Analyzing thalamocortical tract-tracing experiments in a common reference space

Current mesoscale connectivity atlases provide limited information about the organization of thalamocortical projections in the mouse brain. Labeling the projections of spatially restricted neuron populations in thalamus can provide a functionally relevant level of connectomic analysis, but these need to be integrated within the same common reference space. Here, we present a pipeline for the segmentation, registration, integration and analysis of multiple tract-tracing experiments. The key difference with other workflows is that the data is transformed to fit the reference template. As a test-case, we investigated the axonal projections and intranuclear arrangement of seven neuronal populations of the ventral posteromedial nucleus of the thalamus (VPM), which we labeled with an anterograde tracer. Their soma positions corresponded, from dorsal to ventral, to cortical representations of the whiskers, nose and mouth. They strongly targeted layer 4, with the majority exclusively targeting one cortical area and the ones in ventrolateral VPM branching to multiple somatosensory areas. We found that our experiments were more topographically precise than similar experiments from the Allen Institute and projections to the primary somatosensory area were in agreement with single-neuron morphological reconstructions from publicly available databases. This pilot study sets the basis for a shared virtual connectivity atlas that could be enriched with additional data for studying the topographical organization of different thalamic nuclei. The pipeline is accessible with only minimal programming skills via a Jupyter Notebook, and offers multiple visualization tools such as cortical flatmaps, subcortical plots and 3D renderings and can be used with custom anatomical delineation

SETApp: A machine learning and image analysis based application to automate the sea urchin embryo test

[EN] Since countless xenobiotic compounds are being found in the environment, ecotoxicology faces an astounding challenge in identifying toxicants. The combination of high-throughput in vivo/in vitro bioassays with high-resolution chemical analysis is an effective way to elucidate the cause-effect relationship. However, these combined strategies imply an enormous workload that can hinder their implementation in routine analysis. The purpose of this study was to develop a new high throughput screening method that could be used as a predictive expert system that automatically quantifies the size increase and malformation of the larvae and, thus, eases the application of the sea urchin embryo test in complex toxicant identification pipelines such as effect-directed analysis. For this task, a training set of 242 images was used to calibrate the size-increase and malformation level of the larvae. Two classification models based on partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were built and compared. Moreover, Hierarchical PLS-DA shows a high proficiency in classifying the larvae, achieving a prediction accuracy of 84 % in validation. The scripts built along the work were compiled in a user-friendly standalone app (SETApp) freely accessible at https://github.com/UPV-EHU-IBeA/SETApp. The SETApp was tested in a real case scenario to fulfill the tedious requirements of a WWTP effect-directed analysis.Authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) of Spain and the European Regional Development Fund through project CTM2017–84763-C3–1-R and the Basque Government through the financial support as a consolidated group of the Basque Research System (IT1213–19). Iker Alvarez is grateful to the University of the Basque Country and the Université de Pau et des Pays de L′ Adour for his cotutelle predoctoral scholarship

Desarrollo de una metodología de monitoreo predictivo de procesos en un sistema de manufactura auto-organizado

Este proyecto tiene como objetivo desarrollar una metodología que permita introducir un modelo predictivo en un sistema de manufactura flexible auto-organizado, permitiendo que dicho sistema pueda tomar mejores decisiones. Teniendo en cuenta la competitividad actual de los mercados productivos, y los cada vez mayores requerimientos técnicos en los productos de manufactura, el desarrollo de mejoras de diversos tipos de sistemas de producción es necesario. Adicionalmente, tomar decisiones oportunas y acertadas en procesos en marcha permite generar mejores resultados en diversos indicadores como los tiempos de ejecución del proceso y una adecuada respuesta ante posibles perturbaciones. Esto permite mejorar la eficiencia del sistema. Por otro lado, el análisis de datos, y herramientas propias de la ingeniería industrial a través de la minería de procesos permitirá desarrollar una metodología que permita la implementación de un modelo predictivo de procesos en un sistema de manufactura flexible auto-organizado simulado basado en la celda de manufactura AIP - PRIMECA ubicada en la Universidad de Valenciennes (Francia). Herramientas de la minería de procesos tales como Apromore, Nírdizati, ProM serán usadas como base para el desarrollo de la metodología y su implementación en el sistema simulado. Se espera que con la implementación de la metodología el sistema sea más eficiente.The objective of this project is to develop a methodology that allows the introduction of a predictive model in a flexible self-organized manufacturing system, allowing the system to make better decisions. Taking into consideraron current competitivity in productive markets and, the higher requirements in manufactured producís, the development of improvements of various types of production systems is necessary. Additionally, taking oportune and accurate decisión in ongoing processes allows to generate better results in various indicators such as the execution time of process and an adequate response to possible perturbations. This allows to improve the efficiency of the system. On the other hand, data analysis and industrial engineering tools through process mining, will allow to develop a methodology that permits the implementation of a predictive model of processes in a simulated flexible self-organized manufacturing system based on the manufacturing cell AIP - PRIMECA located in Valenciennes Université (France). Process mining tools such as Apromore, Nirdizati, ProM will be used as a basis for the development of the methodology and its implementation in the simulated system. It is expected that with the implementation of the methodology, the system will be more efficient.Ingeniero (a) IndustrialPregrad

Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Pregnant Women in Venezuela

Introduction. Intestinal parasitic infections, especially due to helminths, increase anemia in pregnant women. The results of this are low pregnancy weight gain and IUGR, followed by LBW, with its associated greater risks of infection and higher perinatal mortality rates. For these reasons, in the setting of no large previous studies in Venezuela about this problem, a national multicentric study was conducted. Methods. Pregnant women from nine states were studied, a prenatal evaluation with a coproparasitological study. Univariated and multivariated analyses were made to determine risk factors for intestinal parasitosis and related anemia. Results. During 19 months, 1038 pregnant women were included and evaluated. Intestinal parasitosis was evidenced in 73.9%: A lumbricoides 57.0%, T trichiura 36.0%, G lamblia 14.1%, E hystolitica 12.0%, N americanus 8.1%, E vermicularis 6.3%, S stercoralis 3.3%. Relative risk for anemia in those women with intestinal parasitosis was 2.56 (P < .01). Discussion. Intestinal parasitoses could be associated with conditions for development of anemia at pregnancy. These features reflect the need of routine coproparasitological study among pregnant women in rural and endemic zones for intestinal parasites. Further therapeutic and prophylactic protocols are needed. Additional research on pregnant intestinal parasitic infection impact on newborn health is also considered

Magnetic fields inferred by Solar Orbiter: A comparison between SO/PHI-HRT and SDO/HMI

Context. The High Resolution Telescope (HRT) of the Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager on board the Solar Orbiter spacecraft (SO/PHI) and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) both infer the photospheric magnetic field from polarised light images. SO/PHI is the first magnetograph to move out of the Sun–Earth line and will provide unprecedented access to the Sun’s poles. This provides excellent opportunities for new research wherein the magnetic field maps from both instruments are used simultaneously. Aims. We aim to compare the magnetic field maps from these two instruments and discuss any possible differences between them. Methods. We used data from both instruments obtained during Solar Orbiter’s inferior conjunction on 7 March 2022. The HRT data were additionally treated for geometric distortion and degraded to the same resolution as HMI. The HMI data were re-projected to correct for the 3° separation between the two observatories. Results. SO/PHI-HRT and HMI produce remarkably similar line-of-sight magnetograms, with a slope coefficient of 0.97, an offset below 1 G, and a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.97. However, SO/PHI-HRT infers weaker line-of-sight fields for the strongest fields. As for the vector magnetic field, SO/PHI-HRT was compared to both the 720-second and 90-second HMI vector magnetic field: SO/PHI-HRT has a closer alignment with the 90-second HMI vector. In the weak signal regime (< 600 G), SO/PHI-HRT measures stronger and more horizontal fields than HMI, very likely due to the greater noise in the SO/PHI-HRT data. In the strong field regime (≳600 G), HRT infers lower field strengths but with similar inclinations (a slope of 0.92) and azimuths (a slope of 1.02). The slope values are from the comparison with the HMI 90-second vector. Possible reasons for the differences found between SO/PHI-HRT and HMI magnetic field parameters are discussed.Sección Deptal. de Óptica (Óptica)Fac. de Óptica y OptometríaTRUEBMWi - Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (Alemania)AEI/MCIN/10.13039/501100011033Ministerio de ciencia e innovación de EspañaInstituto Astrofísico de Andalucía (España)Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (Fondos FEDER)Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES) (Francia)CSIC (Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas) (España)pu

