Performance of artificial neural networks and genetical evolved artificial neural networks unfolding techniques

With the Bonner spheres spectrometer neutron spectrum is obtained through an unfolding procedure. Monte Carlo methods, Regularization, Parametrization, Least-squares, and Maximum Entropy are some of the techniques utilized for unfolding. In the last decade methods based on Artificial Intelligence Technology have been used. Approaches based on Genetic Algorithms and Artificial Neural Networks have been developed in order to overcome the drawbacks of previous techniques. Nevertheless the advantages of Artificial Neural Networks still it has some drawbacks mainly in the design process of the network, vg the optimum selection of the architectural and learning ANN parameters. In recent years the use of hybrid technologies, combining Artificial Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithms, has been utilized to. In this work, several ANN topologies were trained and tested using Artificial Neural Networks and Genetically Evolved Artificial Neural Networks in the aim to unfold neutron spectra using the count rates of a Bonner sphere spectrometer. Here, a comparative study of both procedures has been carried out

Neutron spectrometry using artificial neural networks for a bonner sphere spectrometer with 3He detector

Neutron spectra unfolding and dose equivalent calculation are complicated tasks in radiation protection, are highly dependent of the neutron energy, and a precise knowledge on neutron spectrometry is essential for all dosimetry-related studies as well as many nuclear physics experiments. In previous works have been reported neutron spectrometry and dosimetry results, by using the ANN technology as alternative solution, starting from the count rates of a Bonner spheres system with a LiI(Eu) thermal neutrons detector, 7 polyethylene spheres and the UTA4 response matrix with 31 energy bins. In this work, an ANN was designed and optimized by using the RDANN methodology for the Bonner spheres system used at CIEMAT Spain, which is composed of a He neutron detector, 12 moderator spheres and a response matrix for 72 energy bins. For the ANN design process a neutrons spectra catalogue compiled by the IAEA was used. From this compilation, the neutrons spectra were converted from lethargy to energy spectra. Then, the resulting energy ?uence spectra were re-binned by using the MCNP code to the corresponding energy bins of the He response matrix before mentioned. With the response matrix and the re-binned spectra the counts rate of the Bonner spheres system were calculated and the resulting re-binned neutrons spectra and calculated counts rate were used as the ANN training data set

Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Antiproliferative Evaluation of NBD-Triterpene Fluorescent Probes

A fluorescent labeling protocol for hydroxylated natural compounds with promising antitumor properties has been used to synthesize 12 derivatives having fluorescent properties and biological activity. The reagent used for the synthesis of these fluorescent derivatives was 7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole chloride (NBD-Cl). The linkers employed to bind the NBD-Cl reagent to the natural compounds were ω-amino acids of different chain lengths. The natural triterpene compounds chosen were oleanolic and maslinic acid, as their corresponding 28-benzylated derivatives. Thus, triterpene conjugates with NBD have been studied for their optical fluorescence properties and their biological activities against cell proliferation in three cancer cell lines (B16-F10, HT-29, and HepG2), compared with three nontumor cell lines (HPF, IEC-18, and WRL68) from different tissues. The results of the fluorescence study have shown that the best fluorescent labels are those in which the ω-amino acid chain is shorter, and the carboxylic group is not benzylated. Analysis by confocal microscopy showed that these compounds were rapidly incorporated into cells in all three cancer cell lines, with these same derivatives showing the highest toxicity against the cancer cell lines tested. Then, the fluorescent labeling of these triterpene conjugates with NBD enabled their uptake and subcellular distribution to be followed to probe in detail their biological properties at the cellular and molecular level.Grupo de Investigación "Biotecnología y Química de Productos Naturales" (grupo FQM-139 del PAIDI de la Junta de Andalucía

Generalized Regression Neural Networks with Application in Neutron Spectrometry

The aim of this research was to apply a generalized regression neural network (GRNN) to predict neutron spectrum using the rates count coming from a Bonner spheres system as the only piece of information. In the training and testing stages, a data set of 251 different types of neutron spectra, taken from the International Atomic Energy Agency compilation, were used. Fifty-one predicted spectra were analyzed at testing stage. Training and testing of GRNN were carried out in the MATLAB environment by means of a scientific and technological tool designed based on GRNN technology, which is capable of solving the neutron spectrometry problem with high performance and generalization capability. This computational tool automates the pre-processing of information, the training and testing stages, the statistical analysis, and the post-processing of the information. In this work, the performance of feed-forward backpropagation neural networks (FFBPNN) and GRNN was compared in the solution of the neutron spectrometry problem. From the results obtained, it can be observed that despite very similar results, GRNN performs better than FFBPNN because the former could be used as an alternative procedure in neutron spectrum unfolding methodologies with high performance and accuracy

The immunogenetic diversity of the HLA system in Mexico correlates with underlying population genetic structure

