Oxygen sensing by ion channels and chemotransduction in single glomus cells

We have monitored cytosolic [Ca2+] and dopamine release in intact fura-2-loaded glomus cells with microfluoroimetry and a polarized carbon fiber electrode. Exposure to low PO2 produced a rise of cytosolic [Ca2+] with two distinguishable phases: an initial period (with PO2 values between 150 and approximately 70 mm Hg) during which the increase of [Ca2+] is very small and never exceeds 150-200 nM, and a second phase (with PO2 below approximately 70 mm Hg) characterized by a sharp rise of cytosolic [Ca2+]. Secretion occurs once cytosolic [Ca2+] reaches a threshold value of 180 +/- 43 nM. The results demonstrate a characteristic relationship between PO2 and transmitter secretion at the cellular level that is comparable with the relation described for the input (O2 tension)output (afferent neural discharges) variables in the carotid body. Thus, the properties of single glomus cells can explain the sensory functions of the entire organ. In whole-cell, patch-clamped cells, we have found that in addition to O2-sensitive K+ channels, there are Ca2+ channels whose activity is also regulated by PO2. Ca2+ channel activity is inhibited by hpoxia, although in a strongly voltage-dependent manner. The average hypoxic inhibition of the calcium current in 30% +/- 10% at -20 mV but only 2% +/- 2% at +30 mV. The differential inhibition of K+ and Ca2+ channels by hypoxia helps to explain why the secretory response of the cells is displaced toward PO2 values (below approximately 70 mm Hg) within the range of those normally existing in arterial blood. These data provide a conceptual framework for understanding the cellular mechanisms of O2 chemotransduction in the carotid body

Metrópolis: reconversiones y pensamientos transgresores: hipótesis irreverente sobre una ciudad posible: una estrategia para la consolidación de espacio público y la vivienda de interés social en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires del SXXI: escenario de intervención sobre la reconversión de los espacios del fútbol

Peer Reviewe

PERSEIA: a biomedical wireless sensor network to support healthcare delivery for the elderly and chronically Ill

Proceeding of: 28th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 2006. EMBS ´06, New York, Aug. 30 2006-Sept. 3, 2006This paper presents a system based on Ambient Intelligence (AmI) to foster home care monitoring of senior citizens and chronically ill patients. The most important fact addressed in this research is the development of non intrusive and easy to use sensing devices. According to this, medical tests do not need user collaboration to perform them, neither powering on and off the sensor, starting the measure, configuring communications, etc.This work was supported in part by the Spanish Comunidad de Madrid under Grant GR/SAL/0277/2004.Publicad

The HERC1 ubiquitin ligase regulates presynaptic membrane dynamics of central synapses

HERC1 is a ubiquitin ligase protein, which, when mutated, induces several malformations and intellectual disability in humans. The animal model of HERC1 mutation is the mouse tambaleante characterized by: (1) overproduction of the protein; (2) cerebellar Purkinje cells death by autophagy; (3) dysregulation of autophagy in spinal cord motor neurons, and CA3 and neocortical pyramidal neurons; (4) impairment of associative learning, linked to altered spinogenesis and absence of LTP in the lateral amygdala; and, (5) motor impairment due to delayed action potential transmission, decrease synaptic transmission efficiency and altered myelination in the peripheral nervous system. To investigate the putative role of HERC1 in the presynaptic dynamics we have performed a series of experiments in cultured tambaleante hippocampal neurons by using transmission electron microscopy, FM1-43 destaining and immunocytochemistry. Our results show: (1) a decrease in the number of synaptic vesicles; (2) reduced active zones; (3) less clathrin immunoreactivity and less presynaptic endings over the hippocampal main dendritic trees; which contrast with (4) a greater number of endosomes and autophagosomes in the presynaptic endings of the tambaleante neurons relative to control ones. Altogether these results show an important role of HERC1 in the regulation of presynaptic membrane dynamics

International Conference on Broadband Communications, Networks and Systems

Producción CientíficaNetwork Function Virtualization (NFV) is considered to be one of the enabling technologies for 5G. NFV poses several challenges, like deciding the virtual network function (VNF) placement and chaining, and adding backup resources to guarantee the survivability of service chains. In this paper, we propose a genetic algorithm that jointly solves the VNF-placement, chaining and virtual topology design problem in WDM metro ring network, with the additional capacity of providing node protection. The simulation results show how important is to solve all of these subproblems jointly, as well as the benefits of using shared VNF and network resources between backup instances in order to reduce both the service blocking ratio and the number of active CPUs.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (grant TEC2017-84423-C3-1-P)Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo (grant BES 2015-074514)INTERREG V-A España-Portugal (POCTEP) (grant 0677_DISRUPTIVE_2_E)

