Epigenética en la enfermedad renal: Investigación de las proteínas BET como potenciales dianas terapéuticas

Tesis doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Medicina. Fecha de lectura: 06-04-201

A data-driven intelligent decision support system that combines predictive and prescriptive analytics for the design of new textile fabrics

In this paper, we propose an Intelligent Decision Support System (IDSS) for the design of new textile fabrics. The IDSS uses predictive analytics to estimate fabric properties (e.g., elasticity) and composition values (% cotton) and then prescriptive techniques to optimize the fabric design inputs that feed the predictive models (e.g., types of yarns used). Using thousands of data records from a Portuguese textile company, we compared two distinct Machine Learning (ML) predictive approaches: Single-Target Regression (STR), via an Automated ML (AutoML) tool, and Multi-target Regression, via a deep learning Artificial Neural Network. For the prescriptive analytics, we compared two Evolutionary Multi-objective Optimization (EMO) methods (NSGA-II and R-NSGA-II) when optimizing 100 new fabrics, aiming to simultaneously minimize the physical property predictive error and the distance of the optimized values when compared with the learned input space. The two EMO methods were applied to design of 100 new fabrics. Overall, the STR approach provided the best results for both prediction tasks, with Normalized Mean Absolute Error values that range from 4% (weft elasticity) to 11% (pilling) in terms of the fabric properties and a textile composition classification accuracy of 87% when adopting a small tolerance of 0.01 for predicting the percentages of six types of fibers (e.g., cotton). As for the prescriptive results, they favored the R-NSGA-II EMO method, which tends to select Pareto curves that are associated with an average 11% predictive error and 16% distance.This work was carried out within the project "TexBoost: less Commodities more Specialities" reference POCI-01-0247-FEDER-024523, co-funded by Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), through Portugal 2020 (P2020)

Ignorancia consciente en el aprendizaje de las ciencias II : factores que influyen en lo que los alumnos saben que no saben

La investigación en la didáctica de las ciencias ha examinado en detalle procesos de adquisición de conocimiento y comprensión del contenido científico. Sin embargo, se ha prestado menos atención a los papeles positivos de la incomprensión o el desconocimiento consciente. Este artículo es el segundo de dos trabajos de revisión y síntesis en los que se analiza el desconocimiento y la incomprensión conscientes de contenidos científicos. El primero se centra en los componentes y estructura de la incomprensión y en este segundo se examinan las variables que afectan al desconocimiento y a la incomprensión conscientes. En particular se revisan y sintetizan estudios sobre el efecto que tienen el conocimiento, las tareas y los criterios de coherencia en la consciencia de la incomprensión, o el desconocimiento de la ciencia, que se manifiesta generalmente a través de preguntas. Finalmente se sintetizan algunas de las implicaciones que tienen los estudios revisados para la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de las ciencias.La recerca en la didàctica de les ciències ha examinat detalladament processos d'adquisició de coneixement i comprensió del contingut científic. No obstant això, s'ha prestat menys atenció als papers positius de la incomprensió o el desconeixement conscient. Aquest article és el segon de dos treballs de revisió i síntesi en els quals s'analitza el desconeixement i la incomprensió conscients de continguts científics. El primer se centra en els components i estructura de la incomprensió i en aquest segon s'examinen les variables que afecten al desconeixement i a la incomprensió conscients. En particular es revisen i sintetitzen estudis sobre l'efecte que tenen el coneixement, les tasques i els criteris de coherència en la consciència de la incomprensió, o el desconeixement de la ciència, que es manifesta generalment a través de preguntes. Finalment se sintetitzen algunes de les implicacions que tenen els estudis revisats per a l'ensenyament i l'aprenentatge de les ciències.Much research in science education has focused on the processes of knowledge building and comprehension of scientific content. However, the positive roles of what is unknown or not understood have received much less attention. This article is the second one of two reviews that analyze the nature of what is consciously unknown or not understood about science content. The first paper focused on the components and structure of incomprehension. This second paper examines the variables influencing what is consciously not known or not understood. In particular we review and synthesize studies about the influence of knowledge, tasks, and standards of coherence on the awareness of lack of knowledge or the incomprehension of science, that is made explicit through questioning. Finally, we synthesize some implications of the revised studies for science teaching and learning

Benchtop SS-OCT – layout and performance evaluation

 Abstract1— Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive biomedical imaging technique that provides high speed and high resolution three dimensional and cross sectional images of biological samples, in vivo and in situ. OCT applications targeting small animals is believed to bring developments in medical techniques, instruments, diagnosis and therapies for a number of human diseases as always have been the case of animal experimentation. With the swept source OCT (SS-OCT) system presented in this work, we were able to achieve performance parameters that meet the requirements to image the retina of small animals. Performance characteristics include 105 dB for system sensitivity, a roll-off below 1 dB/mm over 3 mm depth and an axial resolution of 8 μm. We describe the layout and acquisition/processing solutions towards fast imaging of in vivo samples

Prostaglandin E2-EP1 and EP2 receptor signaling promotes apical junctional complex disassembly of Caco-2 human colorectal cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The apical junctional complex (AJC) is a dynamic structure responsible to maintain epithelial cell-cell adhesions and it plays important functions such as, polarity, mechanical integrity, and cell signaling. Alteration of this complex during pathological events leads to an impaired epithelial barrier by perturbation of the cell-cell adhesion system. Although clinical and experimental data indicate that prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂) plays a critical function in promoting cell motility and cancer progression, little is known concerning its role in AJC disassembly, an event that takes place at the beginning of colorectal tumorigenesis. Using Caco-2 cells, a cell line derived from human colorectal cancer, we investigated the effects of prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂) treatment on AJC assembly and function.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Exposition of Caco-2 cells to PGE₂promoted differential alteration of AJC protein distribution, as evidenced by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting analysis and impairs the barrier function, as seen by a decrease in the transepithelial electric resistance and an increase in the permeability to ruthenium red marker. We demonstrated the involvement of EP1 and EP2 prostaglandin E₂receptor subtypes in the modulation of the AJC disassembly caused by prostanoid. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of protein kinase-C, but not PKA and p38MAPK significantly prevented the PGE₂effects on the AJC disassembly.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings strongly suggest a central role of Prostaglandin E2-EP1 and EP2 receptor signaling to mediate AJC disassembly through a mechanism that involves PKC and claudin-1 as important target for the TJ-related effects in human colorectal cancer cells (Caco-2).</p

Environmental biofilms, consequences for health and disease

Ornamental waters of easy access and populated with animals are quite attractive and can hide threats to human health. Here we evaluated, during one year, the microbiota of ornamental waters in a Lisbon park in order to assess the risk for human health. A total of 26 different bacterial species were identified during the study. Among these are potential human pathogens such as Aeromonas, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Pseudomonas and Raoutella. Aeromonas sobria is a resident bacterium whereas other species such as A. hydrophila and A. veronii were sporadically identified. A possible explanation for this result is the presence of a fish population. The presence of E. coli indicates water contamination with fecal materials. We first isolate this bacterium in June when the water temperature increased and then after it was a resident despite the natural temperature drop in the autumn. This might be explained by the replace of the fish population by ducks in October which lead to an increase in water tubirdity and total carbon content. Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. putida and P. oryzihabitans have been considered low-virulence bacteria but recently have been identified as ethiological agents of healthcare assotiated infections (HAI) mostly in immunosupressed individuals. Another recognized HAI agent present is K. pneumoniae. The same bacteria species were isolated from biofilm and water suggesting the existence of an equilibrium between planktonic and biofilm organized bacteria. The role played by biofilm assembly on the emergence of antibiotic resistance is still ongoing for the isolated bacteria, as well as the possible interaction between water chemical composition and bacteria isolates. Potential pathogens (biofilm or planktonic) represent a significant cause of acute bacterial infections mainly in specific populations (paediatric and geriatric). These results support a periodic control of ornamental water microbiota as simple preventive measure to avoid potential health issues.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Benchtop SS-OCT – layout and performance evaluation

Abstract1— Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive biomedical imaging technique that provides high speed and high resolution three dimensional and cross sectional images of biological samples, in vivo and in situ. OCT applications targeting small animals is believed to bring developments in medical techniques, instruments, diagnosis and therapies for a number of human diseases as always have been the case of animal experimentation. With the swept source OCT (SS-OCT) system presented in this work, we were able to achieve performance parameters that meet the requirements to image the retina of small animals. Performance characteristics include 105 dB for system sensitivity, a roll-off below 1 dB/mm over 3 mm depth and an axial resolution of 8 μm. We describe the layout and acquisition/processing solutions towards fast imaging of in vivo samples