CONTROL BASED ON NUMERICAL METHODS AND RECURSIVE BAYESIAN ESTIMATION IN A CONTINUOUS ALCOHOLIC FERMENTATION PROCESS

Biotechnological processes represent a challenge in the control field, due to their high nonlinearity. In particular, continuous alcoholic fermentation from Zymomonas mobilis (Z.m) presents a significant challenge. This bioprocess has high ethanol performance, but it exhibits an oscillatory behavior in process variables due to the influence of inhibition dynamics (rate of ethanol concentration) over biomass, substrate, and product concentrations. In this work a new solution for control of biotechnological variables in the fermentation process is proposed, based on numerical methods and linear algebra. In addition, an improvement to a previously reported state estimator, based on particle filtering techniques, is used in the control loop. The feasibility estimator and its performance are demonstrated in the proposed control loop. This methodology makes it possible to develop a controller design through the use of dynamic analysis with a tested biomass estimator in Z.m and without the use of complex calculations

Desarrollo embrionario de Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae), bajo condiciones de laboratorio

Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas. The development of L. longipalpis eggs was monitored for six days under experimental conditions. This allowed describing the internal and external morphological characteristics of the egg and the newly born larvae, as well as estimating their length.  In eggs with one and two days of development, abundant vitello was observed without clear formation of blastula and gastrula. On the third day, a decrease in the vitelline envelope and the differentiation of some larval structures were recorded. On the fourth day the larva formed was observed, but not sclerotized. On the fifth day we visualized the caudal setae and through the chorion the differentiated larval structures, and on the sixth day the majority (90 %) of the larvae had hatched. On average, the length of the eggs was 372.8 µm and the width 109.0 µm, while the length of the larvae was 628.8 µm and the length of the caudal setae was 686.7 µmLutzomyia longipalpis es el principal vector de la leishmaniasis visceral en las Américas. Durante seis días se hizo seguimiento al desarrollo de los huevos de L. longipalpis bajo condiciones experimentales. Esto permitió describir las características morfológicas internas y externas del huevo y de las larvas recién nacidas, así como estimar su longitud. En huevos con uno y dos días de desarrollo, se observó abundante vitelo sin formación clara de blástula y gástrula. Al tercer día, se registró una disminución de la envoltura vitelina y la diferenciación de algunas estructuras de la larva. En el cuarto día se observó la larva formada, pero sin quitinización. Al quinto día se visualizaron las setas caudales y a través del corión las estructuras diferenciadas de la larva, y al sexto día la mayoría (90 %) de las larvas había eclosionado. En promedio, la longitud de los huevos fue de 372,8 µm y el ancho de 109,0 µm, en tanto que la longitud de las larvas fue de 628,8 µm y la de las setas caudales 686,7 µm

Heavy Metal Tolerance of Microorganisms Isolated from Coastal Marine Sediments and Their Lead Removal Potential

In this study, 338 microorganisms, comprising 271 bacteria and 67 fungi, were isolated from sediment samples collected from underexplored Pacific and Caribbean regions of Colombia. Screening trials were conducted on selected strains (n = 276) to assess their tolerance to cadmium (Cd2+), lead (Pb2+), and zinc (Zn2+), leading to the identification of six bacteria capable of withstanding 750 mg·L−1 of each heavy metal ion. Three promising microorganisms, identified as Enterobacter sp. INV PRT213, Pseudomonas sp. INV PRT215, and Stenotrophomonas sp. INV PRT216 were selected for lead removal experiments using LB broth medium supplemented with 400 mg·L−1 Pb2+. Among these, Pseudomonas sp. INV PRT215 exhibited significant potential, removing 49% of initial Pb2+ after 240 min of exposure (16.7 g wet biomass·L−1, pH 5, 30 °C). Infrared spectra of Pb-exposed biomass showed changes in functional groups, including carbonyl groups of amides, carboxylate, phosphate, hydroxyl, and amine groups, compared to the not-exposed control. These changes suggested interactions between the metal and functional groups in the biomass. The findings of this study highlight the potential of microorganisms derived from coastal marine environments as promising candidates for future applications in bioremediation of polluted environments contaminated with heavy metals

