New properties of a bioinspired pyridine benzimidazole compound as a novel differential staining agent for endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in fluorescence live cell imaging

Indexación: Scopus.In this study, we explored new properties of the bioinspired pyridine benzimidazole compound B2 (2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-2-yl)phenol) regarding its potential use as a differential biomarker. For that, we performed 1D 1HNMR (TOCSY), UV-Vis absorption spectra in different organic solvents, voltammetry profile (including a scan-rate study), and TD-DFT calculations that including NBO analyses, to provide valuable information about B2 structure and luminescence. In our study, we found that the B2 structure is highly stable, where the presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) seems to have a crucial role in the stability of luminescence, and its emission can be assigned as fluorescence. In fact, we found that the relatively large Stokes Shift observed for B2 (around 175 nm) may be attributed to the stability of the B2 geometry and the strength of its IHB. On the other hand, we determined that B2 is biocompatible by cytotoxicity experiments in HeLa cells, an epithelial cell line. Furthermore, in cellular assays we found that B2 could be internalized by passive diffusion in absence of artificial permeabilization at short incubation times (15 min to 30 min). Fluorescence microscopy studies confirmed that B2 accumulates in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus, two organelles involved in the secretory pathway. Finally, we determined that B2 exhibited no noticeable blinking or bleaching after 1 h of continuous exposure. Thus, B2 provides a biocompatible, rapid, simple, and efficient way to fluorescently label particular organelles, producing similar results to that obtained with other well-established but more complex methods. © 2018 Llancalahuen, Fuentes, Carreño, Zúñiga, Páez-Hernández, Gacitúa, Polanco, Preite, Arratia-Pérez and Otero.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2018.00345/ful

Design approaches in technology enhanced learning

Design is a critical to the successful development of any interactive learning environment (ILE). Moreover, in technology enhanced learning (TEL), the design process requires input from many diverse areas of expertise. As such, anyone undertaking tool development is required to directly address the design challenge from multiple perspectives. We provide a motivation and rationale for design approaches for learning technologies that draws upon Simon's seminal proposition of Design Science (Simon, 1969). We then review the application of Design Experiments (Brown, 1992) and Design Patterns (Alexander et al., 1977) and argue that a patterns approach has the potential to address many of the critical challenges faced by learning technologists

Interfacial-Redox-Induced Tuning of Superconductivity in YBa2Cu3O7-δ.

Solid-state ionic approaches for modifying ion distributions in getter/oxide heterostructures offer exciting potentials to control material properties. Here, we report a simple, scalable approach allowing for manipulation of the superconducting transition in optimally doped YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) films via a chemically driven ionic migration mechanism. Using a thin Gd capping layer of up to 20 nm deposited onto 100 nm thick epitaxial YBCO films, oxygen is found to leach from deep within the YBCO. Progressive reduction of the superconducting transition is observed, with complete suppression possible for a sufficiently thick Gd layer. These effects arise from the combined impact of redox-driven electron doping and modification of the YBCO microstructure due to oxygen migration and depletion. This work demonstrates an effective step toward total ionic tuning of superconductivity in oxides, an interface-induced effect that goes well into the quasi-bulk regime, opening-up possibilities for electric field manipulation

Dynamic location of mobiles and obstacles for robotics applications

Usando algoritmos de procesamiento de imágenes y detección de movimientos se logró obtener la posición de dos móviles y de dos obstáculos fijos en un escenario en el cual se controlan las condiciones de color de los mismos. Para tal fin, se implementaron tres algoritmos, el primero de ellos se basa en los gradientes espacial y temporal para realizar la detección de los bordes de los objetos en movimiento dentro de la escena, el segundo es una detección en color, con la cual se identifica el color de los móviles y el tercero se basa en correlación de imágenes para realizar la búsqueda del objeto en movimiento. La detección de los obstáculos (objetos estáticos) para los tres algoritmos se realizó por medio de reconocimiento de un color característico en los obstáculos. Después de detectados los objetos de interés en la escena, se realiza su localización en la imagen por medio del centroide, para posteriormente entregar su posición y orientación en unidades de longitud.Using algorithms of processing of images and detection of movements was possible to obtain the position of two mobile objects and two fixed obstacles in a scene where they interact under controlled conditions of color. For such an end, three algorithms were implemented, the first of them is based on the spatial and temporal gradients to carry out the detection of the borders of the objects in movement inside the scene, the second is a detection in color, with which the color of the mobile objects is identified and the third is based on correlation of images to accomplish the search of the object in movement. The detection of the obstacles (static objects) for the three algorithms was carried out through recognition of a characteristic color in the obstacles. After having detected the objects of interest in the scene, is carried out their localization in the image through the centroide (center), for later on to give their position and orientation in centimeters

