Self-Assembly Behavior of Amphiphilic Janus Dendrimers in Water: A Combined Experimental and Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulation Approach

Indexación: Scopus.Acknowledgments: M.E.E.G. thank the Ph. D. scholarship (251115) from CONACyT. The authors would like to thank: Luis Elizalde-Herrera (CIQA) for his help running the NMR spectra; Gloria Macedo-Raygoza and Miguel J. Beltrán-García (UAG), for their help in the measuring of MALDI-TOF mass spectra; and Maricela Rodríguez-Nieto and Jorge Luis Menchaca (UANL), for their help with the AFM measurements. FDGN thanks to the USA Air Force Office of Scientific Research Awards.Amphiphilic Janus dendrimers (JDs) are repetitively branched molecules with hydrophilic and hydrophobic components that self-assemble in water to form a variety of morphologies, including vesicles analogous to liposomes with potential pharmaceutical and medical application. To date, the self-assembly of JDs has not been fully investigated thus it is important to gain insight into its mechanism and dependence on JDs’ molecular structure. In this study, the aggregation behavior in water of a second-generation bis-MPA JD was evaluated using experimental and computational methods. Dispersions of JDs in water were carried out using the thin-film hydration and ethanol injection methods. Resulting assemblies were characterized by dynamic light scattering, confocal microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, a coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulation was performed to study the mechanism of JDs aggregation. The obtaining of assemblies in water with no interdigitated bilayers was confirmed by the experimental characterization and CG-MD simulation. Assemblies with dendrimersome characteristics were obtained using the ethanol injection method. The results of this study establish a relationship between the molecular structure of the JD and the properties of its aggregates in water. Thus, our findings could be relevant for the design of novel JDs with tailored assemblies suitable for drug delivery systems. © 2018 by the authors.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/23/4/96

Consideration of Uncertainty and Multiple Disciplines in the Determination of Sustainable Criteria for Rural Roads Using Neutrosophic Logic

[EN] In Latin America, there is a wide gap between kilometers of paved ways and those with no type of protection. This situation is worse in rural areas, limiting development opportunities and inhabitants' quality of life. In Chile, there are state programs that seek to reduce the territorial gap through basic low-cost paving solutions; however, the prioritization criteria for rural roads are unclear. Multiple actors affect the rural territories, and the non-existence of reference patterns increases subjectivity in infrastructure decision making. This study attempts to determine criteria that influence the selection of rural roads in southern Chile to promote sustainable territorial development considering multiple actors and the uncertainty of the selection process. For this, a documentary review, field visits, and 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The criteria are validated through a multidisciplinary panel of experts and the application of neutrosophic numbers to address the uncertainty derived from the expert consultations. The results of this study contribute 14 sustainable criteria in order to support the planning of basic rural roads in southern Chile.This research was funded by Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo (ANID) of the Government of Chile under the Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientifico y Tecnologico (FONDECYT-INI), grant number 11190501; and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the FEDER Funding under Project PID2020-117056RB-I00.Sierra, L.; Araya, F.; Yepes, V. (2021). Consideration of Uncertainty and Multiple Disciplines in the Determination of Sustainable Criteria for Rural Roads Using Neutrosophic Logic. Sustainability. 13(17):1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179854S115131

High Resolution Observations of the Massive Protostar in IRAS18566+0408

We report 3 mm continuum, CH3CN(5-4) and 13CS(2-1) line observations with CARMA, in conjunction with 6 and 1.3 cm continuum VLA data, and 12 and 25 micron broadband data from the Subaru Telescope toward the massive proto-star IRAS18566+0408. The VLA data resolve the ionized jet into 4 components aligned in the E-W direction. Radio components A, C, and D have flat cm SEDs indicative of optically thin emission from ionized gas, and component B has a spectral index alpha = 1.0, and a decreasing size with frequency proportional to frequency to the -0.5 power. Emission from the CARMA 3 mm continuum, and from the 13CS(2-1), and CH3CN(5-4) spectral lines is compact (i.e. < 6700 AU), and peaks near the position of VLA cm source, component B. Analysis of these lines indicates hot, and dense molecular gas, typical for HMCs. Our Subaru telescope observations detect a single compact source, coincident with radio component B, demonstrating that most of the energy in IRAS18566+0408 originates from a region of size < 2400 AU. We also present UKIRT near-infrared archival data for IRAS18566+0408 which show extended K-band emission along the jet direction. We detect an E-W velocity shift of about 10 km/sec over the HMC in the CH3CN lines possibly tracing the interface of the ionized jet with the surrounding core gas. Our data demonstrate the presence of an ionized jet at the base of the molecular outflow, and support the hypothesis that massive protostars with O-type luminosity form with a mechanism similar to lower mass stars

