Máster INFTEL: Transición de la universidad a la empresa en el campo de las comunicaciones móviles

Las actividades de los estudiantes en la universidad tienen características claramente diferentes a las actividades en una empresa. Al pasar el estudiante de un lugar al otro necesita un periodo de adaptación. Reducir ese periodo de adaptación permite que la persona se integre en la actividad profesional en menos tiempo y de forma más eficaz. Esto es más cierto aún en el ámbito de los teléfonos móviles y los desarrollos informáticos vinculados a ellos, dada su reciente aparición que requiere de una formación especializada. Con este doble enfoque nació el Máster Universitario en Informática aplicada a las Telecomunicaciones Móviles (Máster INFTEL), que alcanza ya la XI edición, habiéndose graduado diez promociones. Con esta experiencia, planteamos en este trabajo hacer un breve recorrido sobre cuál fue su origen, enfoque, resultados alcanzados y plantear las perspectivas futurasUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Hinting a dark matter nature of Sgr A* via the S-stars

The motion data of the S-stars around the Galactic Centre gathered in the last 28 yr imply that Sgr A* hosts a supermassive compact object of about 4×106M⊙⁠, a result awarded with the Nobel Prize in Physics 2020. A non-rotating black hole (BH) nature of Sgr A* has been uncritically adopted since the S-star orbits agree with Schwarzschild geometry geodesics. The orbit of S2 has served as a test of general relativity predictions such as the gravitational redshift and the relativistic precession. The central BH model is, however, challenged by the G2 post-peripassage motion and by the lack of observations on event-horizon-scale distances robustly pointing to its univocal presence. We have recently shown that the S2 and G2 astrometry data are better fitted by geodesics in the spacetime of a self-gravitating dark matter core–halo distribution of 56 keV-fermions, ‘darkinos’, which also explains the outer halo Galactic rotation curves. This letter confirms and extends this conclusion using the astrometry data of the 17 best-resolved S-stars, thereby strengthening the alternative nature of Sgr A* as a dense core of darkinos.Fil: Becerra Vergara, E. A.. Università di Roma; ItaliaFil: Argüelles, Carlos Raúl. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Krut, A.. Università di Roma; ItaliaFil: Rueda, J. A.. Università di Roma; ItaliaFil: Ruffini, R.. Università di Roma; Itali

Visual sensor fusion for active security in robotic industrial environments

This work presents a method of information fusion involving data captured by both a standard CCD camera and a ToF camera to be used in the detection of the proximity between a manipulator robot and a human. Both cameras are assumed to be located above the work area of an industrial robot. The fusion of colour images and time of light information makes it possible to know the 3D localization of objects with respect to a world coordinate system. At the same time this allows to know their colour information. Considering that ToF information given by the range camera contains innacuracies including distance error, border error, and pixel saturation, some corrections over the ToF information are proposed and developed to improve the results. The proposed fusion method uses the calibration parameters of both cameras to reproject 3D ToF points, expressed in a common coordinate system for both cameras and a robot arm, in 2D colour images. In addition to this, using the 3D information, the motion detection in a robot industrial environment is achieved, and the fusion of information is applied to the foreground objects previously detected. This combination of information results in a matrix that links colour and 3D information, giving the possibility of characterising the object by its colour in addition to its 3D localization. Further development of these methods will make it possible to identify objects and their position in the real world, and to use this information to prevent possible collisions between the robot and such objects

A phase I dose-escalation study of MEDI-575, a PDGFRα monoclonal antibody, in adults with advanced solid tumors

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate safety and determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of MEDI-575, a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α (PDGFRα), in patients with advanced solid tumors. METHODS: This phase I multicenter, open-label, single-arm study enrolled adults in a 3 + 3 dose escalation design to receive MEDI-575 (3, 6, 9, 12, or 15 mg/kg) once weekly (QW) until toxicity or disease progression occurred. One 0.5-mg/kg dose was given before the first dose in the 3-mg/kg cohort to determine pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics under unsaturated conditions. After completion of dose escalation in the QW cohorts, patients were enrolled in two additional cohorts and received MEDI-575 25 or 35 mg/kg every 3 weeks (Q3W). Secondary measures included assessments of PK, immunogenicity, and antitumor activity. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients received MEDI-575 QW (n = 23) or Q3W (n = 12). Most treatment-related adverse events were grade 1 or 2 in severity across all dose levels, with fatigue (n = 12) and nausea (n = 8) being reported most frequently. With no reports of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), the MTD was not reached. MEDI-575 exhibited a nonlinear PK profile and increased plasma platelet-derived growth factor-AA levels in a dose-dependent manner with limited immunogenicity. Stable disease was reported as the best tumor response in 9 of 29 evaluable patients; however, no objective responses were reported. CONCLUSION: Administration of MEDI-575 QW or Q3W resulted in a favorable safety profile, including a lack of DLTs, but without evidence of antitumor activity in patients with refractory solid tumors

Phase I dose-escalation trial of the oral AKT inhibitor uprosertib in combination with the oral MEK1/MEK2 inhibitor trametinib in patients with solid tumors.

PurposeThis study aimed to determine the safety, tolerability, and recommended phase II doses of trametinib plus uprosertib (GSK2141795) in patients with solid tumors likely to be sensitive to MEK and/or AKT inhibition.MethodsThis was a phase I, open-label, dose-escalation, and dose-expansion study in patients with triple-negative breast cancer or BRAF-wild type advanced melanoma. The primary outcome of the expansion study was investigator-assessed response. Among 126 enrolled patients, 63 received continuous oral daily dosing of trametinib and uprosertib, 29 received various alternative dosing schedules, and 34 were enrolled into expansion cohorts. Doses tested in the expansion cohort were trametinib 1.5 mg once daily (QD) + uprosertib 50 mg QD.ResultsAdverse events (AEs) were consistent with those reported in monotherapy studies but occurred at lower doses and with greater severity. Diarrhea was the most common dose-limiting toxicity; diarrhea and rash were particularly difficult to tolerate. Overall, 59% and 6% of patients reported AEs with a maximum severity of grade 3 and 4, respectively. Poor tolerability prevented adequate delivery of uprosertib with trametinib at a concentration predicted to have clinical activity. The study was terminated early based on futility in the continuous-dosing expansion cohorts and a lack of pharmacological or therapeutic advantage with intermittent dosing. The objective response rate was < 5% (1 complete response, 5 partial responses).ConclusionsContinuous and intermittent dosing of trametinib in combination with uprosertib was not tolerated, and minimal clinical activity was observed in all schedules tested

Targeting LIF-mediated paracrine interaction for pancreatic cancer therapy and monitoring.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a dismal prognosis largely owing to inefficient diagnosis and tenacious drug resistance. Activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and consequent development of dense stroma are prominent features accounting for this aggressive biology1,2. The reciprocal interplay between PSCs and pancreatic cancer cells (PCCs) not only enhances tumour progression and metastasis but also sustains their own activation, facilitating a vicious cycle to exacerbate tumorigenesis and drug resistance3-7. Furthermore, PSC activation occurs very early during PDAC tumorigenesis8-10, and activated PSCs comprise a substantial fraction of the tumour mass, providing a rich source of readily detectable factors. Therefore, we hypothesized that the communication between PSCs and PCCs could be an exploitable target to develop effective strategies for PDAC therapy and diagnosis. Here, starting with a systematic proteomic investigation of secreted disease mediators and underlying molecular mechanisms, we reveal that leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a key paracrine factor from activated PSCs acting on cancer cells. Both pharmacologic LIF blockade and genetic Lifr deletion markedly slow tumour progression and augment the efficacy of chemotherapy to prolong survival of PDAC mouse models, mainly by modulating cancer cell differentiation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition status. Moreover, in both mouse models and human PDAC, aberrant production of LIF in the pancreas is restricted to pathological conditions and correlates with PDAC pathogenesis, and changes in the levels of circulating LIF correlate well with tumour response to therapy. Collectively, these findings reveal a function of LIF in PDAC tumorigenesis, and suggest its translational potential as an attractive therapeutic target and circulating marker. Our studies underscore how a better understanding of cell-cell communication within the tumour microenvironment can suggest novel strategies for cancer therapy

New GTC spectroscopic data and a statistical study to better constrain the redshift of the BL Lac RGB J2243 + 203

We present new spectroscopic data of the BL Lac RGB 2243 + 203, and its surroundings, obtained with the OSIRIS Multi Object Spectrograph (MOS) mounted in the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). The spectra of neither the BL Lac nor its host galaxy show any spectral feature, thus hindering direct determination of its redshift. The spectroscopic redshift distribution of objects in the MOS field of view shows four galaxies with redshift between 0.5258 and 0.5288. We make use of a statistical analysis to test the possibility that the targeted BL Lac may be a member of that group. By using the spectroscopic redshifts obtained with our GTC observations, we found that this probability is between 86 and 93 per cent.Fil: Rosa González, D. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Muriel, Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Mayya, Y. D.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Aretxaga, I.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Becerra González, J.. Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias; EspañaFil: Carramiñana, Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Méndez-Abreu, J.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Vega, O. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Terlevich, E-. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Coutiño de León, S.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Furniss, A.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Longinotti, A. L.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Terlevich, R. J.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Pichel, Ana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Rovero, Adrian Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Donzelli, Carlos Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; Argentin

Further Characterization of the Electrogenicity and pH Sensitivity of the Human Organic Anion-Transporting Polypeptides OATP1B1 and OATP1B3

Organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATPs) are involved in the liver uptake of many endogenous and xenobiotic compounds, such as bile acids and drugs, respectively. Using Xenopus laevis oocytes and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing rat Oatp1a1, human OATP1B1, or OATP1B3, the sensitivity of these transporters to extracellular/intracellular pH (pHo/pHi) and changes in plasma membrane potential (ΔΨ) was investigated. In X. laevis oocytes, nonspecific plasma membrane permeability increased only at pHo below 4.5. Above this value, both using oocytes and CHO cells, extracellular acidification affected differently the specific transport of taurocholic acid (TCA) and estradiol 17β-d-glucuronide (E217βG) by Oatp1a1 (stimulation), OATP1B1 (inhibition), and OATP1B3 (stimulation). Changes in substrate uptake in the presence of valinomycin (K+-ionophore), carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone and nigericin (protonophores), and amiloride (Na+/H+-inhibitor) and cation replacement in the medium were studied with fluorescent probes for measuring substrate uptake (cholylglycyl amidofluorescein) and changes in pHi (SNARF-4F) and ΔΨ [DilC1(5)]. The results suggest that activity of these three carriers is sodium/potassium-independent and affected differently by changes in pHo and ΔΨ: Oatp1a1 was confirmed to be an electroneutral anion exchanger, whereas the function of both OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 was markedly affected by the magnitude of ΔΨ. Moreover, electrophysiological measurements revealed the existence of a net anion influx associated to OATP1B1/OATP1B3-mediated transport of TCA, E217βG, and estrone-3-sulfate. Furthermore, a leakage of Na+ through OATP1B1 and OATP1B3, which is not coupled to substrate transport, was found. In conclusion, these results suggest that OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 are electrogenic transporters whose activity may be strongly affected under circumstances of displacement of local pH