Clinical Study Intestinal Parasitic Infections Among Pregnant Women in Venezuela

Introduction. Intestinal parasitic infections, especially due to helminths, increase anemia in pregnant women. The results of this are low pregnancy weight gain and IUGR, followed by LBW, with its associated greater risks of infection and higher perinatal mortality rates. For these reasons, in the setting of no large previous studies in Venezuela about this problem, a national multicentric study was conducted. Methods. Pregnant women from nine states were studied, a prenatal evaluation with a coproparasitological study. Univariated and multivariated analyses were made to determine risk factors for intestinal parasitosis and related anemia. Results. During 19 months, 1038 pregnant women were included and evaluated. Intestinal parasitosis was evidenced in 73.9%: A lumbricoides 57.0%, T trichiura 36.0%, G lamblia 14.1%, E hystolitica 12.0%, N americanus 8.1%, E vermicularis 6.3%, S stercoralis 3.3%. Relative risk for anemia in those women with intestinal parasitosis was 2.56 (P &lt; .01). Discussion. Intestinal parasitoses could be associated with conditions for development of anemia at pregnancy. These features reflect the need of routine coproparasitological study among pregnant women in rural and endemic zones for intestinal parasites. Further therapeutic and prophylactic protocols are needed. Additional research on pregnant intestinal parasitic infection impact on newborn health is also considered. INTRODUCTION The soil-transmitted helminthiases are ancient diseases that continue to cause misery and disability in poor populations. The numbers affected are staggering. About 2 billion harbor these infections worldwide, of whom 300 million suffer associated severe morbidity. Of the total number infected, an estimated 400 millions are school-age children. In 1999, World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis represented more than 40% of the disease burden due to all tropical diseases, excluding malaria Tropical diseases such as malaria, schistosomiasis, intestinal helminths, and filariasis have a dramatic impact on reproductive health. Many cases of unexplained pregnancy loss are due to undiagnosed tropical diseases. Malnutrition or anemia caused by intestinal worms may be worsened by pregnancy and make the pregnancy difficult In the developing world, young women, pregnant women, and their infants and children frequently experience a 2 Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology cycle, where undernutrition (macronutrient and micronutrient) and repeated infection, including parasitic infections, lead to adverse consequences that can continue from one generation to the next. Among parasitic infections, malaria and intestinal helminths coexist widely with micronutrient deficiencies and contribute importantly to anemia and this cycle of retarded growth and development. In somewhat more limited or focal geographic settings, other parasitic diseases (eg, schistosomiasis, filariasis) contribute similarly to this cycle. It is undoubtedly much better to enter a pregnancy free of infection and nutritionally replete than the various alternatives Intestinal parasitic infections, especially due to the helminths, increase anemia in pregnant women For these reasons, in the setting of no large previous studies in Venezuela about this problem, a national multicentric study was conducted with the objectives to describe preliminarily the epidemiological importance of intestinal parasitosis in pregnant women and its possible impacts. METHODS The study was a transversal analysis of pregnant women attending to prenatal control outpatient health care centers in Venezuela. Pregnant women from fifteen centers located in semi-urban and rural areas of nine states in the country were studied during the period January 2003-July 2004. All women accepted to be studied and included in this study. Women with previous diagnosis of infectious diseases as HIV/AIDS, HBV infection, syphilis, or toxoplasmosis were not enrolled. Evaluation of those women included, as a part of their routine prenatal control, an initial interrogation, physical examination, and laboratory studies: count of blood cells (CBC) (including thick and thin films, stained with Giemsa), serological screening studies for HIV-1 and -2 (ELISA), HBV (HbsAg and IgM anti-HBc), VDRL, and FTA-ABS, and toxoplasmosis (antibody titers by DAT). For this study, we considered as normal levels of Hb in women those between 12-16 g/dL, and between 37-48% for the hematocrit. An eosinophils proportion up to 4% was considered normal. All women were asked for a fresh stool sample each for coproparasitological study. The stool samples were masked, coded, and processed for parasitological examination. All stool samples were processed within 2 hours of collection. Isolation of enteric bacterial and viral pathogens was not studied in these samples. Different stool examinations were used for efficacy in detecting parasites. These were direct wet-mount, formaldehyde-ether sedimentation method and modified acid-fast staining techniques RESULTS One thousand thirty eight pregnant women were enrolled in this study. The mean age of this population was 25.5 ± 6.5 years old. The mean gestational age at enrollment moment was 28.5 ± 4.0 weeks (60% was on the 3rd trimester). At clinical evaluations, no apparent significant obstetrical alterations were observed. All women were asymptomatic. All serological studies were negative in all women (HIV, HBV, VDRL, Toxoplasmosis). Hematological evaluation showed that 65.1% of women presented anemia. The mean hemoglobin levels were 10.3 ± 0.4 g/dL, mean hematocrit was 30.6 ± 1.8%. Eosinophils relative mean proportion was 5.1 ± 4.2%. Eosinophilia was seen in 22.3% women. No other alterations were seen in these women. Intestinal parasitosis was seen in 767 women (73.9%). From this total, 360 (46.9 %) presented infections due to two simultaneous intestinal parasite species, 84 (10.9 %) with three intestinal parasite species, and only 2 women presented infections due to more than three intestinal parasite species (0.3 %). In this studied group of women, ten different species of intestinal parasites were found, 2 nonpathogenic protozoans, 3 pathogenic protozoans, and 5 helminths species Univariated and multivariated analyses made to assess risk factors for intestinal parasitosis and related anemia only found significance for the presence of intestinal parasitosis as a risk to have anemia during pregnancy, relative risk (RR) was 2.56 (95% CI 2.13-3.08)

