Anti-aging therapy through fitness enhancement

Physical exercise is proposed as a highly effective means of treating and preventing the main causes of morbidity and mortality – most of which are associated with aging – in industrialized countries. Low physical fitness is an important risk factor for cardiovascular and all-causes morbidity and mortality; indeed, it is even a predictor of these problems. When properly measured, the assessment of physical fitness can be a highly valuable indicator of health and life expectancy and, therefore, should be performed routinely in the clinical setting. Individually adapted training programs could be prescribed based on fitness assessment results and an adequate knowledge of patient lifestyle and daily physical activity. Such training programs would allow people to develop their maximum physical potential, improve their physical and mental health, and attenuate the negative consequences of aging

Linguistic summarization of time series data using genetic algorithms

In this paper, the use of an evolutionary approach when obtaining linguistic summaries from time series data is proposed. We assume the availability of a hierarchical partition of the time dimension in the time series. The use of natural language allows the human users to understand the resulting summaries in an easy way. The number of possible final summaries and the different ways of measuring their quality has taken us to adopt the use of a multi objective evolutionary algorithm. We compare the results of the new approach with our previous greedy algorithms

Aperture effects on the oxygen abundance determinations from CALIFA data

This paper aims at providing aperture corrections for emission lines in a sample of spiral galaxies from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area Survey (CALIFA) database. In particular, we explore the behavior of the log([OIII]5007/Hbeta)/([NII]6583/Halpha) (O3N2) and log[NII]6583/Halpha (N2) flux ratios since they are closely connected to different empirical calibrations of the oxygen abundances in star forming galaxies. We compute median growth curves of Halpha, Halpha/Hbeta, O3N2 and N2 up to 2.5R_50 and 1.5 disk R_eff. The growth curves simulate the effect of observing galaxies through apertures of varying radii. The median growth curve of the Halpha/Hbeta ratio monotonically decreases from the center towards larger radii, showing for small apertures a maximum value of ~10% larger than the integrated one. The median growth curve of N2 shows a similar behavior, decreasing from the center towards larger radii. No strong dependence is seen with the inclination, morphological type and stellar mass for these growth curves. Finally, the median growth curve of O3N2 increases monotonically with radius. However, at small radii it shows systematically higher values for galaxies of earlier morphological types and for high stellar mass galaxies. Applying our aperture corrections to a sample of galaxies from the SDSS survey at 0.02<=z<=0.3 shows that the average difference between fiber-based and aperture corrected oxygen abundances, for different galaxy stellar mass and redshift ranges, reaches typically to ~11%, depending on the abundance calibration used. This average difference is found to be systematically biased, though still within the typical uncertainties of oxygen abundances derived from empirical calibrations. Caution must be exercised when using observations of galaxies for small radii (e.g. below 0.5R_eff) given the high dispersion shown around the median growth curves.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

First use of a compound-specific stable isotope (CSSI) technique to trace sediment transport in upland forest catchments of Chile.

Land degradation is a problem affecting the sustainability of commercial forest plantations. The identification of critical areas prone to erosion can assist this activity to better target soil conservation efforts. Here we present the first use of the carbon-13 signatures of fatty acids (C14 to C24) in soil samples for spatial and temporal tracing of sediment transport in river bodies of upland commercial forest catchments in Chile. This compound-specific stable isotope (CSSI) technique was tested as a fingerprinting approach to determine the degree of soil erosion in pre-harvested forest catchments with surface areas ranging from 12 to 40ha. For soil apportionment a mixing model based on a Bayesian inference framework was used (CSSIAR v.2.0). Approximately four potential sediment sources were used for the calculations of all of the selected catchments. Unpaved forestry roads were shown to be the main source of sediment deposited at the outlet of the catchments (30-75%). Furthermore, sampling along the stream channel demonstrated that sediments were mainly comprised of sediment coming from the unpaved roads in the upper part of the catchments (74-98%). From this it was possible to identify the location and type of primary land use contributing to the sediment delivered at the outlet of the catchments. The derived information will allow management to focus efforts to control or mitigate soil erosion by improving the runoff features of the forest roads. The use of this CSSI technique has a high potential to help forestry managers and decision makers to evaluate and mitigate sources of soil erosion in upland forest catchments. It is important to highlight that this technique can also be a good complement to other soil erosion assessment and geological fingerprinting techniques, especially when attempting to quantify (sediment loads) and differentiate which type of land use most contributes to sediment accumulation

