Capacitively Coupled Electrical Stimulation of Rat Chondroepiphysis Explants: A Histomorphometric Analysis

[EN] The growth plate is a cartilaginous layer present from the gestation period until the end of puberty where it ossifies joining diaphysis and epiphysis. During this period several endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine processes within the growth plate are carried out by chondrocytes; therefore, a disruption in cellular functions may lead to pathologies affecting bone development. It is known that electric fields impact the growth plate; however, parameters such as stimulation time and electric field intensity are not well documented. Accordingly, this study presents a histomorphometrical framework to assess the effect of electric fields on chondroepiphysis ex-plants. Bones were stimulated with 3.5 and 7 mV/cm, and for each electric field two exposure times were tested for 30 days (30 min and 1 h). Results evidenced that electric fields increased the hypertrophic zones compared with controls. In addition, a stimulation of 3.5 mV/cm applied for 1 h preserved the columnar cell density and its orientation. Moreover, a pre-hypertrophy differentiation in the center of the chondroepiphysis was observed when explants were stimulated during 1 h with both electric fields. These findings allow the understanding of the effect of electrical stimulation over growth plate organization and how the stimulation modifies chondrocytes morphophysiology.This research was supported by COLCIENCIAS Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation. The authors gratefully thank the research support from the Biotechnology Institute of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, for providing the lab space at the Biomimetics Laboratory and the reactants to perform the experimental approach of this study. Research reported in this publication was supported by COLCIENCIAS Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Announcement 712-2015 Grant No 50457).Vaca-González, JJ.; Escobar, J.; Guevara, J.; Hata, YA.; Gallego Ferrer, G.; Garzón-Alvarado, DA. (2019). Capacitively Coupled Electrical Stimulation of Rat Chondroepiphysis Explants: A Histomorphometric Analysis. Bioelectrochemistry. 126:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.11.004S11112

Microwave Quantum Memristors

We propose a design of a superconducting quantum memristive device in the microwave regime, that is, a microwave quantum memristor. It comprises two linked resonators, where the primary one is coupled to a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), allowing the adjustment of the resonator properties with an external magnetic flux. The auxiliary resonator is operated through weak measurements, providing feedback to the primary resonator via the SQUID and establishing stable memristive behavior via the external magnetic flux. The device operates with a classical input signal in one cavity while reading the response in the other, serving as a fundamental building block for arrays of microwave quantum memristors. In this sense, we observe that a bipartite setup can retain its memristive behavior while gaining entanglement and quantum correlations. Our findings open the door to the experimental implementation of memristive superconducting quantum devices and arrays of microwave quantum memristors on the path to neuromorphic quantum computing.Comment: 9+6 pages, 10 figure

Biochemical and aggregation analysis of Bence Jones proteins from different light chain diseases

Deposition of immunoglobulin light chains is a result of clonal proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells that secrete free immunoglobulin light chains, also called Bence Jones proteins (Bence Jones proteins). These Bence Jones proteins are present in circulation in large amounts and excreted in urine in various light chain diseases such as light chain amyloidosis (AL), light chain deposition disease (LCDD) and multiple myeloma (MM). BJP from patients with AL, LCDD and MM were purified from their urine and studies were performed to determine their secondary structure, thermodynamic stability and aggregate formation kinetics. Our results show that LCDD and MM proteins have the lowest free energy of folding while all proteins show similar melting temperatures. Incubation of the BJP at their melting temperature produced morphologically different aggregates: amyloid fibrils from the AL proteins, amorphous aggregates from the LCDD proteins and large spherical species from the MM proteins. The aggregates formed under in vitro conditions suggested that the various proteins derived from patients with different light chain diseases might follow different aggregation pathways

