90 research outputs found
Morphology of copper deposits obtained by metallic electrodeposition
Electrochemical deposition of copper from copper nitrate aqueous electrolyte on graphite substrate was investigated at current densities between 0.03 mA/cm2 - 1.36 mA/cm2 and in the voltage range of 3 V to 15 V. The surface morphology and elemental composition of the resultant deposit were characterized by electron microprobe analysis (EMPA). These images illustrate the influence of current density on the shape of copper electrodeposited on the electrode surface. Rods, polyhedral bodies, pentagonal pyramids, dendritics, spiked spheres or cauliflower-like shapes are observed depending on the electrodeposition conditions.Fil: González Mercado, Griselda Verónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Química. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Carlos Jacinto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Química. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Oliva, Marcos Iván. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; ArgentinaFil: Brunetti, Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Eimer, Griselda Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Química. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Química; Argentin
Nanoparticle-cored dendrimers: functional hybrid nanocomposites as a new platform for drug delivery systems
Nanoparticle-cored dendrimers (NCDs) are now offering themselves as versatile carriers because of their colloidal stability, tunable membrane properties and ability to encapsulate or integrate a broad range of drugs and molecules. This kind of hybrid nanocomposite aims to combine the advantages of stimuliresponsive dendritic coatings, in order to regulate the drug release behaviour under different conditions and improve the biocompatibility and in vivo half-time circulation of the inorganic nanoparticles. Size, surface chemistry and shape are key nanocarrier properties to evaluate. Here, we have reviewed the most recent advances of NCDs in drug delivery systems, compared their behaviour with non-dendritic stabilized nanoparticles and highlighted their challenges and promising applications in the futureFil: Brunetti, Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones En Físicoquímica de Córdoba; Argentina; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Bouchet, Lydia María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones En Físicoquímica de Córdoba; Argentina; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Strumia, Miriam Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentin
Nanostructured films of hyperbranched polymeras template to metalic structures
La molécula Boltorn H30 es un polímero hiperramificado polihidroxilado de tercera generación de origen comercial con forma aproximadamente globular de diámetro promedio de 3,3 nm y tiene una cavidad endoreceptora que puede ser aprovechada para la incorporación de iones u otras moléculas pequeñas. En este caso, se analiza la adsorción espontánea de Boltorn H30 sobre sustratos de carbono para generar superficies nanoestructuradas capaces de captar o retener cationes cobre (II) en su interior. Posteriormente, las películas formadas se llevan a una celda electroquímica con el fin de reducir electroquímicamente el catión y generar estructuras metálicas usando el polímero hiperramificado como plantilla o molde. Estas plataformas desarrolladas con cobre electrodepositado han mostrado ser útiles para la electrocatálisis de peróxido de hidrógeno. Las superficies estudiadas en este trabajo han sido caracterizadas mediante diferentes técnicas espectroscópicas, microscópicas y electroquímicas.Boltorn H30 molecule is the third generation of a commercial polyhydroxylated hyperbranched polymer with an almost globular shape of 3,3 nm average diameter, which has an endo-receptor cavity that can be used for ions or some other small molecules inclusion. In this work, we analyze the spontaneous adsorption of Boltorn H30 on carbon substrates with the aim of generating nanostructured surfaces with the ability to capture or retain copper cations (II) inside. Afterwards, the formed films were taken to an electrochemical cell to reduce the cation and generate metallic structures using the hyperbranched polymer as a template. The platforms developed with electrodeposited copper are useful for the electrocatalysis of hydrogen peroxide. Along this work, the studied surfaces were characterized by means of different spectroscopical, microscopical and electrochemical techniques.Fil: Farías, Eliana Desireé. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físicoquímica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Passeggi, Mario Cesar Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Física del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingenieria Quimica. Departamento de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Brunetti, Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físicoquímica de Córdoba; Argentin
Uncovering the relationship between the structure and acid-base properties for hyperbranched polyester-polyols self-assembled on carbon surfaces
