Development and characterization of immuno-nanocarriers targeting the cancer stem cell marker AC133

In the context of targeted therapy, we addressed the possibility of developing a drug delivery nanocarrier capable to specifically reach cancer cells that express the most prominent marker associated with cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype, AC133. For this purpose, 100 nm lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) were functionalized with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against AC133 according to two distinct methods: firstly, post-insertion within 100 nm LNCs of a lipid poly(ethylene glycol) functionalized with reactive-sulfhydryl maleimide groups (DSPE-PEG2000-maleimide) followed by thiolated mAb coupling, and, secondly, creation of a thiolated lipo-immunoglobulin between DSPE-PEG2000-maleimide and AC133, then post-inserted within LNCs. Due to the reduced number of purification steps, lower amounts of DSPE-PEG2000-maleimide that were necessary as well as lower number of free maleimide functions present onto the surface of immuno-LNC, the second method was found to be more appropriate. Thus, 126 nm AC133-LNC with a zeta potential of −22 mV while keeping a narrow distribution were developed. Use of the IgG1κ isotype control-immunoglobulins produced similar control IgG1-LNCs. Micro-Bradford colorimetric assay indicated a fixation of about 40 immunoglobulins per LNC. Use of human Caco-2 cells that constitutively express AC133 (Caco-2-AC133high) allowed addressing the behavior of the newly functionalized immuno-LNCs. siRNA knockown strategy permitted to obtain Caco-2-AC133low for comparison. Immunofluorescence-combined flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the epitope-recognition function of AC133 antibody was preserved when present on immuno-LNCs. Although grafting of immunoglobulins onto the surface of LNCs repressed their internalization within Caco-2 cells as evaluated by flow cytometry, AC133-specific cellular binding was obtained with AC133-LNC as assessed by computer-assisted fluorescence microscopy. In conclusion, interest of AC133-LNCs as niche carriers is discussed toward the development of CSC targeted chemo- or radio-nanomedicines

Linkage analysis for drought tolerance in kharif rice of Assam using microsatellite markers

371-375Drought stress in rainfed ecosystem significantly limits the production of Ranjit, the most predominant high yielding rice variety of Assam. A mapping population comprising 85 F4 individuals between Ranjit and a drought tolerant cultivar, ARC10372 was developed and genotyped with 80 microsatellite markers in order to understand the genetic basis of drought tolerance. The linkage map constructed based on a framework linkage map using these markers showed that the marker loci were distributed across 12 chromosomes spanning a distance of 273.4 cM with an average interval of 3.41 cM between marker loci. Most of the marker loci were found to be in good fit with the expected Mendelian segregation ratio; however, thirteen marker loci in total showed segregation distortion on six chromosomes. The linkage map generated in the study will facilitate mapping of quantitative trait loci imparting drought tolerance in rice of Assam and their map-based cloning

Portafolios cointegrados en el mercado Colombiano

Markowitz explains in his article (Markowitz 1999) that portfolio analysis dates back to before the 19th century in countries like England. This was long before he published one of the most important papers on modern portfolio theory (Markowitz 1952), which gave him the title "Father of Portfolio Theory." In Colombia, there is currently only one financial product for the purpose of following the COLCAP index, it is the ICOLCAP. This product was launched in 2011 and to date handles around 6 billion Colombian pesos. Given how interesting it is to build portfolios that follow an index and the limited supply in Colombia, this thesis aims to build portfolios capable of replicating the COLCAP index by buying only liquid shares. The portfolios that we will build must have characteristics that allow the generation of strategies that maintain the relationship with the index in the long term.Markowitz explica en su artículo (Markowitz 1999) que el análisis de portafolios data desde antes del siglo XIX en países como Inglaterra. Esto fue mucho antes de que él publicara uno de los artículos más importantes de la teoría de portafolios moderna (Markowitz 1952), el cual le dio el título de “Padre de la teoría de portafolios” En Colombia actualmente solo existe un producto financiero con la finalidad de seguir el índice COLCAP, es el ICOLCAP. Este producto fue lanzado en el año 2011 y a la fecha maneja alrededor de 6 billones de pesos colombianos. Dado lo interesante de construir portafolios que sigan un índice y la poca oferta presente en Colombia, esta tesis tiene como objetivo construir portafolios capaces de replicar el índice COLCAP comprando solo acciones líquidas. Los portafolios que construiremos deberán tener características que permitan generar estrategias que mantengan la relación con el índice a largo plazo.Línea de Investigación: Estrategias de inversiónMaestrí

Fеnоtipskа divеrgеntnоst јеdnоgоdišnjih vrstа rоdа Helianthus

Seven annual wild species of sunflower were assessed for 31 phenotype. The species were represented with 84 populations. The hierarchical cluster analysis was used to process the obtained data. Divergence among species and among populations of the same specie was interpreted with the use of obtained dendrograms. Three homogenous groups of populations were found through the combined dendrogram analysis. Populations of the species H. argophyllus and H. annuus were found in the left part and the majority of H. petiolaris populations were found in the right part of the dendrogram. Populations of H. debilis and H. praecox each formed two clusters that can be explained by the presence of different subspecies. They were positioned in the center and the right part of the dendrogram. Species H. neglectus and H. niveus were found to be very heterogeneous so that their taxonomic status could not be determined.Kоd sеdаm јеdnоgоdišnjih divljih vrstа suncоkrеtа оcеnjеnа је 31 оsоbinа. Оcеnа је rаđеnа nа ukupnо 84 pоpulаciје. Pоdаci su оbrаđеni hiјеrаrhiјskоm klаstеr аnаlizоm. Divеrgеntnоst izmеđu vrstа i izmеđu pоpulаciја istе vrstе аnаlizirаnа је nа оsnоvu dоbiјеnih dеndrоgrаmа. Аnаlizоm zbirnоg dеndrоgrаmа uоčеnе su tri hоmоgеnе grupе pоpulаciја. U lеvоm dеlu dеndrоgrаmа sе nаlаzе pоpulаciје vrstа H. argophyllus i H. annuus, dоk sе vеćinа pоpulаciја vrstе H. petiolaris nаlаzi u dеsnоm dеlu zbirnоg dеndrоgrаmа. Pоpulаciје vrstа H. debilis i H. praecox su fоrmirаlе pо dvе grupе u srеdišnjеm i dеsnоm dеlu dеndrоgrаmа štо sе mоžе tumаčiti pripаdnоšću tih pоpulаciја rаzličitim pоdvrstаmа. Vrstе H. neglectus i H. niveus su sе pоkаzаlе vrlо hеtеrоgеnim tаkо dа nа оsnоvu dоbiјеnih rеzultаtа niје mоglа biti оdrеđеnа njihоvа tаksоnоmskа pripаdnоst

Application of the Moment Of Inertia method to the Critical-Plane Approach

The Moment-Of-Inertia (MOI) method has been proposed by the authors to solve some of the shortcomings of convex-enclosure methods, when they are used to calculate path-equivalent ranges and mean components of complex non-proportional (NP) multiaxial load histories. In the proposed 2D version for use with critical-plane models, the MOI method considers the non-proportionality of the projected shear-shear history on each candidate plane through the shape of the load path, providing good results even for challenging non-convex paths. The MOI-calculated path-equivalent shear stress (or strain) ranges from each counted load event can then be used in any shear-based critical-plane multiaxial fatigue damage model, such as Findley’s or Fatemi-Socie’s. An efficient computer code with the shear-shear version of the MOI algorithm is also provided in this work. KEYWORDS. Multiaxial fatigue; Non-proportional loadings; Equivalent ranges; Critical-Plane Approach

Sistemas de atado estructural del siglo XVI en el palacio de don Fernando de la Cerda y Silva en Toledo, a la luz de la tratadística

Estudio y análisis de los sistemas de atado en las estructuras de madera del palacio de Don Fernando de la Cerda en Toled