Bisphenol A alters transcript levels of biomarker genes for major depressive disorder in vascular endothelial cells and colon cancer cells

Bisphenol A (BPA) is capable of mimicking endogenous hormones with potential consequences for human health and BPA exposure has been associated with several human diseases including neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) results show that BPA at low concentrations (10 ng/mL and 1 μg/mL) induces differential transcript levels of four biomarker genes for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in HT29 human colon adenocarcinona cell line and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC). These results substantiate increasing concerns of BPA exposure in levels currently detected in humans.

A signaling visualization toolkit to support rational design of combination therapies and biomarker discovery: SiViT

Targeted cancer therapy aims to disrupt aberrant cellular signalling pathways. Biomarkers are surrogates of pathway state, but there is limited success in translating candidate biomarkers to clinical practice due to the intrinsic complexity of pathway networks. Systems biology approaches afford better understanding of complex, dynamical interactions in signalling pathways targeted by anticancer drugs. However, adoption of dynamical modelling by clinicians and biologists is impeded by model inaccessibility. Drawing on computer games technology, we present a novel visualisation toolkit, SiViT, that converts systems biology models of cancer cell signalling into interactive simulations that can be used without specialist computational expertise. SiViT allows clinicians and biologists to directly introduce for example loss of function mutations and specific inhibitors. SiViT animates the effects of these introductions on pathway dynamics, suggesting further experiments and assessing candidate biomarker effectiveness. In a systems biology model of Her2 signalling we experimentally validated predictions using SiViT, revealing the dynamics of biomarkers of drug resistance and highlighting the role of pathway crosstalk. No model is ever complete: the iteration of real data and simulation facilitates continued evolution of more accurate, useful models. SiViT will make accessible libraries of models to support preclinical research, combinatorial strategy design and biomarker discovery.

Efectos del terreno en la propagación electromagnética en entornos urbanos sobre la región andina, usando el modelo COST 231-Walfisch-Ikegami y herramientas de planificación basadas en GIS

El presente artículo hace parte del desarrollo de un algoritmo que considera la influencia del relieve en la propagación electromagnética para un entorno semi-urbano, trabajando en la banda de UHF (300MHz-3GHz) utilizada en los actuales y futuros sistemas de comunicación inalámbricos (i.e. 800-900MHz en sistemas DAMPS/US-TDMA/IS-136 y GSM). El modelo base, el COST231-Walfisch- Ikegami, empleado en la investigación,demostró beneficios, junto con los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) y las Herramientas de Planificación, para el desarrollo de los estudios de propagación, estimación de coberturas y análisis de los principales factores que afectan la planificación de un sistema móvil celular. Aquí se describen los conceptos básicos utilizados para el desarrollo del algoritmo aplicado, las consideraciones sobre las cuales se llevaron a cabolas campañas de medidas y el proceso de validación de resultados que comprueban la utilidad del algoritmo desarrollado para la predicción de Path Loss. El trabajo se basó en la fusión del modelo de propagación COST231-Walfisch-Ikegami con laHerramienta de Planificación Cell-View (fundamentada en el SIG ArcView) y la realización de mediciones en la ciudad de Bucaramanga con una unidad móvil de radiocomunicacióny control del espectro radioeléctrico de propiedad del Ministerio de Comunicaciones de Colombia, seccional Bucaramanga. El estudio llevado a cabo para la banda del sistema IS- 136, mostró resultados de simulación y validación que permiten corroborarlas aproximaciones empleadas.

W-CDMA capacity analysis using GIS based planning tools and MATLAB simulation

The evolution of cellular systems towards third generation (3G) or IMT-2000 seems to have a tendency to use W-CDMA as the standard access method, as ETSI decisions have showed. However, there is a question about the improvements in capacity and the wellness of this access method. One of the aspects that worry developers and researchers planning the third generation is the extended use of the Internet and more and more bandwidth hungry applications. This work shows the performance of a W-CDMA system simulated in a PC using cover maps generated with DC-Cell, a GIS based planning tool developed by the Technical University of Valencia, Spain. The maps are exported to MATLAB and used in the model. The system used consists of several microcells in a downtown area. We analyse the interference from users in the same cell and in adjacent cells and the effect in the system, assuming perfect control for each cell. The traffic generated by the simulator is voice and data. This model allows us to work with coverage that is more accurate and is a good approach to analyse the multiple access interference (MAI) problem in microcellular systems with irregular coverage. Finally, we compare the results obtained, with the performance of a similar system using TDMA.

Capacity analysis in CDMA systems using GIS based planning tools

We show a simulation model for capacity analysis in mobile systems using a geographic information system (GIS) based tool, used for coverage calculations and frequency assignment, and MATLAB. The model was developed initially for “narrowband” CDMA and TDMA, but was modified for WCDMA. We show also some results for a specific case in “narrowband” CDMA

Some parameters that affect CDMA capacity analysis. Results using GIS based simulation

In previous papers we describe a model for capacity analysis in CDMA systems using DC-Cell, a GIS based planning tool developed at Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, and MATLAB. We show some initial results of that model, and now, we are exploring different parameters like cell size, proximity between cells, number of cells in the system and “clustering” CDMA in order to improve the planning process for third generation systems. In this paper we show the results for variations of some of these parameters, specifically the cell size and number of cells. In CDMA systems is quite common to suppose only one carrier frequency for capacity estimation, and it is intuitive to think that for more base stations, mean more users. However the multiple access interference problem in CDMA systems could establish a limit for that supposition in a similar way that occurs in FDMA and TDMA systems.

