Non-noticeable information embedding in color images: marking and detection

One of the problems arising from the use of digital media is the ease of obtaining identical copies of digital images or audio files, allowing manipulation and unauthorized use. Copyright is an effective tool for preserving intellectual property of those documents but authors and publishers need effective techniques preventing copyright modification, due to the straightforward access to multimedia applications and the wider use of digital publications through the WWW. These techniques are generally called watermarking and allow the introduction of side information (i.e. author identification, copyrights, dates, etc.). This work concentrates on the problem of watermarking embedding and optimum detection in color images through the use of spread spectrum techniques, both in space (direct sequence spread spectrum or DSSS) and frequency (frequency hopping). It is applied to RGB and opponent color component representations. Perceptive information is considered in both color systems. Some tests are performed in order to ensure imperceptibility and to assess detection quality of the optimum color detectors.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Efectividad del dispositivo intravaginal en su primer y segundo uso en inseminación artificial a tiempo fijo en bovinos Girolando

El dispositivo intravaginal es un implante en forma de T a base de progesterona, la cual se absorbe a diario a través de la mucosa vaginal de la vaca, provocando el bloqueo hipotalámico- hipofisario, evitando la aparición de celos hasta el momento de ser retirado; en Colombia a menudo se usa el dispositivo en hatos ganaderos para los protocolos de sincronización con el fin de lograr una mejor planificación y un mayor índice productivo. En el mercado se encuentran dos clases de dispositivos, uno de un solo uso y otro de dos usos, como tratamiento en vacas anovulatorias, también en novillas que muestran estros prematuros, consiguiendo mejoras en el rendimiento productivo. En este trabajo se evaluó la eficacia del dispositivo intravaginal de dos usos en su primera y segunda aplicación para determinar si hay o no diferencias significativas en cuanto al número de preñeces, ya que actualmente en el entorno ganadero hay cierta controversia del tema en cuanto a su eficacia. El estudio se llevó a cabo en la hacienda la Moravia, en el municipio de Cartago Valle Colombia, en un grupo de 12 animales cruce Girolando, las 12 vacas se sincronizaron con el dispositivo intravaginal de dos usos. El primer grupo de 6 vacas se sincronizaron con el dispositivo en su primera aplicación y el segundo grupo de 6 vacas se sincronizo con el mismo dispositivo en su segunda aplicación. Los protocolos y las pajillas fueron iguales para ambos grupos. También se buscó uniformidad en el número de partos, días abiertos y condición corporal. El resultado se evaluó con la prueba estadística x², arrojando diferencias significativas entre ambas aplicaciones

Eventos adversos asociados a post-vacunas COVID 19 en pacientes de una Unidad de Medicina Familiar

The prompt response to having vaccines against COVID-19 has been essential for the control of the pandemic. Scientific evidence has reported adverse events after inmunization ranging from mild to very severe reactions. To analyze the association between adversen events and types of vaccines in patients who attended a Social Security Family Medicine Unit (umf) in Puebla for this reason. Data from 134 patients who attended the clinic between February 2021 and February 2022 for presenting signs and symptoms after immunization for COVID-19 were analyzed. Those who reprted symptoms of attack to the general state (ags) were classified as (G1), G2 with respiratory symptoms plus AGS, G3 with digestive symptoms plus AGS, and G4 with digestive and respiratory symptoms plus AGS. From G1 they were 35.8%, G2 28.4%, G3 23.9% and G4 11.9%. Vaccines are a positive option to avoid COVID 19. In this study, diarrea was highly significant in the association as an adverse effect after the applicaction of the Sputnik and Astral Zenecal vaccines.La pronta respuesta para contar con vacunas contra COVID 19 ha sido fundamental para el control de la pandemia. Evidencias científicas han reportado eventos adversos posteriores a la inmunización que van desde reacciones leves hasta muy graves. Objetivo: Analizar los eventos adversos asociados a post-vacunas COVID 19 en pacientes de una Unidad de Medicina Familiar. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, transversal con información retrolectiva. De la base de datos que registra eventos adversos a vacunas, se recabó información del total de pacientes (134) que acudieron a consulta externa por presentar síntomas y signos que asociaron a la aplicación de vacunas para COVID 19 durante febrero de 2021 a febrero de 2022 de una Unidad Médico Familiar de seguridad social de Puebla. Se conformaron cuatro grupos de acuerdo con la sintomatología. (G1) los que reportaron síntomas de ataque al estado general (AEG), G2 síntomas respiratorios más AEG, G3 síntomas digestivos más AEG y G4 síntomas digestivos, respiratorios más AEG. Las variables bajo estudio fueron edad, género, ocupación, antecedentes antes de la vacunación, sano, con VIH, alergias, dosis recibida, marca de la vacuna recibida. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables bajo estudio, para investigar asociaciones se realizó un análisis bivariado y mutivariado mediante una regresión logística para el cálculo de los ORs. Resultados: La edad promedio de los grupos fue de 35 años, en los grupos G2 y G3 predominó el sexo femenino, en su mayoría empleados para los cuatro grupos. Las vacunas más aplicadas de acuerdo con lo reportado fueron AstraZeneca 38.06% y Sputnik 35.07%. Los resultados de la regresión logística ajustada considerando como variable de referencia el grupo G4 fueron para la vacuna Sputnik OR9.39 (P 0.001) y para Astra Zeneca OR 6.72 (P0.00). Conclusión: Las vacunas son una opción positiva para evitar COVID 19. En este estudio las vacunas que resultaron con una asociación significativa para presentar síntomas respiratorios, digestivos y ataque al estado general fueron Sputnik y AztraZeneca