The Photoevaporative Wind from the Disk of TW Hya

Photoevaporation driven by the central star is expected to be a ubiquitous and important mechanism to disperse the circumstellar dust and gas from which planets form. Here, we present a detailed study of the circumstellar disk surrounding the nearby star TW Hya and provide observational constraints to its photoevaporative wind. Our new high-resolution (R ~ 30,000) mid-infrared spectroscopy in the [Ne II] 12.81 {\mu}m line confirms that this gas diagnostic traces the unbound wind component within 10AU from the star. From the blueshift and asymmetry in the line profile, we estimate that most (>80%) of the [Ne II] emission arises from disk radii where the midplane is optically thick to the redshifted outflowing gas, meaning beyond the 1 or 4AU dust rim inferred from other observations. We re-analyze high-resolution (R ~ 48, 000) archival optical spectra searching for additional transitions that may trace the photoevaporative flow. Unlike the [Ne II] line, optical forbidden lines from OI, SII, and MgI are centered at the stellar velocity and have symmetric profiles. The only way these lines could trace the photoevaporative flow is if they arise from a disk region physically distinct from that traced by the [Ne II] line, specifically from within the optically thin dust gap. However, the small (~10 km/s) FWHM of these lines suggest that most of the emitting gas traced at optical wavelengths is bound to the system rather than unbound. We discuss the implications of our results for a planet-induced versus a photoevaporation-induced gap.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Localización dinámica de móviles y obstáculos para aplicaciones en robótica

Usando algoritmos de procesamiento de imágenes y detección de movimientos se logró obtener la posición de dos móviles y de dos obstáculos fijos en un escenario en el cual se controlan las condiciones de color de los mismos. Para tal fin, se implementaron tres algoritmos, el primero de ellos se basa en los gradientes espacial y temporal para realizar la detección de los bordes de los objetos en movimiento dentro de la escena, el segundo es una detección en color, con la cual se identifica el color de los móviles y el tercero se basa en correlación de imágenes para realizar la búsqueda del objeto en movimiento. La detección de los obstáculos (objetos estáticos) para los tres algoritmos se realizó por medio de reconocimiento de un color característico en los obstáculos. Después de detectados los objetos de interés en la escena, se realiza su localización en la imagen por medio del centroide, para posteriormente entregar su posición y orientación en unidades de longitud.Palabras Clave: Análisis dinámico de imágenes, color, correlación, gradientes, identificación, segmentación

Mobility deficit – Rehabilitate, an opportunity for functionality

There are many pathological conditions that cause mobility deficits and that ultimately influence someone’s autonomy.Aims: to evaluate patients with mobility deficits functional status; to implement a Rehabilitation Nursing intervention plan; to monitor health gains through mobility deficits rehabilitation.Conclusion: Early intervention and the implementation of a nursing rehabilitation intervention plan results in health gains (direct or indirect), decreases the risk of developing Pressure Ulcers (PU) and the risk of developing a situation of immobility that affects patients’ autonomy and quality of life

Broken SU(3) Symmetry in Two-Body B Decays

The decays of $B$ mesons to two-body hadronic final states are analyzed within the context of broken flavor SU(3) symmetry, extending a previous analysis involving pairs of light pseudoscalars to decays involving one or two charmed quarks in the final state. A systematic program is described for learning information {}from decay rates regarding (i) SU(3)-violating contributions, (ii) the magnitude of exchange and annihilation diagrams (effects involving the spectator quark), and (iii) strong final-state interactions. The implication of SU(3)-breaking effects for the extraction of weak phases is also examined. The present status of data on these questions is reviewed and suggestions for further experimental study are made.Comment: 38 pages, 8 figures, LaTeX file. The full postscript manuscript is available by anon ftp at ftp://lpsvsh.lps.umontreal.ca/theorie/hep-ph/SU3break.ps (a VAX so use the format theorie.hep-ph if you change by more than one directory at a time

Time-Evolution of Viscous Circumstellar Disks due to Photoevaporation by FUV, EUV and X-ray Radiation from the Central Star

We present the time evolution of viscously accreting circumstellar disks as they are irradiated by ultraviolet and X-ray photons from a low-mass central star. Our model is a hybrid of a 1D time-dependent viscous disk model coupled to a 1+1D disk vertical structure model used for calculating the disk structure and photoevaporation rates. We find that disks of initial mass 0.1M_o around 1M_o stars survive for 4x10^6 years, assuming a viscosity parameter $\alpha=0.01$, a time-dependent FUV luminosity $L_{FUV}~10^{-2}-10^{-3}$ L_o and with X-ray and EUV luminosities $L_X \sim L_{EUV} ~ 10^{-3}$L_o. We find that FUV/X-ray-induced photoevaporation and viscous accretion are both important in depleting disk mass. Photoevaporation rates are most significant at ~ 1-10 AU and at >~ 30 AU. Viscosity spreads the disk which causes mass loss by accretion onto the central star and feeds mass loss by photoevaporation in the outer disk. We find that FUV photons can create gaps in the inner, planet-forming regions of the disk (~ 1-10 AU) at relatively early epochs in disk evolution while disk masses are still substantial. EUV and X-ray photons are also capable of driving gaps, but EUV can only do so at late, low accretion-rate epochs after the disk mass has already declined substantially. Disks around stars with predominantly soft X-ray fields experience enhanced photoevaporative mass loss. We follow disk evolution around stars of different masses, and find that disk survival time is relatively independent of mass for stars with M ~ 3M_o the disks are short-lived(~10^5 years).Comment: Accepted to ApJ, Main Journa