Evaluation of fatigue properties of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) for biomedical applications

El principal objetivo de este proyecto es evaluar cuál será el comportamiento a fatiga a largo plazo de diferentes materiales (TPEs), que se usarán en un futuro como implantes de corazón y estarán expuestos a distintas condiciones del medio: los fluidos del cuerpo como la sangre, la temperatura corporal, el pH, el movimiento del corazón, ... Para ello se precisa conocer y por tanto medir, los parámetros que afectarán a la vida de dichos materiales, como la fuerza o las tensiones a las que se expondrán, entre otros. Del mismo modo se requerirá realizar análisis estáticos y dinámicos (SLT y SILT), sabiendo manejar los softwares apropiados para la futura interpretación de los resultados

Friction behaviour of hydrophilic lubricious coatings for medical device applications

The friction behaviour of new chitosan derivative coatings obtained by chemical modification of chitosan with fatty acids (linoleic and dilinoleic acid) has been investigated in order to explore their potential as endovascular catheter coatings and to benchmark them against commercially available coatings used in endovascular catheter applications. An in vitro tribological system was developed that was intended to represent to a limited extent the in vivo tribological conditions of a typical endovascular catheterization procedure. Continuous reciprocating sliding tests were carried out with uncoated and coated polymer specimens. The results showed that all of the coatings tested decreased the coefficient of friction compared to the uncoated polymer. Compared to a neat chitosan coating, the chitosan derivative coatings showed a clear reduction in the coefficient of friction to levels similar to those of the commercially-available coatings. A comparison between the friction results and contact angle measurements carried out on the coatings indicated that a range of contact angle values exists for which the friction coefficient is at a minimum. The reason for this is unclear and further studies are required in order to confirm and investigate the trend, especially within the context of hydrophilic lubricious coating development

Konsolidacja uniwersytetów i środowiska akademickiego wobec nowego sposobu różnicowania uczelni

Definition of Polish universities significantly differs from the world standards what is the result of different classification of scientific fields and disciplines. In order to approach higher position in world ranks, consolidation activities are recommended. The outcome of such activities should result in creation of “complete” universities offering interdisciplinary approach towards development of talents, research fields and academic ethos. Selected consolidation activities from Belgium, Denmark and Poland are discussed. Mobility of your researchers (postdocs) was also emphasized.Definicja uniwersytetów obowiązująca w Polsce znacząco odbiega od standardów światowych co wynika z zupełnie innego podziału dziedzin i dyscyplin naukowych. Szansą na zbliżenie się polskich uniwersytetów do światowych czołówek jest wdrożenie działań konsolidacyjnych w celu stworzenia kompletnych uniwersytetów, skupiających różnorodne dziedziny i oferujących interdyscyplinarne podejście do rozwoju talentów, kierunków badawczych i etosu akademickiego. Przedstawiono przykłady działań konsolidacyjnych na uczelniach w Belgii, Danii i w Polsce. Zwrócono również uwagę na znaczenie mobilności młodej kadry naukowej w ramach staży podoktorskich

Progress on Chemistry and Application of Chitin and Its

Abstrac

The <i>Rosetta</i> Mission and the Chemistry of Organic Species in Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko

Comets are regarded as probably the most primitive of solar system objects, preserving a record of the materials from which the solar system aggregated. Key amongst their components are organic compounds – molecules that may trace their heritage to the interstellar medium from which the protosolar nebula eventually emerged. The most recent cometary space mission, Rosetta, carried instruments designed to characterize, in unprecedented detail, the organic species in comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (67P). Rosetta was the first mission to match orbits with a comet and follow its evolution over time, and also the first mission to land scientific instruments on a comet surface. Results from the mission revealed a greater variety of molecules than previously identified and indicated that 67P contained both primitive and processed organic entities

Identification of factors required for m6A mRNA methylation in Arabidopsis reveals a role for the conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase HAKAI

Peer reviewe

A large scale hearing loss screen reveals an extensive unexplored genetic landscape for auditory dysfunction

The developmental and physiological complexity of the auditory system is likely reflected in the underlying set of genes involved in auditory function. In humans, over 150 non-syndromic loci have been identified, and there are more than 400 human genetic syndromes with a hearing loss component. Over 100 non-syndromic hearing loss genes have been identified in mouse and human, but we remain ignorant of the full extent of the genetic landscape involved in auditory dysfunction. As part of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium, we undertook a hearing loss screen in a cohort of 3006 mouse knockout strains. In total, we identify 67 candidate hearing loss genes. We detect known hearing loss genes, but the vast majority, 52, of the candidate genes were novel. Our analysis reveals a large and unexplored genetic landscape involved with auditory function

Metabolic Engineering of Potato Carotenoid Content through Tuber-Specific Overexpression of a Bacterial Mini-Pathway

BACKGROUND: Since the creation of “Golden Rice”, biofortification of plant-derived foods is a promising strategy for the alleviation of nutritional deficiencies. Potato is the most important staple food for mankind after the cereals rice, wheat and maize, and is extremely poor in provitamin A carotenoids. METHODOLOGY: We transformed potato with a mini-pathway of bacterial origin, driving the synthesis of beta-carotene (Provitamin A) from geranylgeranyl diphosphate. Three genes, encoding phytoene synthase (CrtB), phytoene desaturase (CrtI) and lycopene beta-cyclase (CrtY) from Erwinia, under tuber-specific or constitutive promoter control, were used. 86 independent transgenic lines, containing six different promoter/gene combinations, were produced and analyzed. Extensive regulatory effects on the expression of endogenous genes for carotenoid biosynthesis are observed in transgenic lines. Constitutive expression of the CrtY and/or CrtI genes interferes with the establishment of transgenosis and with the accumulation of leaf carotenoids. Expression of all three genes, under tuber-specific promoter control, results in tubers with a deep yellow (“golden”) phenotype without any adverse leaf phenotypes. In these tubers, carotenoids increase approx. 20-fold, to 114 mcg/g dry weight and beta-carotene 3600-fold, to 47 mcg/g dry weight. CONCLUSIONS: This is the highest carotenoid and beta-carotene content reported for biofortified potato as well as for any of the four major staple foods (the next best event being “Golden Rice 2”, with 31 mcg/g dry weight beta-carotene). Assuming a beta-carotene to retinol conversion of 6∶1, this is sufficient to provide 50% of the Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin A with 250 gms (fresh weight) of “golden” potatoes