System of data recollection, analysis and transfer by NFC for transport systems

This paper shows the development and test of a prototype that collects and analyzes data of cycling trips, such as position, distance, speed, and travel time. This device was made to provide an extra security layer to the data transfer in embedded systems. The raw information that is produced by the project described in this paper is highly valued, so there is a need to record and transfer data in a secure way between electronic devices. The solution proposed in this project was based on the Near Field Communication (NFC) protocol to make the communication stage from an Electronic Control Unit to NFC tags, and then, the information stored in the tags can be read from smartphones that have an NFC module inside them. The data was generated from a Global Position System (GPS) module and antenna using the Haversine formula to calculate the distance between two geographical points, this considering the earth as a sphere to minimize the error produced taking the earth as a plane surface. A functional device that includes extra security of the data transfer in cycling trips, through NFC technology was successfully developed, however, future implementations can be extrapolated to other areas, such as the transportation sector

FoodLab: estandarización de proceso y desarrollo de nuevos productos

En este PAP se realizó un trabajo de mejora de procesos y desarrollo de productos dentro de FOODLAB, una empresa dedicada a la elaboración de productos de gomitas. Después de una primera evaluación y juntas con la persona encargada de la empresa, se determinó que se realizarían procedimientos de estandarización de procesos y de desarrollo de nuevos productos. Para el desarrollo de nuevos productos, se trabajó con las Yummy Fruits, realizando diferentes experimentaciones en donde se variaban los agentes gelantes y edulcorantes, así como sus concentraciones, hasta que se obtuvo un producto con características de textura y sabor agradables. Posteriormente se realizaron investigaciones y cotizaciones para ingredientes funcionales y empaques que podrían ser utilizados para el producto final. En cuanto a la estandarización del proceso de producción de Yummy Shots se llevó a cabo la toma de datos de 9 corridas de producción, variando condiciones de temperaturas, presión y °Brix, de las cuales se analizaron los distintos datos obtenidos en cada una de ellas y se concentró la información en una tabla donde se aprecian de mejor manera las distintas variaciones. Además, se actualizó la ficha técnica del producto, obteniendo resultados más completos de análisis fisicoquímicos, microbiológicos y bromatológicos de los Yummy Shots, de los cuales existen 2 tipos: sin chile y con chile.ITESO, A.C

Multi-technical approach for the characterization of polychrome decorative surfaces at Spanish Mission Churches in Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico)

An interdisciplinary and multi-institutional group of science and art conservation specialists has provided new insight into the painting materials used in the polychrome walls and wooden ceilings in four seventeenth century Spanish colonial churches of Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico). A multi-analytical study of the decorative surfaces was performed in situ using spectroscopic approaches (XRF, FORS), False Colour Infrared Reflectography–IRFC, as well as micro sampling (ATR-FTIR, LM, GC/MS). A survey of natural resources and study (ATR-FTIR, LM) was carried out to elucidate the natural occurrence of a select number of materials in the surrounding areas of the churches. The present paper presents a multi-analytical study and characterization of green, red-orange and black colour pigments and binders selected from the decorative surfaces. The aim of this study is to highlight relationships between local materials and those from the original polychrome ceilings, in order to understand the material and technological influences that converged in the Spanish colonial architecture of northern Mexico

A comparison of the mechanical behavior of AlSi7Mg alloy produced through additive manufacturing and subjected to different heat treatment and aging conditions

The versatility and adaptability of Aluminum F357 (AlSi7Mg) make it a popular material in the aerospace and defense industries. In this study, two different laser powder bed fusion systems, EOS M290, and SLM 280HL were used to create specimens of Aluminum F357. These specimens were subjected to five different heat treatments: As-built, stress relief (SR), hot isostatic pressing (HIP), T6, and HIP+T6) as per ASTM F3318-18 standard. The printed specimens were then reduced to tensile bars through machining and tested for mechanical properties as per ASTM E28 using an MTS Landmark tensile testing system. In addition to the mechanical behavior analysis, the study used a JEOL JSM-IT500 SEM to observe and document the fracture produced by the tensile test and a Qness 30 CHD Master+ microhardness testing system to obtain hardness (HV) values of the alloy. The results showed that specimens fabricated in the Z direction had a tendency for higher yield strengths of approximately 225 MPa and although these results were similar between LPBF systems some variances can still be seen. However, these differences between the LPBF systems were observed to be partially mitigated by heat treatments. In conclusion, this study highlights the significance of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of Aluminum F357. The results provide valuable information for the aerospace and defense industries to optimize their processes and produce high-quality components. The compatibility of LPBF system fabrication and the mitigation of differences observed between LPBF machines by heat treatments, further demonstrate the potential of this method for producing high-quality Aluminum F357 components.Mechanical Engineerin

Osteogenic potential of murine periosteum for critical-size cranial defects.

