Impact exercise strategies in the HRQOL of the sedentary adults

El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la eficacia de diferentes estrategias de intervención del ejercicio físico y relacionarlas con la percepción de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en adultos mayores sedentarios. Participaron 100 sujetos, con edades comprendidas entre los 60 y 70 años, que fueron divididos aleatoriamente en cuatro grupos: control, recomendación, prescripción y monitorización. La intervención de ejercicio físico tuvo una duración de 6 meses. Para la valoración de la CVRS se utilizó el cuestionario SF-36. Los grupos monitorización y prescripción obtuvieron los mayores valores en todos los dominios en el análisis intragrupos. La función física y la salud general y mental obtienen los mayores valores significativos entre grupos (p<.05). Entre los grupos prescripción y monitorización no existen diferencias significativas en ninguna dimensión. Sin embargo el grupo de monitorización obtuvo valores superiores en salud mental, no siendo así en salud físicaThe aim of the study was to analyze the effectiveness of different intervention strategies of exercise and relate the perception of quality of life related to health (HRQOL) in sedentary older adults. It involved 100 subjects, aged between 60 and 70, who were randomly divided into four groups: control, recommend, prescribe and monitor. The exercise intervention lasted 6 months. The SF-36 questionnaire was used for the assessment of HRQOL. The monitoring and prescription groups had higher values in all domains in the intragroup analysis. Physical function and health and mental health obtain the highest significant values between groups (p <.05). There are no significant differences at all in any domain among prescription and monitoring groups. However, the monitoring group obtained higher values in mental health, but were not in physical healt

The asymptotic iteration method for the angular spheroidal eigenvalues with arbitrary complex size parameter c

The asymptotic iteration method is applied, to calculate the angular spheroidal eigenvalues $\lambda^{m}_{\ell}(c)$ with arbitrary complex size parameter $c$. It is shown that, the obtained numerical results of $\lambda^{m}_{\ell}(c)$ are all in excellent agreement with the available published data over the full range of parameter values $\ell$, $m$, and $c$. Some representative values of $\lambda^{m}_{\ell}(c)$ for large real $c$ are also given.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur

Synchronization, Diversity, and Topology of Networks of Integrate and Fire Oscillators

We study synchronization dynamics of a population of pulse-coupled oscillators. In particular, we focus our attention in the interplay between networks topological disorder and its synchronization features. Firstly, we analyze synchronization time $T$ in random networks, and find a scaling law which relates $T$ to networks connectivity. Then, we carry on comparing synchronization time for several other topological configurations, characterized by a different degree of randomness. The analysis shows that regular lattices perform better than any other disordered network. The fact can be understood by considering the variability in the number of links between two adjacent neighbors. This phenomenon is equivalent to have a non-random topology with a distribution of interactions and it can be removed by an adequate local normalization of the couplings.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, LaTeX 209, uses RevTe

ff-minimal surface and manifold with positive mm-Bakry-\'{E}mery Ricci curvature

In this paper, we first prove a compactness theorem for the space of closed embedded $f$-minimal surfaces of fixed topology in a closed three-manifold with positive Bakry-\'{E}mery Ricci curvature. Then we give a Lichnerowicz type lower bound of the first eigenvalue of the $f$-Laplacian on compact manifold with positive $m$-Bakry-\'{E}mery Ricci curvature, and prove that the lower bound is achieved only if the manifold is isometric to the $n$-shpere, or the $n$-dimensional hemisphere. Finally, for compact manifold with positive $m$-Bakry-\'{E}mery Ricci curvature and $f$-mean convex boundary, we prove an upper bound for the distance function to the boundary, and the upper bound is achieved if only if the manifold is isometric to an Euclidean ball.Comment: 15 page

Lavandin essential oil combined with the biopolymer PHBV, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), for wound treatment

