The Besançon Galaxy Model renewed. I. Constraints on the Galactic thin disc evolution from Tycho data

Context. The understanding of Galaxy evolution can be facilitated by the use of population synthesis models, which allow to test hypotheses on the star formation history, star evolution, as well as chemical and dynamical evolution of the Galaxy. Aims. The new version of the Besanc¸on Galaxy Model (hereafter BGM) aims to provide a more flexible and powerful tool to investigate the Initial Mass Function (IMF) and Star Formation Rate (SFR) of the Galactic disc. Methods. We present a new strategy for the generation of thin disc stars which assumes the IMF, SFR and evolutionary tracks as free parameters. We have updated most of the ingredients for the star count production and, for the first time, binary stars are generated in a consistent way. We keep in this new scheme the local dynamical self-consistency as in Bienayme et al (1987). We then compare simulations from the new model with Tycho-2 data and the local luminosity function, as a first test to verify and constrain the new ingredients. The effects of changing thirteen different ingredients of the model are systematically studied. Results. For the first time, a full sky comparison is performed between BGM and data. This strategy allows to constrain the IMF slope at high masses which is found to be close to 3.0, excluding a shallower slope such as Salpeter"s one. The SFR is found decreasing whatever IMF is assumed. The model is compatible with a local dark matter density of 0.011 M pc−3 implying that there is no compelling evidence for significant amount of dark matter in the disc. While the model is fitted to Tycho2 data, a magnitude limited sample with V<11, we check that it is still consistent with fainter stars. Conclusions. The new model constitutes a new basis for further comparisons with large scale surveys and is being prepared to become a powerful tool for the analysis of the Gaia mission data.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition mediates docetaxel resistance and high risk of relapse in prostate cancer

Molecular characterization of radical prostatectomy specimens after systemic therapy may identify a gene expression profile for resistance to therapy. This study assessed tumor cells from patients with prostate cancer participating in a phase II neoadjuvant docetaxel and androgen deprivation trial to identify mediators of resistance. Transcriptional level of 93 genes from a docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cell lines microarray study was analyzed by TaqMan low-density arrays in tumors from patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer (36 surgically treated, 28 with neoadjuvant docetaxel þ androgen deprivation). Gene expression was compared between groups and correlated with clinical outcome. VIM, AR and RELA were validated by immunohistochemistry. CD44 and ZEB1 expression was tested by immunofluorescence in cells and tumor samples. Parental and docetaxel-resistant castration-resistant prostate cancer cell lines were tested for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers before and after docetaxel exposure. Reversion of EMT phenotype was investigated as a docetaxel resistance reversion strategy. Expression of 63 (67.7%) genes differed between groups (P < 0.05), including genes related to androgen receptor, NF-k B transcription factor, and EMT. Increased expression of EMT markers correlated with radiologic relapse. Docetaxel-resistant cells had increased EMT and stem-like cell markers expression. ZEB1 siRNA transfection reverted docetaxel resistance and reduced CD44 expression in DU-145R and PC-3R. Before docetaxel exposure, a selected CD44 þ subpopulation of PC-3 cells exhibited EMT phenotype and intrinsic docetaxel resistance; ZEB1/CD44 þ subpopulations were found in tumor cell lines and primary tumors; this correlated with aggressive clinical behavior. This study identifies genes potentially related to chemotherapy resistance and supports evi-dence of the EMT role in docetaxel resistance and adverse clinical behavior in early prostate cancer.

The Besançon Galaxy Model renewed. I. Constraints on the Galactic thin disc evolution from Tycho data

Context. The understanding of Galaxy evolution can be facilitated by the use of population synthesis models, which allow to test hypotheses on the star formation history, star evolution, as well as chemical and dynamical evolution of the Galaxy. Aims. The new version of the Besanc¸on Galaxy Model (hereafter BGM) aims to provide a more flexible and powerful tool to investigate the Initial Mass Function (IMF) and Star Formation Rate (SFR) of the Galactic disc. Methods. We present a new strategy for the generation of thin disc stars which assumes the IMF, SFR and evolutionary tracks as free parameters. We have updated most of the ingredients for the star count production and, for the first time, binary stars are generated in a consistent way. We keep in this new scheme the local dynamical self-consistency as in Bienayme et al (1987). We then compare simulations from the new model with Tycho-2 data and the local luminosity function, as a first test to verify and constrain the new ingredients. The effects of changing thirteen different ingredients of the model are systematically studied. Results. For the first time, a full sky comparison is performed between BGM and data. This strategy allows to constrain the IMF slope at high masses which is found to be close to 3.0, excluding a shallower slope such as Salpeter"s one. The SFR is found decreasing whatever IMF is assumed. The model is compatible with a local dark matter density of 0.011 M pc−3 implying that there is no compelling evidence for significant amount of dark matter in the disc. While the model is fitted to Tycho2 data, a magnitude limited sample with V<11, we check that it is still consistent with fainter stars. Conclusions. The new model constitutes a new basis for further comparisons with large scale surveys and is being prepared to become a powerful tool for the analysis of the Gaia mission data.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition mediates docetaxel resistance and high risk of relapse in prostate cancer

