Electrospun nanofibers of poly(vinyl alcohol) and chitosan-based emulsions functionalized with cabreuva essential oil

Among the essential oils (EOs), the cabreuva essential oil extracted from the wood of Myrocarpus fastigiatus, is a promising compound for potential applications in the field of pharmaceuticals and food packaging. To overcome the low solubility of cabreuva EO and to protect it, a two-step process, emulsion formation compound by chitosan, SDS, and PVA, and subsequent ionic crosslinking with sodium citrate, was proposed. The formulation containing 0.75% of chitosan and 1% of SDS proved to be the most stable. An alternative to produce nanostructures and encapsulate the EO is the fiber formation through the electrospinning method. The system composed by a PVA solution assembled with crosslinked emulsions modified the viscosity, influencing the morphology of the obtained nanofibers. The advantage of the electrospun nanofibers was their ability to be an effective carrier of the cabreuva EO and the capacity of controlling the compound release that proved an effective activity against broad spectra of micro-organisms (Candida albicans, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis). The Gallagher-Corrigan model, used to fit the release profiles of matrices in contact with increasing ethanol proportion from 25:75 to 50:50 showed higher Kb in relation to k suggesting that the polymer swelling played an increasingly prominent role in the EO delivery. The developed nanostructures would be materials with potential applications in the biomedical field.Fil: Lamarra, Javier Andres. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Calienni, Maria Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB | Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB | Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular. Grupo Vinculado al IMBICE - Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes - GBEyB; ArgentinaFil: Rivero, Sandra G. M.. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Pinotti, Adriana Noemi. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentin

INCREMENTO DE LA MATRÍCULA ESTUDIANTIL. FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA SALUD Y SERVICIO SOCIAL. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE MAR DEL PLATA.