Effects of Banana Peels on Chicken Weight Gain and Egg Production in the Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Aksum City, Ethiopia

High feed cost of running urban-animal-agriculture and huge city wastes are challenges of the growing towns in modern Ethiopia. Egg production microenterprise is steadily growing due to its low initial investment and ready market in urban and peri-urban areas. However, cost of egg production is high due to the rising cost of corn, the main feed ingredient in poultry rations. Using banana peels, which forms a great proportion of city waste in Ethiopia, is seen as a way of not only reducing the waste, but also as an alternative low-cost feed supplement that could help enhance egg production by small-holder farmers. This study looked at the effect of feeding banana-peels-powder on weight-gain, egg-production and profit from rearing improved poultry breeds. Banana peels were air-dried, ground and used to re-formulate existing feed rations. The control was the ready poultry ration formulated with 52% maize and 48% other ingredients. Then four rations were formulated with 13%, 26%, 39% and 52% banana peels. One hundred, 5-month old Bovans Brown chicken breed were clustered into 4 blocks based on weight categories. Five treatments were applied randomly to the blocks and replicated 5 times in a RCBD cage battery system. The chickens were fed with 120g/chicken/day while water was provided ad libitum. Chickens’ weight and eggs produced were recorded every two weeks and daily respectively. Whereas weight gain and egg production declined with increase in proportion of banana peels, 25% replacement resulted in a comparable daily weight gain (26.42gm) to the standard chicken ration (26.76gm). Increase of banana peels resulted in reduction of weight gain at 17.78, 16.67 and 15.11gm/day and egg production at 0.58, 0.4 and 0.22/day/chicken for 50, 75 and 100% replacements respectively. We conclude that 25% banana peels powder in corn-based feed ration gives optimum weight gain and egg production in chickens

Displacement of Cranial Reference Landmarks Used in Jarabak and Ricketts Cephalometric Analysis During Active Growth

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.RESUMEN: El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el desplazamiento de los puntos craneales: Nasion, Silla, Basion, Porion, Orbitario y Pterigoideo, utilizados como referencia en los análisis cefalométricos de Jarabak y Ricketts durante el crecimiento activo. Se seleccionaron 120 telerradiografías de perfil en formato digital, correspondientes a 60 pacientes con 2 telerradiografías cada uno, tomadas con un intervalo de tiempo mínimo de 1 año (T1 y T2), en donde T1 se encuentra antes o durante el peak de crecimiento según el Estado de Maduración Cervical Vertebral (CVM) I, II ó III de Baccetti y T2 en estadio CVM IV,V,VI (después del peak de crecimiento). Un examinador previamente calibrado, ubicó los puntos analizados y para evaluar su desplazamiento, se realizaron mediciones en T1 y T2 (3 variables para cada punto), usando como referencia 2 planos que no se modifican a partir de los 5 años de edad (LCB y Vert-T). Para determinar el desplazamiento de los puntos, se calculó la variación promedio observada entre T1 y T2 y se realizó la prueba t para muestras pareadas o Wilcoxon (según distribución) para determinar la existencia de diferencias significativas. Además, se comparó la muestra por sexo, CVM inicial y CVM final. Se encontraron variaciones entre T1 y T2 en todas las medidas, aunque sólo en 5 de ellas se encontraron diferencias significativas; no se encontró diferencias al comparar por sexo, CVM inicial y final. Es así como podemos concluir que todos los puntos craneales analizados sufren desplazamiento durante el crecimiento. Los puntos Basion y Orbitario son los que sufren mayor desplazamiento. Es necesario analizar las implicancias de estas variaciones en los resultados obtenidos de los análisis cefalométrico y evaluar la necesidad de utilizar puntos de referencia alternativos.SUMMARY: The objective of this study was to evaluate the displacement of cranial reference points: Nasion, Sella, Basion, Porion, Orbitale and Pterygomaxillary, used in Jarabak and Ricketts cephalometric analysis, during active growth. Hundred and twenty digitalized lateral telerradiographies, corresponding to 60 patients (2 teleradiographies each one), were collected. The radiographies were taken with a minimum interval of one year between them (T1 and T2), where T1 is taken before or during the pubertal growth peack according to the cervical vertebral maturation stages developed by baccetti (CVM) I, II or III and T2 in CVM IV,V,VI (after the growth peak). Then, a previously calibrated examinator marked reference points and cephalometric measurements were taken (2 variables for each landmark). Measurements were made using craniofacial stable structures as references (stable basicranial line and Vertical T). To detect displacement in the landmark positions, t test or Wilcoxon test according to the distribution of each variable, was used to compare the data between T1 and T2. Also, comparisons were made by sex, and by initial and final CVM. All of the variables have variations between T1 y T2, but only 5 have a statistically significant difference. There were no differences between sexes and at initial and final CVM. In conclusion, all of the reference landmarks analyzed had displacement during active growth. Point Basion and Orbitale suffered the largest displacement. It is necessary to analyze the clinical implications of this displacement in order to evaluate the convenience of using alternative reference landmarks.http://ref.scielo.org/rf877

