Langmuir‐Blodgett Methodology: A Versatile Technique to Build 2D Material Films

The Langmuir‐Blodgett (LB) methodology is based on the transfer process of a monolayer adsorbed at the water interface, Langmuir film, from the air‐water interface onto solids by vertical dipping of the substrate immersed on the subphase. The technique allows the continuous variation of material density, packing, and arrangement by compressing or expanding the film by using barriers. Consequently, it provides the possibility of preparing films with the control of interparticle distance necessary to exploit the two‐dimensional (2D) materials in technological applications. In this chapter, we present some examples of fabrication of thin films of 2D material using this methodology. We show some methodologies based on this technique to build thin films of graphene oxides, Quantum Dots (QDs), and silver nanowires

Diversity and functional groups of arthropods in greenhouse crop of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. (Asterales: Asteraceae) from Jujuy, Argentina

Se analizó la diversidad de artrópodos presentes en Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. de color amarillo y blanco cultivado en invernadero, en función de la riqueza de especies, abundancia y roles tróficos. El estudio se realizó en un invernadero ubicado en El Carmen (Jujuy). Los muestreos consistieron en tres golpes por planta a 30 plantas tomadas al azar, con dos repeticiones, y un muestreo específico de extracción de cinco flores en tres estados de apertura (botón floral, semiabierta y abierta) para cada color a lo largo del ciclo del cultivo. Las muestras se observaron bajo microscopio estereoscópico para la extracción de los artrópodos asociados, los que fueron identificados y conservados en frascos con etanol 70% o bien como preparaciones microscópicas. Se recolectaron 9.027 artrópodos, distribuidos en las clases Insecta (ocho órdenes y 25 familias) y Arachnida (tres órdenes y nueve familias). El grupo funcional más diverso fue el de fitófagos, siendo las especies dominantes Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera) y Tetranychus urticae (Prostigamata). Entre los entomófagos se registraron representantes de las familias Anthocoridae (Hemiptera), Chrysopidae (Neuroptera), Phytoseiidae (Mesostigmata), 11 familias de Hymenoptera parasítica, y siete familias de Araneae. Los grupos menos abundantes fueron los detritívoros (Psocoptera), fungívoros (Latridiidae), xilófagos (Bostrichidae) y de alimentación variada (Formicidae).The diversity of arthropods present in the crops of yellow and white Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. in greenhouse is analyzed, based on the species richness, abundance and trophic roles. The study was carried out in a greenhouse located in El Carmen (Jujuy). Field tasks consisted of three strokes per plant to 30 plants taken randomly, with two repetitions, and a specific sampling of extraction of five flowers in three opening states (floral bud, flower-semi-open and open flower) for each color throughout the crop cycle. Samples were observed under a stereoscopic microscope for the extraction of the associated arthropods, which were identified and stored in flasks with 70% ethanol as well as microscopy slides. A total of 9,027 arthropods were collected, distributed in the classes Insecta (eight orders and 25 families) and Arachnida (three orders and nine families). The most diverse functional group was the phytophagous. This included the dominant species Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera) and Tetranychus urticae (Prostigmata). The entomophagous group was represented by Anthocoridae (Hemiptera), Chrysopidae (Neuroptera) and 11 families of Hymenoptera parasitica, Phytoseiidae (Mesostigmata) and seven families of Araneae. The less abundant groups were the detritivores (Psocoptera), fungivores (Latridiidae), xylophagous (Bostrichidae), and the varied diet (Formicidae).Fil: Alejo, Gabriela Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; ArgentinaFil: Zamar, María Inés. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Biología de la Altura. Departamento de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Contreras, Eugenia Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Biología de la Altura. Departamento de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; Argentin

New Records of Thripidae (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia) from Northwestern Argentina

Este trabajo proporciona cuatro nuevos registros de Thripidae para Argentina, pertenecientes a Sericothripinae (Neohydatothrips portoricensis (Morgan) y Neohydatothrips hemileucus (Hood)) y Thripinae (Chaetisothrips striatus Hood y Scirtidothrips torquatus Hood). Los ejemplares fueron recolectados en provincias del noroeste argentino (Tucumán y Jujuy). Se describen e ilustran sus características morfológicas generales, y se presentan datos sobre la distribución y plantas hospederas de cada especie.This work provides four new records of Thripidae in Argentina which belong to Sericothripinae (Neohydatothrips portoricensis (Morgan) and Neohydatothrips hemileucus (Hood)) and Thripinae (Chaetisothrips striatus Hood and Scirtidothrips torquatus Hood). Specimens were collected in northwestern provinces of Argentina (Tucumán and Jujuy). Their general morphological characteristics are described and illustrated, as well as information on their distribution and the host plants for each species are presented.Fil: Zamar, María Inés. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Biología de la Altura. Departamento de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Funes, Claudia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Kirschbaum, Daniel Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Tapia, Silvia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Alejo, Gabriela Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentin

Clinical and Dermoscopic Evaluation of Melanocytic Lesions in Patients with Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease

Patients treated with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation are at increased risk of cutaneous malignant neoplasms. There are no reports on the characteristics of melanocytic lesions in patients with chronic graft versus host disease and the value of recognizing these difficult lesions in high-risk patients. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical and dermo scopic characteristics of melanocytic lesions in patients with chronic graft versus host disease in order to understand their morphology. A prospective cross-sectional study was performed; 10 melanocytic lesions on the trunk and extremities were selected from each patient. A statistically significant association was found between regression and high total dermoscopic score and 7-point checklist score. Lesions were excised or included in short-term digital follow-up. Melanocytic lesions in patients with chronic graft versus host disease developing after allogeneic-haematopoietic stem cell transplantation exhibit marked structural and colour changes similar to melanoma. This is believed to result from the inflammatory process associated with graft versus host disease

Methodology for the Implementation of a Fuzzy Controller on Arduino, MATLAB™ and Nexys 4™ Platforms

This chapter presents a methodology to implement a fuzzy controller in different hardware platforms, which can be used to control a system or process. The methodology proposes a programming algorithm to implement a fuzzy controller on the Arduino UNO, Arduino DUE, Nexys 4™, and MATLAB™ platforms. The programming algorithm uses two control statements (IF-THEN and FOR) and the basic mathematical operations. The fuzzy controller was designed for two input variables, one output variable, five fuzzy sets for each variable, and a Mamdani type structure. An analysis of convergence time, amount of memory, and control surface is performed to ensure that the fuzzy controller on all platforms is satisfactory. MATLAB™ is used to compare these platforms through numerical simulations, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. The experimental results of the fuzzy controller are a processing time of 117 milliseconds and 40% of the memory of the Arduino UNO, a processing time of 21.275 milliseconds and 5% of the memory of the Arduino DUE, and a processing time of 17.871 milliseconds and 40% of the memory on the Nexys 4™. Finally, a Mean Square Error of 0.0326, 0.0643, and 0.1125 was obtained for MATLAB™, Arduino, and Nexys 4™, respectively

Histological characteristics of HPV-associated and -independent squamous cell carcinomas of the vulva: A study of 1594 cases

There are at least two different etio-pathogenic pathways for the development of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC): one associated with infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) and another independent of HPV. We aimed to describe the histological characteristics of HPV-associated and HPV-independent tumors and to determine the best strategy to identify HPV in VSCC. A single paraffin block was available for review from a series of 1594 VSCCs. In all cases HPV DNA detection was analyzed using the SPF10PCR/DEIA/LiPA25 system and p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC). A tumor was considered as unquestionably HPV-associated if both HPV DNA and p16 IHC were positive. A tumor was considered indisputably HPV-independent if both HPV DNA and p16 IHC were negative. Two groups of tumors were classified as non-conclusive: 1) HPV DNA+/p16-; and 2) HPV DNA-/p16+. WHO typing and a thorough histological evaluation were conducted in all cases. 441 tumors were HPV DNA+ with 367 cases (23.0%) being HPV DNA+/p16+. These HPV DNA+/p16+ tumors were more frequently basaloid or warty (49.8%), but 36.5% were of the keratinizing type. 1153 tumors were HPV DNA-, with 1060 cases (66.5%) being HPV DNA-/p16-. These HPV DNA-/p16- tumors were mostly keratinizing (81.2%) but were occasionally basaloid or warty (5.2%). The features of HPV DNA-/p16+ cases (n=93) were similar to those of the HPV-associated VSCC, and HPV DNA+/p16- (n=74) cases had a more diverse profile, although they were more similar to HPV-independent tumors. Several histological characteristics were more frequently associated with HPV-related VSCC (koilocytotic-like change, necrosis, moderate to marked pleomorphism, invasive front in nests; p<0.001), however, none of these characteristics allowed differentiation between HPV-associated and -independent VSCC. In conclusion, histological criteria do not allow differentiation between HPV-associated and -independent VSCC. p16 alone is a clinically easy strategy to determine HPV status in VSCC. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