Up-Link/Down-Link capacity Unbalance analysis in UMTS using a GIS based Planning Tool and MATLAB simulation

Capacity analysis using simulation is not a new thing in literature. Most of the development process of UMTS standardization have used simulation tools; however, we thing that the use of GIS planning tools and matrix manipulation capacity of MATLAB can show us different scenarios and make a more realistic analysis. Some work is been doing in COST 273 in order to have more realistic scenarios for UMTS planning. Our work initially was centered in uplink analysis, but we are now working in downlink analysis, specifically in two areas: capacity in number of users for RT and NRT services, and Node B power. In this work we will show results for up-link capacity and some results for downlink capacity and BS power consumption.

Análisis de capacidad en sistemas CDMA y WCDMA, usando herramientas de planificación basadas en GIS y dinámica poliédrica

En este momento están entrando en operación los primeros sistemas UMTS en Europa, y están operando en varios países del mundo sistemas CDMA-2000 1xRTT, y aunque existen muchos trabajos publicados sobre la capacidad de estos sistemas, prácticamente todo lo existente se basa en el comportamiento de sistemas ideales que consideran celdas hexagonales o circulares y propagación basada en exponente inverso de la distancia y poco es lo que hay sobre el comportamiento real de dichos sistemas en entornos reales.

Sobre el exponente de pérdidas de propagación, es bien conocido que este afecta la capacidad de los sistemas CDMA; sin embargo hasta ahora no se ha considerado el efecto de los modelos de propagación que tienen en cuenta la difracción y otros fenómenos más cercanos a la realidad, y por lo tanto no se ha considerado el efecto del entorno urbano y el terreno sobre la capacidad real de los sistemas basados en CDMA.

Application of GIS in potential beekeeping assessment: Case study of Montesinho Natural Park (Portugal)

Planners require solutions that address routine work needs and seems essential to improving efficiency and productivity. There are a great number of different factors related to beekeeper activity as well the quality and productivity of different bee products. The spatial analysis is a powerful tool for overlap and relates various levels of information on a map, and consequently a very useful for beekeeping activity planning. This work proposes and applies a methodology to potential beekeeping assessment in Montesinho Natural Park, a region in the northwest of Portugal. The beekeeping potential maps were developed with the following data sources: legal standards, vegetation, land use, topography, water resources, roads, electromagnetic fields, and some honey physico-chemical analysis. The design and implementation of spatial analysis model based on Geographic Information System (GIS) to beekeeping planning activities has already been described by Anjos et al (2014). Spatial analysis techniques allows to define the potential beekeeper map supporting the beekeeper management in this region. Anjos O, Silva G, Roque N, Fernandez P, 2014. GIS based analysis to support the beekeeping planning. Book of abstracts of the International Symposium on Bee Products 3rd edition – Annual meeting of the International Honey Commission (IHC), Faculty of medicine, University of Rijeka, p:61

Hepcidin and Ferritin Levels in Fever of Unknown Origin: Is There a New Biomarker?

Background and objectives: Significantly elevated serum ferritin levels are associated with both iron overload and some inflammatory conditions. Hepcidin is a protein that interferes with iron absorption in inflammatory states and acts as an acute-phase reactant. Materials and methods: Here we report the case a 33-year-old patient who presented with high fever, skin lesions and arthralgia lasting for 2 weeks. His ferritin level was 13,800 µg/l and his hepcidin level was 61 ng/dl. Results: The final diagnosis was adult onset Still's disease. The condition evolved satisfactorily with steroid treatment, but after several weeks the patient presented with an unexpected recurrence. Conclusions: Hepcidin is a good inflammatory marker that could be useful in the differential diagnosis of hyperferritinaemia.

Identification, diversity and distribution patterns of fish larvae in Khark & Kharko Coralline Islands ecosystem – Persian Gulf, by GIS method

Khark & Kharko Islands are the last Northern point for fringing coral reefs in Iranian side of the Persian Gulf. These Coralline habitats are the Protected Area and Wildlife Refugees with the total area of 2400 ha which located in the territory of Bushehr Province. This research carried out during 2006-2007 with monthly sampling from 12 stations, which selected around Islands and inshore waters with maximum depth of 20 meter. Sampling was conducted using by Bongo-Net plankton sampler with 500μ of mesh size. Totally, 1808 specimen from 45 family fish larvae was identified in studied area, including: 21 coralline fish larva families and 24 shore fish larvae such as pelagic and demersal fishes which some of them known as indicator, sentinel or endemic species for coral reef ecosystems. The results was shown that coral reef diversity in coral reefs (Khark & Kharko Islands) is more than other habitats such as estuary and river mouth, creeks, mangrove forest sites, and off shore water of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea Iranian side. Among Identified families, Clupeidae, Blenniidae, Sillaginidae, Atherinidae and Tripterygiidae; with more abundance were dominant families in studied area. The pick of fish larvae abundance family were estimated in spring. There were significant differences between seasonally abundance and sub areas, but there were not significant differences in diversity indexes between Khark and Kharko stations with coastal stations (p< 0.05). The mean abundance of fish larvae were estimated 18.7083 larvae under 10m² of sea surface, and the mean diversity indexes and evenness were estimated 0.7135 and 0.565342 consequently, that was showed the area is under ecological stress for fish larvae, and wasn’t stable. Therefore, from the ecological point of view, only some of the fish larvae groups as like Clupeidae were dominant. Thus, they were the main cause of the fish larvae abundance change in studied area. Due to geographical location of Khark and Kharko Islands and among the environmental parameters, Its seems that the condition of sea current is the main cause for present or absent and distribution patterns of fish larvae in area. Abundance of fish larvae in west of Islands was higher than eastern parts in the spring. But this condition will be reversed in eastern part of Island and several coastal stations, so that the Islands surrounding clock wise current to cause fish larvae distribution patterns.