Exploratory Simulation of Thrombosis in a Temporary LVAD Catheter Pump within a Virtual In-vivo Left Heart Environment

Percutaneous catheter pumps are intraventricular temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices that are positioned across the aortic valve into the left ventricle (LV) and provide continuous antegrade blood flow from the LV into the ascending aorta (AA). MCS devices are most often computationally evaluated as isolated devices subject to idealized steady-state blood flow conditions. In clinical practice, MCS devices operate connected to or within diseased pulsatile native hearts and are often complicated by hemocompatibility related adverse events such as stroke, bleeding, and thrombosis. Whereas aspects of the human circulation are increasingly being simulated via computational methods, the precise interplay of pulsatile LV hemodynamics with MCS pump hemocompatibility remains mostly unknown and not well characterized. Technologies are rapidly converging such that next-generation MCS devices will soon be evaluated in virtual physiological environments that increasingly mimic clinical settings. The purpose of this brief communication is to report results and lessons learned from an exploratory CFD simulation of hemodynamics and thrombosis for a catheter pump situated within a virtual in-vivo left heart environment.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

von Willebrand Factor unfolding mediates platelet deposition in a model of high-shear thrombosis

Thrombosis under high-shear conditions is mediated by the mechanosensitive blood glycoprotein von Willebrand Factor (vWF). vWF unfolds in response to strong flow gradients and facilitates rapid recruitment of platelets in flowing blood. While the thrombogenic effect of vWF is well recognized, its conformational response in complex flows has largely been omitted from numerical models of thrombosis. We recently presented a continuum model for the unfolding of vWF, where we represented vWF transport and its flow-induced conformational change using convection-diffusion-reaction equations. Here, we incorporate the vWF component into our multi-constituent model of thrombosis, where the local concentration of stretched vWF amplifies the deposition rate of free-flowing platelets and reduces the shear cleaning of deposited platelets. We validate the model using three benchmarks: in vitro model of atherothrombosis, a stagnation point flow, and the PFA-100, a clinical blood test commonly used for screening for von Willebrand Disease (vWD). The simulations reproduced the key aspects of vWF-mediated thrombosis observed in these experiments, such as the thrombus location, thrombus growth dynamics, and the effect of blocking platelet-vWF interactions. The PFA-100 simulations closely matched the reported occlusion times for normal blood and several hemostatic deficiencies, namely, thrombocytopenia, vWD Type 1, and vWD Type 3. Overall, the multi-constituent model of thrombosis presented in this work enables macro-scale 3-D simulations of thrombus formation in complex geometries over a wide range of shear rates and accounts for qualitative and quantitative hemostatic deficiencies in patient blood. The results also demonstrate the utility of the continuum model of vWF unfolding that could be adapted to other numerical models of thrombosis

Comparative Antioxidant, Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Effects of Ilex laurina and Ilex paraguariensis on Colon Cancer Cells

Purpose: To determine and compare the antioxidant, antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of leaf infusions of Ilex laurina and Ilex paraguariensis in colon cancer cells.Methods: Antioxidant activity was determined by ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power). Cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects were analyzed using MTT ((3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and sulfhorodamine-B respectively. Cell death and apoptosis of human colon adenocarcinoma cells SW480 and their metastatic-derived SW620 cells, were analyzed by flow cytometry using propidium iodide and Annexin-V.Results: Although their flavonoid levels were similar, I. laurina infusion contained 2.2 and 4.4 times higher amounts of total phenolic and caffeoyl derivatives, respectively, than I. paraguariensis. FRAP and ORAC values for I. laurina infusion were 1.6 and 2.0 more active than I. paraguariensis. Both plant infusions inhibited viability and cell growth of SW480 and SW620 cells. These results may be associated to cell cycle-arrest and apoptosis because of the comparable increase of hypodiploid and annexin-V positive colon cancer cells.Conclusion: These data highlight the antioxidant and promising anticancer activities of I. laurina and Ilex paraguariensis.Keywords: Ilex laurina, Ilex paraguariensis, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, Apoptosis, Colon cance

In Vitro and In Silico Characterization of the Aggregation of Thrombi on Ventricular Assist Device Cannula

