8 research outputs found
Optimal combinations of acute phase proteins for detecting infectious disease in pigs
No full textPeer reviewe
Usability and acceptability of a website that provides tailored advice on falls prevention activities for older people
No full textThis article presents the usability and acceptability of a website that provides older people with tailored advice to help motivate them to undertake physical activities that prevent falls. Views on the website from interviews with 16 older people and 26 sheltered housing wardens were analysed thematically. The website was well received with only one usability difficulty with the action plan calendar. The older people selected balance training activities out of interest or enjoyment, and appeared to carefully add them into their current routine. The wardens were motivated to promote the website to their residents, particularly those who owned a computer, had balance problems, or were physically active. However, the participants noted that currently a minority of older people use the Internet. Also, some older people underestimated how much activity was enough to improve balance, and others perceived themselves as too old for the activities
Optimal combinations of acute phase proteins for detecting infectious disease in pigs
No full textAbstract The acute phase protein (APP) response is an early systemic sign of disease, detected as substantial changes in APP serum concentrations and most disease states involving inflammatory reactions give rise to APP responses. To obtain a detailed picture of the general utility of porcine APPs to detect any disease with an inflammatory component seven porcine APPs were analysed in serum sampled at regular intervals in six different experimental challenge groups of pigs, including three bacterial (Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Streptococcus suis, Mycoplasma hyosynoviae), one parasitic (Toxoplasma gondii) and one viral (porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus) infection and one aseptic inflammation. Immunochemical analyses of seven APPs, four positive (C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), pig major acute phase protein (pigMAP) and serum amyloid A (SAA)) and three negative (albumin, transthyretin, and apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1)) were performed in the more than 400 serum samples constituting the serum panel. This was followed by advanced statistical treatment of the data using a multi-step procedure which included defining cut-off values and calculating detection probabilities for single APPs and for APP combinations. Combinations of APPs allowed the detection of disease more sensitively than any individual APP and the best three-protein combinations were CRP, apoA1, pigMAP and CRP, apoA1, Hp, respectively, closely followed by the two-protein combinations CRP, pigMAP and apoA1, pigMAP, respectively. For the practical use of such combinations, methodology is described for establishing individual APP threshold values, above which, for any APP in the combination, ongoing infection/inflammation is indicated.</p
Surgical resection and radiofrequency ablation initiate cancer in cytokeratin-19+- liver cells deficient for p53 and Rb
No full textThe long term prognosis of liver cancer patients remains unsatisfactory because of cancer recurrence after surgical interventions, particularly in patients with viral infections. Since hepatitis B and C viral proteins lead to inactivation of the tumor suppressors p53 and Retinoblastoma (Rb), we hypothesize that surgery in the context of p53/Rb inactivation initiate de novo tumorigenesis. We, therefore, generated transgenic mice with hepatocyte and cholangiocyte/liver progenitor cell (LPC)-specific deletion of p53 and Rb, by interbreeding conditional p53/Rb knockout mice with either Albumin-cre or Cytokeratin-19-cre transgenic mice. We show that liver cancer develops at the necrotic injury site after surgical resection or radiofrequency ablation in p53/Rb deficient livers. Cancer initiation occurs as a result of specific migration, expansion and transformation of cytokeratin-19+-liver (CK-19+) cells. At the injury site migrating CK-19+ cells formed small bile ducts and adjacent cells strongly expressed the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ). Isolated cytokeratin-19+ cells deficient for p53/Rb were resistant against hypoxia and TGFβ-mediated growth inhibition. CK-19+ specific deletion of p53/Rb verified that carcinomas at the injury site originates from cholangiocytes or liver progenitor cells. These findings suggest that human liver patients with hepatitis B and C viral infection or with mutations for p53 and Rb are at high risk to develop tumors at the surgical intervention site
Antidepressants and their effect on sleep
No full textGiven the relationship between sleep and depression, there is inevitably going to be an effect of antidepressants on sleep. Current evidence suggests that this effect depends on the class of antidepressant used and the dosage. The extent of variation between the effects of antidepressants and sleep may relate to their mechanism of action. This systematic review examines randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) that have reported the effect that antidepressants appear to have on sleep. RCTs are not restricted to depressed populations, since several studies provide useful information about the effects on sleep in other groups. Nevertheless, the distinction is made between those studies because the participant's health may influence the baseline sleep profiles and the effect of the antidepressant. Insomnia is often seen with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), with all tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) except amitriptyline, and all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) with venlafaxine and moclobemide as well. Sedation has been reported with all TCAs except desipramine, with mirtazapine and nefazodone, the TCA-related maprotiline, trazodone and mianserin, and with all MAOIs. REM sleep suppression has been observed with all TCAs except trimipramine, but especially clomipramine, with all MAOIs and SSRIs and with venlafaxine, trazodone and bupropion. However, the effect on sleep varies between compounds within antidepressant classes, differences relating to the amount of sedative or alerting (insomnia) effects, changes to baseline sleep parameters, differences relating to REM sleep, and the degree of sleep-related side effects
Governing globalization in South Asia through a legal praxis of human rights, development and democracy
No full textABSTRACT
This doctoral thesis in law seeks to understand, and begin to remedy, the immense and avoidable poverty that disenfranchises at least 30 percent of the world's most populous region. Defining South Asia as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the study analyses the multidimensional nature, historical origins and modern dynamics of both this material poverty and poverties of human rights, democracy and development. Both critical analysis and creative response are framed within legal history, human rights jurisprudence, constitutional and administrative law, comparative law and public international law, but the author draws extensively on political economy and history, and partially on philosophy, and cultural studies.
