Dynastic Potential Crossover Operator

An optimal recombination operator for two parent solutions provides the best solution among those that take the value for each variable from one of the parents (gene transmission property). If the solutions are bit strings, the offspring of an optimal recombination operator is optimal in the smallest hyperplane containing the two parent solutions. Exploring this hyperplane is computationally costly, in general, requiring exponential time in the worst case. However, when the variable interaction graph of the objective function is sparse, exploration can be done in polynomial time. In this paper, we present a recombination operator, called Dynastic Potential Crossover (DPX), that runs in polynomial time and behaves like an optimal recombination operator for low-epistasis combinatorial problems. We compare this operator, both theoretically and experimentally, with traditional crossover operators, like uniform crossover and network crossover, and with two recently defined efficient recombination operators: partition crossover and articulation points partition crossover. The empirical comparison uses NKQ Landscapes and MAX-SAT instances. DPX outperforms the other crossover operators in terms of quality of the offspring and provides better results included in a trajectory and a population-based metaheuristic, but it requires more time and memory to compute the offspring.This research is partially funded by the Universidad de M\'alaga, Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento de la Junta de Andalucía and FEDER under grant number UMA18-FEDERJA-003 (PRECOG); under grant PID 2020-116727RB-I00 (HUmove) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; and TAILOR ICT-48 Network (No 952215) funded by EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The work is also partially supported in Brazil by São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), under grants 2021/09720-2 and 2019/07665-4, and National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), under grant 305755/2018-8

The role of nicotinic cholinergic neurotransmission in delusional thinking

Delusions are a difficult-to-treat and intellectually fascinating aspect of many psychiatric illnesses. Although scientific progress on this complex topic has been challenging, some recent advances focus on dysfunction in neural circuits, specifically in those involving dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. Here we review the role of cholinergic neurotransmission in delusions, with a focus on nicotinic receptors, which are known to play a part in some illnesses where these symptoms appear, including delirium, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, Parkinson, Huntington, and Alzheimer diseases. Beginning with what we know about the emergence of delusions in these illnesses, we advance a hypothesis of cholinergic disturbance in the dorsal striatum where nicotinic receptors are operative. Striosomes are proposed to play a central role in the formation of delusions. This hypothesis is consistent with our current knowledge about the mechanism of action of cholinergic drugs and with our abstract models of basic cognitive mechanisms at the molecular and circuit levels. We conclude by pointing out the need for further research both at the clinical and translational levels.Fil: Caton, Michael. No especifíca;Fil: Ochoa, Enrique L. M.. University of California at Davis; Estados UnidosFil: Barrantes, Francisco Jose. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Argentin

Fast jitter tolerance testing for high-speed serial links in post-silicon validation

Post-silicon electrical validation of high-speed input/output (HSIO) links is a critical process for product qualification schedules of high-performance computer platforms under current aggressive time-to-market (TTM) commitments. Improvements in signaling methods, circuits, and process technologies have allowed HSIO data rates to scale well beyond 10 Gb/s. Noise and EM effects can create multiple signal integrity problems, which are aggravated by continuously faster bus technologies. The goal of post-silicon validation for HSIO links is to ensure design robustness of both receiver (Rx) and transmitter (Tx) circuitry in real system environments. One of the most common ways to evaluate the performance of a HSIO link is to characterize the Rx jitter tolerance (JTOL) performance by measuring the bit error rate (BER) of the link under worst stressing conditions. However, JTOL testing is extremely time-consuming when executed at specification BER considering manufacturing process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) test coverage. In order to significantly accelerate this process, we propose a novel approach for JTOL testing based on an efficient direct search optimization methodology. Our approach exploits the fast execution of a modified golden section search with a high BER, while overcoming the lack of correlation between different BERs by performing a downward linear search at the actual target BER until no errors are found. Our proposed methodology is validated in a realistic industrial server post-silicon validation platform for three different computer HSIO links: SATA, USB3, and PCIe3.ITESO, A.C

Elution independent collection device (EICD) for rapid collection of Anaplasma marginale DNA from blood samples