Magnetism of small V clusters embedded in a Cu fcc matrix: an ab initio study

We present extensive first principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations dedicated to analyze the magnetic and electronic properties of small V$_{n}$ clusters (n=1,2,3,4,5,6) embedded in a Cu fcc matrix. We consider different cluster structures such as: i) a single V impurity, ii) several V$_{2}$ dimers having different interatomic distance and varying local atomic environment, iii) V$_{3}$ and iv) V$_{4}$ clusters for which we assume compact as well as 2- and 1-dimensional atomic configurations and finally, in the case of the v) V$_{5}$ and vi) V$_{6}$ structures we consider a square pyramid and a square bipyramid together with linear arrays, respectively. In all cases, the V atoms are embedded as substitutional impurities in the Cu network. In general, and as in the free standing case, we have found that the V clusters tend to form compact atomic arrays within the cooper matrix. Our calculated non spin-polarized density of states at the V sites shows a complex peaked structure around the Fermi level that strongly changes as a function of both the interatomic distance and local atomic environment, a result that anticipates a non trivial magnetic behavior. In fact, our DFT calculations reveal, in each one of our clusters systems, the existence of different magnetic solutions (ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, and antiferromagnetic) with very small energy differences among them, a result that could lead to the existence of complex finite-temperature magnetic properties. Finally, we compare our results with recent experimental measurements.Comment: 7 pages and 4 figure

Chemical conversion treatments to protect biodegradable magnesium in applications as temporary implants for bone repair

7 páginas, 7 figuras, 1 tabla.[ES] El presente estudio se desarrolló para mejorar la resistencia a la corrosión del magnesio puro, modificando su superficie mediante recubrimientos de conversión química. Se generaron capas de carbonato y fluoruro por inmersión en soluciones de NaHCO3 al 9 % y de HF al 48 %, respectivamente. La resistencia a la corrosión de las muestras con recubrimiento se evaluó en comparación con la del sustrato desnudo mediante técnicas electroquímicas en una solución fisiológica (PBS). Los resultados obtenidos han mostrado que el recubrimiento de carbonato no es capaz de proteger de la degradación al sustrato de magnesio. Por el contrario, el recubrimiento de fluoruro ha demostrado aumentar, significativamente, la resistencia a la corrosión del magnesio en medio fisiológico. La alta compacidad y adherencia al sustrato metálico de la capa de MgF2 generada mediante este sencillo tratamiento de conversión química confieren al recubrimiento buenas propiedades protectoras.[EN] The present study was developed to improve the corrosion resistance of pure magnesium by applying chemical conversion coatings. Carbonate and fluoride layers were generated by immersion in solutions of NaHCO3 of concentration 9 wt.%and HF of concentration 48 wt.%, respectively. Corrosion resistance of the coated samples was evaluated in comparison with that of the uncoated substrate by electrochemical techniques in a physiological solution (PBS). Results have shown that the carbonate coating is not viable to be used for protecting magnesium against corrosion.On the contrary, the fluoridemagnesiumcoating significantly increases the corrosion resistance ofmagnesium in physiological medium. The high compactness and adherence to the base metal of theMgF2 layer produced by this simple chemical conversion treatment confer the protective properties to the coating.Los autores agradecen al MEC la financiación del proyecto con referencia MAT 2008-06719-C03-01. M. Carboneras agradece al CSIC la concesión de un contrato JAE-Doc.Peer reviewe