This publication comprises the productions of the Group of investigation: University, social representations and disciplines that are currently investigating the phenomenon of the increase in student registration regarding the organization aspect and the representations of the participants involved. It should be mentioned that the emphasis on this study is set on the description of the structural changes generated in the institution from the increase in the student registration. We should also say that in spite of being attached to the approach of the paradigm of the complexity, for reasons of length, this work will only show a part of the studied phenomenon. Objective: To investigate the changes in the institution in connection to the registration increase. Specific Objectives: To describe the curve of the registration increase. To compare the increase of registration with the rest of the Academic Units that comprises this University. To connect the increase of registration with the organizational answers: budgets, teaching staff, and building. Material and Method: Even if the work consisted of an investigation process, where different strategies were implemented to obtain data, in this case and for this aim, different registers, documents and teaching plans were used as analysis units, dealing with observational techniques and analysis of documents. Results: • From 1992 to present, an increase in student registration, both new students and new registrations in the general registration was observed. If the existing registration data from 1992 is used as a reference, the annual increase never dropped from 180 % from 1997 to present, noting the maximum peak in 2002, with an increase of 500 %. • Regarding the comparison between the increase in registration of this Academic Unit with the average increase of the rest of Academic Units that comprise the National University of Mar del Plata, it can be observed that since 1995 this school has exceeded the average regarding new registrations and since 1998 it has exceeded the general registration. • Between 1999 and 2007, no important increase took place in the teaching staff to accompany the increase of students. • The year 1992 was taken as a starting point, considering the registration and the existing classrooms as 100 % of the study, it resulted that these spaces did not go with the increase of registration. • The budget assigned for this Academic Unit has been from 2000 to present a percentage of 33 % lower than that assigned as an average to the rest of Academic Units in the National University of Mar del Plata. • Between 1999 and 2007, no important increase was produced in the teaching staff that accompanied the increase of students, but instead an internal restructuration of the existing positions. • The non-teaching staff, from 1999 to present, has been increased by 112 %. • Classroom Spaces: Between 1992, when there was a registration of 1,121 students and 2006, with a registration of 4,301 students, no increase has been produced in the classrooms.Esta publicación forma parte de las producciones del Grupo de investigación: Universidad, representaciones sociales y disciplinas, que se ocupa, en la actualidad, de indagar sobre el fenómeno del incremento en la matrícula estudiantil en cuanto a la respuesta organizacional y a las representaciones de los actores que la componen. Cabe aquí mencionar que el énfasis en esta exposición, está puesto en la descripción de los cambios estructurales generados en la institución a partir del incremento de la matrícula estudiantil. Se debe señalar, que a pesar de estar adscritos al enfoque del paradigma de la complejidad, por razones de extensión, se acota esta presentación a un recorte del fenómeno estudiado. Objetivo: Indagar sobre los cambios en la institución en relación con el incremento de la matrícula. Objetivos específicos: Describir la curva del incremento de la matrícula. Comparar el incremento de la matrícula con el resto de las Unidades Académicas que componen esta Universidad. Relacionar el incremento de la matrícula con las respuestas organizacionales –presupuesto, planta docente y espacio físico. Material y método: Si bien, el trabajo de campo consistió en un proceso de investigación en el que se implementaron diferentes estrategias para la obtención de los datos; en este caso para este objetivo, se utilizó como unidades de análisis diversos registros, documentos y planes docentes, abordándose desde las técnicas de observación y análisis documental. Resultados: • Se observa desde el año 1992 a la fecha, un incremento de la matrícula estudiantil, tanto de nuevos inscritos como de matrícula global. Si se toma como referencia la matrícula existente en 1992, el incremento anual nunca descendió del 180% desde el año 1997 a la fecha, observándose un pico máximo en el año 2002, con un incremento del 500%. • En cuanto a la comparación entre el incremento de la matrícula de esta Unidad Académica con el promedio del incremento del conjunto de las unidades académicas que componen a la Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, se observa que a partir del año 1995 esta facultad supera al promedio en cuanto a Nuevos Inscritos, y desde 1998 lo supera para el caso de matrícula global. • Entre los años 1999 y 2007 no se produce un incremento significativo en la planta docente que acompañe el aumento de la matrícula estudiantil. • Se toma como punto de partida el año 1992 considerando la matrícula y los espacios áulicos existentes como el 100%, del estudio se deriva que éstos espacios no acompañaron el crecimiento de la matricula. • El presupuesto asignado para esta Unidad Académica ha sido desde el año 2000 a la fecha de un 33% menor al asignado como promedio al resto de las Unidades Académicas de la UNMDP. • Entre 1999 y 2007 no se produce un incremento significativo de la planta docente que acompañe el aumento de la matrícula, más bien reacomodamientos internos de los cargos existentes. • La planta no docente, desde el año 1999 a la fecha se ha incrementado en un 112%. • Espacios áulicos: entre los años 1992, en el que se contaba con una matrícula de 1121 estudiantes y el año 2006, en el que se contaba con una matrícula de 4301 estudiantes, no ha habido un incremento de espacios propios destinados a aulas

Fast and real-time electrical transistor assay for quantifying SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies

Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic renewed attention has been directed towards viral neutralization assays and neutralizing antibodies quantification, for vaccine pre-clinical trials and determining vaccine efficacy over time. The gold standard to assess antibody titer is the plaque reduction neutralization test, an end-point assay which evaluates the highest serum antibody dilution that neutralizes viral replication, by inspecting the cytopathic effect induced on cell cultures. Here, we use planar, PEDOT:PSS-based organic electrochemical transistors for real-time, remote-controlled, reliable and fast electrical monitoring of the cytopathic effect induced by SARS29 CoV-2 on Vero E6 cell lines, allowing the quantification of serum neutralizing titer. Our low-cost and scalable device has the potential to speed-up large-scale viral neutralization screening without the need for cancerous staining or highly specialized operators. Finally, the technology could be easily transferred to assess neutralizing antibody response towards different viruses in their permissive cell substrates

