Ultra-Deep Pyrosequencing Detects Conserved Genomic Sites and Quantifies Linkage of Drug-Resistant Amino Acid Changes in the Hepatitis B Virus Genome

Selection of amino acid substitutions associated with resistance to nucleos(t)ide-analog (NA) therapy in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse transcriptase (RT) and their combination in a single viral genome complicates treatment of chronic HBV infection and may affect the overlapping surface coding region. In this study, the variability of an overlapping polymerase-surface region, critical for NA resistance, is investigated before treatment and under antiviral therapy, with assessment of NA-resistant amino acid changes simultaneously occurring in the same genome (linkage analysis) and their influence on the surface coding region.

Biological variation of established and novel biomarkers for atherosclerosis: Results from a prospective, parallel-group cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers are a promising tool for the management of patients with atherosclerosis, but their variation is largely unknown. We assessed within-subject and between-subject biological variation of biomarkers in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients and healthy controls, and defined which biomarkers have a favorable variation profile for future studies. METHODS: Prospective, parallel-group cohort study, including 62 patients with stable PAD (79% men, 65±7years) and 18 healthy control subjects (44% men, 57±7years). Blood samples were taken at baseline, and after 3-, 6-, and 12-months. We calculated within-subject (CVI) and between-subject (CVG) coefficients of variation and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: Mean levels of D-dimer, hs-CRP, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-9, MMP-3, S100A8/A9, PAI-1, sICAM-1, and sP-selectin levels were higher in PAD patients than in healthy controls (P≤.05 for all). CVI and CVG of the different biomarkers varied considerably in both groups. An ICC≥0.5 (indicating moderate-to-good reliability) was found for hs-CRP, D-Dimer, E-selectin, IL-10, MCP-1, MMP-3, oxLDL, sICAM-1 and sP-selectin in both groups, for sVCAM in healthy controls and for MMP-9, PAI-1 and sCD40L in PAD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Single biomarker measurements are of limited utility due to large within-subject variation, both in PAD patients and healthy subjects. D-dimer, hs-CRP, MMP-9, MMP-3, PAI-1, sP-selectin and sICAM-1 are biomarkers with both higher mean levels in PAD patients and a favorable variation profile making them most suitable for future studies.

Generació d’un entorn virtual de treball per un robot Stäubli TX60

L’objectiu del treball és emular virtualment l’entorn de treball del robot Stäubli Tx60 quehi ha al laboratori de robòtica de la UdG (dins les possibilitats que ofereix el software adquirit).Aquest laboratori intenta reproduir un entorn industrial de treball en el qual es realitzal’assemblatge d’un conjunt de manera cent per cent automatitzada.En una primera fase, s’ha dissenyat en tres dimensions tot l’entorn de treball que hi hadisponible al laboratori a través del software CAD SolidWorks. Cada un dels conjuntsque conformen l’estació de treball s’ha dissenyat de manera independent.Posteriorment s’introdueixen tots els elements dissenyats dins el software StäubliRobotics Suite 2013. Amb tot l’anterior, cal remarcar que l’objectiu principal del treball consta de duesetapes. Inicialment es dissenya el model 3D de l’entorn de treball a través del software SolidWorks i s’introdueix dins el software Stäubli Robotics Suite 2013. Enuna segona etapa, es realitza un manual d’ús del nou software de robòtica

On the computation of reducible invariant tori on a parallel computer

We present an algorithm for the computation of reducible invariant tori of discrete dynamical systems that is suitable for tori of dimensions larger than 1. It is based on a quadratically convergent scheme that approximates, at the same time, the Fourier series of the torus, its Floquet transformation, and its Floquet matrix. The Floquet matrix describes the linearization of the dynamics around the torus and, hence, its linear stability. The algorithm presents a high degree of parallelism, and the computational effort grows linearly with the number of Fourier modes needed to represent the solution. For these reasons it is a very good option to compute quasi-periodic solutions with several basic frequencies. The paper includes some examples (flows) to show the efficiency of the method in a parallel computer. In these flows we compute invariant tori of dimensions up to 5, by taking suitable sections.

Bernoulli correction to viscous losses: Radial flow between two parallel discs

For a massless fluid (density = 0), the steady flow along a duct is governed exclusively by viscous losses. In this paper, we show that the velocity profile obtained in this limit can be used to calculate the pressure drop up to the first order in density. This method has been applied to the particular case of a duct, defined by two plane-parallel discs. For this case, the first-order approximation results in a simple analytical solution which has been favorably checked against numerical simulations. Finally, an experiment has been carried out with water flowing between the discs. The experimental results show good agreement with the approximate solution

Developing of the Variable Speed Drive -control in simulated parallel pumping systems

This thesis presents briefly the basic operation and use of centrifugal pumps and parallel pumping applications. The characteristics of parallel pumping applications are compared to circuitry, in order to search analogy between these technical fields. The purpose of studying circuitry is to find out if common software tools for solving circuit performance could be used to observe parallel pumping applications. The empirical part of the thesis introduces a simulation environment for parallel pumping systems, which is based on circuit components of Matlab Simulink —software. The created simulation environment ensures the observation of variable speed controlled parallel pumping systems in case of different controlling methods. The introduced simulation environment was evaluated by building a simulation model for actual parallel pumping system at Lappeenranta University of Technology. The simulated performance of the parallel pumps was compared to measured values of the actual system. The gathered information shows, that if the initial data of the system and pump perfonnance is adequate, the circuitry based simulation environment can be exploited to observe parallel pumping systems. The introduced simulation environment can represent the actual operation of parallel pumps in reasonably accuracy. There by the circuitry based simulation can be used as a researching tool to develop new controlling ways for parallel pumps.

Diseño del controlador ”fuzzy” de un robot autónomo, a través de algoritmos genéticos

Creació d’un sistema format per un algoritme genètic que permeti dissenyar de forma automática, les dades dels valors lingüístics d’un controlador fuzzy, per a un robot amb tracció diferencial. Les dades que s’han d’obtenir han de donar-li al robot, la capacitat d’arribar a un destí, evitant els obstacles que vagi trobant al llarg del camí

High-density linkage maps fail to detect any genetic component to sex determination in a Rana temporaria family.

Sex chromosome differentiation in Rana temporaria varies strikingly among populations or families: whereas some males display well-differentiated Y haplotypes at microsatellite markers on linkage group 2 (LG2 ), others are genetically undistinguishable from females. We analysed with RADseq markers one family from a Swiss lowland population with no differentiated sex chromosomes, and where sibship analyses had failed to detect any association between the phenotypic sex of progeny and parental haplotypes. Offspring were reared in a common tank in outdoor conditions and sexed at the froglet stage. We could map a total of 2177 SNPs (1123 in the mother, 1054 in the father), recovering in both adults 13 linkage groups (= chromosome pairs) that were strongly syntenic to Xenopus tropicalis despite > 200 My divergence. Sexes differed strikingly in the localization of crossovers, which were uniformly distributed in the female but limited to chromosome ends in the male. None of the 2177 markers showed significant association with offspring sex. Considering the very high power of our analysis, we conclude that sex determination was not genetic in this family; which factors determined sex remain to be investigated.

Control remoto del robot ABB IRB 120 por tecnología Wifi

Durante toda la evolución de la tecnología, se han empleado aparatos interconexionados por cables. Los cables limitan la libertad de movimiento del usuario y pueden captar interferencias entre ellos si la red de cableado es elevada. Mientras avanzaba la tecnología inalámbrica, se ha ido adaptando al equipamiento electrónico a la vez que se iban haciendo cada vez más pequeños. Por esto, se impone la necesidad de utilizarlos como controles a distancia sin el empleo de cables debido a los inconvenientes que estos conllevan. El presente trabajo, pretende unificar tres tecnologías que pueden tener en el futuro una gran afinidad. · Dispositivos basados en el sistema Android. Desde sus inicios, han tenido una evolución meteórica. Se han ido haciendo cada vez más rápidos y mejores. · Sistemas inalámbricos. Los sistemas wifi o bluetooth, se han ido incorporando a nuestras vidas cada vez más y están prácticamente en cualquier aparato. · Robótica. Cualquier proceso de producción incorpora un robot. Son necesarios para hacer muchos trabajos que, aunque el hombre lo puede realizar, un robot reduce los tiempos y la peligrosidad de los procesos. Aunque las dos primeras tecnologías van unidas, ¿quién no tiene un teléfono con conexión wifi y bluetooth?, pocos diseños aúnan estos campos con la Robótica. El objetivo final de este trabajo es realizar una aplicación en Android para el control remoto de un robot, empleando el sistema de comunicación inalámbrico. La aplicación desarrollada, permite controlar el robot a conveniencia del usuario en un entorno táctil/teledirigido. Gracias a la utilización de simulador en ambos lenguajes (RAPID y Android), ha sido posible realizar la programación sin tener que estar presente ante el robot objeto de este trabajo. A través de su progreso, se ha ido evolucionando en la cantidad de datos enviados al robot y complejidad en su procesamiento, a la vez que se ha mejorado en la estética de la aplicación. Finalmente se usó la aplicación desarrollada con el robot, consiguiendo con éxito que realizara los movimientos que eran enviados con la tablet programada.

High-density sex-specific linkage maps of a European tree frog (Hyla arborea) identify the sex chromosome without information on offspring sex.

Identifying homology between sex chromosomes of different species is essential to understanding the evolution of sex determination. Here, we show that the identity of a homomorphic sex chromosome pair can be established using a linkage map, without information on offspring sex. By comparing sex-specific maps of the European tree frog Hyla arborea, we find that the sex chromosome (linkage group 1) shows a threefold difference in marker number between the male and female maps. In contrast, the number of markers on each autosome is similar between the two maps. We also find strongly conserved synteny between H. arborea and Xenopus tropicalis across 200 million years of evolution, suggesting that the rate of chromosomal rearrangement in anurans is low. Finally, we show that recombination in males is greatly reduced at the centers of large chromosomes, consistent with previous cytogenetic findings. Our research shows the importance of high-density linkage maps for studies of recombination, chromosomal rearrangement and the genetic architecture of ecologically or economically important traits.

Parallel declines in species and genetic diversity driven by anthropogenic disturbance: a multispecies approach in a French Atlantic dune system.

Numerous studies assess the correlation between genetic and species diversities, but the processes underlying the observed patterns have only received limited attention. For instance, varying levels of habitat disturbance across a region may locally reduce both diversities due to extinctions, and increased genetic drift during population bottlenecks and founder events. We investigated the regional distribution of genetic and species diversities of a coastal sand dune plant community along 240 kilometers of coastline with the aim to test for a correlation between the two diversity levels. We further quantify and tease apart the respective contributions of natural and anthropogenic disturbance factors to the observed patterns. We detected significant positive correlation between both variables. We further revealed a negative impact of urbanization: Sites with a high amount of recreational infrastructure within 10 km coastline had significantly lowered genetic and species diversities. On the other hand, a measure of natural habitat disturbance had no effect. This study shows that parallel variation of genetic and species diversities across a region can be traced back to human landscape alteration, provides arguments for a more resolute dune protection, and may help to design priority conservation areas.