Molecular characterization of radical prostatectomy specimens after systemic therapy may identify a gene expression profile for resistance to therapy. This study assessed tumor cells from patients with prostate cancer participating in a phase II neoadjuvant docetaxel and androgen deprivation trial to identify mediators of resistance. Transcriptional level of 93 genes from a docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cell lines microarray study was analyzed by TaqMan low-density arrays in tumors from patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer (36 surgically treated, 28 with neoadjuvant docetaxel þ androgen deprivation). Gene expression was compared between groups and correlated with clinical outcome. VIM, AR and RELA were validated by immunohistochemistry. CD44 and ZEB1 expression was tested by immunofluorescence in cells and tumor samples. Parental and docetaxel-resistant castration-resistant prostate cancer cell lines were tested for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers before and after docetaxel exposure. Reversion of EMT phenotype was investigated as a docetaxel resistance reversion strategy. Expression of 63 (67.7%) genes differed between groups (P < 0.05), including genes related to androgen receptor, NF-k B transcription factor, and EMT. Increased expression of EMT markers correlated with radiologic relapse. Docetaxel-resistant cells had increased EMT and stem-like cell markers expression. ZEB1 siRNA transfection reverted docetaxel resistance and reduced CD44 expression in DU-145R and PC-3R. Before docetaxel exposure, a selected CD44 þ subpopulation of PC-3 cells exhibited EMT phenotype and intrinsic docetaxel resistance; ZEB1/CD44 þ subpopulations were found in tumor cell lines and primary tumors; this correlated with aggressive clinical behavior. This study identifies genes potentially related to chemotherapy resistance and supports evi-dence of the EMT role in docetaxel resistance and adverse clinical behavior in early prostate cancer.

Sistema de gestió integral d’ un restaurant amb TPV i Pocket PC

Aquest projecte fi de carrera es centra en un restaurant fictici i genèric anomenat "El Restaurant al Punt". Es tractarà d' una empresa que s' inicia en el sector hostaler amb tot un seguit de coneixements previs per part dels propietaris. L' objectiu principal que es preten assolir en aquest projecte és: desenvolupar l' anàlisi, dissenyar i implementar una aplicació informàtica que permeti gestionar el funcionament d' un restaurant

Control d'un robot de 3 graus de llibertat

Partint d'una estructura robòtica de 3 graus de llibertat, s'ha de fer el disseny deles unitats de potència i control , muntatge, conexionat, programació i posta enmarxa per poder generar trajectòries des d'un PC.Per aconseguir l'objectiu s'han realitzat les següents fites:a) Ajust i modificacions mecàniques de la estructura robòticaSubstitució de xavetes i canvi de pinyons.b) Implementar, modificar i ajustar elements elèctrics del robot.Substitució de motor elèctric espatllat, realitzar un nou cablejat cap a lanova unitat de control i substitució d'un sensor de posició.c) Disseny i muntatge de la unitat de potènciaSelecció de la targeta MD03 per controlar l'alimentació, velocitat i sentitde gir del motors, que controlen els 3 graus de llibertat. Mecanització enuna caixa incloent: fusibles, amperímetres i connectors. Cablejat elèctric iposta en funcionament.d) Disseny, muntatge elèctric i programació de la unitat de control.Selecció del PLC S7300Escollir el tipus de comunicacions que es realitzaran tant amb la unitat depotència com amb el PC.Disseny plànols elèctrics mitjançant el programa EPLAN.Mecanització, cablejat i posta en marxa del disseny elèctric.El disseny del software es realitzarà mitjançant l'eina de programacióSTEP7 de SiemensProgramació del PLC per poder treballar diferents tipus de moviments itrajectòriese) Disseny i programació de la interfície d'usuari des d'un PCProgramació d'una interfície gràfica mitjançant WinCC Flexible per tal quel'usuari només introduint dades pugui fer que el robot es mogui demanera manual o semiautomàtica . També s'ha programat per tal quegeneri trajectòries en mode automàtic.S'ha programat una illa de pick and place a mode d'exemplificació.