VIBRATIONAL OPTICAL ACTIVITY OF CHLOROFLUOROACETIC ACID

Author Institution: US Army Ballistic Research Laboratory.; Department of Chemistry, City University of New York, Hunter CollegeRaman Optical Activity (ROA) in the $200 - 1200 cm^{-1}$ region, and infrared Vibrational Circular Dichroism (VCD) in the $1000 - 3000 cm^{-1}$ region, have been observed for neat chlorofluoroacetic acid and chlorofluoroacetate in aqueous solution. These species are probably the smallest systems studied to date by vibrational optical activity (VOA). Thus, the interpretation of the VOA spectra of these molecules provides new insight on the origin of VOA in terms of the atomic displacements. The VOA measurements have been accompanied by detailed vibrational measurements on chlorofluoroacetic acid, deuterochlorofluoroacetic acid, chlorofluoroacetate and deuterofluorochloro acetate Calculated VCD intensities, based on a Urey-Bradley force field, will be compared to the experimental values

Agonist-Regulated Internalization and desensitization of the Human Nociceptin Receptor Expressed in CHO Cells

In this study we examined agonist-induced internalization of the cloned human nociceptin receptor (hNOP) expressed in CHO-K1 cells. Internalization was proven by receptor binding assay on viable cells and confocal microscopy. The agonists nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NC), NC-NH2, NC(1-13)-NH2, [(pF)Phe4]NC-NH2 and RO 64-6198 promote a rapid, concentration-dependent internalization of the hNOP receptor. Under the same conditions, [Phe1,ψ(CH2NH)Gly2]NC(1-13)-NH2 and [Phe1, ψ(CH2NH)Gly2,Arg14,Lys15]NC(1-13)-NH2 failed to induce significant, concentration-dependent NOP receptor endocytosis; even when present at high concentrations (up to 1 mM) they promoted only an approximately 25-30% internalization of hNOP receptors. We also investigated hNOP receptor desensitization upon agonist challenge: ligand efficacy to inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP production. After 1 h exposure to NC, NC-NH2, NC(1-13)-NH2, [(pF)Phe4]NC-NH2 and RO 64-6198 (5 μM) ≈20 to 30% of receptor desensitization was observed. Moreover, we found that the blockade of hNOP receptor recycling by monensin would cause a more prolonged and relevant desensitization of this receptor. The non-internalizing agonists [Phe1,ψ(CH2NH)Gly2]NC(1-13)-NH2 and [Phe1, ψ(CH2NH)Gly2,Arg14,Lys15]NC(1-13)-NH2 (100 μM) resulted in a strong (67 and 74 %, respectively) receptor desensitization which was not influenced by monensin. Finally, CHO-hNOP cells exposed to the receptor-internalizing agonists for 24 h resulted in a significantly higher cAMP accumulation (defined supersensitization) compared with the non-internalizing agonists. In addition, blocking of receptor recycling by monensin led to a decrease of the cAMP accumulation only in cells exposed to internalizing agonists. These data show that prolonged receptor signaling mediated by receptor endocytosis and recycling/reactivation might reduce the development of tolerance but can enhance compensatory mechanisms that lead to supersensitivity of specific signaling pathways

Increase in student registration. school of health sciences and social work. national university of mar del plata

