Multicolour interphase cytogenetics: 24 chromosome probes, 6 colours, 4 layers

From the late 1980s onwards, the use of DNA probes to visualise sequences on individual chromosomes (fluorescent in-situ hybridisation - FISH) revolutionised the study of cytogenetics. Following single colour experiments, more fluorochromes were added, culminating in a 24 colour assay that could distinguish all human chromosomes. Interphase cytogenetics (the detection of chromosome copy number in interphase nuclei) soon followed, however 24 colour experiments are hampered for this application as mixing fluorochromes to produce secondary colours produces images that are not easily distinguishable from overlapping signals. This study reports the development and use of a novel protocol, new fast hybridising FISH probes, and a bespoke image capture system for the assessment of chromosome copy number in interphase nuclei. The multicolour probe sets can be used individually or in sequential hybridisation layers to assess ploidy of all 24 human chromosomes in the same nucleus. Applications of this technique are in the investigation of chromosome copy number and the assessment of nuclear organisation for a range of different cell types including human sperm, cancer cells and preimplantation embryos

At the Biological Modeling and Simulation Frontier

We provide a rationale for and describe examples of synthetic modeling and simulation (M&S) of biological systems. We explain how synthetic methods are distinct from familiar inductive methods. Synthetic M&S is a means to better understand the mechanisms that generate normal and disease-related phenomena observed in research, and how compounds of interest interact with them to alter phenomena. An objective is to build better, working hypotheses of plausible mechanisms. A synthetic model is an extant hypothesis: execution produces an observable mechanism and phenomena. Mobile objects representing compounds carry information enabling components to distinguish between them and react accordingly when different compounds are studied simultaneously. We argue that the familiar inductive approaches contribute to the general inefficiencies being experienced by pharmaceutical R&D, and that use of synthetic approaches accelerates and improves R&D decision-making and thus the drug development process. A reason is that synthetic models encourage and facilitate abductive scientific reasoning, a primary means of knowledge creation and creative cognition. When synthetic models are executed, we observe different aspects of knowledge in action from different perspectives. These models can be tuned to reflect differences in experimental conditions and individuals, making translational research more concrete while moving us closer to personalized medicine

E-bike with photovoltaic panels for battery charging

Abstract The experience in many cities shows that bicycles are one of the best vehicles of transportation in cities. They are ecological, require a small space, are not noisy, and contribute to the mental and physical health of the residents. The aim of the paper is to combine the idea of bicycle transport in cities, the potential of e-bikes, and innovative photovoltaic panels as a source of energy. In the created prototype, electric bicycle charging was tested using lightweight and flexible photovoltaic panels located on the bicycle frame. According to calculations and test results, this solution is sufficient for the normal operation of an e-bike under urban conditions. The results show that the e-bike with photovoltaic panels is a vehicle of transportation that uses only a renewable resource and is sufficient to move the normally required distances.</jats:p

Actividades proto-operativas de meteorología del espacio en Argentina

La meteorología del espacio estudia principalmente las condiciones Sol-Tierra que pueden influenciar diferentes aspectos de la tecnología moderna, como por ejemplo, el rendimiento y confiabilidad de las comunicaciones aéreas basadas en tecnologías espaciales y terrestres, sistemas de posicionamiento global, redes de energía eléctrica, tecnologías satelitales, y salud humana en el espacio. El Sol es la fuente exógena de eventos de meteorología del espacio cuyos efectos sobre la alta atmósfera terrestre pueden sumarse a fuentes endógenas como por ejemplo las ondas de gravedad atmosféricas. Desde el año 2016, el Laboratorio Argentino de Meteorología del esPacio (LAMP) realiza un monitoreo diario de la información en tiempo real (instrumentos en el espacio y superficie) de las condiciones de meteorología del espacio. Mas aún, desde enero 2020, LAMP es centro regional de alerta del servicio internacional del ambiente espacial (ISES, por sus siglas en inglés). En este trabajo presentamos los últimos productos operativos desarrollados por LAMP y que son ofrecidos públicamente en spaceweather.at.fcen.uba.ar.Space weather mainly refers to the Sun-Earth conditions that can influence the performance and reliability of space and ground-based technologies aviation communications, global positioning systems, electric power grid, satellite technologies, and human health in space. The Sun is the exogenous source of space weather events whose effects on the upper atmosphere can be added to endogenous events such as atmospheric gravity waves. Since 2016, the Argentine space weather laboratory (in Spanish Laboratorio Argentino de Meteorología del esPacio, LAMP) carries out daily monitoring of real-time information (space and ground-based instruments) on space weather conditions. Furthermore, since January 2020 LAMP is the argentine regional warning center of the International Space Environment Service (ISES). In this work we present the latest operative space weather products developed by LAMP that are offered publicly at spaceweather.at.fcen.uba.ar.Asociación Argentina de Astronomí