The unacceptably high stroke rate of HeartMate III VAD without signs of adherent pump thrombosis is hypothesized to be the result of the thrombi originating on the inflow cannula, ingesting and ejecting emboli from the VAD. Therefore, inflow cannula thrombosis has been an emerging focus. The inflow cannula of contemporary VADs, which incorporate both polished and rough regions serve as useful benchmarks to study the effects of roughness and shear on thrombogenesis. An in vitro study was conducted to emulate the micro-hemodynamic condition on a sintered inflow cannula, and to observe the deposition and detachment patterns. Together with a computational fluid dynamic tool, this study aimed to provide insight into the optimization of inflow cannula and potentially reducing adverse neurological events due to upstream thrombus

Professional competences as a key factor in the didactic methodology of organizational communication

[ES] Este estudio realiza una propuesta de metodología didáctica para las asignaturas sobre comunicación organizacional que se imparten en las Facultades de Ciencias de la Comunicación en las universidades españolas. Se utiliza el diseño de enfoque dominante o principal, en el que prevalece la Investigación Acción como método cualitativo, que favorece el cambio en los procesos educativos para la transformación social; y al que se le agrega el componente cuantitativo de la encuesta, para evaluar los resultados de la propuesta que aquí se realiza. A partir de la revisión de guías docentes y del análisis de ofertas de empleo se observa que, aunque existe correspondencia entre universidad y empresa en el reconocimiento de competencias como capacidad de análisis, redacción, edición, habilidades relacionales, estrategia y proactividad; no se enseñan habilidades relevantes que demanda el mercado laboral como el trabajo en equipo, la autonomía, el dominio del inglés y el manejo de herramientas tecn[EN] This study makes a proposal of didactic methodology for the subjects on organizational communication taught in the Degree in Journalism of Spanish universities. The dominant or main approach design is used, in which Action Research prevails as a qualitative method that favors change in the educational processes for social transformation; and to which the quantitative component of the survey is added, in order to evaluate the results of the proposal carried out here. From the revision of the teaching guides and the analysis of job vacancies it is observed that, even if there is correspondence in the recognition of competencies such as analytical capacity, writing, editing, relational skills, strategy and proactivity in the university and the companies, the university does not teach relevant skills demanded by the working market such as teamwork, autonomy, command of English and the use of technological tools of the network society. The intervention in the classroom and the students’ assGalarza Fernández, E.; Sosa Valcarcel, A.; Paniagua Rojano, F. (2019). Las competencias profesionales como factor clave en la metodología didáctica de la comunicación organizacional. REDU. Revista de Docencia Universitaria. 17(2):11-24. https://doi.org/10.4995/redu.2019.12475OJS1124172Aced, C. (2013). La comunicación corporativa: al otro lado de la información. Madrid: Cuadernos EVOCa.Alarcón, L., Montero, F. (2017). 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Icono 14, 8(2), 340-370. https://doi.org/10.7195/ri14.v8i2.263Casado, A., Méndiz, A., Peláez, J. (2013). The evolution of Dircom: from communication manager to reputation strategist. Communication y Society, 26(1), 47-66. Recuperado de https://www.unav.es/fcom/communication-society/en/resumen.php?art_id=436Castells, M. (2001). La galaxia internet. Barcelona: Plaza y Janes Editores.Fortes del Valle, M. (2014). El proyecto docente como herramienta de calidad en la docencia universitaria. Valencia: Universidad de Valencia.Grandien, C., Johansson, C. (2012). Institutionalization of communication management: A theoretical framework. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 17(2), 209-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/13563281211220247Hernández, R., Fernández, C., Baptista, P. (2006). Metodología de la Investigación. Ciudad de México: McGraw Hill.Herránz, J. (2010). El profesor como dinamizador de la participación y el aprendizaje del alumno. En J. Sierra y J. Calvo (Eds.) Métodos de innovación docente aplicados a los estudios de Ciencias de la Comunicación (pp. 422-431). Madrid: Fragua.Jones, E., Watson, B., Gardner, J. y Gallois, C. (2004). Organizational Communication: Challenges for the New Century. Journal of Communication, 54(4), 722-750. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2004.tb02652.xLinkedIn. (2019). Acerca de LinkedIn. Recuperado de https://about.linkedin.com/es-esLópez, L., Cuesta, U. (2012) Comunicación corporativa y redes sociales: cambiarlo todo para que nada cambie. adComunica, 3, 23-25. https://doi.org/10.6035/2174-0992.2012.3.2López, M., León, M., Pérez, P. (2018). El enfoque por competencias en el contexto universitario español. La visión del profesorado. Revista de Investigación Educativa, 36(2), 529-545. https://doi.org/10.6018/rie.36.2.314351Macnamara, J., Gregory, A. (2018). Expanding Evaluation to Progress Strategic Communication: Beyond Message Tracking to Open Listening. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 12(4), 469-486. https://doi.org/10.1080/1553118X.2018.1450255Mareque, M., De Prada, E. (2018). Evaluación de las competencias profesionales a través de las prácticas externas: incidencia de la creatividad. Revista de Investigación Educativa, 36(1), 203-219. https://doi.org/10.6018/rie.36.1.275651McLoughlin, C., Lee, M. (2010). Personalised and self-regulated learning in the Web 2.0 era: International exemplars of innovative pedagogy using social software. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 26(1), 28-43. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.1100Marta, C., González, P., Herrero, E. (2018). Competencias profesionales y perfiles en Periodismo demandados por las empresas: Análisis de las ofertas en LinkedIn e Infojobs. Communication & Society, 31(4), 211-228.Martínez, K. y Torres, L. (2017). Estrategias que ayudan al docente universitario a conocer, apropiar e implementar las TIC en el aula. Mesa de innovación. Pixel-Bit. Revista de Medios y Educación, 50, 159-172. https://doi.org/10.12795/pixelbit.2017.i50.11Núñez, M., Vega, L. (2019). Evaluation of transversal professional competences and educational innovation. Revista Conrado, 15(67), 234-240. Recuperado de https://conrado.ucf.edu.cu/index.php/conrado/article/view/952/974Ortega, J. (1930). Misión de la universidad. Madrid: El Arquero.Palacios, L. (2018). Informe de la Profesión Periodística 2018. Madrid: Asociación de la Prensa de Madrid.Rial, A., Barreira, E. (2012). El practicum de la titulación de pedagogía desde el punto de vista profesional. Enseñanza y Teaching, 30(1), 153-174. Recuperado de http://revistas.usal.es/index.php/0212-5374/article/view/9319Rodríguez, D., Valldeoriola, J. (2014). Metodología de la Investigación. Barcelona: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.Ruiz, J., Sánchez, J., Gómez, M. (2013). Entornos personales de aprendizaje: estado de la situación en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad de Málaga. Píxel-Bit. Revista de Medios y Educación, 42, 171-181. Recuperado de https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/pixel/article/viewFile/61577/37590Sandín, M. (2003). Investigación cualitativa en Educación. Fundamentos y tradiciones.Madrid: McGraw-Hill.Urcid, R., Rojas, J. (2018). Modelo multidireccional para la generación de innovación educativa. Revista de Investigación Apuntes Universitarios, 8(3), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.17162/au.v8i3.328Varma, T. (2011). Crisis communication in higher education: The use of "negotiation" as a strategy to manage crisis. Public Relations Review, 37(4), 373-375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2011.08.006Volk, S., Zerfass, A. (2018). Alignment: Explicating a Key Concept in Strategic Communication. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 12(4), 433-451. https://doi.org/10.1080/1553118X.2018.1452742Yániz, C. (2006). Planificar la enseñanza universitaria para el desarrollo de competencias. Educatio Siglo XXI, 24, 17-34. 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Phenotype-loci associations in networks of patients with rare disorders: application to assist in the diagnosis of novel clinical cases

