Universidad Andrés Bello
Recent publications
In model predictive control, ensuring the accuracy and robustness of the prediction model is crucial. A Kalman filter is a self-correction method commonly used as an observer for state estimation in uncertain applications. Model-free predictive control utilizes an ultra-local model for prediction purposes. Precise measurements and feedback gains are required for accuracy. This study proposes a new ultra-local prediction model based on the Kalman filter, replacing the extended state observer with the proposed model for disturbance observation. The Kalman filter-based prediction model is applied to the model-free predictive control of the induction motor. The method is validated with experimental results, comparing it to the extended state observer-based prediction model, using a 4kW induction motor setup.
The role of ventral hippocampus (vHipp) astroglial gliotransmission in depression was studied using chronic restraint stress (CRS) and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rodent models. CRS increased Cx43 hemichannel activity and extracellular glutamate levels in the vHipp and blocking astroglial Cx43 hemichannel-dependent gliotransmission during CRS prevented the development of depression and glutamate buildup. Moreover, the acute blockade of Cx43 hemichannels induced antidepressant effects in rats previously subjected to CRS or CUMS. This antidepressant effect was prevented by coinjection of glutamate and D-serine. Furthermore, Cx43 hemichannel blockade decreased postsynaptic NMDAR currents in vHipp slices in a glutamate and D-serine-dependent manner. Notably, chronic microinfusion of glutamate and D-serine, L-serine, or the NMDAR agonist NMDA, into the vHipp induced depressive-like symptoms in nonstressed rats. We also identified a small molecule, cacotheline, which blocks Cx43 hemichannels and its systemic administration induced rapid antidepressant effects, preventing stress-induced increases in astroglial Cx43 hemichannel activity and extracellular glutamate in the vHipp, without sedative or locomotor side effects. In conclusion, chronic stress increases Cx43 hemichannel-dependent release of glutamate and D-/L-serine from astrocytes in the vHipp, overactivating postsynaptic NMDARs and triggering depressive-like symptoms. This study highlights the critical role of astroglial gliotransmitter release in chronic stress-induced depression and suggests it can be used as a target for the prevention and treatment of depression.
Microservice security smells denote possible symptoms of bad design decisions that may compromise the security of an application. Therefore, security smells should be carefully checked and possibly resolved by applying some refactorings. In this paper, we introduce SST (Security Smell Triager) an open-source tool that automates the triage of the possibly multiple instances of security smells affecting an existing microservice application, to support determining which instance is “more urgent” than others and should be considered first. SST also supports reasoning on whether/how to resolve a security smell instance through refactoring, by displaying the impact on quality attributes (like maintainability and performance efficiency) of both security smell instances and their refactoring. We also assess the usefulness of SST through a controlled experiment.
In-depth comparative genomic analysis was conducted to predict carbon, nitrogen, and phosphate assimilation pathways in the halotolerant, acidophilic genus Acidihalobacter. The study primarily aimed to understand how the metabolic capabilities of each species can determine their roles and effects on the microbial ecology of their unique saline and acidic environments, as well as in their potential application to saline water bioleaching systems. All four genomes encoded the genes for the complete tricarboxylic acid cycle, including 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme absent in obligate chemolithotrophic acidophiles. Genes for a unique carboxysome shell protein, csoS1D, typically found in halotolerant bacteria but not in acidophiles, were identified. All genomes contained lactate and malate utilization genes, but only Ac. ferrooxydans DSM 14175T contained genes for the metabolism of propionate. Genes for phosphate assimilation were present, though organized differently across species. Only Ac. prosperus DSM 5130T and Ac. aeolianus DSM 14174T genomes contained nitrogen fixation genes, while Ac. ferrooxydans DSM 14175T and Ac. yilgarnensis DSM 105917T possessed genes for urease transporters and respiratory nitrate reductases, respectively. The findings suggest that all species can fix carbon dioxide but can also potentially utilize exogenous carbon sources and that the non-nitrogen-fixing species rely on alternative nitrogen assimilation mechanisms.