Diagnóstico de las condiciones del sistema socio-productivo y ambiental del sector entrerriano del Delta del rio Paraná

La transición del Río Paraná al Río de la Plata se da a través de un amplio delta. El Delta Entrerrianoocupa una superficie de 12.067 km2. El objetivo del proyecto fue elaborar un diagnóstico de las condicionesdel sistema socio-productivo y ambiental del sector entrerriano del Delta del Río Paraná con elfin de aportar una herramienta para el desarrollo sustentable de la región. La fortaleza del Delta entrerrianoradica en ser un gran reservorio de agua dulce con capacidad para amortiguar inundaciones,que posee una alta biodiversidad florística y faunística, con condiciones ambientales adecuadas paraactividades productivas como ganadería, forestación, apicultura, pesca, caza, extracción de áridos yturismo. La debilidad es que falta implementar un plan integral de manejo del agua y del medio ambienteque permita conciliar la producción con el desarrollo sustentable del área. Se propone un modelo degestión basado en la creación del Ente Administrador del Delta Entrerriano constituido por un ComitéEjecutivo (Estructuras Gubernamentales) con autoridad formal, un Comité Consultivo que brinda apoyotécnico, legal, comunicacional o educativo al ejecutivo pero no decide y el Comité de Usuarios. Estaestructura organizacional debería replicarse en las provincias de Santa Fe y Buenos Aires integrandouna única entidad regional

Propuestas del Foco de Tecnologías Convergentes e Industrias 4.0

La colección Colombia hacia una sociedad del conocimiento reúne las contribuciones de la Misión Internacional de Sabios 2019 sobre Educación, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, convocada por el Presidente de la República. Este volumen corresponde a las contribuciones realizadas por el Foco de Tecnologías Convergentes -Nano, Bio, Info y Cogno- e Industrias 4.0, cuyas recomendaciones sobre la educación, la infraestructura digital estratégica, la inversión inteligente, la innovación para crear valor y equidad, la atracción de capital privado y talento internacional, la política pública acompañada de regulaciones modernas, entre otros pilares, conforman una arquitectura crítica para la innovación y la oportunidad global para el país.Vicepresidencia de la República de Colombia, Universidad EAFIT, Universidad del Vall

Pan-Cancer Analysis of lncRNA Regulation Supports Their Targeting of Cancer Genes in Each Tumor Context

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are commonly dys-regulated in tumors, but only a handful are known toplay pathophysiological roles in cancer. We inferredlncRNAs that dysregulate cancer pathways, onco-genes, and tumor suppressors (cancer genes) bymodeling their effects on the activity of transcriptionfactors, RNA-binding proteins, and microRNAs in5,185 TCGA tumors and 1,019 ENCODE assays.Our predictions included hundreds of candidateonco- and tumor-suppressor lncRNAs (cancerlncRNAs) whose somatic alterations account for thedysregulation of dozens of cancer genes and path-ways in each of 14 tumor contexts. To demonstrateproof of concept, we showed that perturbations tar-geting OIP5-AS1 (an inferred tumor suppressor) andTUG1 and WT1-AS (inferred onco-lncRNAs) dysre-gulated cancer genes and altered proliferation ofbreast and gynecologic cancer cells. Our analysis in-dicates that, although most lncRNAs are dysregu-lated in a tumor-specific manner, some, includingOIP5-AS1, TUG1, NEAT1, MEG3, and TSIX, synergis-tically dysregulate cancer pathways in multiple tumorcontexts

Genomic, Pathway Network, and Immunologic Features Distinguishing Squamous Carcinomas

This integrated, multiplatform PanCancer Atlas study co-mapped and identified distinguishing molecular features of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) from five sites associated with smokin

Pan-cancer Alterations of the MYC Oncogene and Its Proximal Network across the Cancer Genome Atlas