Esta publicación forma parte de las producciones del Grupo de investigación: Universidad, representaciones sociales y disciplinas, que se ocupa, en la actualidad, de indagar sobre el fenómeno del incremento en la matrícula estudiantil en cuanto a la respuesta organizacional y a las representaciones de los actores que la componen. Cabe aquí mencionar que el énfasis en esta exposición, está puesto en la descripción de los cambios estructurales generados en la institución a partir del incremento de la matrícula estudiantil. Se debe señalar, que a pesar de estar adscritos al enfoque del paradigma de la complejidad, por razones de extensión, se acota esta presentación a un recorte del fenómeno estudiado. Objetivo: Indagar sobre los cambios en la institución en relación con el incremento de la matrícula. Objetivos específicos: Describir la curva del incremento de la matrícula. Comparar el incremento de la matrícula con el resto de las Unidades Académicas que componen esta Universidad. Relacionar el incremento de la matrícula con las respuestas organizacionales –presupuesto, planta docente y espacio físico. Material y método: Si bien, el trabajo de campo consistió en un proceso de investigación en el que se implementaron diferentes estrategias para la obtención de los datos; en este caso para este objetivo, se utilizó como unidades de análisis diversos registros, documentos y planes docentes, abordándose desde las técnicas de observación y análisis documental. Resultados: · Se observa desde el año 1992 a la fecha, un incremento de la matrícula estudiantil, tanto de nuevos inscritos como de matrícula global. Si se toma como referencia la matrícula existente en 1992, el incremento anual nunca descendió del 180% desde el año 1997 a la fecha, observándose un pico máximo en el año 2002, con un incremento del 500%. · En cuanto a la comparación entre el incremento de la matrícula de esta Unidad Académica con el promedio del incremento del conjunto de las unidades académicas que componen a la Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, se observa que a partir del año 1995 esta facultad supera al promedio en cuanto a Nuevos Inscritos, y desde 1998 lo supera para el caso de matrícula global. · Entre los años 1999 y 2007 no se produce un incremento significativo en la planta docente que acompañe el aumento de la matrícula estudiantil. · Se toma como punto de partida el año 1992 considerando la matrícula y los espacios áulicos existentes como el 100%, del estudio se deriva que éstos espacios no acompañaron el crecimiento de la matricula. · El presupuesto asignado para esta Unidad Académica ha sido desde el año 2000 a la fecha de un 33% menor al asignado como promedio al resto de las Unidades Académicas de la UNMDP. · Entre 1999 y 2007 no se produce un incremento significativo de la planta docente que acompañe el aumento de la matrícula, más bien reacomodamientos internos de los cargos existentes. · La planta no docente, desde el año 1999 a la fecha se ha incrementado en un 112%. · Espacios áulicos: entre los años 1992, en el que se contaba con una matrícula de 1121 estudiantes y el año 2006, en el que se contaba con una matrícula de 4301 estudiantes, no ha habido un incremento de espacios propios destinados a aulas.ABSTRACT This publication comprises the productions of the Group of investigation: University, social representations and disciplines that are currently investigating the phenomenon of the increase in student registration regarding the organization aspect and the representations of the participants involved. It should be mentioned that the emphasis on this study is set on the description of the structural changes generated in the institution from the increase in the student registration. We should also say that in spite of being attached to the approach of the paradigm of the complexity, for reasons of length, this work will only show a part of the studied phenomenon. Objective: To investigate the changes in the institution in connection to the registration increase. Specific Objectives: To describe the curve of the registration increase. To compare the increase of registration with the rest of the Academic Units that comprises this University. To connect the increase of registration with the organizational answers: budgets, teaching staff, and building. Material and Method: Even if the work consisted of an investigation process, where different strategies were implemented to obtain data, in this case and for this aim, different registers,documents and teaching plans were used as analysis units, dealing with observational techniques and analysis of documents. Results: · From 1992 to present, an increase in student registration, both new students and new registrations in the general registration was observed. If the existing registration data from 1992 is used as a reference, the annual increase never dropped from 180 % from 1997 to present, noting the maximum peak in 2002, with an increase of 500 %. · Regarding the comparison between the increase in registration of this Academic Unit with the average increase of the rest of Academic Units that comprise the National University of Mar del Plata, it can be observed that since 1995 this school has exceeded the average regarding new registrations and since 1998 it has exceeded the general registration. · Between 1999 and 2007, no important increase took place in the teaching staff to accompany the increase of students. · The year 1992 was taken as a starting point, considering the registration and the existing classrooms as 100 % of the study, it resulted that these spaces did not go with the increase of registration. · The budget assigned for this Academic Unit has been from 2000 to present a percentage of 33 % lower than that assigned as an average to the rest of Academic Units in the National University of Mar del Plata. · Between 1999 and 2007, no important increase was produced in the teaching staff that accompanied the increase of students, but instead an internal restructuration of the existing positions. · The non-teaching staff, from 1999 to present, has been increased by 112 %. · Classroom Spaces: Between 1992, when there was a registration of 1,121 students and 2006, with a registration of 4,301 students, no increase has been produced in the classrooms

REST is up-regulated by epidermal growth factor in HeLa cells and inhibits apoptosis by influencing histone H3 acetylation

REST (repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor) is a transcription factor that recruits histone deacetylases to silence gene transcription. REST appears to play a paradoxical role in cancer cells: it exhibits tumor suppressor activity or promotes tumorigenesis, depending upon the setting. The extracellular signaling molecules that control REST gene expression in cancer cells remain poorly understood. In this study, we report that REST expression in HeLa cells is elevated in cells exposed to epidermal growth factor or serum, whereas the rate of cell apoptosis is low. Apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal is significantly increased in HeLa cells treated with an antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide (AS ODN) capable of down-regulating REST expression, whereas in HeLa cells transfected with a REST expressing plasmid, REST overexpression reduces the marked apoptosis caused, in absence of serum, by exposure to an anti-Fas receptor antibody imitating the Fas ligand activity plus PD 98059, a blocker of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation. REST knockdown also reduces mRNA levels of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-X(L) whereas in HeLa cells overexpressing REST, the reduction of Bcl-X(L) mRNA caused by the anti-Fas receptor antibody plus PD 98059 is significantly decreased. Finally, we report that acetylation of histone H3 is increased in HeLa cells exposed to AS ODN or anti-Fas receptor antibody, whereas it is reduced in cells transfected with the REST expressing plasmid. Our findings indicate that REST is a novel gene regulated by EGF in HeLa cells that potentially contributes to the modulation of apoptosis via epigenetic mechanisms

Synthesis and evaluation of the affinity toward mu-opioid receptor of atypical, lipophilic ligands based on the sequence c[Tyr-Pro-Trp-Phe-Gly-].

An ultimate and general model describing the interaction between opioid ligands and mu-opioid receptors is not available yet, so the mode of action of atypical peptide analogues or peptidomimetics is worthy of investigation. In this context, the peptide c[-Tyr-d-Pro-d-Trp-Phe-Gly-] was observed to act as an agonist toward mu-opioid receptors with appreciable potency, albeit deprived of a protonable nitrogen. This compound was synthesized as a member of a library of diastereo- or enantiomeric cyclic peptides based on the sequence of endomorphin-1, aiming to obtain lipophilic peptide ligands active at the mu-opioid receptors, having good performances in terms of resistance to enzymatic degradation and permeation of biological barriers

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) for smart monitoring of cell stress condition in leaky-barrier cell lines

Semiconducting polymers are very promising materials for biomedical application, thanks to the ability to conduct both ions and electrons, their biocompatibility and their flexible and soft mechanical properties. In particular, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has high conductivity, electrochemical and thermal stability in aqueous environment and low oxidation potential that renders it suitable as smart nano-interface with biological elements and environment. In our work, we present PEDOT:PSS-based Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs) for the electrical continuous monitoring of tissue culture viability, growth and stress response induce by drug treatment, providing an alternative and real-time way to standard optical evaluation techniques, which often require complex instrumentation and laboratory protocols. In OECTs, the electronic current flowing in the conducting polymer channel is modulated by the ionic current crossing the interface with an electrolyte solution (cell culture medium). The presence of a cell monolayer, directly grown on the semiconducting channels and gates of our devices, slow down the ions flowing in the conducting polymer, thus giving an electronic readout of the layer integrity and health. Moreover, the transistor configuration enhances the sensitivity due to amplification of the ionic current. Finally, changing the dimensions of the device and switching between its two configurations, renders it suitable for different kind of cells, allowing even the study of leaky-barrier or non-barrier cell lines. We demonstrated that our devices provide a simple, low-cost and dynamic method to monitor cell viability and reactions to toxic agents of CaCo-2 and NIH-3T3 cell lines, paving the way for high throughput and low-cost screening of drug discovery or toxicology