Background: Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a biomarker of iodine status. Newborn Tg is a more sensitive marker than neonatal TSH in detecting variations in iodine intake. This study aims to validate a Tg enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Tg determination on dried blood spots (DBS) in newborns. This study also set out to assess the stability of Tg and the influence of newborns’ hematocrit on Tg determination. Methods: A commercially available ELISA Tg assay was adapted for use on DBS. DBS-Tg in cord blood were measured in 209 newborns delivered from healthy euthyroid pregnant women. Sensitivity, linearity, repeatability, and intermediate fidelity were determined using the appropriate standards and quality control materials. Results: The limit of detection (LoD) of the DBS-Tg assay was 2.4 µg/L, and the limit of quantification (LoQ) was 5.8 µg/L. Repeatability and intermediate fidelity were 7.7-8.3% and 11.0-11.2%, respectively. The median cord plasma Tg and DBS-Tg values in newborns were not significantly different, 30.2 (21.3-44.4) µg/L and 31.6 (19.3-48.7) µg/L (p=0.48) with the ELISA respectively, and 76.5 (40.0-101.5) µg/L with the Elecsys assay with an R=0.88. DBS-Tg concentrations decrease with increasing hematocrit values (p<0.05). DBS-Tg values were stable at a concentration of 25 µg/L for 12 months at -20ºC and 4ºC. Conclusion: This DBS-Tg assay demonstrated good analytical performances over a wide range of Tg concentrations, suggesting it is well suited to detecting variations in Tg concentrations. Studies comparing populations with different prevalence of anemia should consider the effect of hematocrit on DBS-Tg determination. The availability of a DBS-Tg assay for newborns makes it possible to integrate iodine status monitoring with newborn screening for inherited metabolic diseases.
This study aimed to automatically classify physical fitness and cardiometabolic risk in a Chilean adolescent using self-organizing maps. This cross-sectional study analysed a nationally representative database from the Physical Education Quality Measurement System (n = 7197). Physical fitness and cardiometabolic risk variables were derived from anthropometric indicators. Self-Organizing maps (SOM) were employed to identify participant profiles based on an unsupervised predictive model. After implementing and training the SOM, a detailed analysis of the generated maps was conducted to interpret the revealed relationships and clusters. The analysis resulted in three classification groups, categorizing the sample into low, moderate, and high-risk levels. Students with better physical fitness exhibited lower cardiometabolic risk levels and a lower body mass index. SOM, through an unsupervised model, is a reliable tool for classifying cardiometabolic risk and physical fitness in adolescents.
The present article will reconsider the historiographical value played by the 182 bc Antigonid military ritual – known as Xanthika. Firstly, in order to appraise ancient historiographical adaptations and modern analytical shortcomings, this article will retrace extant ancient sources and, secondly, its current state-of-the-art. Thirdly, the original Polybian treatment will be discerned from its Livian adaptations, and historiographical distinctions will be proposed for each version. Fourthly, the Xanthika will be reconsidered as a key historiographical device through which Polybius coupled the Hellenic themes of Alexandrian legitimacy, deep-rooted tyrannical discord, and irreversible royal decadence within a larger narrative of the Roman ascendance towards world dominance.
Objectives Structured patient‐centred assessment is critical for improving care. OHIP‐TMDs are a validated English‐language outcome measure for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) which evaluates the biopsychosocial impact of TMD. Due to language and cultural changes, the original instrument's phrasing of its items may change when translated to Spanish. This study cross‐culturally adapted and validated OHIP‐TMDs for Spanish‐speaking individuals with TMD. Methods OHIP‐TMDs was forward‐backward translated into Spanish (OHIP‐TMDs‐Sp) and cross‐culturally adapted to a Hispanic population with TMD (Diagnostic Criteria for TMD n = 154) according to international norms. All patients completed the OHIP‐TMDs‐Sp, the Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS), and Jaw Functional Limitation Scale (JFLS‐20). A subsample ( n = 30) recompleted the OHIP‐TMDs‐Sp after a 3‐week washout to measure test–retest reliability using an intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC 2.1). OHIP‐TMDs‐Sp, JFLS‐20, and GCPS were analysed for convergent validity and internal consistency. Results The sample with articular and muscular TMD diagnoses was 85.7% female with a mean age of 29.5. (SD 9.01). OHIP‐TMDs‐Sp had high internal reliability (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.95) and good test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.57–0.93). In terms of convergent validity, the OHIP‐TMDs‐Sp demonstrated moderate to large positive correlations with the total JLFS‐20 score ( ρ = 0.72; p < 0.01), Mastication ( ρ = 0.68; p < 0.01), Communication ( ρ = 0.68; p < 0.001), as well to GCPS disability score ( ρ = 0.59; p < 0.01), and characteristic pain intensity ( ρ = 0.69; p < 0.01). Conclusions The total score of OHIP‐TMDs‐Sp is reliable for assessing quality‐of‐life in Spanish‐speaking TMD patients.