An Experimental SDN Proposal over Legacy GPONs to Allow Real-Time Service and Residential Network Reconfiguration

Producción CientíficaIn this paper we propose an experimental SDN (Software Defined Networking) solution over legacy GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) equipment that allow a control of the network configuration and its services. On the one hand, the proposal permits to move certain global bandwidth and service configuration policies outside the GPON so that they can be managed centrally by an SDN controller. In legacy PONs the real-time bandwidth allocation process is made inside the network infrastructure cycle by cycle between the OLT (Optical Line Terminal) and the ONTs (Optical Network Terminals) so the network performance could be adversely affected due to the latency between the SDN controller and the PON. In contrast, the control of some global DBA strategies by SDN techniques could lead to better network and management configuration and therefore our proposal is able to dynamically adjust these policies according to the real-time Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of residential users. On the other hand, the designed SDN proposal permits network subscribers to control the performance of their residential homes. In this way, they can set constraints and dynamically customize the bandwidth of their connected devices in a very transparent and efficient way.Junta de Castilla y León (Project VA085G19)Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Project TEC2017-84423-C3-1-P)INTERREG V-A España-Portugal (POCTEP) program (0677_DISRUPTIVE_2_E

A testbed and a simulation laboratory for training engineering students in optical access network technologies

Producción CientíficaEngineering profiles focused on next-generation optical networks are gaining immense importance due to new emerging services and the amount of data expected in future network scenarios. In fact, not only are optical access networks leading to a major revolution in the network industry, but passive optical networks are the most widely deployed access networks worldwide today. This should be a strong incentive for universities to train their students in these innovative and recent technologies. In this vein, we propose the deployment of an optical communication laboratory with on-site experimental sessions in which students work with commercial equipment and realistic working environments. These working environments are necessary to train professionals in the area of optical networks. However, due to the high cost of the optical communications equipment, it is not possible to have a working place for each group and we combine these experimental sessions with some simulation sessions to complete the training. We present the design of this lab and a qualitative and quantitative study aimed at analyzing students’ experiences, the skills they have acquired, and the potential impact on their future careers. This study shows that students have a very positive perception of the lab, emphasizing that working with real equipment helps them improve technical skills and assimilate theoretical knowledge. They also point out they would like a higher number of subjects in their degrees to employ this type of lab. Finally, students perceive these sessions as very useful for their professional future.Unión Europea a través del programa INTERREG V-A España-Portugal (project 0677_DISRUPTIVE_2_E)Junta de Castilla y León (grant VA085G19)Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (grants TEC2017-84423-C3-1-P and RED2018-102585-T

Proposal of an ISO/IEEE11073 platform for healthcare telemonitoring: plug-and-play solution with new use cases

Proceeding of: 29th Annual International Conference of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, (EMBS 2007), Lyon, France, 23-26th august 2007.Remote patient monitoring in e-Health is everyday closer to be a mature technology / service. However, there is still a lack of development in areas such as standardization of the sensor’s communication interface, integration into Electronic Healthcare Record systems or incorporation in ambient-intelligent scenarios. This work identifies a set of use cases involved in the personal monitoring scenario and highlights the related features and functionalities, as well as the integration and implementation difficulties found when these are to be implemented in a system based on the ISO/IEEE11073 (X73) standard. It is part of a cooperative research effort devoted to the development of an end-to-end standards-based telemonitoring solution. Standardization committees are working towards adapting the X73 standard to this emerging personal health devices market and use case identification is essential to direct these revisions.This research work has been partially supported by projects TSI2005-07068-C02-01 and TSI2004-04940-C02-01 from Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spanish Government), and a personal grant to both M.Galarraga and M. Martinez-Espronceda from Navarre Regional Governmen

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Two Types of Antioxidant Compounds (TPC and TA) from Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa L.): Optimization of the Individual and Simultaneous Extraction Methods

Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa L.) contains a large number of bioactive compounds, which make of it a highly nutritional and antioxidant food with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been recently seen its consumption increased because of its interesting composition and properties as a functional food. The ultrasound-assisted extraction method has been optimized, since it is a simple and fast technique to extract phenolic compounds, as well as anthocyanins, not only separately but also simultaneously. Multiple response has been optimized and demonstrated an e ectiveness level similar to the individual ones. This represents a considerable reduction in costs, time and work. The optimal conditions for simultaneous extractions were: 54% methanol as extraction solvent at pH 2.72 and 69.4 C temperature, 70% amplitude, 0.7 s cycle, and 0.5:18.2 g:mL sample mass/solvent volume ratio. The developed methods showed a high precision level with coe cients of variation lower than 5%. The methods were successfully applied to commercial samples. Additionally, the extraction of other compounds of biological interest, such as organic acids and sugars, was also studied