Distribució i estat de conservació de Myriostoma coliforme (Geastraceae, Basidiomycota) a Catalunya (NE península Ibèrica)

S'aporten dades sobre noves poblacions de Myriostoma coliforme (Dicks.) Corda a Catalunya descobertes els últims anys, que amplien notablement l'àrea de distribució coneguda fins ara d'aquest fong, protegit a Catalunya i inclòs a la majoria de llistes vermelles dels països europeus on és present. Es revisa la distribució i els requeriments ecològics d'aquest tàxon a Catalunya, i se n'avalua l'estatus d'amenaça.We report data of new populations of Myriostoma coliforme in Catalonia discovered during the last years and expand the knowledge of the area of occupancy of this fungus protected in Catalonia and included in several red lists of European countries. We review the distribution and ecological requirements of this species and evaluate its threat category in Catalonia according to IUCN criteri

Inhibition of DDR1 enhances in vivo chemosensitivity in KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma

Platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with immune-checkpoint inhibitors is the current standard of care for patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, tumor progression evolves in most cases. Therefore, predictive bioma ricers are needed for better patient stratification and for the identification of new therapeutic strategies, including enhancing the efficacy of chemotoxic agents. Here, we hypothesized that discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) may be both a predictive factor for chemoresistance in patients with LUAD and a potential target positively selected in resistant cells. By using biopsies from patients with LUAD, KRAS-mutant LUAD cell lines, and in vivo genetically engineered KRAS-driven mouse models, we evaluated the role of DDR1 in the context of chemotherapy treatment. We found that DORT is upregulated during chemotherapy both in vitro and in viva. Moreover, analysis of a cohort of patients with LUAD suggested that high DOR1 levels in pretreatment biopsies correlated with poor response to chemotherapy. Additionally, we showed that combining DORI inhibition with chemotherapy prompted a synergistic therapeutic effect and enhanced cell death of KRAS-mutant tumors in vivo. Collectively, this study suggests a potential role for DDR1 as both a predictive and prognostic biomarker, potentially improving the chemotherapy response of patients with LUAD

RANK signaling increases after anti-HER2 therapy contributing to the emergence of resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer

Background: Around 15-20% of primary breast cancers are characterized by HER2 protein overexpression and/or HER2 gene amplification. Despite the successful development of anti-HER2 drugs, intrinsic and acquired resistance represents a major hurdle. This study was performed to analyze the RANK pathway contribution in HER2-positive breast cancer and anti-HER2 therapy resistance. Methods: RANK and RANKL protein expression was assessed in samples from HER2-positive breast cancer patients resistant to anti-HER2 therapy and treatment-naive patients. RANK and RANKL gene expression was analyzed in paired samples from patients treated with neoadjuvant dual HER2-blockade (lapatinib and trastuzumab) from the SOLTI-1114 PAMELA trial. Additionally, HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines were used to modulate RANK expression and analyze in vitro the contribution of RANK signaling to anti-HER2 resistance and downstream signaling. Results: RANK and RANKL proteins are more frequently detected in HER2-positive tumors that have acquired resistance to anti-HER2 therapies than in treatment-naive ones. RANK (but not RANKL) gene expression increased after dual anti-HER2 neoadjuvant therapy in the cohort from the SOLTI-1114 PAMELA trial. Results in HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines recapitulate the clinical observations, with increased RANK expression observed after short-term treatment with the HER2 inhibitor lapatinib or dual anti-HER2 therapy and in lapatinib-resistant cells. After RANKL stimulation, lapatinib-resistant cells show increased NF-κB activation compared to their sensitive counterparts, confirming the enhanced functionality of the RANK pathway in anti-HER2-resistant breast cancer. Overactivation of the RANK signaling pathway enhances ERK and NF-κB signaling and increases lapatinib resistance in different HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines, whereas RANK loss sensitizes lapatinib-resistant cells to the drug. Our results indicate that ErbB signaling is required for RANK/RANKL-driven activation of ERK in several HER2-positive cell lines. In contrast, lapatinib is not able to counteract the NF-κB activation elicited after RANKL treatment in RANK-overexpressing cells. Finally, we show that RANK binds to HER2 in breast cancer cells and that enhanced RANK pathway activation alters HER2 phosphorylation status. Conclusions: Our data support a physical and functional link between RANK and HER2 signaling in breast cancer and demonstrate that increased RANK signaling may contribute to the development of lapatinib resistance through NF-κB activation. Whether HER2-positive breast cancer patients with tumoral RANK expression might benefit from dual HER2 and RANK inhibition therapy remains to be elucidated