Tissue engineering of bone has combined bespoke scaffolds and osteoinductive factors to maintain functional osteoprogenitor cells, and the periosteum has been confirmed as a satisfactory source of osteoblasts. Suitable matrices have been identified that support cell proliferation and differentiation, including demineralised bone matrix (both compatible and osteoinductive) and acellular human dermis. We have evaluated the osteogenic potential of an osteogenic unit, developed by combining periosteum, demineralised bone matrix, and acellular human dermis, in rodents with critical-size cranial defects. Briefly, remnants from the superior maxillary periosteum were used to harvest cells, which were characterised by flow cytometry and reverse retrotranscriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cells were cultured into the osteogenic unit and assessed for viability before being implanted into 3 rodents, These were compared with the control group (n=3) after three months. Histological analyses were made after staining with haematoxylin and eosin and Von Kossa, and immunostaining, and confirmed viable cells that stained for CD90, CD73, CD166, runt-related transcription factor, osteopontin, and collagen type I in the experimental group, while in the control group there was only connective tissue on the edges of the bone in the injury zone. We conclude that osteogenic unit constructs have the osteogenic and regenerative potential for use in engineering bone tissue

Time course study of oxidative and nitrosative stress and antioxidant enzymes in K(2)Cr(2)O(7)-induced nephrotoxicity

BACKGROUND: Potassium dichromate (K(2)Cr(2)O(7))-induced nephrotoxicity is associated with oxidative and nitrosative stress. In this study we investigated the relation between the time course of the oxidative and nitrosative stress with kidney damage and alterations in the following antioxidant enzymes: Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD), Mn-SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and catalase (CAT). METHODS: Nephrotoxicity was induced in rats by a single injection of K(2)Cr(2)O(7). Groups of animals were sacrificed on days 1,2,3,4,6,8,10, and 12. Nephrotoxicity was evaluated by histological studies and by measuring creatinine clearance, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and total protein. Oxidative and nitrosative stress were measured by immunohistochemical localization of protein carbonyls and 3-nitrotyrosine, respectively. Cu, Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and CAT were studied by immunohistochemical localization. The activity of total SOD, CAT, GPx, and GR was also measured as well as serum and kidney content of chromium and urinary excretion of NO(2 )(-)/NO(3)(-). Data were compared by two-way analysis of variance followed by a post hoc test. RESULTS: Serum and kidney chromium content increased reaching the highest value on day 1. Nephrotoxicity was made evident by the decrease in creatinine clearance (days 1–4) and by the increase in serum creatinine (days 1–4), BUN (days 1–6), urinary excretion of NAG (days 1–4), and total protein (day 1–6) and by the structural damage to the proximal tubules (days 1–6). Oxidative and nitrosative stress were clearly evident on days 1–8. Urinary excretion of NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(- )decreased on days 2–6. Mn-SOD and Cu, Zn-SOD, estimated by immunohistochemistry, and total SOD activity remained unchanged. Activity of GPx decreased on days 3–12 and those of GR and CAT on days 2–10. Similar findings were observed by immunohistochemistry of CAT. CONCLUSION: These data show the association between oxidative and nitrosative stress with functional and structural renal damage induced by K(2)Cr(2)O(7). Renal antioxidant enzymes were regulated differentially and were not closely associated with oxidative or nitrosative stress or with kidney damage. In addition, the decrease in the urinary excretion of NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(- )was associated with the renal nitrosative stress suggesting that nitric oxide was derived to the formation of reactive nitrogen species involved in protein nitration

Plasmodium falciparum heterochromatin protein 1 binds to tri-methylated histone 3 lysine 9 and is linked to mutually exclusive expression of var genes

Increasing experimental evidence shows a prominent role of histone modifications in the coordinated control of gene expression in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The search for the histone-mark-reading machinery that translates histone modifications into biological processes, such as formation of heterochromatin and antigenic variation is of foremost importance. In this work, we identified the first member of a histone modification specific recognition protein, an orthologue of heterochromatin protein 1 (PfHP1). Analysis of the PfHP1 amino-acid sequence revealed the presence of the two characteristic HP1 domains: a chromodomain (CD) and a chromo shadow domain (CSD). Recombinant CD binds to di- and tri-methylated lysine 9 from histone H3, but not to unmodified or methylated histone H3 in lysine 4. PfHP1 is able to interact with itself to form dimers, underlying its potential role in aggregating nucleosomes to form heterochromatin. Antibodies raised against PfHP1 detect this molecule in foci at the perinuclear region. ChIP analysis using anti-PfHP1 shows that this protein is linked to heterochromatin of subtelomeric non-coding repeat regions and monoallelic expression of the major virulence var gene family. This is the first report implicating an HP1 protein in the control of antigenic variation of a protozoan parasite

Significant differences in the use of healthcare resources of native-born and foreign born in Spain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the last decade, the number of foreign residents in Spain has doubled and it has become one of the countries in the European Union with the highest number of immigrants There is no doubt that the health of the immigrant population has become a relevant subject from the point of view of public healthcare. Our study aimed at describing the potential inequalities in the use of healthcare resources and in the lifestyles of the resident immigrant population of Spain.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-sectional, epidemiological study from the Spanish National Health Survey (NHS) in 2006, from the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs. We have worked with individualized secondary data, collected in the Spanish National Health Survey carried out in 2006 and 2007 (SNHS-06), from the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs. The format of the SNHS-06 has been adapted to the requirements of the European project for the carrying out of health surveys.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The economic immigrant population resident in Spain, present diseases that are similar to those of the indigenous population. The immigrant population shows significantly lower values in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and physical activity (OR = 0.76; CI 95%: 0.65–0.89, they nonetheless perceive their health condition as worse than that reported by the autochthonous population (OR = 1.63, CI 95%: 1.34–1.97). The probability of the immigrant population using emergency services in the last 12 months was significantly greater than that of the autochthonous population (OR = 1.31, CI 95%: 1.12–1.54). This situation repeats itself when analyzing hospitalization data, with values of probability of being hospitalized greater among immigrants (OR = 1.39, CI 95%: 1.07–1.81).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The economic immigrants have better parameters in relation to lifestyles, but they have a poor perception of their health. Despite the fact that immigrant population shows higher percentages of emergency attendance and hospitalization than the indigenous population, with respect to the use of healthcare resources, their usage of healthcare resources such as drugs, influenza vaccinations or visits to the dentist is lower.</p

S-allylmercaptocysteine scavenges hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen in vitro and attenuates gentamicin-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress and renal damage in vivo

BACKGROUND: Oxidative and nitrosative stress have been involved in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of S-allylmercaptocysteine, a garlic derived compound, on gentamicin-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress and nephrotoxicity. In addition, the in vitro reactive oxygen species scavenging properties of S-allylmercaptocysteine were studied. RESULTS: S-allylmercaptocysteine was able to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen in vitro. In rats treated with gentamicin (70 mg/Kg body weight, subcutaneously, every 12 h, for 4 days), renal oxidative stress was made evident by the increase in protein carbonyl content and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, and the nitrosative stress was made evident by the increase in 3-nitrotyrosine. In addition, gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity was evident by the: (1) decrease in creatinine clearance and in activity of circulating glutathione peroxidase, and (2) increase in urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, and (3) necrosis of proximal tubular cells. Gentamicin-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress and nephrotoxicity were attenuated by S-allylmercaptocysteine treatment (100 mg/Kg body weight, intragastrically, 24 h before the first dose of gentamicin and 50 mg/Kg body weight, intragastrically, every 12 h, for 4 days along gentamicin-treatment). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, S-allylmercaptocysteine is able to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen in vitro and to ameliorate the gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative and nitrosative stress in vivo