, both for seminars and exams

Analysis of Minor Proteins Present in Breast Milk by Using WGA Lectin

Breast milk is a complex and dynamic biological fluid and considered an essential source of nutrition in early life. In its composition, the proteins have a relevant biological activity and are related to the multiple benefits demonstrated when compared with artificial milks derived from cow’s milk. Understanding human milk composition provides an important tool for health care providers toward the management of infant feeding and the establishment of breastfeeding. In this work, a new technique was developed to increase the knowledge of human milk, because many of the components remain unknown. To isolate minor proteins present in breast milk by using WGA lectin, breast milk was centrifuged to remove cells and separate the fat phase from the serum phase. The serum obtained was separated into two groups: control (n = 3; whole serum sample from mature milk) and WGA lectin (n = 3; sample processed with WGA lectin to isolate glycosylated proteins). The samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS). A total of 84 different proteins were identified from all of the samples. In the WGA lectin group, 55 different proteins were isolated, 77% of which had biological functions related to the immune response. Of these proteins, there were eight WGA lectin group exclusives, and two had not previously been described in breast milk (polyubiquitin-B and POTE ankyrin domain family member F). Isolation by WGA lectin is a useful technique to detect minor proteins in breast milk and to identify proteins that could not be observed in whole serum

Sustentabilidad de agroecosistemas de milpa en La Trinidad Ixtlán, Oaxaca

Milpa is an integrated agricultural system were maize (Zea mays L.), bean (Phaseolus spp.), and pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) are associated; is the most crucial system of food for self-consumption for rural families in México. The objective of this study was to evaluate sustainability in milpa agroecosystems in one rural community of Sierra Norte of Oaxaca. The study was conducted in 12 milpa parcells, which were divided in two different groups given their management practices, and their respective family units. Based on the methodology for evaluating natural resource management systems incorporating indicators of sustainability (MESMIS), 15 sustainability indicators were measured through a survey application. Agroecosystems were regrouped through a multivariate analysis using a Rcmdr program from the free software R. Indicators were converted to a normalized scale from 0 to 100 through the reference interval method. Multivariate analysis reclassified agroecosystems in three conglomerates, which were mainly differentiated by the cost-benefit indicator, and distinguished two atypical cases. Sustainability reaches agroecosystems thanks to higher values of biodiversity and soil organic matter indicators and lower values of chemical inputs and governmental dependency indicators. Nevertheless, in these agroecosystems, sustainability is threatened because of climatic variability and generation succession uncertainty.La milpa, asociación integrada por maíz (Zea mays L.), frijol (Phaseolus spp.) y calabaza (Cucurbita spp.), es el sistema de producción de alimentos más importante para el autoabasto de las familias que viven en zonas rurales de México. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la sustentabilidad de agroecosistemas de milpa en una comunidad de la Sierra Norte de Oaxaca. La evaluación se realizó en 12 parcelas de milpa, divididas en dos grupos de contraste por sus prácticas de manejo, y sus respectivas unidades familiares. Con base en la metodología Marco para la Evaluación de Sistemas de Manejo de Recursos Naturales Incorporando Indicadores de Sustentabilidad (MESMIS) se seleccionaron 15 indicadores de sustentabilidad que se midieron a través de una encuesta, principalmente. Los agroecosistemas se reagruparon mediante un análisis multivariado realizado con la paquetería Rcmdr del software libre R. Los indicadores se transformaron a una escala estandarizada de 0 a 100 mediante el método de intervalo de referencia. El análisis multivariado reclasificó a los agroecosistemas en tres conglomerados, que se diferenciaron principalmente por el indicador relación beneficio-costo neta, y distinguió dos casos atípicos. Los elementos que le dotan de mayor sustentabilidad a los agroecosistemas evaluados son la biodiversidad agrícola y circundante, el contenido de materia orgánica del suelo, y la baja dependencia de insumos químicos y apoyos gubernamentales. No obstante, la sustentabilidad de estos sistemas se ve amenazada por la variabilidad climática y por la incertidumbre del relevo generacional

Saberes tradicionales, acceso, uso y transformación de hongos silvestres comestibles en santa Catarina del monte, Estado de México

In this article, we describe the traditional knowledge of menand women who collect and sell wild fungi in Santa Catarinadel Monte, Estado de México. This knowledge is culturallyconstructed and contributes to family diet, as well as constitutingeconomic earnings for those who gather these products. Residentsunderstand about collection seasons and places where they areproduced; they can differentiate between edible and poisonousspecies, which they use and transform. This knowledge has beenpreserved because the use of wild plants, in general, and offungi in particular, for food is a traditional practice that hasalways accompanied communities that reside near forests, andsubsistence agriculture.En este artículo se describen los saberes tradicionales de hombresy mujeres recolectores y vendedores de hongos silvestresde Santa Catarina del Monte, Estado de México. Saberes construidosculturalmente que coadyuvan a la dieta familiar y constituyenuna entrada económica para quienes recolectan estosproductos. Las y los pobladores, conocen épocas de recolección,lugares donde se producen, diferencian las especies comestiblesde las venenosas, las utilizan y transforman. Son saberes que sehan conservado porque el uso de plantas silvestres para alimentoen general, y de los hongos en particular, es una práctica tradicionalque ha acompañado siempre a comunidades que vivencerca de los bosques y a la agricultura de subsistencia