We studied HLA class I (HLA-A, -B) and class II (HLA-DRB1, -DQB1) allele groups and alleles by PCR-SSP based typing in a total of 15,318 mixed ancestry Mexicans from all the states of the country divided into 78 sample sets, providing information regarding allelic and haplotypic frequencies and their linkage disequilibrium, as well as admixture estimates and genetic substructure. We identified the presence of 4268 unique HLA extended haplotypes across Mexico and find that the ten most frequent (HF > 1%) HLA haplotypes with significant linkage disequilibrium (Δ’≥0.1) in Mexico (accounting for 20% of the haplotypic diversity of the country) are of primarily Native American ancestry (A*02~B*39~DRB1*04~DQB1*03:02, A*02~B*35~DRB1*08~DQB1*04, A*68~B*39~DRB1*04~DQB1*03:02, A*02~B*35~DRB1*04~DQB1*03:02, A*24~B*39~DRB1*14~DQB1*03:01, A*24~B*35~DRB1*04~DQB1*03:02, A*24~B*39~DRB1*04~DQB1*03:02, A*02~B*40:02~DRB1*04~DQB1*03:02, A*68~B*35~DRB1*04~DQB1*03:02, A*02~B*15:01~DRB1*04~DQB1*03:02). Admixture estimates obtained by a maximum likelihood method using HLA-A/-B/-DRB1 as genetic estimators revealed that the main genetic components in Mexico as a whole are Native American (ranging from 37.8% in the northern part of the country to 81.5% in the southeastern region) and European (ranging from 11.5% in the southeast to 62.6% in northern Mexico). African admixture ranged from 0.0 to 12.7% not following any specific pattern. We were able to detect three major immunogenetic clusters correlating with genetic diversity and differential admixture within Mexico: North, Central and Southeast, which is in accordance with previous reports using genome-wide data. Our findings provide insights into the population immunogenetic substructure of the whole country and add to the knowledge of mixed ancestry Latin American population genetics, important for disease association studies, detection of demographic signatures on population variation and improved allocation of public health resources.Fil: Barquera, Rodrigo. Max Planck Institute For The Science Of Human History; Alemania. Instituto Nacional de Antropología E Historia. Escuela Nacional de Antropología E Historia; MéxicoFil: Hernández Zaragoza, Diana Iraíz. Técnicas Genéticas Aplicadas A la Clínica (tgac); México. Instituto Nacional de Antropología E Historia. Escuela Nacional de Antropología E Historia; MéxicoFil: Bravo Acevedo, Alicia. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: Arrieta Bolaños, Esteban. Universitat Essen; AlemaniaFil: Clayton, Stephen. Max Planck Institute For The Science Of Human History; AlemaniaFil: Acuña Alonzo, Víctor. Instituto Nacional de Antropología E Historia, Mexico; MéxicoFil: Martínez Álvarez, Julio César. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: López Gil, Concepción. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: Adalid Sáinz, Carmen. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: Vega Martínez, María del Rosario. Hospital Central Sur de Alta Especialidad; MéxicoFil: Escobedo Ruíz, Araceli. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: Juárez Cortés, Eva Dolores. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: Immel, Alexander. Max Planck Institute For The Science Of Human History; Alemania. Christian Albrechts Universitat Zu Kiel; AlemaniaFil: Pacheco Ubaldo, Hanna. Instituto Nacional de Antropología E Historia. Escuela Nacional de Antropología E Historia; MéxicoFil: González Medina, Liliana. Instituto Nacional de Antropología E Historia. Escuela Nacional de Antropología E Historia; MéxicoFil: Lona Sánchez, Abraham. Instituto Nacional de Antropología E Historia. Escuela Nacional de Antropología E Historia; MéxicoFil: Lara Riegos, Julio. Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán; MéxicoFil: Sánchez Fernández, María Guadalupe de Jesús. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: Díaz López, Rosario. Hospital Central Militar, Mexico City; MéxicoFil: Guizar López, Gregorio Ulises. Hospital Central Militar, Mexico City; MéxicoFil: Medina Escobedo, Carolina Elizabeth. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: Arrazola García, María Araceli. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: Montiel Hernández, Gustavo Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Antropología E Historia. Escuela Nacional de Antropología E Historia; MéxicoFil: Hernández Hernández, Ofelia. Técnicas Genéticas Aplicadas a la Clínica ; MéxicoFil: Ramos de la Cruz, Flor del Rocío. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: Juárez Nicolás, Francisco. Instituto Nacional de Pediatría; MéxicoFil: Pantoja Torres, Jorge Arturo. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social; MéxicoFil: Rodríguez Munguía, Tirzo Jesús. Hospital General Norberto Treviño Zapata; MéxicoFil: Juárez Barreto, Vicencio. Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez; MéxicoFil: Gonzalez-Jose, Rolando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto Patagónico de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas; Argentin

Laboratorio en abierto: aPrendiendo a CopiaR el ADN

El objetivo principal del proyecto es la puesta a punto de recursos educativos en abierto (REA) dirigidos a los alumnos de secundaria. El punto de partida será plantear diferentes retos y situaciones que se pueden resolver utilizando distintos recursos científicos, para decidir qué recurso es el más adecuado y cómo se aplica. En esta propuesta la resolución de los problemas planteados estaría basada en la aplicación de una herramienta que ha revolucionado la genética y biología, la reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa, conocida como PCR

Volteando la tortilla. Género y maíz en la alimentación actual de México.

Ante escenarios complejos, patriarcales y desoladores que dejan ver el neoliberalismo, la globalización agroalimentaria, el calentamiento global y las contaminaciones de granos nativos por la imposición de transgénicos, nos cuestionamos si existen algunas alternativas para preservar el maíz nativo como un recurso multiestratégico (alimentario, económico, cultural, ecológico y tecnológico) tomando en cuenta las condiciones actuales de desigualdades sociales de género, etnia, clases y edad que predominan en el campo mexicano. Para responder a algunos cuestionamientos, este libro presenta algunas alternativas a través de diversas experiencias femeninas y de relaciones de género en torno al maíz y la alimentación. Todas ellas muestran que es posible construir una masa crítica para salvaguardar el maíz nativo bajo esas condiciones desoladoras, pero siempre y cuando se “voltee la tortilla”, metáfora que da pie al inicio de otra realidad humanizada y en sincronía con la naturaleza.Proyecto realizado con financiamiento Conacy

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative

Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research