In this work, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), PHBV, was combined with lavandin essential oil (LavEO), from Lavandula hybrida grown in Argentina. Linalool (36%), linalyl acetate (29%) 1,8-cineole (6%) and camphor (6%) were its main compounds as analyzed by GC-MS. PHBV is a biodegradable copolyester from a bacterial source; PHBV porous scaffolds have been shown to be suitable for fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation [1,2] and thus for skin regeneration. In addition, LavEO exhibits strong anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity, what improves wound healing [4,5]. Purified monoterpenes and entire EOs have been combined with other biopolymers for different applications but scarcely for wound healing and never previously with PHBV [6]. PHBV porous membranes, 100-200 µm thickness, containing LavEO at 2, 4 or 8% m/m were obtained by an emulsion-solvent evaporation method. LavEO-PHBV membranes did not show cytotoxicity when tested on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts (according to the ISO 10993-5 standard). SEM membrane analysis showed, in all cases, a high level of porosity, ̴ 20% of the surface. Keratinocytes (KC) adhesion and proliferation were evaluated with the HaCaT cell line. Membranes containing 2 or 4% of LavEO, allowed KC proliferation of the same level as that of PHBV membrane controls. However, cells neither adhered to nor proliferated on membranes with 8% LavEO although their hydrophobicity, estimated by the contact angle, was similar to that of 4%-LavEO membranes. The reduction in the elastic modulus–determined by the dynamic mechanical analysis–due to the presence of LavEO, suggests its plasticizer effect (control E=305±10 MPa; 8%-LavEO membrane E=150±20 MPa). According to these results, 2 or 4% LavEO-PHBV membranes seem as a promising treatment, especially in the case of infected and chronic wounds, often arrested at the inflammatory phase

ISG15 and ISGylation is required for pancreatic cancer stem cell mitophagy and metabolic plasticity

Pancreatic cancer stem cells (PaCSCs) drive pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis, chemoresistance and metastasis. While eliminating this subpopulation of cells would theoretically result in tumor eradication, PaCSCs are extremely plastic and can successfully adapt to targeted therapies. In this study, we demonstrate that PaCSCs increase expression of interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) and protein ISGylation, which are essential for maintaining their metabolic plasticity. CRISPR-mediated ISG15 genomic editing reduces overall ISGylation, impairing PaCSCs self-renewal and their in vivo tumorigenic capacity. At the molecular level, ISG15 loss results in decreased mitochondrial ISGylation concomitant with increased accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria, reduced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and impaired mitophagy. Importantly, disruption in mitochondrial metabolism affects PaCSC metabolic plasticity, making them susceptible to prolonged inhibition with metformin in vivo. Thus, ISGylation is critical for optimal and efficient OXPHOS by ensuring the recycling of dysfunctional mitochondria, and when absent, a dysregulation in mitophagy occurs that negatively impacts PaCSC stemness

Improving trading saystems using the RSI financial indicator and neural networks.

Proceedings of: 11th International Workshop on Knowledge Management and Acquisition for Smart Systems and Services (PKAW 2010), 20 August-3 September 2010, Daegu (Korea)Trading and Stock Behavioral Analysis Systems require efficient Artificial Intelligence techniques for analyzing Large Financial Datasets (LFD) and have become in the current economic landscape a significant challenge for multi-disciplinary research. Particularly, Trading-oriented Decision Support Systems based on the Chartist or Technical Analysis Relative Strength Indicator (RSI) have been published and used worldwide. However, its combination with Neural Networks as a branch of computational intelligence which can outperform previous results remain a relevant approach which has not deserved enough attention. In this paper, we present the Chartist Analysis Platform for Trading (CAST, in short) platform, a proof-of-concept architecture and implementation of a Trading Decision Support System based on the RSI and Feed-Forward Neural Networks (FFNN). CAST provides a set of relatively more accurate financial decisions yielded by the combination of Artificial Intelligence techniques to the RSI calculation and a more precise and improved upshot obtained from feed-forward algorithms application to stock value datasets.This work is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism, and Commerce under the EUREKA project SITIO (TSI-020400-2009-148), SONAR2 (TSI-020100-2008-665 and GO2 (TSI-020400-2009-127). Furthermore, this work is supported by the General Council of Superior Technological Education of Mexico (DGEST). Additionally, this work is sponsored by the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) and the Public Education Secretary (SEP) through PROMEP.Publicad

