Technologies for Astronomical Wide-Field Adaptive Optics

Adaptive Optics (AO) can greatly enhance the resolution of astronomical images, achieving close to diffraction-limited performance in the near infrared; however there are a number of areas where significant improvements can be made, one of them being the very limited field of view that current AO systems can achieve. ‘Wide-field AO’ encompasses those techniques devised to widen the corrected field of view, from a few tens of arcseconds in ‘classical AO’ systems to several arcminutes in Multi-Object AO (MOAO). This thesis researches some topics within ‘wide-field AO’ for astronomy, concentrating its experimental work in some of the key technologies required to implement MOAO: open-loop models to run deformable mirrors (DM) in a MOAO system and a ‘Figure Sensor’ to measure the shape of a DM with required accuracy and at high-speed, in order to incorporate it into the AO control system

Vasoreactivity in CADASIL: comparison to structural MRI and neuropsychology

Impaired cerebrovascular reactivity precedes histological and clinical evidence of CADASIL in animal models. We aimed to more fully characterise peripheral and cerebral vascular function and reactivity in a cohort of adult CADASIL patients, and explore the associations of these with conventional clinical, imaging and neuropsychological measures. 22 adults with CADASIL gave informed consent to participate in an exploratorystudy of vascular function in CADASIL. Clinical assessment, comprehensive vascular assessment, MRI and neuropsychological testing were conducted. Transcranial Doppler and arterial spin labelling MRI with hypercapnia challenge both measured cerebral vasoreactivity. Number and volume of lacunes, subcortical hyperintensity volume, microbleeds and normalised brain volume were assessed on MRI scans. Analysis was exploratory and examined associations between different markers. The results showed that cerebrovascular reactivity measured by ASL correlated with peripheral vasoreactivity measured by flow mediated dilatation. Subjects with >5 lacunes were older, with evidence of atherosclerosis and had impaired cerebral and peripheral vasoreactivity. Subjects with depressive symptoms, disability or delayed processing speed, also had impaired vasoreactivity, as well as more lacunes and brain atrophy. Impaired vasoreactivity and vascular dysfunction may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of CADASIL and vascular tests may be important to include in both longitudinal and clinical trials

Proses Pelaksanaan Bongkar Muat Petikemas Di Pt. Pelindo Regional 1 Terminal Petikemas (TPK) Perawang

This study aims to determine the loading and unloading process at PT. Pelindo Regional 1, Perawang container terminal. The formulation of the problem that will be discussed in this final project is how the process of loading and unloading containers at PT. Pelindo regional 1 container terminal Perawang and what are the obstacles encountered in the process of loading and unloading containers at PT. Pelindo regional 1 container terminal Perawang. This research is descriptive with a qualitative approach. The method used to obtain the information needed from related parties is that the author prepares methods of observation, interviews, and documentation. The results of the study show that there are still many factors that hinder the loading and unloading process, especially at PT. Pelindo regional 1 Perawang container terminal still uses a manual system so there is still the potential for errors to occur

Effects of GSK3 inhibitors on in vitro expansion and differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells into adipocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multipotent stem cells exist within adipose tissue throughout life. An abnormal recruitment of these adipose precursor cells could participate to hyperplasia of adipose tissue observed in severe obesity or to hypoplasia of adipose tissue observed in lipodystrophy. Therefore, pharmacological molecules that control the pool of stem cells in adipose tissue are of great interest. Glycogen Synthase Kinase (GSK) 3 has been previously described as involved in differentiation of preadipose cells and might be a potential therapeutic target to modulate proliferation and differentiation of adipocyte precursors. However, the impact of GSK3 inhibition on human adipose-derived stem cells remained to be investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate GSK3 as a possible target for pharmacological inhibition of stem cell adipogenesis. To reach this goal, we studied the effects of pharmacological inhibitors of GSK3, i.e. lithium chloride (LiCl) and BIO on proliferation and adipocyte differentiation of multipotent stem cells derived from human adipose tissue.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results showed that GSK3 inhibitors inhibited proliferation and clonogenicity of human stem cells, strongly suggesting that GSK3 inhibitors could be potent regulators of the pool of adipocyte precursors in adipose tissue. The impact of GSK3 inhibition on differentiation of hMADS cells was also investigated. Adipogenic and osteogenic differentiations were inhibited upon hMADS treatment with BIO. Whereas a chronic treatment was required to inhibit osteogenesis, a treatment that was strictly restricted to the early step of differentiation was sufficient to inhibit adipogenesis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results demonstrated the feasibility of a pharmacological approach to regulate adipose-derived stem cell function and that GSK3 could represent a potential target for controlling adipocyte precursor pool under conditions where fat tissue formation is impaired.</p

Aplicación de las herramientas Lean Manufacturing para incrementar la productividad en la empresa CALZADOS RIP LAND S.A.C. – 2023

