Synthesis of bioconjugate sesterterpenoids with phospholipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids

A series of sesterterpenoid bioconjugates with phospholipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been synthesized for biological activity testing as antiproliferative agents in several cancer cell lines. Different substitution analogues of the original lipidic ether edelfosine (1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine) are obtained varying the sesterterpenoid in position 1 or 2 of the glycerol or a phosphocholine or PUFA unit in position 3. Simple bioconjugates of sesterterpenoids and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have been obtained too. All synthetic derivatives were tested against the human tumour cell lines HeLa (cervix) and MCF-7 (breast). Some compounds showed good IC50 (0.3 and 0.2 μM) values against these cell lines.This work was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2011-30518 and SAF2014-59716-R). Junta de Castilla y León BIO/SA59/15.Peer reviewe

Model validation for a noninvasive arterial stenosis detection problem

Copyright @ 2013 American Institute of Mathematical SciencesA current thrust in medical research is the development of a non-invasive method for detection, localization, and characterization of an arterial stenosis (a blockage or partial blockage in an artery). A method has been proposed to detect shear waves in the chest cavity which have been generated by disturbances in the blood flow resulting from a stenosis. In order to develop this methodology further, we use both one-dimensional pressure and shear wave experimental data from novel acoustic phantoms to validate corresponding viscoelastic mathematical models, which were developed in a concept paper [8] and refined herein. We estimate model parameters which give a good fit (in a sense to be precisely defined) to the experimental data, and use asymptotic error theory to provide confidence intervals for parameter estimates. Finally, since a robust error model is necessary for accurate parameter estimates and confidence analysis, we include a comparison of absolute and relative models for measurement error.The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Deopartment of Education and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Acanthamoeba sp. keratitis: First case confirmed by isolation and molecular typification in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Some species of the Acanthamoeba genus cause keratitis, a very painful, most likely unilateral corneal infection, associated with eye and vision impairment. We here present a case of a 31-year-old female patient, a regular user of soft contact lenses without good practices of lens hygiene and handling. The patient attended medical consultation after two months of inflammation and pain in her right eye. After ophthalmological studies, and due to suspicion of a parasitic infection, a biopsy was performed and the sample submitted for bacteriological and parasitological analyses. Moreover, contact lens holders and lens cleaning solutions were studied. The samples yielded negative results for bacterial infection. However, cultivation of all samples showed the presence of amoeboid parasites. Isolated amoebae were morphologically and molecularly classified as members of the Acanthamoeba genus. This is the first case of keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, where the parasite was identified by specific and sensitive molecular techniques.Fil: Gertiser, María Laura. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Giagante, E.. Centro Privado de Oftalmología Bahía Blanca; ArgentinaFil: Sgattoni, E.. Centro Privado de Oftalmología Bahía Blanca; ArgentinaFil: Basabe, Norma. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Rivero, Fernando David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo. - Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Laboratorio de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Lujan, Hugo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Inmunología y Enfermedades Infecciosas. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Inmunología y Enfermedades Infecciosas; ArgentinaFil: Occhionero, M.. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Paniccia, Teresa Laura. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Visciarelli, Elena Concepcion. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Costamagna. S. R.. Universidad Nacional del Sur; Argentin

Acanthamoeba sp. keratitis: First case confirmed by isolation and molecular typification in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Some species of the Acanthamoeba genus cause keratitis, a very painful, most likely unilateral corneal infection, associated with eye and vision impairment. We here present a case of a 31-year-old female patient, a regular user of soft contact lenses without good practices of lens hygiene and handling. The patient attended medical consultation after two months of inflammation and pain in her right eye. After ophthalmological studies, and due to suspicion of a parasitic infection, a biopsy was performed and the sample submitted for bacteriological and parasitological analyses. Moreover, contact lens holders and lens cleaning solutions were studied. The samples yielded negative results for bacterial infection. However, cultivation of all samples showed the presence of amoeboid parasites. Isolated amoebae were morphologically and molecularly classified as members of the Acanthamoeba genus. This is the first case of keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, where the parasite was identified by specific and sensitive molecular techniques.Fil: Gertiser, María Laura. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Giagante, E.. Centro Privado de Oftalmología Bahía Blanca; ArgentinaFil: Sgattoni, E.. Centro Privado de Oftalmología Bahía Blanca; ArgentinaFil: Basabe, Norma. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Rivero, Fernando David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo. - Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Laboratorio de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Lujan, Hugo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Inmunología y Enfermedades Infecciosas. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Inmunología y Enfermedades Infecciosas; ArgentinaFil: Occhionero, M.. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Paniccia, Teresa Laura. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Visciarelli, Elena Concepcion. Universidad Nacional del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Costamagna. S. R.. Universidad Nacional del Sur; Argentin

Issues. Year 2 No. 3 Magazine of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts

Las opiniones contenidas en los artículos de esta revista no vinculan a la institución sino que son de exclusiva responsabilidad de los autores, dentro de los principios democráticos de cátedra libre y libertad de expresión, consagrados en el artículo 3° del Estatuto General de la Corporación Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga. El material de esta publicación puede ser reproducido sin autorización, siempre que se mencione su procedencia y la escuela de Ciencias Sociales, Humanidades y Artes de la UNA. reciba un ejemplar de su publicación.Presentación. - 5 Historia. - 9 La guerra de los supremos (1839-1842). - Las muiscas de la guerra y la política: Algunos datos para la historia del caso colombiano en el siglo XIX. - 29 Educación Una mirada histórica a la reforma instruccionista pestalozziana en Santander, Colombia, 1868-1885. - 63 Las competencias para el área de tecnología e informática. - 73 Psicología Una articulación entre psicoanálisis, filosofía y literatura. Johnny Carter: uno de los que fracasan al triunfar. - 93 Personalidad y cáncer. - 99 150 años después: Homenaje al testamento de un piel roja . - 107The opinions contained in the articles of this journal do not bind the institution but are the exclusive responsibility of the authors, within the democratic principles of free teaching and freedom of expression, enshrined in article 3 of the General Statute of the University Corporation. Autonomous of Bucaramanga. The material in this publication may be reproduced without authorization, provided that its origin and the UNA School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts are mentioned. receive a copy of your publication

Judicial disagreement need not be political: dissent on the Estonian Supreme Court

I investigate the non-unanimous decisions of judges on the Estonian Supreme Court. I argue that since judges on the court enjoy high de jure independence, dissent frequently, and are integrated in the normal judicial hierarchy, the Estonian Supreme Court is a crucial case for the presumption that judicial disagreement reveals policy preferences. I analyse dissenting opinions using an ideal point response model. Examining the characteristics of cases which discriminated with respect to the recovered dimension, I show that this dimension cannot be interpreted as a meaningful policy dimension, but instead reflects disagreement about the proper scope of constitutional redress

Dynamic pH mapping in microfluidic devices by integrating adaptive coatings based on polyaniline with colorimetric imaging techniques

In this paper we present a microfluidic device that has integrated pH optical sensing capabilities based on polyaniline. The optical properties of polyaniline coatings change in response to the pH of the solution that is flushed inside the microchannel offering the possibility of monitoring pH in continuous flow over a 10 wide pH range throughout the entire channel length. This work also features an innovative detection system for spatial localisation of chemical pH gradients along microfluidic channels through the use of a low cost optical device. Specifically, the use of a microfluidic channel coated with polyaniline is shown to respond colorimetrically to pH and that effect is detected by the detection system, even when pH gradients are induced within the channel. This study explores the capability of detecting this gradient by means of imaging techniques and the mapping of the camera’s response to its corresponding pH after a successful calibration process. The provision of an inherently responsive channel means that changes in the pH of a sample moving through the system can be detected dynamically using digital imaging along the entire channel length in real time, without the need to add reagents to the sample. This approach is generic and can be applied to other chemically responsive coatings immobilised on microchannels

Well-being as a Function of Person-Country Fit in Human Values

It is often assumed that incongruence between individuals’ values and those of their country is distressing, but the evidence has been mixed. Across 29 countries, the present research investigated whether well-being is higher if people’s values match with those of people living in the same country or region. Using representative samples, we find that person-country and person-region value congruence predict six well-being measures (e.g., emotional well-being, relationship support; N = 54,673). Crucially, however, value type moderates whether person-country fit is positively or negatively associated with well-being. People who value self-direction, stimulation, and hedonism more and live in countries and regions where people on average share these values report lower well-being. In contrast, people who value achievement, power, and security more and live in countries and regions where people on average share these values, report higher well-being. Additionally, we find that people who moderately value stimulation report the highest well-being

Ancient DNA from Hunter-Gatherer and Farmer Groups from Northern Spain Supports a Random Dispersion Model for the Neolithic Expansion into Europe

Background/Principal Findings: The phenomenon of Neolithisation refers to the transition of prehistoric populations from a hunter-gatherer to an agro-pastoralist lifestyle. Traditionally, the spread of an agro-pastoralist economy into Europe has been framed within a dichotomy based either on an acculturation phenomenon or on a demic diffusion. However, the nature and speed of this transition is a matter of continuing scientific debate in archaeology, anthropology, and human population genetics. In the present study, we have analyzed the mitochondrial DNA diversity in hunter-gatherers and first farmers from Northern Spain, in relation to the debate surrounding the phenomenon of Neolithisation in Europe. Methodology/Significance: Analysis of mitochondrial DNA was carried out on 54 individuals from Upper Paleolithic and Early Neolithic, which were recovered from nine archaeological sites from Northern Spain (Basque Country, Navarre and Cantabria). In addition, to take all necessary precautions to avoid contamination, different authentication criteria were applied in this study, including: DNA quantification, cloning, duplication (51 % of the samples) and replication of the results (43 % of the samples) by two independent laboratories. Statistical and multivariate analyses of the mitochondrial variability suggest that the genetic influence of Neolithisation did not spread uniformly throughout Europe, producing heterogeneous genetic consequences in different geographical regions, rejecting the traditional models that explain the Neolithisation in Europe