Brain Functional Connectivity Is Modified By A Hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet And Physical Activity In Obese Women

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in the resting state has shown altered brain connectivity networks in obese individuals. However, the impact of a Mediterranean diet on cerebral connectivity in obese patients when losing weight has not been previously explored. The aim of this study was to examine the connectivity between brain structures before and six months after following a hypocaloric Mediterranean diet and physical activity program in a group of sixteen obese women aged 46.31 +/- 4.07 years. Before and after the intervention program, the body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) was 38.15 +/- 4.7 vs. 34.18 +/- 4.5 (p < 0.02), and body weight (kg) was 98.5 +/- 13.1 vs. 88.28 +/- 12.2 (p < 0.03). All subjects underwent a pre- and post-intervention fMRI under fasting conditions. Functional connectivity was assessed using seed-based correlations. After the intervention, we found decreased connectivity between the left inferior parietal cortex and the right temporal cortex (p < 0.001), left posterior cingulate (p < 0.001), and right posterior cingulate (p < 0.03); decreased connectivity between the left superior frontal gyrus and the right temporal cortex (p < 0.01); decreased connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and the somatosensory cortex (p < 0.025); and decreased connectivity between the left and right posterior cingulate (p < 0.04). Results were considered significant at a voxel-wise threshold of p <= 0.05, and a cluster-level family-wise error correction for multiple comparisons of p <= 0.05. In conclusion, functional connectivity between brain structures involved in the pathophysiology of obesity ( the inferior parietal lobe, posterior cingulate, temporo-insular cortex, prefrontal cortex) may be modified by a weight loss program including a Mediterranean diet and physical exercise

Clinical and Sociodemographic Determinants of Adherence to World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) Recommendations in Breast Cancer Survivors-Health-EpiGEICAM Study

Breast cancer (BC) survivors are advised to follow the WCRF/AICR cancer prevention recommendations, given their high risk of developing a second tumour. We aimed to explore compliance with these recommendations in BC survivors and to identify potentially associated clinical and sociodemographic factors. A total of 420 BC survivors, aged 31-80, was recruited from 16 Spanish hospitals. Epidemiological, dietary and physical activity information was collected through questionnaires. A 7-item score to measure compliance with the recommendations was built according to the 2018 WCRF/AICR scoring criteria. Standardized prevalences and standardized prevalence ratios of moderate and high compliance across participant characteristics were estimated using multinomial and binary logistic regression models. The mean score was 3.9 (SD: 1.0) out of 7 points. Recommendations with the worst adherence were those of limiting consumption of red/processed meats (12% of compliance, 95% CI: 8.2-15.0) and high fibre intake (22% of compliance, 95% CI: 17.6-27.0), while the best compliance was observed for the consumption of fruits and vegetables (73% of compliance, 95% CI: 69.2-77.7). Overall, adherence was worse in women with university education and in those with first-degree relatives with BC. This information may be of interest to design and implement personalized preventive measures adapted to the characteristics of these patients.This research was funded by the Fundación Científica Asociación Española Contra el Cancer (AECC) (Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association against Cancer 2016). This article presents independent research. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Carlos III Institute of Health.S

Antagomir-17-5p Abolishes the Growth of Therapy-Resistant Neuroblastoma through p21 and BIM

We identified a key oncogenic pathway underlying neuroblastoma progression: specifically, MYCN, expressed at elevated level, transactivates the miRNA 17-5p-92 cluster, which inhibits p21 and BIM translation by interaction with their mRNA 3′ UTRs. Overexpression of miRNA 17-5p-92 cluster in MYCN-not-amplified neuroblastoma cells strongly augments their in vitro and in vivo tumorigenesis. In vitro or in vivo treatment with antagomir-17-5p abolishes the growth of MYCN-amplified and therapy-resistant neuroblastoma through p21 and BIM upmodulation, leading to cell cycling blockade and activation of apoptosis, respectively. In primary neuroblastoma, the majority of cases show a rise of miR-17-5p level leading to p21 downmodulation, which is particularly severe in patients with MYCN amplification and poor prognosis. Altogether, our studies demonstrate for the first time that antagomir treatment can abolish tumor growth in vivo, specifically in therapy-resistant neuroblastoma

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