Comparative approach to barnacle adhesive-surface interactions

PhD ThesisBarnacles are considered to be one of the major marine fouling organisms. Their settlement behaviour has been investigated using mainly Balanus amphitrite as a model organism. To better understand the mechanisms involved during the colonisation of surfaces by cypris larvae we have investigated another species, B. improvisus, which is reported to have different surface preferences compared to B. amphitrite. This study aims to unravel the effects of surface physicochemical cues, in particular surface free energy (SFE), surface charge and elastic modulus on the settlement of cyprids of both species. The use of well-defined surfaces under controlled conditions further facilitates comparison of the results with B. amphitrite. Furthermore, since this phase of presettlement behaviour is characterised by temporary adhesive (footprint) deposition, considered to be fundamental to surface exploration and surface discrimination by cyprids, some of the chemistries used for the settlement assays were used to investigate temporary adhesive-surface interactions. Cyprids were exposed to a series of model surfaces, namely self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiols with varying end-groups, homogenously applied to gold-coated polystyrene Petri dishes. The settlement response was significantly higher on negatively charged SAMs and lower on positively charged surfaces, while intermediate settlement occurred on neutral SAMs. Furthermore, no effects were observed when data were plotted against surface free energy after 48 hr of exposure. Temporary adhesive on SAMs was investigated using imaging ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. Relatively thick footprints with low wetting were found on positively charged surfaces. Settlement of both species was also low on these surfaces. Footprints were thinner and spread more on hydrophobic surfaces. The adhesion force of temporary adhesive measured with functionalised AFM tips was higher on hydrophobic and negatively charged surfaces for both species. Furthermore, PDMS-based surfaces were prepared varying the elastic modulus, keeping constant other parameters, settlement behaviour and strength of adhesion of juveniles and adults were tested. We conclude that cyprid settlement behaviour of both species is influenced more by surface charge than SFE under controlled conditions. The temporary adhesives (footprints) of the two species had a stronger affinity for hydrophobic surfaces. Contrary ii to previous reports, therefore, the settlement preferences and adhesive secretion of these two species are similar. Elastic modulus influences settlement, juveniles and adults removal of both species, although B. improvisus is more sensitive if compared with B. amphitrite. This finding will be important for understanding the mechanism of surface selection by cyprids and for the development of future antifouling technologies.Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007–201

Acquired ptosis associated with oculomotor and contralateral facial nerve synkinesis: the first reported case

Evidence of oculomotor nerve (ON) synkinesis is a common occurrence following both acquired and congenital III nerve palsy. It is generally accepted that aberrant regeneration is the likely aetiology of synkinesis in acquired III nerve palsy, following intracranial aneurysm, trauma, compressive neoplasms, cavernous sinus thrombosis and basilar meningitis

Aplicación de tecnologías geoespaciales para el análisis de la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional en la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina

Maestría conjunta con el Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich"-CONAE.Tesis (Magister en Aplicaciones Espaciales de Alerta y Respuesta Temprana a Emergencias)--Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía, Física y Computación, 2020.La situación epidemiológica nutricional actual refleja la carencia de SAN en la población: aumento de la prevalencia de malnutrición por exceso (sobrepeso, obesidad y enfermedades asociadas), coexistiendo con la malnutrición por déficit (desnutrición calórico-proteica, carencia de micronutrientes: desnutrición oculta). El entorno donde habitan las personas juega un rol importante en la distribución y frecuencia de las enfermedades. En este trabajo se exploró la capacidad de las tecnologías geoespaciales para el estudio de la Seguridad Alimentaria Nutricional en la ciudad de Córdoba, durante el año 2013.The current nutritional epidemiological situation reflects the lack of FNS in the population: increased prevalence of malnutrition due to excess (overweight, obesity and associated diseases), coexisting with malnutrition due to deficit (caloric-protein malnutrition, micronutrient deficiency: hidden malnutrition). The environment where people live plays an important role in the distribution and frequency of diseases. This work explored the capacity of geospatial technologies for the study of Food and Nutritional Security in the city of Córdoba, during 2013.Fil: Alvarez Di Fino, Eliana Marina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía, Física y Computación; Argentina.Fil: Alvarez Di Fino, Eliana Marina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales Mario Gulich; Argentina.Fil: Alvarez Di Fino, Eliana Marina. Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales Mario Gulich; Argentina

Design and validation of a survey for the study of food and nutritional security to climate change vulnerability

Human Security is a concept instituted by the United Nations and refers to the possibility that each person can satisfy basic needs of different kinds: Health, food, environment, education, economy, politics, institutional access, etc. Both WHO and FAO emphasize these concepts related to food and nutritional security (FNS), and relate it to the vulnerability derived from emergency and disaster situations. These are increasingly frequent and complex in a context of climate change, since they affect food systems, directly and indirectly impacting the pillars of FNS: availability, economic access, biological use and sustainability. In this context, the concepts of risk, hazards and vulnerability arise, the latter being determined by exposure, susceptibility and resilience. Managing the concept of vulnerability allows us to approach FNS as an essentially dynamic process. Thus, the objective of the work is to develop and validate an instrument for qualitative-quantitative estimation of the vulnerability of the FNS linked to the threats derived from climate changethrough its implementation in a pilot test. The variables under study are the FNS, the vulnerability of the FNS, associated with climatic events, and climate hazards. The study is observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional.The instrument was designed based on the Guide for Measuring Food Security prepared by the Red Cross; the WFP Manual for the Evaluation of Food Security in Emergencies and the USDA Food Security Measurement Instrument. The instrument was applied in Cruz del Eje City over 59 citizens and four validation test criteria implemented.Fil: Scavuzzo, Carlos Matías. Universidad Blas Pascal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Escuela de Nutrición; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez Di Fino, Eliana Marina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Escuela de Nutrición; ArgentinaFil: Ferral, Alberto. Universidad Blas Pascal; ArgentinaFil: Defagó, María Daniela. Universidad Blas Pascal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentin

Transthoracic echocardiography provides important long-term prognostic information in selected patients undergoing endovascular abdominal aortic repair

BACKGROUND: The value of performing transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) as part of the clinical assessment of patients awaiting endovascular repair of the abdominal aorta is little evaluated. We aimed to estimate the prognostic importance of information derived from TTE on long-term all-cause mortality in a selected group of patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 273 consecutive patients selected for endovascular aneurysm repair. All patients included in the analysis underwent TTE before their procedure. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of TTE measures on all-cause mortality. Over a mean follow-up of 3.2±1.5 years, there were 78 deaths with a mean time to death of 1.28±1.16 years. A greater tubular ascending aorta (hazard ratio [HR] 5.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.77-11.33), presence of mitral regurgitation (HR 8.13, 95% CI 4.09-12.16), lower left ventricular ejection fraction (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.98), younger age (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99), and presence of diabetes mellitus (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.24-1.89) were predictors of all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography provides important long-term prognostic information in patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair. These TTE indices were more important at predicting outcome than standard conventional risk factors in this patient group. A greater tubular ascending aorta, presence of mitral regurgitation, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, younger age, and diabetes mellitus were independently associated with long-term mortality

Nitro-oleic acid triggers ROS production via NADPH oxidase activation in plants: A pharmacological approach

Nitrated fatty acids (NO2-FAs) are important signaling molecules in mammals. NO2-FAs are formed by the addition reaction of nitric oxide- and nitrite-derived nitrogen dioxide with unsaturated fatty acid double bonds. The study of NO2-FAs in plant systems constitutes an interesting and emerging area. The presence of NO2-FA has been reported in olives, peas, rice and Arabidopsis. To gain a better understanding of the role of NO2-FA on plant physiology, we analyzed the effects of exogenous application of nitro-oleic acid (NO2-OA). In tomato cell suspensions we found that NO2-OA induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in a dose-dependent manner via activation of NADPH oxidases, a mechanism that requires calcium entry from the extracellular compartment and protein kinase activation. In tomato and Arabidopsis leaves, NO2-OA treatments induced two waves of ROS production, resembling plant defense responses. Arabidopsis NADPH oxidase mutants showed that NADPH isoform D (RBOHD) was required for NO2-OA-induced ROS production. In addition, on Arabidopsis isolated epidermis, NO2-OA induced stomatal closure via RBOHD and F. Altogether, these results indicate that NO2-OA triggers NADPH oxidase activation revealing a new signaling role in plants.Fil: Arruebarrena Di Palma, Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Di Fino, Luciano Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Salvatore, Sonia Rosana. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: D'Ambrosio, Juan Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Garcia-Mata, Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Schopfer, Francisco Jose. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Laxalt, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentin