Hardware implementation of a controller based on neurobiological adaptive models of the human motor-control system

In this work, a neural structure has been implemented into a device based on the new trends in hardware integration, for motor-control In multisensorial anthropomorphic robotic systems. This implementation gives a solution to the problem of physic integration of biologically Inspired control hierarchies in a robotic head-arm installation for robotic reaching tasks. The complete architecture has been implemented on an electronic board connected to a PC computer through a PCI interface. The hardware structure consists of two blocks: one for the working phase of the system, and the other for the learning and supervision phase of the system. These two blocks have been implemented with different technologies based on DSP processors and FPGAs. The algorithms implemented on DSPs have the function of updating the neural network on the FPGA, supervising the working of the algorithm implemented on FPGA and introducing corrections when the neural network produces results with little errors. The neural network has been implemented on FPGA and implements spatial-motor transformations of the robotic platform. It is programmed and updated by the supervisor implemented on a DSP processo

Impacto de la COVID-19 en los servicios de cirugía cardiovascular en España: Análisis de los grupos relacionados con el diagnóstico (Estudio SECCE-COVID-19 fase 2)

Introducción y objetivos La pandemia por COVID-19 causada por infección del virus SARS-CoV-2 ha saturado al sistema sanitario español, afectándose la atención de las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Queremos cuantificar el impacto de la pandemia en el número de las intervenciones quirúrgicas cardíacas analizando los grupos relacionados con el diagnóstico (GRD) más prevalentes de nuestra especialidad. Métodos A instancias de la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Cardiovascular y Endovascular, se solicitó a todos los centros nacionales que quisieron participar, los datos de los códigos de GRD números 162 (cirugía sobre válvulas cardíacas con infarto o diagnóstico complejo), 163 (cirugía sobre válvulas cardíacas sin infarto o diagnóstico complejo), 165 (bypass coronario con infarto o diagnóstico complejo), 166 (bypass coronario sin infarto o diagnóstico complejo) y 167 (otros procedimientos cardiotorácicos o vasculares torácicos) entre el 1 de marzo de 2020 y el 30 de septiembre de 2020 (siete meses), y como período control las mismas fechas de 2019. Resultados Se recibieron los datos de 24 hospitales, 22 públicos y dos privados. Existió un descenso global en el número de intervenciones del 30% (rango -19 a -42%, p < 0,001) de 4.648 en 2019 a 3.262 en 2020 (-1.386 de diferencia), siendo +7% para el GRD 162 (p = 0,500), -37% para el 163 (p = 0,001), -9% para el 165 (p = 0,304), -32% para el 166 (p = 0,001), y -16% para el 167 (p = 0,062). Conclusiones Existió un descenso global de cirugías estadísticamente significativo en 2020 del 30% respecto del 2019 entre el 1 de marzo y el 30 de septiembre

Encapsulation of folic acid in different silica porous supports: A comparative study

Although folic acid is essential to numerous bodily functions, recent research indicates that a massive exposition to the vitamin could be a double-edged sword. In this study, the capacity of different caped mesoporous silica particles (i.e. Hollow Silica Shells, MCM-41, SBA-15 and UVM-7) to dose FA during its passage through the gastrointestinal tract has been evaluated. Results confirmed that the four capped materials were capable to hinder the delivery of FA at low pH (i.e. stomach) as well as able to deliver great amounts of the vitamin at neutral pH (i.e. intestine). Nevertheless, the encapsulation efficiency and the deliver kinetics differed among supports. While supports with large pore entrance exhibited an initial fast release, MCM-41, showed a sustained release along the time. This correlation between textural properties and release kinetics for each of the supports reveals the importance of a proper support selection as a strategy to control the delivery of active molecules.Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Projects AGL2012-39597-C02-01, AGL2012-39597-C02-02 and MAT2012-38429-C04-01) and the Generalitat Valenciana (project PROMETEO/2009/016). E.P. and M.R. are grateful to the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion for their Grants (AP2008-00620, AP2010-4369). Electron Microscopy Service of the UPV is also acknowledged.Pérez-Esteve, É.; Ruiz Rico, M.; De La Torre Paredes, C.; Villaescusa Alonso, LA.; Sancenón Galarza, F.; Marcos Martínez, MD.; Amoros Del Toro, PJ.... (2016). Encapsulation of folic acid in different silica porous supports: A comparative study. Food Chemistry. 196:66-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.09.017S667519

Chronological and biological aging of the human left ventricular myocardium: Analysis of microRNAs contribution

Aging is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In humans, cardiac aging remains poorly characterized. Most studies are based on chronological age (CA) and disregard biological age (BA), the actual physiological age (result of the aging rate on the organ structure and function), thus yielding potentially imperfect outcomes. Deciphering the molecular basis of ventricular aging, especially by BA, could lead to major progresses in cardiac research. We aim to describe the transcriptome dynamics of the aging left ventricle (LV) in humans according to both CA and BA and characterize the contribution of microRNAs, key transcriptional regulators. BA is measured using two CA-associated transcriptional markers: CDKN2A expression, a cell senescence marker, and apparent age (AppAge), a highly complex transcriptional index. Bioinformatics analysis of 132 LV samples shows that CDKN2A expression and AppAge represent transcriptomic changes better than CA. Both BA markers are biologically validated in relation to an aging phenotype associated with heart dysfunction, the amount of cardiac fibrosis. BA-based analyses uncover depleted cardiac-specific processes, among other relevant functions, that are undetected by CA. Twenty BA-related microRNAs are identified, and two of them highly heart-enriched that are present in plasma. We describe a microRNA-gene regulatory network related to cardiac processes that are partially validated in vitro and in LV samples from living donors. We prove the higher sensitivity of BA over CA to explain transcriptomic changes in the aging myocardium and report novel molecular insights into human LV biological aging. Our results can find application in future therapeutic and biomarker research

A new approach to the treatment of advanced heart failure: a case report

Background: Autonomic imbalance characterized by sympathetic predominance and decreased parasympathetic transmission is a classic feature of heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, leading to disease progression, exercise intolerance, ventricular remodelling, arrhythmias, and premature death. The underlying mechanisms to these processes are not yet fully understood, but the current treatments influence this dysregulation, towards an inhibition of sympathetic hyperactivation. New therapies, such as the stimulation of carotid baroreceptors, enhance this inhibition to restore autonomic balance and to be able to cope with these mechanisms. Case summary: We report the case of a 76-year-old male with advanced HF at an advanced stage, refractory to optimal treatment, and included in a programme of ambulatory infusions of Levosimendan as compassionate treatment. The patient presented with multiple episodes of decompensated HF secondary to ventricular arrhythmias. A multidisciplinary team decided to implant a baroreceptor stimulator device (Barostim Neo) in order to improve HF symptoms and quality of life, as well as trying to decrease the burden of arrhythmias. The procedure was performed with no complications and good therapeutic response, resulting in a significant reduction of arrhythmias. Discussion: Treatment with a baroreceptor stimulating device is presented as a safe and effective option in our patients with advanced HF refractory to conventional treatment, to improve their quality of life and reduce symptoms; in addition to appearing as a promising option in those with arrhythmic events, which are difficult to control with usual treatments and procedures.Ye

Deletion of the Wilms’ Tumor Suppressor Gene in the Cardiac Troponin-T Lineage Reveals Novel Functions of WT1 in Heart Development