Currently utilized molecular detection methods are based mainly on nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and detection procedures that may require costly equipment, numerous reagents, and highly trained personnel. These requirements make diagnostic tests expensive, time-consuming, and not suitable for point-of-care applications. There is an increasing demand for simple, low-cost portable technologies. To overcome these challenges, a paper-based elution independent collection device (EICD) was designed to collect microorganisms and recover nucleic acids for molecular biology applications with minimal steps. In this study, we demonstrate a simpler Anaplasma marginale detection that uses an EICD for nucleic acid collection combined with recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), and a lateral flow dipstick for detection of the specified target. A pre-lysis blood treatment was optimized that uses Triton X-100 lysis buffer and bovine serum album in wash buffer. Blood samples were incubated for 5 min at room temperature and run through the EICD. Four 1-mm diameter discs excised from EICD were used as template in basic RPA and lateral flow (nfo) (endonuclease IV) RPA assays. Each disc of soluble central membrane (SCM) carried circa 0.249 pg/ul of Anaplasma DNA. The percentage of nucleic acid recoverable from the SCM ranged between 60% - 70%. Blood samples infected with A. marginale were treated with Triton X-100 pre-lysis protocol. All samples tested positive by PCR and RPA methods. EICD-driven collection of blood samples is a practical method successfully adapted to detect Anaplasma spp. or blood-borne pathogen DNA and has potential for point-of-care detection in resource-limited settings.Peer reviewedEntomology and Plant PathologyBiosecurity and Microbial Forensic

Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with lateral flow detection for three Anaplasma species of importance to livestock health

Anaplasma marginale, A. ovis, and A. phagocytophilum are the causative agents of bovine anaplasmosis, ovine anaplasmosis, and granulocytic anaplasmosis, respectively. The gold standard for diagnosis of post-acute and long-term persistent infections is the serological cELISA, which does not discriminate between Anaplasma species and requires highly equipped laboratories and trained personnel. This study addresses the development of a rapid, isothermal, sensitive, species-specific RPA assays to detect three Anaplasma species in blood and cELISA A. marginale-positive serum samples. Three RPA primer and probe sets were designed targeting msp4 genes of each Anaplasma species and the internal control (GAPDH gene) for each assay. The limit of detection of gel-based or RPA-basic assays is 8.99 x 104 copies/ul = A. marginale, 5.04 x� 106 copies/ul = A. ovis, and 4.58 x� 103 copies/ul = A. phagocytophilum, and for each multiplex lateral flow or RPA-nfo assays is 8.99 x� 103 copies/ul of A. marginale, 5.04 x� 103 copies/ul of A. ovis, 4.58 x� 103 copies/ul of A. phagocytophilum, and 5.51 x� 103 copies/ul of internal control (GAPDH). Although none of the 80 blood samples collected from Oklahoma cattle were positive, the RPA-nfo assays detected all A. marginale cattle blood samples with varying prevalence rates of infection, 83% of the 24 cELISA A. marginale-positive serum samples, and all A. phagocytophilum cell culture samples. Overall, although early detection of three Anaplasma species was not specifically addressed, the described RPA technique represents an improvement for detection of three Anaplasma in regions where access to laboratory equipment is limited.Peer reviewedEntomology and Plant PathologyBiosecurity and Microbial Forensic

