Abstract. Information visualization has been a research topic for many years, leading to a mature field where guidelines and practices are well established. Knowledge visualization, in contrast, is a relatively new area of research that has received more attention recently due to the interest from the business community in Knowledge Management. In this paper we present the CmapTools software as an example of how concept maps, a knowledge visualization tool, can be combined with recent technology to provide integration between knowledge and information visualizations. We show how concept map-based knowledge models can be used to organize repositories of information in a way that makes them easily browsable, and how concept maps can improve searching algorithms for the Web. We also report on how information can be used to complement knowledge models and, based on the searching algorithms, improve the process of constructing concept maps.

This work was supported by Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (grant number 1095127 to M.V.). None of the authors has any conflict of interest to declare.

These results suggest that the PCOS condition induces an inflammatory state exacerbated when obesity is present, where a higher TNF-α signaling is observed, all of which could affect glucose uptake in the tissue and may cause fertility failures in these women.

No abstract

Fifty to seventy percent of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) present hyperinsulinemia. On the other hand, reports indicate that forkhead box class O 1 (FOXO1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-g (PPARG) are involved in the insulin signaling pathway, regulating the gene expression of SLC2A4 (GLUT4). The negative effect of FOXO1 over PPARG transcription disappears when FOXO1 is phosphorylated (p-FOXO1) and excluded from the nucleus, whereas PPARG can suppress gene expression of SLC2A4. Scarce knowledge is available in endometrium of women with PCOS and hyperinsulinemia (PCOSE h-Ins) about the role of these factors. We aimed to evaluate whether the endocrine and metabolic status of PCOS modify the levels of gene and protein expression of FOXO1, PPARG, and SLC2A4 in the endometria from hyperinsulinemic PCOS women compared with controls. In endometria from control (CE, nZ7) or PCOSE h-Ins (nZ7), we determined the subcellular location and protein levels of p-FOXO1Ser319 and FOXO1/FOXO4 by immunohistochemistry and western blot respectively; gene and/or protein levels of PPARG and SLC2A4 were evaluated by RT-PCR and/or western blot. Cytoplasm location for FOXO1 and p-FOXO1Ser319 was immunodetected in both groups of endometria, showing significantly higher staining in PCOSE h-Ins for these proteins (P!0.05). In PCOSE h-Ins, gene and protein levels of PPARG were significantly higher than in CE, whereas SLC2A4 mRNA was decreased (P!0.05). In conclusion, the derepression of PPARG transcription by the high levels of p-FOXO1Ser319 could partially account for the lower levels of SLC2A4 found in PCOSE h-Ins, suggesting an alteration of the endometrial function in these patients.

The quest and design of new brassinosteroids analogs is a matter of current interest. Herein, the effect of short alkyl side chains and the configuration at C22 on the growth-promoting activity of a series of new brassinosteroid 24-norcholan-type analogs have been evaluated by the rice leaf inclination test using brassinolide as positive control. The highest activities were found for triol 3 with a C22(S) configuration and monobenzoylated derivatives. A docking study of these compounds into the active site of the Brassinosteroid Insensitive 1(BRI1)–ligand–BRI1-Associated Receptor Kinase 1 (BAK1) complex was performed using AutoDock Vina, and protein–ligand contacts were analyzed using LigPlot+. The results suggest that the hydrophobic interactions of ligands with the receptor BRI1LRR and hydrogen bonding with BAK1 in the complex are important for ligand recognition. For monobenzoylated derivatives, the absence of the hydrophobic end in the alkyl chain seems to be compensated by the benzoyl group. Thus, it would be interesting to determine if this result depends on the nature of the substituent group. Finally, mixtures of S/R triols 3/4 exhibit activities that are comparable or even better than those found for brassinolide. Thus, these compounds are potential candidates for application in agriculture to improve the growth and yield of plants against various types of biotic and abiotic stress.

Natural brassinosteroids are widespread in the plant kingdom and it is known that they play an important role in regulating plant growth. In this study, two new brassinosteroid analogs with shorter side chains but keeping the diol function were synthesized. Thus, the synthesis of 2-deoxybrassinosteroids analogs of the 3α-hydroxy-24-nor, 22,23-dihydroxy-5α-cholestane side chain type is described. The starting material is a derivative from hyodeoxycholic acid (4), which was obtained with an overall yield of 59% following a previously reported five step route. The side chain of this intermediate was modified by oxidative decarboxylation to get a terminal olefin at the C22-C23 position (compound 20) and subsequent dihydroxylation of the olefin. The resulting epimeric mixture of 21a, 21b was separated and the absolute configuration at the C22 carbon for the main product 21a was elucidated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the benzoylated derivative 22. Finally, lactonization of 21a through a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of triacetylated derivative 23, using CF3CO3H/CHCl3 as oxidant system, leads to lactones 24 and 25 in 35% and 14% yields, respectively. Deacetylation of these compounds leads to 2-deoxybrassinosteroids 18 and 19 in 86% and 81% yields. Full structural characterization of all synthesized compounds was achieved using their 1D, 2D NMR, and HRMS data.

BackgroundPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine-metabolic disorder commonly associated with insulin resistance (IR). Previous studies indicate about the expression of molecules involved in the insulin pathway in endometria of women with PCOS-IR. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of insulin and testosterone in the expression of these proteins in the endometria and immortal endometrial stromal cell line (T-HESCs).MethodsWe examined the protein levels of Munc18c, PKC zeta, phospho-PKC Zeta, and Syntaxin-4. Protein levels were assessed by Western Blot and/or immunohistochemistry in proliferative endometria (NPE = 6) and in PCOS endometria with insulin resistance (PCOSE-IR = 6). We also evaluated whether high concentrations of insulin (100 nM) and/or testosterone (100 nM), during a 24 h stimulatory period, affected the expression of these proteins in an immortal endometrial stromal cell line (T-HESCs). Once stimulated, proteins were extracted from cells and were assessed by Western Blot analysis. Immunocytochemistry was performed to detect AR in T-HESC cells.ResultsWestern Blot data showed decreased expression (p < 0,05) of Munc18c and phospho-PKC Zeta in PCOS-IR endometria (PCOSE-IR) with respect to the control (NPE). In the in vitro study, Western Blot analysis showed decreased levels of Munc18c, PKC Zeta and phospho-PKC Zeta with the different hormonal treatments when compared to the control condition (no hormonal stimulation) (p < 0,05). The AR was present in the endometrial stromal cell line (T-HESC).ConclusionThe conditions of hyperinsulinism and hyperandrogenism present in PCOS-IR patients modulate the expression and/or phosphorylation of the proteins involved in the insulin pathway at the endometrial level. These data extend to the T-HESCs cells results, where insulin and testosterone exert an effect on both the expression and phosphorylation of proteins present in the pathway.