This work was supported by: Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitivity (BFU2017-83907-P to RM-C and RC and PID2019-107492GB-I00 to AA and DF), Consejeria de Salud, Junta de Andalucia (PC0066?2017/PC-0081-2017 to RC, JV, and JG), Instituto de Salud Carlos III-TERCEL network (RD16/0011/0030 to RM-C and RC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III-CIBERCV "Enfermedades Cardiovasculares" (CB16/11/00360 to MJ-N), and Consejeria de Economia y Conocimiento, Junta de Andalucia (UMA18-FEDERJA-146 to RM-C and RC and FEDER-UJA to AA and DF).Expression of Wilms’ tumor suppressor transcription factor (WT1) in the embryonic epicardium is essential for cardiac development, but its myocardial expression is little known. We have found that WT1 is expressed at low levels in 20–25% of the embryonic cardiomyocytes. Conditional ablation of WT1 using a cardiac troponin T driver (Tnnt2Cre) caused abnormal sinus venosus and atrium development, lack of pectinate muscles, thin ventricular myocardium and, in some cases, interventricular septum and cardiac wall defects, ventricular diverticula and aneurisms. Coronary development was normal and there was not embryonic lethality, although survival of adult mutant mice was reduced probably due to perinatal mortality. Adult mutant mice showed electrocardiographic anomalies, including increased RR and QRS intervals, and decreased PR intervals. RNASeq analysis identified differential expression of 137 genes in the E13.5 mutant heart as compared to controls. GO functional enrichment analysis suggested that both calcium ion regulation and modulation of potassium channels are deeply altered in the mutant myocardium. In summary, together with its essential function in the embryonic epicardium, myocardial WT1 expression is also required for normal cardiac development.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitivity BFU2017-83907-P PID2019-107492GB-I00Junta de Andalucia PC0066?2017/PC-0081-2017Instituto de Salud Carlos III-TERCEL network RD16/0011/0030 Instituto de Salud Carlos III-CIBERCV "Enfermedades Cardiovasculares" CB16/11/00360Junta de Andalucia UMA18-FEDERJA-14

Using NMR in saliva to identify possible biomarkers of glioblastoma and chronic periodontitis

<div><p>Nowadays there is increasing interest in identifying–and using–metabolites that can be employed as biomarkers for diagnosing, treating and monitoring diseases. Saliva and NMR have been widely used for this purpose as they are fast and inexpensive methods. This case-control study aimed to find biomarkers that could be related to glioblastoma (GBL) and periodontal disease (PD) and studied a possible association between GBL and periodontal status. The participants numbered 130, of whom 10 were diagnosed with GBL and were assigned to the cases group, while the remaining 120 did not present any pathology and were assigned to the control group. On one hand, significantly increased (p < 0.05) metabolites were found in GBL group: leucine, valine, isoleucine, propionate, alanine, acetate, ethanolamine and sucrose. Moreover, a good tendency to separation between the two groups was observed on the scatterplot of the NMR. On the other hand, the distribution of the groups attending to the periodontal status was very similar and we didn´t find any association between GBL and periodontal status (Chi-Square 0.1968, p = 0.91). Subsequently, the sample as a whole (130 individuals) was divided into three groups by periodontal status in order to identify biomarkers for PD. Group 1 was composed of periodontally healthy individuals, group 2 had gingivitis or early periodontitis and group 3 had moderate to advanced periodontitis. On comparing periodontal status, a significant increase (p < 0.05) in certain metabolites was observed. These findings along with previous reports suggest that these could be used as biomarkers of a PD: caproate, isocaproate+butyrate, isovalerate, isopropanol+methanol, 4 aminobutyrate, choline, sucrose, sucrose-glucose-lysine, lactate-proline, lactate and proline. The scatter plot showed a good tendency to wards separation between group 1 and 3.</p></div

Metabolites identified and compared attending the periodontal satatus.

<p>* p < 0.05 and ** p < 0.01.</p

Íber : didáctica de las ciencias sociales, geografía e historia

Resumen basado en el de la publicaciónSe presenta toda una serie de experiencias escolares innovadoras que ponen en evidencia la necesaria reeducación emocional con respecto a la percepción y valoración de nuestro paisaje. La evaluación de este tipo de aprendizajes debe incluir los aspectos relacionados con la educación emocional y la modificación de actitudes en aplicación de la legislación vigente.Biblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional; Calle San Agustín, 5; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; [email protected]

Distribution of case and control groups attending to the periodontal status.

<p>Distribution of case and control groups attending to the periodontal status.</p