In this study, we examine the thermal properties of the medium formed in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions at chemical freeze-out using a thermal model. We utilize experimental data on various hadron species from 0% to 5% most central Au+Au collisions at sNN=7.7GeV from the STAR BES program to analyze the thermal properties, namely, chemical freeze-out temperature, baryon chemical potential, and strangeness chemical potential. We employ a χ2 minimization technique to obtain these thermal properties. Furthermore, we also obtain thermal properties with strangeness conservation condition and at zero potentials μB∕T=μS∕T=0. We compare particle ratios from the thermal model with the experimental data. The thermal model describes particle ratios within ±2.5 standard deviations and χ2∕NDF between 1–2. We also discuss the collision energy dependence of thermodynamic properties of the medium at freeze-out and compare results with the published STAR results and other thermal model calculations.
The status of oral health research in the World Health Organization (WHO) African region is unclear, yet the need for such information is central to moving an oral health agenda forward. Such an agenda is essential for effectively translating research into actionable practices and supporting regional strategies. The aim of this scoping review was to provide data on the scope and output of oral health research in the WHO African region to be used as a starting point for establishing a research agenda that can affect oral health in the region. We conducted a systematic search in PubMed; EMBASE; Epistemonikos; Scopus; the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research General and Regional Sessions; ProQUEST; PROSPERO; and African regional databases such as Regional African Index Medicus and the African Journal Online. We included primary and secondary studies published in English, French, or Portuguese between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2022, addressing oral health–related research having individuals, groups, or populations as units of analysis. These reports either addressed a topic relevant to the WHO African region assessed using the title and study objective or were conducted in a country in the region. We excluded in vitro and in vivo studies focusing on cells, biomarkers, or animals. We assessed 24,014 records, and 1,379 proved eligible. Our findings indicate a preference for particular research designs less suitable for evidence-informed practice guidelines and oral policies, a limited scope of oral health research topics, and important regional differences in research capacity. Furthermore, publications by researchers in the WHO African region tend to be published in journals with a limited readership. A discussion of our findings among oral health researchers at academic institutions in the WHO African region on how to create within- and across-country collaborations could potentially improve both health and oral health in the region.
Objective This study aimed to assess associations between chronotype and obesity‐related indicators in a sample of Spanish adolescents. Methods This cross‐sectional study used data from The Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities (EHDLA) Study, which included a representative sample of adolescents from Spain. A total of 820 adolescents (54.7% girls) aged 12–17 years were included in the analyses. The adolescents' chronotype was determined using the Morningness/Eveningness Scale in Children. Obesity‐related indicators included body mass index, waist circumference, waist‐to‐height ratio, triceps and medial calf skinfolds, sum of skinfolds, and body fat percentage. Generalized linear models were used to examine the relationship between the Morningness‐Eveningness score and chronotype status and the above‐mentioned obesity‐related indicators in adolescents. All analyses were adjusted for sex, age, socioeconomic status, sleep duration, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and energy intake. Results The morningness chronotype was associated with higher abdominal obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12 to 2.50; p = 0.001), waist‐to‐height ratio (unstandardized beta coefficient [B] = 0.01, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.05; p = 0.029) and skinfold calves (B = 1.04 95% CI 0.24 to 1.94; p = 0.011), compared with the intermediate chronotype. Conclusion Adolescents with a morningness chronotype may be more prone to abdominal obesity than their counterparts with an intermediate chronotype. Effective intervention‐related approaches can be applied to those with a morningness chronotype.
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7,974 members
Claudia Miranda-Castillo
  • Faculty of Nursing
Sergey Kuleshov
  • Center for Theoretical and Experimental Particle Physics
Matías Monsalves-Álvarez
  • Instituto de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación
Maria-Teresa Urrutia
  • Faculty of Nursing
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