Copy number variations (CNVs) are genomic structural variations (deletions, duplications, or translocations) that represent the 4.8–9.5% of human genome variation in healthy individuals. In some cases, CNVs can also lead to disease, being the etiology of many known rare genetic/genomic disorders. Despite the last advances in genomic sequencing and diagnosis, the pathological effects of many rare genetic variations remain unresolved, largely due to the low number of patients available for these cases, making it difficult to identify consistent patterns of genotype–phenotype relationships. We aimed to improve the identification of statistically consistent genotype–phenotype relationships by integrating all the genetic and clinical data of thousands of patients with rare genomic disorders (obtained from the DECIPHER database) into a phenotype–patient–genotype tripartite network. Then we assessed how our network approach could help in the characterization and diagnosis of novel cases in clinical genetics. The systematic approach implemented in this work is able to better define the relationships between phenotypes and specific loci, by exploiting large-scale association networks of phenotypes and genotypes in thousands of rare disease patients. The application of the described methodology facilitated the diagnosis of novel clinical cases, ranking phenotypes by locus specificity and reporting putative new clinical features that may suggest additional clinical follow-ups. In this work, the proof of concept developed over a set of novel clinical cases demonstrates that this network-based methodology might help improve the precision of patient clinical records and the characterization of rare syndromes

Impacts of a hydroinfiltrator rainwater harvesting system on soil moisture regime and groundwater distribution for olive groves in semi-arid Mediterranean regions

Dry periods in semi-arid regions constitute one of the greatest hazardous features that agriculture faces. This study investigates the effects of using a new device called ‘Hydroinfiltrator Rainwater Harvesting System (HRHS) on the water balance of soils. It was designed for arid and semi-arid zones affected by long periods of drought punctuated by heavy rainstorms. The new hydroinfiltrator consists of a net-like shell filled mainly with biochar. It is cylindrical in shape, is placed vertically and is half-buried in the soil around the crop tree to facilitate the infiltration of rainwater, irrigation or runoff water deep into the soil. The experimental plot is located in Baena (Córdoba, southern Spain) in an olive grove where the hydroinfiltrator was installed in 90 olive trees while 10 were left as a control group. In the xeric climate (bordering on arid), typical of the region, soils without a hydroinfiltrator have had a low infiltration rate, which reduces the effectiveness of precipitation and significantly increases the risk of water erosion. The effects of infiltration assisted by the device were analysed by simulating a torrential rain in which 600 L of water were passed through the hydroinfiltrator on an olive tree which had been installed 3 years previously. Geophysical methods (electrical resistivity tomography, ERT), direct analyses of soil samples, both in situ and in the laboratory, and theoretical flow models indicated a very significant increase in soil moisture (which nearly tripled in respect to the control group) because water was absorbed into the soil quickly, preventing runoff and water erosion. The soil moisture at 20 cm depth was 2.97 times higher with the HRHS than in the control plots. In addition, olive production increased by 211% and was higher in fat yield by 177%. Moreover, the resistivity profiles, taken by ERT showed that the water that entered the soil accumulated in the root zone of the olive tree, encouraged by the preferential pathways created by the roots and away from the surface, which prevented rapid evaporation during the high temperatures of spring and summer. Here we show for the first time that the use of the hydroinfiltrator rainwater harvesting system represents a significant improvement in the use of scarce water resources caused by climate change, providing agronomic and environmental benefits for rainfed, Mediterranean agricultural systems

Registro inusual de Potos flavus (Schreber, 1774) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Procyonidae) con dermatitis severa en Montes de María, Sucre, Colombia

On April 5 and 9, 2018, between approximately 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., sightings were made of an isolated male individual with signs compatible with severe acariasis in the same location (9 ° 31ʼ47,215ˮN-75 ° 21ʼ06,185ˮW; 165 , 7 masl; Figure 1). During the first observation, the individual found himself inside a hollow formed between a fallen trunk (Fabaceae) and the ground; subsequently he was seen in a place with high herbaceous growth and difficulty in movement was denoted. The animal was observed with extensive allopecic areas, especially in the head, anterior and posterior limbs, abdomen, tail and costal area with crusted wounds at the base of the tail compatible with severe pruritus; In addition, weakness, cachexia and mild ataxia were identified.Durante los días 5 y 9 de abril de 2018, entre las 17h00 y 18h00 aproximadamente, se realizaron avistamientos de un individuo macho aislado con signos compatibles con acariasis severa en la misma localidad (9°31ʼ47,215ˮN-75°21ʼ06,185ˮW; 165,7 msnm; Figura 1). Durante la primera observación, el individuo se encontró dentro de una oquedad formada entre un tronco caído (Fabaceae) y el suelo; posteriormente se le vio dentro de un lugar con alto crecimiento herbáceo y se denotó dificultad para el movimiento. El animal se observó con extensas zonas alopécicas, especialmente en cabeza, miembros anteriores y posteriores, abdomen, cola y zona costal con heridas costrosas en la base de la cola compatibles con prurito severo; además, se identificó debilidad, caquexia y ataxia leve