Exploiting oxidative phosphorylation to promote the stem and immunoevasive properties of pancreatic cancer stem cells

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the fourth leading cause of cancer death, has a 5-year survival rate of approximately 7–9%. The ineffectiveness of anti-PDAC therapies is believed to be due to the existence of a subpopulation of tumor cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are functionally plastic, and have exclusive tumorigenic, chemoresistant and metastatic capacities. Herein, we describe a 2D in vitro system for long-term enrichment of pancreatic CSCs that is amenable to biological and CSC-specific studies. By changing the carbon source from glucose to galactose in vitro, we force PDAC cells to utilize OXPHOS, resulting in enrichment of CSCs defined by increased CSC biomarker and pluripotency gene expression, greater tumorigenic potential, induced but reversible quiescence, increased OXPHOS activity, enhanced invasiveness, and upregulated immune evasion properties. This CSC enrichment method can facilitate the discovery of new CSC-specific hallmarks for future development into targets for PDAC-based therapies

A Model for the Development of the Rhizobial and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbioses in Legumes and Its Use to Understand the Roles of Ethylene in the Establishment of these two Symbioses

We propose a model depicting the development of nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizae. Both processes are dissected into many steps, using Pisum sativum L. nodulation mutants as a guideline. For nodulation, we distinguish two main developmental programs, one epidermal and one cortical. Whereas Nod factors alone affect the cortical program, bacteria are required to trigger the epidermal events. We propose that the two programs of the rhizobial symbiosis evolved separately and that, over time, they came to function together. The distinction between these two programs does not exist for arbuscular mycorrhizae development despite events occurring in both root tissues. Mutations that affect both symbioses are restricted to the epidermal program. We propose here sites of action and potential roles for ethylene during the formation of the two symbioses with a specific hypothesis for nodule organogenesis. Assuming the epidermis does not make ethylene, the microsymbionts probably first encounter a regulatory level of ethylene at the epidermis–outermost cortical cell layer interface. Depending on the hormone concentrations there, infection will either progress or be blocked. In the former case, ethylene affects the cortex cytoskeleton, allowing reorganization that facilitates infection; in the latter case, ethylene acts on several enzymes that interfere with infection thread growth, causing it to abort. Throughout this review, the difficulty of generalizing the roles of ethylene is emphasized and numerous examples are given to demonstrate the diversity that exists in plants

Time-of-flight and activation experiments on 147Pm and 171Tm for astrophysics

The neutron capture cross section of several key unstable isotopes acting as branching points in the s-process are crucial for stellar nucleosynthesis studies, but they are very challenging to measure due to the difficult production of sufficient sample material, the high activity of the resulting samples, and the actual (n,γ) measurement, for which high neutron fluxes and effective background rejection capabilities are required. As part of a new program to measure some of these important branching points, radioactive targets of 147Pm and 171Tm have been produced by irradiation of stable isotopes at the ILL high flux reactor. Neutron capture on 146Nd and 170Er at the reactor was followed by beta decay and the resulting matrix was purified via radiochemical separation at PSI. The radioactive targets have been used for time-of-flight measurements at the CERN n-TOF facility using the 19 and 185 m beam lines during 2014 and 2015. The capture cascades were detected using a set of four C6D6 scintillators, allowing to observe the associated neutron capture resonances. The results presented in this work are the first ever determination of the resonance capture cross section of 147Pm and 171Tm. Activation experiments on the same 147Pm and 171Tm targets with a high-intensity 30 keV quasi-Maxwellian flux of neutrons will be performed using the SARAF accelerator and the Liquid-Lithium Target (LiLiT) in order to extract the corresponding Maxwellian Average Cross Section (MACS). The status of these experiments and preliminary results will be presented and discussed as well