HPV-independent Precursors Mimicking High-grade Squamous intraepithelial Lesions (HSIL) of the Vulva

Two etiopathogenic types of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) have been described: human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated and HPV-independent. Precursor lesions, frequently identified in the adjacent skin, are also distinct in the 2 types of VSCC: high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) in HPV-associated VSCC and differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (dVIN) or vulvar acanthosis with altered differentiation in HPV-independent VSCC. Although HPV-independent precursors mimicking HSIL have been described in the vulva, their frequency and morphologic spectrum have not been completely characterized. We explored, in a large series of HPV-independent VSSC, the frequency and the histologic features of precursors mimicking HSIL. We included 779 DNA HPV-negative/p16-negative VSCC with at least 1\xE2\x80\x89cm of adjacent skin. We evaluated the histologic and immunohistochemical (p16 and p53) characteristics of the intraepithelial lesions, focusing on precursors mimicking HPV-associated vulvar HSIL. A total of 254 tumors (33%) had adjacent premalignant lesions. Of them, 186 (73%) had dVIN, 22 (9%) had vulvar acanthosis with altered differentiation, and 46 (18%) had lesions that mimicked HSIL. The mean age of the patients with these HSIL-like lesions was 72\xC2\xB115 years. Twenty-six of these HSIL-like lesions had basaloid morphology, 13 warty, and 7 mixed basaloid/warty features. All the HSIL-like precursors were DNA HPV-negative/p16-negative; 74% of them showed p53 abnormal staining and 35% of them had areas of conventional dVIN. In conclusion, about one fifth of the HPV-independent precursors mimic HSIL, showing either basaloid or warty features. Older age and the presence of areas of typical HPV-independent intraepithelial lesions, together with p16 negativity, should raise suspicion of an HPV-independent etiology

Genetic Deletion of Galectin-3 Exacerbates Age-Related Myocardial Hypertrophy and Fibrosis in Mice

Background/Aims: Aging is accompanied by progressive and adverse cardiac remodeling characterized by myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and dysfunction. We previously reported that galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a critical regulator of inflammation and fibrosis associated with hypertensive heart disease and myocardial infarction. Nevertheless, the role and mechanism of Gal-3 in age-related cardiac remodeling have not been previously investigated. We hypothesized that Gal-3 plays a critical role in cardiac aging and that its deficiency exacerbates the underlying mechanisms of myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis. Methods: Male C57BL/6 (control) (n=24) and Gal-3 knockout (KO) (n=29) mice were studied at 24 months of age to evaluate the role of Gal-3 in cardiac aging. We assessed 1) survival rate; 2) systolic blood pressure (SBP) by plethysmography; 3) myocardial hypertrophy, apoptosis, and fibrosis by quantification of histological and immunohistochemical analysis; 4) cardiac expression of angiotensin (Ang) II, Ang (1–7) by Radioimmunoassay; 5) transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), sirtuin (SIRT) 1, SIRT 7 and metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) by RT-qPCR and 6) ventricular remodeling and function by echocardiography. Results: We found that aged Gal-3 KO mice had a lower survival rate and exhibited exacerbated myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis without changes in SBP. Similarly, myocardial apoptosis and MMP-9 mRNA expression was significantly increased in the hearts of Gal-3 KO mice compared to controls. Additionally, cardiac Ang II and TGF-β expression were higher in aged Gal-3 KO mice while SIRT1 and SIRT7 expression were reduced. Conclusion: Our findings strongly suggest that Gal-3 is involved in age-related cardiac remodeling by regulating critical mechanisms associated with the development of pathological hypertrophy. The gene deletion of Gal-3 reduced the lifespan and markedly increased age-dependent mechanisms of myocardial hypertrophy, apoptosis, and fibrosis, including Ang-II, TGF-β, and MMP-9. At the same time, there was diminished cardiac-specific expression of SIRT1 and SIRT7, which are extensively implicated in delaying age-dependent cardiomyopathies.Fil: Fontana Estevez, Florencia Sofía. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Betazza, Celeste. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Miksztowicz, Verónica Julieta. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Seropian, Ignacio Miguel. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Silva, Mauro Gastón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Penas, Federico Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Touceda, Vanessa Michelle. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Selser, Carolina. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Villaverde, Alejo. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Goren, Nora Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Cianciulli, Tomás Francisco. Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos Doctor Cosme Argerich; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Vanina Araceli. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: Morales, Celina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Patología; ArgentinaFil: Gironacci, Mariela Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: González, Germán Esteban. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Argentin