Portabilitat d'aplicacions de PC a PDA mitjançant un cas d'estudi : ScummVM

L’objectiu del treball és estudiar la portabilitat dels programes que han estat originalment dissenyats per a un PC a undispositiu mòbil, en concret a un PDA amb el sistema operatiu Palm OS. Per al nostre treball, hem escollit una aplicaciócom a cas d’estudi que ens permet donar solucions a les limitacions que presenta el dispositiu amb Palm OS. Aquestaaplicació s’anomena ScummVM, i es tracta d’una implementació de codi lliure del conegut motor de videojocs SCUMM, creat i utilitzat per LucasArts en les seves aventures gràfiques. Donarem possibles solucions a la problemàtica que genera el fet que la pantalla del dispositiu mòbil utilitzat tingui una resolució de 160x160 a l’hora de mostrar imatges i textos renderitzats per una resolució superior. També solucionarem el problema que representa el fet de no tenir ratolí, ni altres dispositius d’entrada i sortida tradicionals. La intenció és explicar també el procés que s’hauria de seguir per poder portar aplicacions de PC a Palm OS i les eines que s’utilitzarien. Tot això es farà sempre de la manera menys invasiva possible, és a dir, els canvis al codi font del’aplicació original seran els mínims per garantir el correcte funcionament del programa en la nova plataforma

Disseny i construcció d’ un braç de robot de 5 graus de llibertat governat des de PC via USB.

El braç robot es va crear com a resposta a una necessitat de fabricació d’elements mitjançant la producció en cadena i en tasques que necessiten precisió. Hi ha, però, altres tipus de tasques les quals no són repetitives, ni poden ésser programades, que necessiten però ser controlades en tot moment per un ésser humà. Són activitats que han d’estar realitzades per un ésser humà, però que requereixen molta precisió, és per això que es creu necessari el disseny d’un prototipus de control d’un braç robot estàndard, que permeti a una persona el control total sobre aquest en temps real per a la realització d’una tasca no repetitiva i no programable prèviament.Pretenem, en el present projecte, dissenyar i construir un braç robot de 5 graus de llibertat, controlat des d’un PC mitjançant un microcontrolador PIC amb comunicació a través d’un bus USB. El robot serà governat des d’un PC a través d’un software de control específic

3,4-Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine induces in vivo regional up-regulation of central nicotinic receptors in rats and potentiates the regulatory effects of nicotine on these receptors

Nicotine (NIC), the main psychostimulant compound of smoked tobacco, exerts its effects through activation of central nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR), which become up-regulated after chronic administration. Recent work has demonstrated that the recreational drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has affinity for nAChR and also induces up-regulation of nAChR in PC 12 cells. Tobacco and MDMA are often consumed together. In the present work we studied the in vivo effect of a classic chronic dosing schedule of MDMA in rats, alone or combined with a chronic schedule of NIC, on the density of nAChR and on serotonin reuptake transporters. MDMA induced significant decreases in [3H]paroxetine binding in the cortex and hippocampus measured 24 h after the last dose and these decreases were not modified by the association with NIC. In the prefrontal cortex, NIC and MDMA each induced significant increases in [3H]epibatidine binding (29.5 and 34.6%, respectively) with respect to saline-treated rats, and these increases were significantly potentiated (up to 72.1%) when the two drugs were associated. Also in this area, [3H]methyllycaconitine binding was increased a 42.1% with NIC + MDMA but not when they were given alone. In the hippocampus, MDMA potentiated the a7 regulatory effects of NIC (raising a 25.5% increase to 52.5%) but alone was devoid of effect. MDMA had no effect on heteromeric nAChR in striatum and a coronal section of the midbrain containing superior colliculi, geniculate nuclei, substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. Specific immunoprecipitation of solubilised receptors suggests that the up-regulated heteromeric nAChRs contain a4 and b2 subunits. Western blots with specific a4 and a7 antibodies showed no significant differences between the groups, indicating that, as reported for nicotine, up-regulation caused by MDMA is due to post-translational events rather than increased receptor synthesis.