A Yap-dependent mechanoregulatory program sustains cell migration for embryo axis assembly

The assembly of the embryo’s primary axis is a fundamental landmark for the establishment of the vertebrate body plan. Although the morphogenetic movements directing cell convergence towards the midline have been described extensively, little is known on how gastrulating cells interpret mechanical cues. Yap proteins are well-known transcriptional mechanotransducers, yet their role in gastrulation remains elusive. Here we show that the double knockout of yap and its paralog yap1b in medaka results in an axis assembly failure, due to reduced displacement and migratory persistence in mutant cells. Accordingly, we identified genes involved in cytoskeletal organization and cell-ECM adhesion as potentially direct Yap targets. Dynamic analysis of live sensors and downstream targets reveal that Yap is acting in migratory cells, promoting cortical actin and focal adhesions recruitment. Our results indicate that Yap coordinates a mechanoregulatory program to sustain intracellular tension and maintain the directed cell migration for embryo axis development

Association of physical activity with muscular strength and fat free mass in adolescents; The HELENA Study

Objective: To analyze the association of objectively assessed physical activity (PA) with muscular strength and fat free mass in adolescents, and to determine whether meeting the current PA recommendations is associated with higher levels of muscular strength and fat free mass. Subjects/Methods: The present cross-sectional study comprised 363 Spanish adolescents (180 females) aged 12.5-17.5 years. PA was assessed by accelerometry and expressed as average PA (counts/min), and min/day of inactive, light, moderate, vigorous and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA). MVPA was dichotomized into <60 min/day and ≥60. Upper body muscular strength was measured with the handgrip strength test, and lower body muscular strength was measured with the standing broad jump, squat jump, counter movement jump and Abalakov tests. Fat free mass was measured by DXA. Results: We observed positive associations between vigorous PA and all the lower body muscular strength tests except for the counter movement jump in males. PA was not associated with fat free mass in both males and females. Male adolescents engaged in at least 60 min/day MVPA performed better in the standing broad jump test. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that only vigorous PA is associated with muscular strength, particularly lower-body muscular strength in male adolescents

First molecular identification of canine Parvovirus type 2 (CPV2) in Chile reveals high occurrence of CPV2c antigenic variant

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV2) is one of the most important intestinal pathogens in dogs and puppies. CPV2 has been evolved into three genetic and antigenic variants (2a, 2b, and 2c), which are distributed worldwide. We reported the first study of genetic diversity of CPV2 in Chile. Sixty-five samples were collected from puppies presenting with severe gastroenteritis and different vaccination statuses. PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and partial sequencing of the coding region of the structural viral protein VP2 was performed. Thirty of a total of 65 samples tested positive by PCR out of which 19 were further classified as CPV2c and one as CPV2a using RFLP and Sanger sequencing. The phylogeny was in concordance with the RFLP analysis. This is the first report of the genetic characterization of CPV2 in Chile and reveals a high occurrence of CPV2c

The O3N2 and N2 abundance indicators revisited: improved calibrations based on CALIFA and Te-based literature data

The use of IFS is since recently allowing to measure the emission line fluxes of an increasingly large number of star-forming galaxies both locally and at high redshift. The main goal of this study is to review the most widely used empirical oxygen calibrations, O3N2 and N2, by using new direct abundance measurements. We pay special attention to the expected uncertainty of these calibrations as a function of the index value or abundance derived and the presence of possible systematic offsets. This is possible thanks to the analysis of the most ambitious compilation of Te-based HII regions to date. This new dataset compiles the Te-based abundances of 603 HII regions extracted from the literature but also includes new measurements from the CALIFA survey. Besides providing new and improved empirical calibrations for the gas abundance, we also present here a comparison between our revisited calibrations with a total of 3423 additional CALIFA HII complexes with abundances derived using the ONS calibration by Pilyugin et al. (2010). The combined analysis of Te-based and ONS abundances allows us to derive their most accurate calibration to date for both the O3N2 and N2 single-ratio indicators, in terms of all statistical significance, quality and coverage of the space of parameters. In particular, we infer that these indicators show shallower abundance dependencies and statistically-significant offsets compared to those of Pettini and Pagel (2004), Nagao et al. (2006) and P\'erez-Montero and Contini (2009). The O3N2 and N2 indicators can be empirically applied to derive oxygen abundances calibrations from either direct abundance determinations with random errors of 0.18 and 0.16, respectively, or from indirect ones (but based on a large amount of data) reaching an average precision of 0.08 and 0.09 dex (random) and 0.02 and 0.08 dex (systematic; compared to the direct estimations),respectively.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Optimization of the efficiency in an induction machine drive by algorithm based on the interior point method

