72 research outputs found
Tocilizumab increases the proliferative Potency of endothelial Progenitor Cells of rheumatoid Arthritis in the medium-term Course of Treatment
No full textNMDA Receptor Modulators in the Treatment of Drug Addiction
No full textGlutamate plays a pivotal role in drug addiction, and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor subtype serves as a molecular target for several drugs of abuse. In this review, we will provide an overview of NMDA receptor structure and function, followed by a review of the mechanism of action, clinical efficacy, and side effect profile of NMDA receptor ligands that are currently in use or being explored for the treatment of drug addiction. These ligands include the NMDA receptor modulators memantine and acamprosate, as well as the partial NMDA agonist D-cycloserine. Data collected to date suggest that direct NMDA receptor modulators have relatively limited efficacy in the treatment of drug addiction, and that partial agonism of NMDA receptors may have some efficacy with regards to extinction learning during cue exposure therapy. However, the lack of consistency in results to date clearly indicates that additional studies are needed, as are studies examining novel ligands with indirect mechanisms for altering NMDA receptor function
Predatory behavior under monocular and binocular conditions in the semiterrestrial crab Neohelice granulata
No full textIntroduction: Neohelice granulata crabs live in mudflats where they prey upon smaller crabs. Predatory behavior can be elicited in the laboratory by a dummy moving at ground level in an artificial arena. Previous research found that crabs do not use apparent dummy size nor its retinal speed as a criterion to initiate attacks, relying instead on actual size and distance to the target. To estimate the distance to an object on the ground, Neohelice could rely on angular declination below the horizon or, since they are broad-fronted with eye stalks far apart, on stereopsis. Unlike other animals, binocular vision does not widen the visual field of crabs since they already cover 360◦ monocularly. There exist nonetheless areas of the eye with increased resolution. Methods: We tested how predatory responses towards the dummy changed when animals’ vision was monocular (one eye occluded by opaque black paint) compared to binocular. Results: Even though monocular crabs could still perform predatory behaviors, we found a steep reduction in the number of attacks. Predatory performance defined by the probability of completing the attacks and the success rate (the probability of making contact with the dummy once the attack was initiated) was impaired too. Monocular crabs tended to use frontal, ballistic jumps (lunge behavior) less, and the accuracy of those attacks was reduced. Monocular crabs used prey interception (moving toward the dummy while it approached the crab) more frequently, favoring attacks when the dummy was ipsilateral to the viewing eye. Instead, binocular crabs’ responses were balanced in the right and left hemifields. Both groups mainly approached the dummy using the lateral field of view, securing speed of response. Conclusion: Although two eyes are not strictly necessary for eliciting predatory responses, binocularity is associated with more frequent and precise attacks.Fil: Harper, Thomas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Nemirovsky, Sergio Iván. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Tomsic, Daniel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Sztarker, Julieta. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina
Innovative technology and mental health care: Survey on the usage of WhatsApp among Argentinian psychiatrists and psychologists
No full textObjetivos: La comunicación entre pacientes y profesionales de la salud mental mediante plataformas de mensa- jería en el intervalo entre encuentros presenciales o virtuales se convirtió en una modalidad de teleconsulta asincrónica (TA) cuya utilidad y efecto en la carga de trabajo de los profesionales de salud mental no se han explorado. Método: Profesionales del campo de la salud mental que trabajan en Argentina fueron invitados a responder a una encuesta que exploraba la intensidad y utilidad de la TA, y la sobrecarga resultante. Resultados: Se recibieron un total de 527 respuestas de profesionales que trabajan en todo el país. El 69 % de los encuestados mensajes con un promedio de 1-10 pacientes/día y el 31 % con más de 10 pacientes/día; el 75 % respondió mensajes por teléfono móvil los fines de semana. Mientras que el 68 % calificó estas interacciones como positivas para el seguimiento clínico, el 47 % las consideró una fuente de sobrecarga laboral. Conclusiones: La adopción generalizada de la TA puede requerir una autorregulación adicional por parte de los profesionales y un seguimiento regular de los niveles de sobrecarga (especialmente, entre los psiquiatras) para que su práctica clínica diaria sea eficiente y sostenible.Objective: Communication between patients and mental health professionals by means of messaging platforms in the interval between synchronous encounters became a kind of asynchronous teleconsultation (AT) whose usefulness and effect on providers’ workload have not been explored. Method: Mental health providers working in Argentina were invited to answer a survey exploring the intensity and usefulness of AT, and the resulting overload. Results: A total of 527 responses from professionals working throughout the country were received. As much as 69% of respondents exchanged messages with a mean of 1-10 patients/day and 31% with more than 10 patients/day; 75% answered messages over mobile phones on weekends. While 68% rated these interactions as positive for clinical follow-up, 47% considered them as a source of work overload. Conclusions: The generalized adoption of AT may require additional self-regulation by clinicians and regular monitoring of overload levels (particularly, among psychiatrists) to make their daily clinical practice efficient and sustainable.Fil: Agrest, Martín. Proyecto Suma; ArgentinaFil: Matusevich, Leon Daniel. Instituto Universidad Escuela de Medicina del Hospital Italiano; ArgentinaFil: Nemirovsky, Martín. Proyecto Suma; ArgentinaFil: Wikinski, Silvia Ines. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentin
Predatory behavior under monocular and binocular conditions in the semiterrestrial crab Neohelice granulata
No full textIntroduction: Neohelice granulata crabs live in mudflats where they prey upon smaller crabs. Predatory behavior can be elicited in the laboratory by a dummy moving at ground level in an artificial arena. Previous research found that crabs do not use apparent dummy size nor its retinal speed as a criterion to initiate attacks, relying instead on actual size and distance to the target. To estimate the distance to an object on the ground, Neohelice could rely on angular declination below the horizon or, since they are broad-fronted with eye stalks far apart, on stereopsis. Unlike other animals, binocular vision does not widen the visual field of crabs since they already cover 360◦ monocularly. There exist nonetheless areas of the eye with increased resolution. Methods: We tested how predatory responses towards the dummy changed when animals’ vision was monocular (one eye occluded by opaque black paint) compared to binocular. Results: Even though monocular crabs could still perform predatory behaviors, we found a steep reduction in the number of attacks. Predatory performance defined by the probability of completing the attacks and the success rate (the probability of making contact with the dummy once the attack was initiated) was impaired too. Monocular crabs tended to use frontal, ballistic jumps (lunge behavior) less, and the accuracy of those attacks was reduced. Monocular crabs used prey interception (moving toward the dummy while it approached the crab) more frequently, favoring attacks when the dummy was ipsilateral to the viewing eye. Instead, binocular crabs’ responses were balanced in the right and left hemifields. Both groups mainly approached the dummy using the lateral field of view, securing speed of response. Conclusion: Although two eyes are not strictly necessary for eliciting predatory responses, binocularity is associated with more frequent and precise attacks.Fil: Harper, Thomas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Nemirovsky, Sergio Iván. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Tomsic, Daniel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Sztarker, Julieta. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina
Predatory behavior under monocular and binocular conditions in the semiterrestrial crab Neohelice granulata
No full textIntroduction: Neohelice granulata crabs live in mudflats where they prey upon smaller crabs. Predatory behavior can be elicited in the laboratory by a dummy moving at ground level in an artificial arena. Previous research found that crabs do not use apparent dummy size nor its retinal speed as a criterion to initiate attacks, relying instead on actual size and distance to the target. To estimate the distance to an object on the ground, Neohelice could rely on angular declination below the horizon or, since they are broad-fronted with eye stalks far apart, on stereopsis. Unlike other animals, binocular vision does not widen the visual field of crabs since they already cover 360° monocularly. There exist nonetheless areas of the eye with increased resolution. Methods: We tested how predatory responses towards the dummy changed when animals’ vision was monocular (one eye occluded by opaque black paint) compared to binocular. Results: Even though monocular crabs could still perform predatory behaviors, we found a steep reduction in the number of attacks. Predatory performance defined by the probability of completing the attacks and the success rate (the probability of making contact with the dummy once the attack was initiated) was impaired too. Monocular crabs tended to use frontal, ballistic jumps (lunge behavior) less, and the accuracy of those attacks was reduced. Monocular crabs used prey interception (moving toward the dummy while it approached the crab) more frequently, favoring attacks when the dummy was ipsilateral to the viewing eye. Instead, binocular crabs’ responses were balanced in the right and left hemifields. Both groups mainly approached the dummy using the lateral field of view, securing speed of response. Conclusion: Although two eyes are not strictly necessary for eliciting predatory responses, binocularity is associated with more frequent and precise attacks.Fil: Harper, Thomas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Nemirovsky, Sergio Ivan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Tomsic, Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Sztarker, Julieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; Argentin
Improving heterogeneous system efficiency : architecture, scheduling, and machine learning
No full textComputer architects are beginning to embrace heterogeneous systems as an effective method to utilize increases in transistor densities for executing a diverse range of workloads under varying performance and energy constraints. As heterogeneous systems become more ubiquitous, architects will need to develop novel CPU scheduling techniques capable of exploiting the diversity of computational resources. In recognizing hardware diversity, state-of-the-art heterogeneous schedulers are able to produce significant performance improvements over their predecessors and enable more flexible system designs. Nearly all of these, however, are unable to efficiently identify the mapping schemes which will result in the highest system performance.
Accurately estimating the performance of applications on different heterogeneous resources can provide a significant advantage to heterogeneous schedulers for identifying a performance maximizing mapping scheme to improve system performance. Recent advances in machine learning techniques including artificial neural networks have led to the development of powerful and practical prediction models for a variety of fields. As of yet, however, no significant leaps have been taken towards employing machine learning for heterogeneous scheduling in order to maximize system throughput.
The core issue we approach is how to understand and utilize the rise of heterogeneous architectures, benefits of heterogeneous scheduling, and the promise of machine learning techniques with respect to maximizing system performance. We present studies that promote a future computing model capable of supporting massive hardware diversity, discuss the constraints faced by heterogeneous designers, explore the advantages and shortcomings of conventional heterogeneous schedulers, and pioneer applying machine learning to optimize mapping and system throughput. The goal of this thesis is to highlight the importance of efficiently exploiting heterogeneity and to validate the opportunities that machine learning can offer for various areas in computer architecture.Arquitectos de computadores estan empesando a diseñar systemas heterogeneos como una manera efficiente de usar los incrementos en densidades de transistors para ejecutar una gran diversidad de programas corriendo debajo de differentes condiciones y requisitos de energia y rendimiento (performance). En cuanto los sistemas heterogeneos van ganando popularidad de uso, arquitectos van a necesitar a diseñar nuevas formas de hacer el scheduling de las applicaciones en los cores distintos de los CPUs. Schedulers nuevos que tienen en cuenta la heterogeniedad de los recursos en el hardware logran importantes beneficios en terminos de rendimiento en comparacion con schedulers hecho para sistemas homogenios. Pero, casi todos de estos schedulers heterogeneos no son capaz de poder identificar la esquema de mapping que produce el rendimiento maximo dado el estado de los cores y las applicaciones. Estimando con precision el rendimiento de los programas ejecutando sobre diferentes cores de un CPU es un a gran ventaja para poder identificar el mapping para lograr el mejor rendimiento posible para el proximo scheduling quantum. Desarollos nuevos en la area de machine learning, como redes neurales, han producido predictores muy potentes y con gran precision in disciplinas numerosas. Pero en estos momentos, la aplicacion de metodos de machine learning no se han casi explorados para poder mejorar la eficiencia de los CPUs y menos para mejorar los schedulers para sistemas heterogeneos. El tema de enfoque en esta tesis es como poder entender y utilizar los sistemas heterogeneos, los beneficios de scheduling para estos sistemas, y como aprovechar las promesas de los metodos de machine learning con respeto a maximizer el redimiento de el Sistema. Presentamos estudios que dan una esquema para un modelo de computacion para el futuro capaz de dar suporte a recursos heterogeneos en gran escala, discutimos las restricciones enfrentados por diseñadores de sistemas heterogeneos, exploramos las ventajas y desventajas de las ultimas schedulers heterogeneos, y abrimos el camino de usar metodos de machine learning para optimizer el mapping y rendimiento de un sistema heterogeneo. El objetivo de esta tesis es destacar la imporancia de explotando eficientemente la heterogenidad de los recursos y tambien validar las oportunidades para mejorar la eficiencia en diferente areas de arquitectura de computadoras que pueden ser realizadas gracias a machine learning.DOCTORAT EN ARQUITECTURA DE COMPUTADORS (Pla 2012
Experimental investigation into the effect of substrate clamping on the piezoelectric behaviour of thick-film PZT elements
No full textThis paper details an experimental investigation of the clamping effect associated with thick-film piezoelectric elements printed on a substrate. The clamping effect reduces the measured piezoelectric coefficient, d33, of the film. This reduction is due to the influence of the d31 component in the film when a deformation of the structure occurs, by either the direct or indirect piezoelectric effect. Theoretical analysis shows a reduction in the measured d33 of 62%, i.e. a standard bulk lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-5H sample with a manufacturer specified d33 of 593pC/N would fall to 227.8pC/N. To confirm this effect, the d33 coefficients of five thin bulk PZT-5H samples of 220µm thickness were measured before and after their attachment to a metallized 96% alumina substrate. The experimental results show a reduction in d33 of 74% from 529pC/N to 139pC/N. The theoretical analysis was then applied to existing University of Southampton thick-film devices. It is estimated that the measured d33 value of 131pC/N of the thick-film devices is the equivalent of an unconstrained d33 of 345pC/N
Dmitri Mendeléiev y la tabla periódica de los elementos : editorial
No full textComunicado: Fallecimiento de la Dra. Celia CotoEditorial: Dmitri Mendeléiev y la tabla periódica de los elementos por Beatriz S. MéndezSobre hombros de gigantes: Prof. Dr. Eduardo Hernán Charreau (1940 - 2019) : un gigante de la docencia, de la investigación y de la vida por Juan Carlos CalvoRevisión: La materia orgánica disuelta en los ambientes dulceacuícolas : efectos en los ecosistemas, transferencia y transformación por Roberto Daniel GarcíaTrabajos de investigación: Expandiendo las fronteras de la tecnología genómica en Latinoamérica : medicina de precisión Made in Argentina por Germán Biagioli, Sebastián A. Vishnopolska, Guadalupe Buda, Jonathan Zaiat, Nelba Pérez, María T. Bernardi, Gerónimo Dubra, Sergio I. Nemirovsky, Juan P. Bustamante, Adrián G. Turjanski, Marcelo A. MartiTrabajos de investigación: Evaluación de la actividad antibacteriana y antifúngica de los extractos etanólico y acuoso de hojas de Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand por Mijail Mijares Bullaín Galardis, Raúl Carlos López Sánchez, Roberto Carlos Muñoz Leyva, José Ángel Morales León, Róbinson Hermosilla Espinoz
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