Caracteres preimaginales y aspectos bionómicos de Gyriosomus luczotii Laporte, 1840 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)

Se describe la morfología y microestructura coriónica del huevo y la morfología del primer estadio larvario de Gyriosomus luczotii Laporte, 1840 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Nycteliini). También se exponen antecedentes bionómicos y distribucionales de la especie. Para la obtención de huevos y larvas, se recolectaron parejas en el terreno que fueron mantenidas en cajas de cria hasta la ovoposición y posterior eclosión. La estructura y ornamentación del exocorion del huevo y características morfológicas externas de la larva fueron analizadas mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido. Los resultados muestran que los huevos de G. luczotii presentan un micropilo redondeado y exocorion liso, con células hexagonales sin aeropilos. Las larvas de G. luczotii presentan características morfológicas adaptativas para la vida edáfica del tipo Pedobionta: cápsula cefálica con gran cantidad de sensillas, patas protorácicas de función cavadora, y pigopodio bien desarrollado. Se analiza la importancia de algunos caracteres morfológicos de la larva de primer estadio como criterio de diagnóstico específico y se establece que las diferencias interespecíficas referidas a las sensillas frontales, la forma del clípeo y el margen anterior del labro tienen valor taxonómico y probablemente filogenético. Palabras clave: Tenebrionidae, Gyriosomus, Morfología, Estadios preimaginales, Desierto costero, Chile.Preimaginal characters and bionomical aspects of Gyriosomus luczotii Laporte, 1840 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) We describe the morphology and microstructure of the egg chorion, and the morphology of the first instar larva of Gyriosomus luczotii Laporte, 1840 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Nycteliini). Bionomical and distributional data on this species are also provided. To obtain eggs and larvae, couples were collected in the field and kept in rearing cages until oviposture and ecclosion. The structure and adornment of the egg exochorion, and the exterior morphological features of larvae were examined with electron scanning microscopy. The eggs of G. luczotii showed a rounded micropyle and a smooth exochorion, composed of hexagonal cells without aeropyles. The larvae of G. luczotii showed morphological characteristics suited for an edaphic life similar to that of Pedobionta: digging prothoracic legs, cephalic capsule with abundant sensilla, and well–developed pygopodium. We analysed the importance of larval morphology as an element for specific diagnosis and found that interspecific differences regarding frontal sensilla, clypeus shape, and anterior part of labrum, had a taxonomic value and possibly a phylogenetic value. Key words: Tenebrionidae, Gyriosomus, Morphology, Preimaginal stages, Coastal desert, Chile.Se describe la morfología y microestructura coriónica del huevo y la morfología del primer estadio larvario de Gyriosomus luczotii Laporte, 1840 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Nycteliini). También se exponen antecedentes bionómicos y distribucionales de la especie. Para la obtención de huevos y larvas, se recolectaron parejas en el terreno que fueron mantenidas en cajas de cria hasta la ovoposición y posterior eclosión. La estructura y ornamentación del exocorion del huevo y características morfológicas externas de la larva fueron analizadas mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido. Los resultados muestran que los huevos de G. luczotii presentan un micropilo redondeado y exocorion liso, con células hexagonales sin aeropilos. Las larvas de G. luczotii presentan características morfológicas adaptativas para la vida edáfica del tipo Pedobionta: cápsula cefálica con gran cantidad de sensillas, patas protorácicas de función cavadora, y pigopodio bien desarrollado. Se analiza la importancia de algunos caracteres morfológicos de la larva de primer estadio como criterio de diagnóstico específico y se establece que las diferencias interespecíficas referidas a las sensillas frontales, la forma del clípeo y el margen anterior del labro tienen valor taxonómico y probablemente filogenético. Palabras clave: Tenebrionidae, Gyriosomus, Morfología, Estadios preimaginales, Desierto costero, Chile