The self-assembly of three different generations of hyperbranched polyester-polyol polymers, based on 2,2-bis(methylol)propionic acid units (H20, H30, and H40 Boltorn®), on carbon electrodes was studied. The physico-chemical properties of this family of polymers confined on a surface were explored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface pKa of the hyperbranched polymer layers were determined by impedimetric titration by EIS based on the variation in the charge transfer resistance of the electroactive redox probe [Fe(CN)6]4−/[Fe(CN)6]3− at different pH. AFM was used to characterize the surface topography and also its viscoelastic properties by the acquisition of phase images. The relation between structure and acid-base properties can be explained in terms of a rearrangement of the layer due to the effect of intermolecular hydrogen bonds and adsorbate-substrate interactions. In this study, we report a powerful, versatile and yet simple procedure for functionalizing carbon materials surfaces without pre-treatment requirements, which could be useful to generate promising platforms for the development of sensors and drug delivery systems.Fil: Farias, Eliana Desiree. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Sueldo Occello, Valeria Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Passeggi, Mario Cesar Genaro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Brunetti, Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; Argentin
Take a picture! The role of visual methods in understanding psychiatric patient's everyday life
Understanding the patient's experience of mental illness can foster better support for this population and greater partnership with healthcare professionals. This study aims to explore the application of visual methods in the psychiatric field and, in particular, the experience of people suffering from psychotic disorders because it is still an open question that has not been only partially empirically examined
Radio observations of the merging galaxy cluster system Abell 3391-Abell 3395
The pre-merging system of galaxy clusters Abell 3391-Abell 3395 located at a
mean redshift of 0.053 has been observed at 1 GHz in an ASKAP/EMU Early Science
observation as well as in X-rays with eROSITA. The projected separation of the
X-ray peaks of the two clusters is 50 or 3.1 Mpc. Here we
present an inventory of interesting radio sources in this field around this
cluster merger. While the eROSITA observations provide clear indications of a
bridge of thermal gas between the clusters, neither ASKAP nor MWA observations
show any diffuse radio emission coinciding with the X-ray bridge. We derive an
upper limit on the radio emissivity in the bridge region of . A non-detection of diffuse radio emission in the X-ray bridge between
these two clusters has implications for particle-acceleration mechanisms in
cosmological large-scale structure. We also report extended or otherwise
noteworthy radio sources in the 30 deg field around Abell 3391-Abell 3395.
We identified 20 Giant Radio Galaxies, plus 7 candidates, with linear projected
sizes greater than 1 Mpc. The sky density of field radio galaxies with largest
linear sizes of Mpc is deg, three times higher than
previously reported. We find no evidence for a cosmological evolution of the
population of Giant Radio Galaxies. Moreover, we find seven candidates for
cluster radio relics and radio halos.Comment: Astronomy & Astrophysics, in pres
O-GlcNAcylation enhances CPS1 catalytic efficiency for ammonia and promotes ureagenesis
Life-threatening hyperammonemia occurs in both inherited and acquired liver diseases affecting ureagenesis, the main pathway for detoxification of neurotoxic ammonia in mammals. Protein O-GlcNAcylation is a reversible and nutrient-sensitive post-translational modification using as substrate UDP-GlcNAc, the end-product of hexosamine biosynthesis pathway. Here we show that increased liver UDP-GlcNAc during hyperammonemia increases protein O-GlcNAcylation and enhances ureagenesis. Mechanistically, O-GlcNAcylation on specific threonine residues increased the catalytic efficiency for ammonia of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1), the rate-limiting enzyme in ureagenesis. Pharmacological inhibition of O-GlcNAcase, the enzyme removing O-GlcNAc from proteins, resulted in clinically relevant reductions of systemic ammonia in both genetic (hypomorphic mouse model of propionic acidemia) and acquired (thioacetamide-induced acute liver failure) mouse models of liver diseases. In conclusion, by fine-tuned control of ammonia entry into ureagenesis, hepatic O-GlcNAcylation of CPS1 increases ammonia detoxification and is a novel target for therapy of hyperammonemia in both genetic and acquired diseases
MicroRNA-199b-5p Impairs Cancer Stem Cells through Negative Regulation of HES1 in Medulloblastoma
BACKGROUND: Through negative regulation of gene expression, microRNAs (miRNAs) can function in cancers as oncosuppressors, and they can show altered expression in various tumor types. Here we have investigated medulloblastoma tumors (MBs), which arise from an early impairment of developmental processes in the cerebellum, where Notch signaling is involved in many cell-fate-determining stages. MBs occur bimodally, with the peak incidence seen between 3-4 years and 8-9 years of age, although it can also occur in adults. Notch regulates a subset of the MB cells that have stem-cell-like properties and can promote tumor growth. On the basis of this evidence, we hypothesized that miRNAs targeting the Notch pathway can regulated these phenomena, and can be used in anti-cancer therapies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In a screening of MB cell lines, the miRNA miR-199b-5p was seen to be a regulator of the Notch pathway through its targeting of the transcription factor HES1. Down-regulation of HES1 expression by miR-199b-5p negatively regulates the proliferation rate and anchorage-independent growth of MB cells. MiR-199b-5p over-expression blocks expression of several cancer stem-cell genes, impairs the engrafting potential of MB cells in the cerebellum of athymic/nude mice, and of particular interest, decreases the MB stem-cell-like (CD133+) subpopulation of cells. In our analysis of 61 patients with MB, the expression of miR-199b-5p in the non-metastatic cases was significantly higher than in the metastatic cases (P = 0.001). Correlation with survival for these patients with high levels of miR-199b expression showed a positive trend to better overall survival than for the low-expressing patients. These data showing the down-regulation of miR-199b-5p in metastatic MBs suggest a potential silencing mechanism through epigenetic or genetic alterations. Upon induction of de-methylation using 5-aza-deoxycytidine, lower miR-199b-5p expression was seen in a panel of MB cell lines, supported an epigenetic mechanism of regulation. Furthermore, two cell lines (Med8a and UW228) showed significant up-regulation of miR-199b-5p upon treatment. Infection with MB cells in an induced xenograft model in the mouse cerebellum and the use of an adenovirus carrying miR-199b-5p indicate a clinical benefit through this negative influence of miR-199b-5p on tumor growth and on the subset of MB stem-cell-like cells, providing further proof of concept. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Despite advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of MB, one-third of these patients remain incurable and current treatments can significantly damage long-term survivors. Here we show that miR-199b-5p expression correlates with metastasis spread, identifying a new molecular marker for a poor-risk class in patients with MB. We further show that in a xenograft model, MB tumor burden can be reduced, indicating the use of miR199b-5p as an adjuvant therapy after surgery, in combination with radiation and chemotherapy, for the improvement of anti-cancer MB therapies and patient quality of life. To date, this is the first report that expression of a miRNA can deplete the tumor stem cells, indicating an interesting therapeutic approach for the targeting of these cells in brain tumors
Large expert-curated database for benchmarking document similarity detection in biomedical literature search
Document recommendation systems for locating relevant literature have mostly relied on methods developed a decade ago. This is largely due to the lack of a large offline gold-standard benchmark of relevant documents that cover a variety of research fields such that newly developed literature search techniques can be compared, improved and translated into practice. To overcome this bottleneck, we have established the RElevant LIterature SearcH consortium consisting of more than 1500 scientists from 84 countries, who have collectively annotated the relevance of over 180 000 PubMed-listed articles with regard to their respective seed (input) article/s. The majority of annotations were contributed by highly experienced, original authors of the seed articles. The collected data cover 76% of all unique PubMed Medical Subject Headings descriptors. No systematic biases were observed across different experience levels, research fields or time spent on annotations. More importantly, annotations of the same document pairs contributed by different scientists were highly concordant. We further show that the three representative baseline methods used to generate recommended articles for evaluation (Okapi Best Matching 25, Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency and PubMed Related Articles) had similar overall performances. Additionally, we found that these methods each tend to produce distinct collections of recommended articles, suggesting that a hybrid method may be required to completely capture all relevant articles. The established database server located at https://relishdb.ict.griffith.edu.au is freely available for the downloading of annotation data and the blind testing of new methods. We expect that this benchmark will be useful for stimulating the development of new powerful techniques for title and title/abstract-based search engines for relevant articles in biomedical research.Peer reviewe
Oxide/hydroxide films on tin. II: Characterization of the anodic growth in alkaline solutions
The anodic growth of oxide/hydroxide films formed on tin in borate solutions (pH 8.9) has been studied. At potentials more positive than -0.2 V (SHE), oxide film growth occurs by an activation-controlled ionic condition under the influence of a high electric field across the film according to an exponential law as on valve metals. Optical properties of the anodic oxide films have been obtained by "in situ" ellipsometry. Tin oxide/hydroxide films are practically transparent and highly hydrated. Electrical properties of tin oxide layers have been obtained by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Impedance spectra are explained in terms of a simple physical model assuming that oxide layer behaves as an inhomogeneous single-layer film.Fil: Brunetti, Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Lopez Teijelo, Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; Argentin
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