The BDNFVal66Met SNP modulates the association between beta-amyloid and hippocampal disconnection in Alzheimer’s disease

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the gene encoding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNFVal66Met) is associated with worse impact of primary AD pathology (beta-amyloid, Aβ) on neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, rendering BDNFVal66Met an important modulating factor of cognitive impairment in AD. However, the effect of BDNFVal66Met on functional networks that may underlie cognitive impairment in AD is poorly understood. Using a cross-validation approach, we first explored in subjects with autosomal dominant AD (ADAD) from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) the effect of BDNFVal66Met on resting-state fMRI assessed functional networks. In seed-based connectivity analysis of six major large-scale networks, we found a stronger decrease of hippocampus (seed) to medial-frontal connectivity in the BDNFVal66Met carriers compared to BDNFVal homozogytes. BDNFVal66Met was not associated with connectivity in any other networks. Next, we tested whether the finding of more pronounced decrease in hippocampal-medial-frontal connectivity in BDNFVal66Met could be also found in elderly subjects with sporadically occurring Aβ, including a group with subjective cognitive decline (N = 149, FACEHBI study) and a group ranging from preclinical to AD dementia (N = 114, DELCODE study). In both of these independently recruited groups, BDNFVal66Met was associated with a stronger effect of more abnormal Aβ-levels (assessed by biofluid-assay or amyloid-PET) on hippocampal-medial-frontal connectivity decreases, controlled for hippocampus volume and other confounds. Lower hippocampal-medial-frontal connectivity was associated with lower global cognitive performance in the DIAN and DELCODE studies. Together these results suggest that BDNFVal66Met is selectively associated with a higher vulnerability of hippocampus-frontal connectivity to primary AD pathology, resulting in greater AD-related cognitive impairment

Plasma extracellular vesicle tau and TDP-43 as diagnostic biomarkers in FTD and ALS

Minimally invasive biomarkers are urgently needed to detect molecular pathology in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we show that plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain quantifiable amounts of TDP-43 and full-length tau, which allow the quantification of 3-repeat (3R) and 4-repeat (4R) tau isoforms. Plasma EV TDP-43 levels and EV 3R/4R tau ratios were determined in a cohort of 704 patients, including 37 genetically and 31 neuropathologically proven cases. Diagnostic groups comprised patients with TDP-43 proteinopathy ALS, 4R tauopathy progressive supranuclear palsy, behavior variant FTD (bvFTD) as a group with either tau or TDP-43 pathology, and healthy controls. EV tau ratios were low in progressive supranuclear palsy and high in bvFTD with tau pathology. EV TDP-43 levels were high in ALS and in bvFTD with TDP-43 pathology. Both markers discriminated between the diagnostic groups with area under the curve values &gt;0.9, and between TDP-43 and tau pathology in bvFTD. Both markers strongly correlated with neurodegeneration, and clinical and neuropsychological markers of disease severity. Findings were replicated in an independent validation cohort of 292 patients including 34 genetically confirmed cases. Taken together, the combination of EV TDP-43 levels and EV 3R/4R tau ratios may aid the molecular diagnosis of FTD, FTD spectrum disorders and ALS, providing a potential biomarker to monitor disease progression and target engagement in clinical trials.</p

Famílies botàniques de plantes medicinals

Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Ensenyament: Grau de Farmàcia, Assignatura: Botànica Farmacèutica, Curs: 2013-2014, Coordinadors: Joan Simon, Cèsar Blanché i Maria Bosch.Els materials que aquí es presenten són els recull de 175 treballs d’una família botànica d’interès medicinal realitzats de manera individual. Els treballs han estat realitzat per la totalitat dels estudiants dels grups M-2 i M-3 de l’assignatura Botànica Farmacèutica durant els mesos d’abril i maig del curs 2013-14. Tots els treballs s’han dut a terme a través de la plataforma de GoogleDocs i han estat tutoritzats pel professor de l’assignatura i revisats i finalment co-avaluats entre els propis estudiants. L’objectiu principal de l’activitat ha estat fomentar l’aprenentatge autònom i col·laboratiu en Botànica farmacèutica