PREVALENCIA Y FACTORES ASOCIADOS A LA AUTOMEDICACIÓN EN ESTUDIANTES DE MEDICINA

Introducción: La automedicación es una práctica que se da en todo el mundo y su prevalencia está en aumento; el uso irracional de medicamentos representa un motivo de preocupación. Objetivo: Se tiene por objetivo la revisión de publicaciones, donde se reconoce la prevalencia y factores asociados a la automedicación en estudiantes de Medicina. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión de artículos relacionados a la automedicación en estudiantes de medicina. Las fuentes de búsqueda fueron PubMed, Elsevier y Google Scholar. Se seleccionaron artículos publicados entre 2011 y 2017. Resultados: En 10 artículos, se encontró una prevalencia mayor al 50%, siendo 97.8% la más alta. 7 de 8 estudios evidencia que el sexo femenino es el que más se automedica. 5 estudios encontraron que los estudiantes del 3er año de medicina son los que más se automedican; de estos, dos autores encontraron una p significativa de 0.01 y <0.001; también se encontró una p = 0.001 significativa en alumnos del 6to año (89.4%). La mayoría de autores coinciden que la razón más frecuente de automedicación es que los estudiantes sienten que sus síntomas son muy leves como para acudir a un médico (7/10 autores). Conclusión: La mayoría de los estudiantes de medicina se automedican por lo que es necesario implementar medidas, a nivel social y a nivel educacional, que regulen todos los aspectos que facilitan esta práctica y permitan a los alumnos tomar más conciencia sobre las consecuencias de esta práctica. Palabras clave: Automedicación; Prevalencia; Factores asociados; Estudiantes de medicina. (fuente: DeCS BIREME) DOI: https://doi.org/10.25176/RFMH.v17.n4.121

Rate-Adaptive Coded Modulation with Geometrically-shaped Constellations

Information-theoretic metrics are used to design rate-adaptive coded modulation based on geometrically-shaped constellations with soft- and hard-decision FEC. Numerical results show that an 8% reach extension can be achieved with flexible data rates and transmission distances

Ion induced fragmentation of biomolecular systems at low collision energies

In this paper, we present results of different collision experiments between multiply charged ions at low collision energies (in the keV-region) and biomolecular systems. This kind of interaction allows to remove electrons form the biomolecule without transferring a large amount of vibrational excitation energy. Nevertheless, following the ionization of the target, fragmentation of biomolecular species may occur. It is the main objective of this work to study the physical processes involved in the dissociation of highly electronically excited systems. In order to elucidate the intrinsic properties of certain biomolecules (porphyrins and amino acids) we have performed experiments in the gas phase with isolated systems. The obtained results demonstrate the high stability of porphyrins after electron removal. Furthermore, a dependence of the fragmentation pattern produced by multiply charged ions on the isomeric structure of the alanine molecule has been shown. By considering the presence of other surrounding biomolecules (clusters of nucleobases), a strong influence of the environment of the biomolecule on the fragmentation channels and their modification, has been clearly proven. This result is explained, in the thymine and uracil case, by the formation of hydrogen bonds between O and H atoms, which is known to favor planar cluster geometries.</p

Environment is associated with chytrid infection and skin microbiome richness on an amphibian rich island (Taiwan)

Growing evidence suggests that the origins of the panzootic amphibian pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) are in Asia. In Taiwan, an island hotspot of high amphibian diversity, no amphibian mass mortality events linked to Bd or Bsal have been reported. We conducted a multi-year study across this subtropical island, sampling 2517 individuals from 30 species at 34 field sites, between 2010 and 2017, and including 171 museum samples collected between 1981 and 2009. We analyzed the skin microbiome of 153 samples (6 species) from 2017 in order to assess any association between the amphibian skin microbiome and the probability of infection amongst different host species. We did not detect Bsal in our samples, but found widespread infection by Bd across central and northern Taiwan, both taxonomically and spatially. Museum samples show that Bd has been present in Taiwan since at least 1990. Host species, geography (elevation), climatic conditions and microbial richness were all associated with the prevalence of infection. Host life-history traits, skin microbiome composition and phylogeny were associated with lower prevalence of infection for high altitude species. Overall, we observed low prevalence and burden of infection in host populations, suggesting that Bd is enzootic in Taiwan where it causes subclinical infections. While amphibian species in Taiwan are currently threatened by habitat loss, our study indicates that Bd is in an endemic equilibrium with the populations and species we investigated. However, ongoing surveillance of the infection is warranted, as changing environmental conditions may disturb the currently stable equilibrium