Chapter 1 traces the Western evolution of the universal human rights regime, first globalized in 1948 by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also traces South Asian sociopolitical and religious articulations of human dignity and limitations on legitimate power through the ages. Mostly contrary to culturally relativist claims, South Asia's human rights needs are found to be well served by a genuinely universalist regime including justiciable economic, social and cultural rights as inseparable from civil and political.
Chapters 2 and 3 survey the historical globalizations that have impacted on South Asia. Although globalization is shown to be a neutral phenomenon, the author identifies the insidious contemporary propagation of a particular neo-liberal ideology as being globalization's inevitable and optimal form. The study analyses this propagation by the International Financial Institutions the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, acting through Structural Adjustment Policies and only partially corrective Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. Neo-liberalism supposedly unshackles benign market forces from distorting governmental rules to create spontaneous growth that trickles down to the poor; in fact it employs its own rules to privilege the already wealthy, especially Western capital and transnational corporations (TNCs).
The thesis urges South Asia to govern globalization pro-actively, seeking the virtuous circle of human rights, plural democracy and equitable development. Positive signs have already included national membership in, and constitutional enshrinement of, universal human rights norms, and certain efforts of civil society and non-governmental organizations, fostered at times by activist judiciaries.
Chapter 4 nevertheless catalogues overriding failures to internalize plural democracy and the rule of law, leaving rights nominal and democratic structures hollow. Governments have been obsequious to neo-liberal hegemony, insouciant to their underclasses and exploitative of religious schisms in appeal to tyrannous majoritarianism. The South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation is shown as an inadequate response to the region's multidimensional poverties.
Adapting instead the best practices of the Council of Europe, the Organization of American States, the African Union, and the British Commonwealth from Chapter 5, Chapter 6 details a South Asian Union for Human Rights Development and Democracy to replace SAARC. This new regional response complements global human rights norms and offers South Asia solidarity in confronting neo-liberalism, and holding TNCs, IFIs and especially their own governments accountable to the rule of law, equitable development, deep democracy, wide human rights, and larger freedom in peace and security
Modelado y simulación de sistemas fotovoltaicos bajo condiciones de sombreado parcial
No full textgraficas, tablasThis thesis introduces a methodology for modeling commercial photovoltaic panels at the cell
level operating under partial shading conditions. In the first part, a review of the literature
is presented, focusing on the proper representation of the current-voltage characteristics in
both forward and reverse bias, the mathematical formulation, the circuit model, and the
estimation of parameters for photovoltaic cells.
In the second part, the single diode model (SDM), the direct-reverse model (DRM), and
Bishop’s model are introduced, emphasizing their current-voltage relationship, mathematical
formulation, circuit model, and parameter requirements.
In the third part of the thesis, a procedure to obtain I-V curves in panel terminals without
the need for any physical intervention is detailed. This procedure is necessary to compare
the behavior of the three models analyzed in both quadrants. The procedure requires a panel
without a bypass diode and measurement equipment capable of acquiring current, voltage,
temperature, and irradiation.
After considering the evaluation of some metrics such as root mean square error (RMSE)
and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), Bishop’s model is selected for use in the
methodology.
In the fourth part, a methodology to estimate the parameters of Bishop’s model is proposed, which formulates the estimation of the parameters as an optimization problem. The metho-
dology uses a genetic algorithm, and it is validated using information from two commercial
panels. The curve reconstructions for each technology are evaluated using metrics such as
RMSE and MAPE to assess the accuracy of the models (Texto tomado de la fuente)Esta tesis presenta una metodología de modelado de paneles fotovoltaicos comerciales a nivel
de celda operando bajo condiciones de sombreado parcial. En la primera parte se realiza
una revisión de la literatura sobre la representación de celdas fotovoltaicas, en la que se
consideran características importantes como la formulación matemática, el modelo circuital,
la representación apropiada del comportamiento en modo directo e inverso y la estimación
de parámetros.
En la segunda parte, se exponen algunos de los modelos m ́as utilizados en la literatura para
el modelado de celdas fotovoltaicas, Modelo de un solo diodo (SDM), Modelo DRM y el
modelo de Bishop, prestando especial atención a la relación corriente-voltaje, la formulación
matemática, el modelo circuital y los parámetros necesarios para su evaluación. Para modelar
los paneles a nivel de celda, la tercera parte se enfoca en detallar un procedimiento para
obtener las curvas I-V en terminales de un panel, sin necesidad de ninguna intervención
física. Para lo se requiere un panel sin diodo de bypass, información del panel obtenida al
sombrear el panel y algunos equipos de medida que permitan adquirir corriente, voltaje,
temperatura e irradiación.
En la tercera parte de la tesis se detalla un procedimiento para obtener curvas I-V en terminales del panel sin necesidad de intervención física alguna. Este procedimiento es necesario
para comparar el comportamiento de los tres modelos analizados en ambos cuadrantes. El
procedimiento requiere un panel sin diodo de derivación y un equipo de medición capaz de
adquirir corriente, voltaje, temperatura e irradiación.
Después de considerar la evaluación de algunas métricas como el error cuadrático medio
(RMSE) y el error porcentual absoluto medio (MAPE), se selecciona el modelo de Bishop
para su uso en la metodología.
En la cuarta parte, se propone una metodología para estimar los parámetros del modelo de
Bishop, formulando el problema de estimación de parámetros como un problema de optimización. La metodología utiliza un algoritmo genético y se valida con información de dos
paneles comerciales. Las reconstrucciones de curvas para cada tecnología se evalúan utilizando métricas como RMSE y MAPE para evaluar la precisión de los modelos.DoctoradoDoctor en IngenieríaEléctrica, Electrónica, Automatización Y Telecomunicaciones.Sede Manizale
Filogenia y biogeografía del Clado Antillattus (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini)
No full textThe Euophryini tribe is currently one of the most diverse groups of salticidae. Within this group, the neotropic is represented by 11 clades, included the Antillattus clade (Antillattus 13 spp, Truncattus 5 spp, Petemathis 5 spp, possibly Allodecta 1 spp and Caribatus 1 spp). To clarify the phylogeny and biogeography of the Antillattus clade, we amplified and sequenced three genes (nuclear: 28S rDNA; mitochondrial: 16S, COI) corresponding to species belonging to the study group and outgroups (68 terminals). In addition, a total of 125 morphological characters were used, which in combination with the molecular evidence, helped to clarify the relationships between genera and species. Additionally, the GAARlandia hypothesis and the non-GAARlandia hypothesis are tested as possible routes of colonization and diversification of the Antillattus clade. The combined working hypothesis (DNA + morphology) supports the monophyly of the Antillattus clade. The results indicate that the genus Antillattus sensus Zhang and Maddison (2015), is not monophyletic, and it is divided into the genus Pensacolatus, Antillattus and Bryanattus gen. nov.. The results also supported the transferences of species to the genera Truncattus, Bryanattus gen. nov., Cobanus, Compsodecta, and the description of the genus Paracobanus gen. nov.. The detailed review provides new limits of genera and species, 19 comb. nov., 2 gen. nov., 11 sp. nov.. Finally, the results also suggest that the radiation of the group occurred in the last period of GAARlandia and that diversification within the Greate Antilles is the result of vicariance and founder-event. Additionally, evidence suggest that Hispaniola played a role as a point of dispersion to other Antillean islands.La tribu Euophryini resulta en la actualidad, una de las más diversas dentro de la familia salticidae. Dentro de este grupo, los representantes neotropicales conforman 11 clados, de los cuales, el clado Antillattus (Antillattus 13 spp, Truncattus 5 spp, Petemathis 5 spp, posiblemente Allodecta 1 spp, Caribatus 1 spp) resulta exclusivo del Caribe insular. Para aclarar la filogenia y biogeografía del clado Antillattus, amplificamos y secuenciamos tres genes (nuclear: 28S rDNA; mitocondrial: 16S, COI) correspondientes a especies pertenecientes al grupo de estudio y a grupos hermanos (68 terminales en total) dentro de gran parte del Caribe biogeográfico. Además, se utilizó un total de 125 caracteres morfológicos, que en combinación con la evidencia molecular, ayudó a aclarar las relaciones entre los géneros y especies. Se estudió en mayor detalle los caracteres morfológicos de los géneros y especies del clado Antillattus así como de sus grupos relacionados con el objetivo de profundizar en la comprensión de filogenética desde una panorámica morfológica. Adicionalmente, para comprender el origen y el momento de la colonización del grupo, se pone a prueba la hipótesis de GAARlandia y la hipotesis no-GAARlandia como posibles vías de colonización y diversificación del cladoAntillattus en las Antillas Mayores. La hipotesis combinada (ADN+morfología) de trabajo, apoya la monofilia del clado Antillattus. Los resultados indican que el género Antillattus sensus Zhang y Maddison (2015), no es monofilético, y para el presente estudio se divide en los géneros Pensacolatus, Antillattus y Bryanattus gen. nov.. La filogenia combinada de datos morfológicos y moleculares, también apoyó la transferencia de especies a los géneros Truncattus, Bryanattus, Cobanus, Compsodecta y la descripción del género Paracobanus gen. nov.. La revisión detallada proporciona nuevos limites de géneros y especies, 19 comb. nov., 2 gen. nov., 11 sp. nov.. Finalmente, los resultados también sugieren que la radiación del grupo tuvo lugar en el último periodo de GAARlandia y que la diversificación dentro del Caribe insular, es el resultado de vicarianza y eventos fundadores. Adicionalmente, se encontró evidencia que sugiere que La Española jugó un papel como punto de distribución hacia Cuba y Puerto Rico.Doctorad