Supervivencia en niños de muy bajo peso al nacimiento, 1996-2004

El objetivo de esta investigación fue establecer la probabilidad de supervivencia y la morbilidad de los neonatos con muy bajo peso al nacimiento, en un hospital de tercer nivel de Colombia. Para este fin se evaluaron todos los neonatos nacidos vivos con peso inferior a 1500g en el Hospital General de Medellín, entre 1996 y 2004. Resultados: durante el período de estudio ingresaron 1443 neonatos. 54% de las madres recibió esteroides antenatales y 17.1% de los neonatos recibió surfactante pulmonar. La media del tiempo de supervivencia de los neonatos con peso inferior a 1000g fue menor a un día. Ningún neonato de 23 semanas o menos egresó vivo. La probabilidad de ingresar a la Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal fue significativamente menor entre los neonatos menores de 1000g, que entre los neonatos de 1000 a 1490 g, y el RR = 0.54 (IC95%: 0.44-0.65). La mortalidad de este grupo fue mayor de manera estadísticamente significativa, que entre los de 1000 a 1490 g, y el RR = 3.8 (IC 95%=3.3-4.3). La fracción atribuible en la población (RAP%) debida al extremo bajo peso al nacer fue de 47.8%.  AbstractThe aim of this trial was to measure the neonatal survival rate and the morbidity of the very low birth weight infants in a third level hospital in Colombia. In the Hospital General of Medellín were evaluated all the neonates born between 1996 and 2004 with a birth weight less than 1500g. Results: 1443 neonates were enrolled to this cohorte-study 54% of the mothers got antenatal steroids and 17.1% of the neonates got pulmonary surfactant. The neonates with a birth weight less than 1000g had a survival time median less than one day. No one neonate with 23 weeks or less of gestational age went away live. The likelihood of enter to the neonatal intensive care unit was significant lower in neonates with a birth weight less than 1000g that in the neonates with a birth weight between 1000 to 1490 g, RR = 0.54 (CI95%: 0.44-0.65), the mortality in the first group was greater than in the second group, RR = 3.8 (CI95%: 3.3-4.3). The percentage of attributable risk in the population (%PAR) was 47.8% caused to have a birth weigh lower than 1000 g. Conclusions: There is a lower risk to enter at the neonatal intensive care unit in those neonates with a birth weight less than 1000g, and the survival rate of this population is diminished because of this. The high likelihood of dying due to the extreme low birth weight must call the attention of the sanitary authorities, because this evaluates of indirect way the quality of attention that receive the obstetrical patients. Cohort studies should to carry out in this population for evaluating the long time prognosis and would allow design policies of maternal and neonatal health.Keywords: very low birth weight infant, neonatal intensive care unit, neonatal mortality, survival rate, pulmonary surfactant, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia

PCIe Gen5 Physical Layer Equalization Tuning by Using K-means Clustering and Gaussian Process Regression Modeling in Industrial Post-silicon Validation

Peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) is a high-performance interconnect architecture widely adopted in the computer industry. The continuously increasing bandwidth demand from new applications has led to the development of the PCIe Gen5, reaching data rates of 32 GT/s. To mitigate undesired channel effects due to such high-speed, the PCIe specification defines an equalization process at the transmitter (Tx) and the receiver (Rx). Current post-silicon validation practices consist of finding an optimal subset of Tx and Rx coefficients by measuring the eye diagrams across different channels. However, these experiments are very time consuming since they require massive lab measurements. In this paper, we use a K-means approach to cluster all available post-silicon data from different channels and feed those clusters to a Gaussian process regression (GPR)-based metamodel for each channel. We then perform a surrogate-based optimization to obtain the optimal tuning settings for the specific channels. Our methodology is validated by measurements of the functional eye diagram of an industrial computer platform.ITESO, A.C

Analysis of the Relationship between Lifestyle and Coffee Consumption Habits, from the Myth Approach, in the Municipalities of Orizaba, Tehuipango, and Zongolica Veracruz.

Coffee consumption habits have evolved along with society for more than 300 years around the world. Social changes imply different lifestyles in each culture. Lifestyles influence the myths used by people in their consumption decisions. The objective of this research is to determine the relationship between lifestyle and coffee consumption habits, from the perspective of myth, in the inhabitants of the Mexican municipalities of Orizaba, Tehuipango, and Zongolica. A survey was conducted with a sample of inhabitants of the three municipalities studied. The statistical analyzes applied were the central limit theorem, Pearson, and Chi-square. The results show that the variables Consumption habits-Lifestyle-Myth, are highly dependent on the level of perception of people. It is concluded that the coffee myth corresponds to the "family union" in the study municipalities. This myth is not characterized in the evolutionary stages contemplated in the "waves of coffee"

Líneas de investigación del laboratorio de sistemas de información avanzados

El Laboratorio de Sistemas de Información Avanzados (LSIA) de la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) cuenta con distintas líneas de investigación: Internet de las Cosas , Extracción de relaciones semánticas en español, Explotación de Información, Dinámica de Tecleo, Redes definidas por software y Computación afectiva colectiva. En varias de estas líneas se han obtenido aportes relevantes al área mientras que las líneas que están comenzando mantienen objetivos prometedores.Eje: Innovación en Sistemas de SoftwareRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI