Metabolomic profiles of hepatocellular carcinoma in a European prospective cohort.

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent form of liver cancer, is difficult to diagnose and has limited treatment options with a low survival rate. Aside from a few key risk factors, such as hepatitis, high alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, and diabetes, there is incomplete etiologic understanding of the disease and little progress in identification of early risk biomarkers. METHODS To address these aspects, an untargeted nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomic approach was applied to pre-diagnostic serum samples obtained from first incident, primary HCC cases (n = 114) and matched controls (n = 222) identified from amongst the participants of a large European prospective cohort. RESULTS A metabolic pattern associated with HCC risk comprised of perturbations in fatty acid oxidation and amino acid, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism was observed. Sixteen metabolites of either endogenous or exogenous origin were found to be significantly associated with HCC risk. The influence of hepatitis infection and potential liver damage was assessed, and further analyses were made to distinguish patterns of early or later diagnosis. CONCLUSION Our results show clear metabolic alterations from early stages of HCC development with application for better etiologic understanding, prevention, and early detection of this increasingly common cancer.

Resource management research in Passive Optical Networks (PON)

Next Generation Access Networks (NGAN) are the new step forward to deliver broadband services and to facilitate the integration of different technologies. It is plausible to assume that, from a technological standpoint, the Future Internet will be composed of long-range high-speed optical networks; a number of wireless networks at the edge; and, in between, several access technologies, among which, the Passive Optical Networks (xPON) are very likely to succeed, due to their simplicity, low-cost, and increased bandwidth. Among the different PON technologies, the Ethernet-PON (EPON) is the most promising alternative to satisfy operator and user needs, due to its cost, flexibility and interoperability with other technologies. One of the most interesting challenges in such technologies relates to the scheduling and allocation of resources in the upstream (shared) channel. The aim of this research project is to study and evaluate current contributions and propose new efficient solutions to address the resource allocation issues in Next Generation EPON (NG-EPON). Key issues in this context are future end-user needs, integrated quality of service (QoS) support and optimized service provisioning for real time and elastic flows. This project will unveil research opportunities, issue recommendations and propose novel mechanisms associated with the convergence within heterogeneous access networks and will thus serve as a basis for long-term research projects in this direction. The project has served as a platform for the generation of new concepts and solutions that were published in national and international conferences, scientific journals and also in book chapter. We expect some more research publications in addition to the ones mentioned to be generated in a few months.

Cap a una definició inclusiva de l'e-learning

Peer-reviewed

Compendium of projects in the European nanosafety cluster

The demand for research in the area of safety health and environmental management of nanotechnologies is present since a decade and identified by several landmark reports and studies. It is not the intention of this compendium to report on these as they are widely available. It is also not the intention to publish scientific papers and research results as this task is covered by scientific conferences and the peer reviewed press. The intention of the compendium is to bring together researchers, create synergy in their work, and establish links and communication between them mainly during the actual research phase before publication of results. Towards this purpose we find useful to give emphasis to communication of projects strategic aims, extensive coverage of specific work objectives and of methods used in research, strengthening human capacities and laboratories infrastructure, supporting collaboration for common goals and joint elaboration of future plans, without compromising scientific publication potential or IP Rights. These targets are far from being achieved with the publication in its present shape. We shall continue working, though, and hope with the assistance of the research community to make significant progress. We would like to stress that this sector is under development and progressing very fast, which might make some of the statements outdated or even obsolete. Nevertheless it is intended to provide a basis for the necessary future developments. [Ed.]

Experiències catalanes, angleses i irlandeses en el millorament de l’accès a l’habitatge

El Grup de Recerca d´Accés a l´Habitatge de la Universitat Rovira i Virgili ha portat a terme durant l´any 2011 una sèrie d´activitats gràcies a l´ajuda concedida per la convocatòria de l´AGAUR PBR-DGR 2010, que ha donat suport al Grup tant de forma directa (per exemple, en viatges i dietes) com indirecta (gràcies a l´ajuda prestada per la Sra. Helaine Cristina Madeira Santos, becària de suport al Grup de Recerca, que ha portat a terme tasques de coordinació i investigació). Així, el Grup ha portat a terme tasques d´investigació (per exemple, la signatura d´un Conveni amb l’Agència de l’Habitatge de Catalunya amb la finalitat de portar a terme en el termini de 3 anys l’elaboració d´un marc legislatiu sobre les tinences intermitges en el Dret català); tasques de formació (gràcies a la participació en Congressos i Jornades); esta coordinant una xarxa sobre grups d´habitatge (per exemple, mitjançant un Congrés internacional sobre habitatge celebrat a Granada); ha publicat llibres i articles científics (per exemple, la publicació dels treballs presentats en les III Jornades Internacionals de Housing de 2010); i finalment cal destacar que l´activitat del Grup ha tingut un gran impacte en els mitjans de comunicació. Tot aquest treball ha permès al Grup arribar a unes conclusions sobre el status quo de l´habitatge a Espanya, per exemple les mancances del mercat d´habitatge en propietat i en lloguer i els aspectes que cal reformar quant al règim tributari i processal d´aquestes formes de tinença immobiliària. La principal conclusió, però, és la necessitat de regular noves formes d´entendre la tinença de la terra tot seguint els models ja presents en altres països europeus (principalment, Anglaterra i Irlanda), com la propietat compartida i la propietat temporal, figures en les quals està aprofundint actualment el Grup de recerca.

Exploring unfrequent events with accelerated molecular dynamics simulations: from photochemistry to drug design

La meva incorporació al grup de recerca del Prof. McCammon (University of California San Diego) en qualitat d’investigador post doctoral amb una beca Beatriu de Pinós, va tenir lloc el passat 1 de desembre de 2010; on vaig dur a terme les meves tasques de recerca fins al darrer 1 d’abril de 2012. El Prof. McCammon és un referent mundial en l’aplicació de simulacions de dinàmica molecular (MD) en sistemes biològics d’interès humà. La contribució més important del Prof. McCammon en la simulació de sistemes biològics és el desenvolupament del mètode de dinàmiques moleculars accelerades (AMD). Les simulacions MD convencionals, les quals estan limitades a l’escala de temps del nanosegon (~10-9s), no son adients per l’estudi de sistemes biològics rellevants a escales de temps mes llargues (μs, ms...). AMD permet explorar fenòmens moleculars poc freqüents però que son clau per l’enteniment de molts sistemes biològics; fenòmens que no podrien ser observats d’un altre manera. Durant la meva estada a la “University of California San Diego”, vaig treballar en diferent aplicacions de les simulacions AMD, incloent fotoquímica i disseny de fàrmacs per ordinador. Concretament, primer vaig desenvolupar amb èxit una combinació dels mètodes AMD i simulacions Car-Parrinello per millorar l’exploració de camins de desactivació (interseccions còniques) en reaccions químiques fotoactivades. En segon lloc, vaig aplicar tècniques estadístiques (Replica Exchange) amb AMD en la descripció d’interaccions proteïna-lligand. Finalment, vaig dur a terme un estudi de disseny de fàrmacs per ordinador en la proteïna-G Rho (involucrada en el desenvolupament de càncer humà) combinant anàlisis estructurals i simulacions AMD. Els projectes en els quals he participat han estat publicats (o estan encara en procés de revisió) en diferents revistes científiques, i han estat presentats en diferents congressos internacionals. La memòria inclosa a continuació conté més detalls de cada projecte esmentat.

Predicting species distributions for conservation decisions.

Species distribution models (SDMs) are increasingly proposed to support conservation decision making. However, evidence of SDMs supporting solutions for on-ground conservation problems is still scarce in the scientific literature. Here, we show that successful examples exist but are still largely hidden in the grey literature, and thus less accessible for analysis and learning. Furthermore, the decision framework within which SDMs are used is rarely made explicit. Using case studies from biological invasions, identification of critical habitats, reserve selection and translocation of endangered species, we propose that SDMs may be tailored to suit a range of decision-making contexts when used within a structured and transparent decision-making process. To construct appropriate SDMs to more effectively guide conservation actions, modellers need to better understand the decision process, and decision makers need to provide feedback to modellers regarding the actual use of SDMs to support conservation decisions. This could be facilitated by individuals or institutions playing the role of 'translators' between modellers and decision makers. We encourage species distribution modellers to get involved in real decision-making processes that will benefit from their technical input; this strategy has the potential to better bridge theory and practice, and contribute to improve both scientific knowledge and conservation outcomes.

7

Climate change data and predictions for the Himalayas are very sparse and uncertain, characterized by a ?Himalayan data gap? and difficulties in predicting changes due to topographic complexity. A few reliable studies and climate change models for Nepal predict considerable changes: shorter monsoon seasons, more intensive rainfall patterns, higher temperatures, and drought. These predictions are confirmed by farmers who claim that temperatures have been increasing for the past decade and wonder why the rains have ?gone mad.? The number of hazard events, notably droughts, floods, and landslides are increasing and now account for approximately 100 deaths in Nepal annually. Other effects are drinking water shortages and shifting agricultural patterns, with many communities struggling to meet basic food security before climatic conditions started changing. The aim of this paper is to examine existing gaps between current climate models and the realities of local development planning through a case study on flood risk and drinking water management for the Municipality of Dharan in Eastern Nepal. This example highlights current challenges facing local-level governments, namely, flood and landslide mitigation, providing basic amenities ? especially an urgent lack of drinking water during the dry season ? poor local planning capacities, and limited resources. In this context, the challenge for Nepal will be to simultaneously address increasing risks caused by hazard events alongside the omnipresent food security and drinking water issues in both urban and rural areas. Local planning is needed that integrates rural development and disaster risk reduction (DRR) with knowledge about climate change considerations. The paper concludes with a critical analysis of climate change modeling and the gap between scientific data and low-tech and low capacities of local planners to access or implement adequate adaptation measures. Recommendations include the need to bridge gaps between scientific models, the local political reality and local information needs.

Ecologies of Value in a Wall Street Trading Room

Our task in this paper is to analyze the organization of trading in the era of quantitative finance. To do so, we conduct an ethnography of arbitrage, the trading strategy that best exemplifies finance in the wake of the quantitative revolution. In contrast to value and momentum investing, we argue, arbitrage involves an art of association-the construction of equivalence (comparability) of properties across different assets. In place of essential or relational characteristics, the peculiar valuation that takes place in arbitrage is based on an operation that makes something the measure of something else-associating securities to each other. The process of recognizing opportunities and the practices of making novel associations are shaped by the specific socio-spatial and socio-technical configurations of the trading room. Calculation is distributed across persons and instruments as the trading room organizes interaction among diverse principles of valuation.

O ensino e a prática da contabilidade, orientado para o desenvolvimento de competências científicas, tecnológicas e relacionais

A dissertação que ora apresentamos visa a obtenção do grau de mestre no MBA - Gestão de Empresas, pelo ISCTE Business School, Departamento de Gestão. Intitulado o ensino e prática da Contabilidade, orientado para o desenvolvimento de competências científicas, tecnológicas e relacionais, este estudo foi desenvolvido para tentarmos perceber até que ponto o ensino da contabilidade, no instituto eleito para o efeito, corresponde às expectativas da profissão, atendendo às competências que o mercado, inserido num mundo global em constantes mutações, determina como fundamentais para o sucesso da carreira contabilística. Com novas necessidades em competências, na prática contabilística, resultantes da utilização das TICs, presentes em qualquer ramo da esfera humana, tentámos perceber se o currículo do Curso de Contabilidade, do instituto, está projectado para conferir, aos diplomados, competências do saber-saber, saber-fazer, e saber-ser, em conformidade com tais necessidades ou, pelo contrário, baseia-se numa perspectiva tradicional assente numa pedagogia por objectivos, encontrando-se desactualizado. Tratou-se de um estudo de caso, numa investigação qualitativa holística, que permitiu desenvolver compreensões a partir das evidências reunidas, das representações dos sujeitos sobre quem recaem os resultados da investigação, que estabelecem uma relação indirecta com os mesmos resultados. Dos resultados obtidos, percebemos que o currículo do Curso de Contabilidade não se adequa a um currículo baseado em competências, sendo inadequado à realidade contabilística actual, local e global. As conclusões chegadas permitem-nos defender uma revisão curricular do curso para adequá-lo às competências necessárias à garantia duma profissão de contabilista de sucesso. Como contributo, propomos um plano de estudos alternativo. The present dissertation aims at obtaining the master degree in MBA - Management, ISCTE Business School, Department of Management. Titled the teaching and practice of accounting, aimed at developing scientific, technology and relations competencies, this study was designed trying to realize the extent to which accounting education, at the institute elected for that, has met the expectations of the profession given the skills that the market, housed in a global world in constant change, establishes as fundamental to successful accounting career. With new skills needs in accounting practice, resulting from the use of ICT, present in any branch of the human sphere, we tried to see if the accounting course curriculum, of the institute, is designed to give graduates the skills of knowing how to know, knowing how to do and how to be or, conversely, is based on a traditional perspective based on a pedagogy by objectives, and is outdated. It was a case study, a holistic qualitative research, which allowed us to develop insights from the evidence gathered, the representations of the subjects on whom fall the results of research, establishing an indirect link with the same results. From our results, we find that the accounting course curriculum is not appropriate for a curriculum based on skills, and unsuited to current accounting practice, locally and globally. The conclusions reached allow us to defend a curriculum review of the course to suit the skills necessary to ensure a successful accountancy profession. As a contribution, we propose an alternative curriculum.

La prévention du tabagisme passif [Prevention of air pollution by indoor tobacco smoke in France]

A majority of smokers and non-smokers mind tobacco smoke. Passive smoking causes death by sudden infant death, lung cancer and coronary heart disease. 3000 to 6000 persons are killed every year in France. The lack of implementation of the Evin's law published in 1991 explains why non-smokers are not given the protection they can expect. The trend of scientific knowledge and of French and international public opinions support a growing demand for a complete protection of non-smokers with a total ban of smoking in all public or working places.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathies: an integrative review of the literature

OBJECTIVE: To identify scientific studies and to deepen the knowledge of peripheral neuropathies induced by chemotherapy antineoplastic, seeking evidence for assistance to cancer patients. METHOD: Integrative review of the literature conducted in the databases Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Medical Literature Analysis (PubMed/MEDLINE), the Cochrane Library and the Spanish Bibliographic Index Health Sciences (IBECS). RESULTS: The sample consisted of 15 studies published between 2005-2014 that met the inclusion criteria. Studies showed aspects related to advanced age, main symptoms of neuropathy and chemotherapy agents as important adverse effect of neuropathy. CONCLUSION: We identified a small number of studies that addressed the topic, as well as low production of evidence related to interventions with positive results. It is considered important to develop new studies proposed for the prevention and/or treatment, enabling adjustment of the patient's cancer chemotherapy and consequently better service.

Propuesta para un Proyecto de Evaluación de Stocks de Camarón de Profundidad en aguas de Cabo Verde (2010-2013)

A bibliographic revision on the fisheries research in the Canary, Madeira, and the Azores Islands related to stock assessment of the striped soldier shrimp (Plesionika edwardsii) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Pandalidae) was made. Biological information –reproduction, growth, mortality, recruitment– of the target species, selective technological developments –multiple semi-floating shrimp traps–, and know-how gained by the ICCM can give support to elaborate and execute an ICCM-INDP joint project, in order to explore and assess its insular stocks in the Capeverdian deepwaters (150-300 m). In the frame of the UE Trans-national Cooperation Programme MAC (2007- 2013), the next coming call for proposals seems to be an adequate source to fund it. This project should include some activities for the valorisation and promotion of this new shellfish product, as well as for scientific-technical and social divulgation, and for giving advice to the decision-makers. Lastly, with the aim of developing a new fishing activity in the Cape Verdes on a responsible and sustainable basis, authors have scheduled a second study phase. This should consist of a process of technology transfer, followed by an experimental fishing pilot project including a study on biological and commercial viability with the participation of the Capeverdian fishing sector.

Development of nursing management competencies: guidelines for continuous education services

Abstract OBJECTIVE Developing continuing education guidelines for the development of nursing management competencies along with the members of the Center of Nursing Continuing Education of Parana. METHOD A qualitative research outlined by the action research method, with a sample consisting of 16 nurses. Data collection was carried out in three stages and data were analyzed according to the thematic analysis technique. RESULTS It was possible to discuss the demands and difficulties in developing nursing management competencies in hospital organizations and to collectively design a guideline. CONCLUSION The action research contributed to the production of knowledge, confirming the need and the importance of changing the educational processes and evaluations, based on methodologies and instruments for professional development in accordance with human resource policies and contemporary organizational policies.