Although theMYConcogene has been implicated incancer, a systematic assessment of alterations ofMYC, related transcription factors, and co-regulatoryproteins, forming the proximal MYC network (PMN),across human cancers is lacking. Using computa-tional approaches, we define genomic and proteo-mic features associated with MYC and the PMNacross the 33 cancers of The Cancer Genome Atlas.Pan-cancer, 28% of all samples had at least one ofthe MYC paralogs amplified. In contrast, the MYCantagonists MGA and MNT were the most frequentlymutated or deleted members, proposing a roleas tumor suppressors.MYCalterations were mutu-ally exclusive withPIK3CA,PTEN,APC,orBRAFalterations, suggesting that MYC is a distinct onco-genic driver. Expression analysis revealed MYC-associated pathways in tumor subtypes, such asimmune response and growth factor signaling; chro-matin, translation, and DNA replication/repair wereconserved pan-cancer. This analysis reveals insightsinto MYC biology and is a reference for biomarkersand therapeutics for cancers with alterations ofMYC or the PMN

Spatial Organization and Molecular Correlation of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Using Deep Learning on Pathology Images

Beyond sample curation and basic pathologic characterization, the digitized H&E-stained images of TCGA samples remain underutilized. To highlight this resource, we present mappings of tumorinfiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) based on H&E images from 13 TCGA tumor types. These TIL maps are derived through computational staining using a convolutional neural network trained to classify patches of images. Affinity propagation revealed local spatial structure in TIL patterns and correlation with overall survival. TIL map structural patterns were grouped using standard histopathological parameters. These patterns are enriched in particular T cell subpopulations derived from molecular measures. TIL densities and spatial structure were differentially enriched among tumor types, immune subtypes, and tumor molecular subtypes, implying that spatial infiltrate state could reflect particular tumor cell aberration states. Obtaining spatial lymphocytic patterns linked to the rich genomic characterization of TCGA samples demonstrates one use for the TCGA image archives with insights into the tumor-immune microenvironment

Effect of aliskiren on post-discharge outcomes among diabetic and non-diabetic patients hospitalized for heart failure: insights from the ASTRONAUT trial

Aims The objective of the Aliskiren Trial on Acute Heart Failure Outcomes (ASTRONAUT) was to determine whether aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, would improve post-discharge outcomes in patients with hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) with reduced ejection fraction. Pre-specified subgroup analyses suggested potential heterogeneity in post-discharge outcomes with aliskiren in patients with and without baseline diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods and results ASTRONAUT included 953 patients without DM (aliskiren 489; placebo 464) and 662 patients with DM (aliskiren 319; placebo 343) (as reported by study investigators). Study endpoints included the first occurrence of cardiovascular death or HHF within 6 and 12 months, all-cause death within 6 and 12 months, and change from baseline in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) at 1, 6, and 12 months. Data regarding risk of hyperkalaemia, renal impairment, and hypotension, and changes in additional serum biomarkers were collected. The effect of aliskiren on cardiovascular death or HHF within 6 months (primary endpoint) did not significantly differ by baseline DM status (P = 0.08 for interaction), but reached statistical significance at 12 months (non-DM: HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64-0.99; DM: HR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.91-1.47; P = 0.03 for interaction). Risk of 12-month all-cause death with aliskiren significantly differed by the presence of baseline DM (non-DM: HR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50-0.94; DM: HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.15-2.33; P < 0.01 for interaction). Among non-diabetics, aliskiren significantly reduced NT-proBNP through 6 months and plasma troponin I and aldosterone through 12 months, as compared to placebo. Among diabetic patients, aliskiren reduced plasma troponin I and aldosterone relative to placebo through 1 month only. There was a trend towards differing risk of post-baseline potassium ≥6 mmol/L with aliskiren by underlying DM status (non-DM: HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.71-1.93; DM: HR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.30-4.42; P = 0.07 for interaction). Conclusion This pre-specified subgroup analysis from the ASTRONAUT trial generates the hypothesis that the addition of aliskiren to standard HHF therapy in non-diabetic patients is generally well-tolerated and improves post-discharge outcomes and biomarker profiles. In contrast, diabetic patients receiving aliskiren appear to have worse post-discharge outcomes. Future prospective investigations are needed to confirm potential benefits of renin inhibition in a large cohort of HHF patients without D