La siguiente investigación se desarrolló en las instalaciones de la empresa Rip Land S.A.C., entidad enfocada en el sector de calzado con 11 años de experiencia a nivel nacional, ubicada en el distrito de La Esperanza, provincia de Trujillo, Región La Libertad – Perú, durante el primer semestre del 2023; y tuvo como finalidad aumentar la productividad de la empresa, a través de la aplicación de las herramientas Lean Manufacturing: 5S y layout en el proceso productivo del calzado. El tipo de investigación fue aplicado, de enfoque cuantitativo y diseño pre – experimental, la población empleada la conformaron todos los procesos del área de producción de calzado en la empresa Rip Land S.A.C.; la muestra tomada fue igual a la población, la cual fue conformada por las siguientes áreas: Cortado, Pintado, Perfilado, Armado, Pegado y Alistado. En cuanto a las técnicas utilizadas se tuvieron la lluvia de ideas, observación de campo y análisis documental, como instrumentos diagrama de actividades del proceso (DAP), diagrama ishikawa, diagrama de pareto, value stream mapping (VSM), tabla de registros de datos, histograma de frecuencia, registro fotográfico. Al implementar 5s se logró pasar de un cumplimiento inicial de 45.33% a un 68% en la auditoria final. De igual manera, con la herramienta Layout se pudo reducir un 19.96% en el recorrido de los trabajadores del área de producción. La productividad de mano de obra inicial fue de 0.0607, y después de la implementación se obtuvo un 0.0659, mejorando en un 8.542%. La productividad total final fue de 1.39, mientras que la encontrada al inicio fue de 1.29. Es decir, por cada sol invertido se generan ganancias de 0.39 soles. Por último, se aceptó la hipótesis alterna y se rechaza la nula, es decir las herramientas Lean Manufacturing si aumentan la productividad en la empresa Calzados Rip Land S.A.C

Small RNA sequencing reveals miR-642a-3p as a novel adipocyte-specific microRNA and miR-30 as a key regulator of human adipogenesis

International audienceABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: In severe obesity, as well as in normal development, the growth of adipose tissue is the result of an increase in adipocyte size and numbers, which is underlain by the stimulation of adipogenic differentiation of precursor cells. A better knowledge of the pathways that regulate adipogenesis is therefore essential for an improved understanding of adipose tissue expansion. As microRNAs (miRNAs) have a critical role in many differentiation processes, our study aimed to identify the role of miRNA-mediated gene silencing in the regulation of adipogenic differentiation. RESULTS: We used deep sequencing to identify small RNAs that are differentially expressed during adipogenesis of adipose tissue-derived stem cells. This approach revealed the un-annotated miR-642a-3p as a highly adipocyte-specific miRNA. We then focused our study on the miR-30 family, which was also up-regulated during adipogenic differentiation and for which the role in adipogenesis had not yet been elucidated. Inhibition of the miR-30 family blocked adipogenesis, whilst over-expression of miR-30a and miR-30d stimulated this process. We additionally showed that both miR-30a and miR-30d target the transcription factor RUNX2, and stimulate adipogenesis via the modulation of this major regulator of osteogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our data suggest that the miR-30 family plays a central role in adipocyte development. Moreover, as adipose tissue-derived stem cells can differentiate into either adipocytes or osteoblasts, the down-regulation of the osteogenesis regulator RUNX2 represents a plausible mechanism by which miR-30 miRNAs may contribute to adipogenic differentiation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells

Characterization of human mesenchymal stem cell secretome at early steps of adipocyte and osteoblast differentiation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is well established that adipose tissue plays a key role in energy storage and release but is also a secretory organ and a source of stem cells. Among different lineages, stem cells are able to differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts. As secreted proteins could regulate the balance between both lineages, we aimed at characterizing the secretome of human multipotent adipose-derived stem cell (hMADS) at an early step of commitment to adipocytes and osteoblasts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A proteomic approach, using mono-dimensional electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry, allowed us to identify a total of 73 proteins at day 0 and day 3 of adipocyte and osteoblast differentiation. Analysis of identified proteins showed that 52 % corresponded to classical secreted proteins characterized by a signal peptide, that 37 % previously described in the extracellular compartment were devoid of signal peptide and that 11 % neither exhibited a signal peptide nor had been previously described extracellularly. These proteins were classified into 8 clusters according to their function. Quantitative analysis has been performed for 8 candidates: PAI-1, PEDF, BIGH3, PTX3, SPARC, ENO1, GRP78 and MMP2. Among them, PAI-1 was detected at day 0 and day 3 of osteoblast differentiation but never in adipocyte secretome. Furthermore we showed that PAI-1 mRNA was down-regulated in the bone of ovariectomized mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Given its regulation during the early events of hMADS cell differentiation and its status in ovariectomized mice, PAI-1 could play a role in the adipocyte/osteoblast balance and thus in bone diseases such as osteoporosis.</p