[EN] This work optimizes the efficiency of the squirrel cage type Inverter-Induction Machine (IM) system, using an algorithm based on the Interior Point Method (IPM), where the input variables are the electromagnetic torque and the rotor speed at steady state,and as outputs the optimal efficiency and slip values are obtained. The optimum rotor flux value is calculated, which is used as a reference in the flux control loop, in the direct control vector method of the IM. Simulation results are obtained where the increase in efficiency is observed in low load states. The experimental installation used in the implementation of the vector control with maximum system efficiency is described, and the experimental results obtained are shown. A discussion is carried out on the results and the use of the Interior Point Optimization Method.[ES] En este trabajo se realiza la optimización de la eficiencia del sistema  Inversor-Máquina de Inducción (MI) del tipo jaula de ardilla, utilizando un algoritmo basado en el Método de Punto Interior (MPI), donde las variables de entrada son el par electromagnético y la velocidad del rotor en estado estacionario, y como salidas se obtienen los valores de la eficiencia óptima y del deslizamiento. Se calcula el valor del flujo óptimo del rotor que se utiliza como referencia en el lazo de control del flujo, en el control vectorial método directo de la MI. Se obtienen resultados de simulación donde se observa el incremento de la eficiencia en estados de baja carga. Se describe la instalación experimental usada en la implementación del control vectorial con máxima eficiencia del sistema, y se muestran los resultados experimentales obtenidos. Se realiza una discusión sobre los resultados y la utilización del Método de Optimización de Punto Interior.Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), proyecto multidisciplinario registro número 1995.Pacheco-Montiel, J.; Badaoui, M.; Rodríguez-Rivas, J.; Alvarado-Farías, JM.; Carranza-Castillo, O.; Ortega-González, R. (2021). Optimización de la eficiencia en el accionamiento de una máquina de inducción mediante algoritmo basado en el método de punto interior. Revista Iberoamericana de Automática e Informática industrial. 18(4):336-346. https://doi.org/10.4995/riai.2020.13418OJS336346184Andréasson, N., Evgrafov, A., Patriksson, M, 2020. An Introduction to Continuous Optimization Fundations & Fundamental Algorithms. Dover Publications.Benson, H. Y., Shanno, D. F, 2014. Interior-point methods for nonconvex nonlinear programming: cubic regularization. Comput Optim Appl, 58:323-346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10589-013-9626-8Borisevich, A., and Schullerus, G, 2016. 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Efficiency classes of line operated AC motors (IE-code), Edition 1.0.Mallik, S., Mallik, K., Barman, A., Maiti, D., Biswas, S. K., Deb, N. K., Basu, S, 2017. Efficiency and Cost Optimized Design of an Induction Motor Using Generic Algorithm. IEEE Trans. on Ind. Appl., vol. 64, no. 12, pp. 9854-9863, December. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2017.2703687McElveen, R., Melfi, M., McFarland, J, 2019. Improved Characterization of Polyphase Induction Motor Losses: Test Standards Must Be Modified to Improve Efficiency Optimization. IEEE Ind. Appl. Magazine., pp. 61-68, Nov./Dec. https://doi.org/10.1109/MIAS.2018.2875208Rao, N., and Chamund, D, 2014. Calculating Power Losses in an IGBT Module. Application Note. DYNEX Power Control through Innovation.Rathore, A. K., Holtz, J., Boller, T, 2013. Generalized Optimal Pulsewidth Modulation of Multilevel Inverters for Low-Switching-Frequency Control of Medium-Voltage High-Power Industrial AC Drives. IEEE Trans. on Ind. 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Int. Trans. Electr. Energ. Syst, 26:968-992. https://doi.org/10.1002/etep.2117Xu, W., Hu, D., Lei, G., Zhu, J, 2019. System-Level Efficiency Optimization of a Linear Induction Motor Drive System. IEEE Trans. on Electrical Machines and Systems, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 285-291, Sept. https://doi.org/10.30941/CESTEMS.2019.00037Xu, W., Xiao, X., Du, G., Zou, J, 2020. Comprehensive Efficiency Optimization of Linear Induction Motors for Urban Transit. IEEE Trans. on Vehicular Tech., vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 131-139, January. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVT.2019.295395