To the theory of mechano-magnetic effects in ferrogels

The paper deals with theoretical study of effect of ferrogels uniaxial elongation on magnetic susceptibilities of these composite materials. We have considered the systems with magnetically soft ellipsoidal and spherical particles. The results show that elongation of the composites with the ellipsoidal particles enhances the susceptibility in the direction of the elongation, whereas the deformation of ferrogels with the spherical particles decreases the susceptibility when the particles concentration is small enough and increases it when the concentration exceeds some threshold magnitude.This work has been supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (projects 18-08-00178, 19-52-12028); by the Program of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, projects 02.A03.21.0006; 3.1438.2017/4.6; 3.5214.2017/6.7. MTLL is grateful to proyect FIS2017-85954-R (Agencia Estatal de Investigación, AEI, Spain, co-funded by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, ERDF, European Union)

Best simultaneous approximation to totally bounded sequences in Banach spaces

This paper is concerned with the problem of best weighted simultaneous approximations to totally bounded sequences in Banach spaces. Characterization results from convex sets in Banach spaces are established under the assumption that the Banach space is uniformly smooth.National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProgram for New Century Excellent Talent in UniversityDirección General de Investigación Científica y TécnicaJunta de Andalucí

Mechanoelectrical transduction in the hydrogel-based biomimetic sensors

The study addresses the phenomenon of mechanoelectrical transduction in polyelectrolyte hydrogelsand, in particular, the search of the driving force for the change of the electrical potential of a gel underthe applied mechanical stretch. Polyelectrolyte gels of calcium and magnesium salts of polymethacrylicacid were synthesized by the radical polymerization in water solution. Their electrical potential mea-sured by microcapillary electrodes was negative and fall within 100–140 mV range depending on thenature of a counterion and the networking density of a gel. The rectangular samples (∼10 mm in lengthand 2 × 2 mm in cross-section) of gel-based sensors underwent the dynamic axial deformation, and thesimultaneous monitoring of their geometrical dimensions and the electrical potential was performed.Sensor elongation resulted in the overall increase of gel volume, and it was always accompanied by thegel potential change toward the depolarization (diminishing of the negative values). Theoretical modelbased on the assumption of the total electrical charge conservation in the course of the dynamic defor-mation of a filament was proposed to describe the dependence of the electrical potential of a gel on itsvolume. Good agreement between the predictions of the model and the experimental trend was shown.The proposed mechanism of mechanoelectrical transduction based on the stretch-dependant volumechanges in polyelectrolyte hydrogels might be useful to understand the nature of mechanical sensing inmuch more complex biological gels like the cell cytoskeleton.This work has been done under the financial support of theRussian Scientific Fund, project 14-19-00989. One of us (M.T.Lopez-Lopez) has been supported by the Grant FIS2013-41821-R(MINECO, Spain)

Comercio de Marfil: el alto precio de un negocio que amenaza las especies

Treball presentat a l'assignatura de Deontologia i Veterinària Legal (21223

Controlled release from zein matrices: Interplay of drug hydrophobicity and pH

Purpose: In earlier studies, the corn protein zein is found to be suitable as a sustained release agent, yet the range of drugs for which zein has been studied remains small. Here, zein is used as a sole excipient for drugs differing in hydrophobicity and isoelectric point: indomethacin, paracetamol and ranitidine. Methods: Caplets were prepared by hot-melt extrusion (HME) and injection moulding (IM). Each of the three model drugs were tested on two drug loadings in various dissolution media. The physical state of the drug, microstructure and hydration behaviour were investigated to build up understanding for the release behaviour from zein based matrix for drug delivery. Results: Drug crystallinity of the caplets increases with drug hydrophobicity. For ranitidine and indomethacin, swelling rates, swelling capacity and release rates were pH dependent as a consequence of the presence of charged groups on the drug molecules. Both hydration rates and release rates could be approached by existing models. Conclusion: Both the drug state as pH dependant electrostatic interactions are hypothesised to influence release kinetics. Both factors can potentially be used factors influencing release kinetics release, thereby broadening the horizon for zein as a tuneable release agent

La atención perinatal en pandemia por covid-19; visibilizando la violencia obstétrica en Argentina

En el contexto de emergencia de salud pública internacional y crisis sociosanitaria que planteó la pandemia por COVID-19, organismos internacionales y nacionales comunicaron pautas de prevención y atención perinatal para mujeres, personas gestantes y sus recién nacidos. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) sostuvo que mujeres embarazadas y recién nacidos, aún cuando se sospeche o se haya confirmado COVID-19, tienen derecho a recibir atención perinatal de alta calidad, incluida la atención en salud mental. Es decir que la misma debería mantenerse, siendo esencial que los protocolos se basen en evidencia científica y respeten los derechos humanos de mujeres, personas gestantes y recién nacidos. A partir de considerar la situación descripta, desde el Seminario Introducción a la Psicología Perinatal de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba se propuso como objetivo indagar las disposiciones normativas vigentes y las recomendaciones de organismos internacionales y nacionales oficiales de salud referidas a la atención perinatal, como las estadísticas y relatos sobre violencia obstétrica presentes en artículos periodísticos en el contexto actual de pandemia por COVID-19 en Argentina. Para ello, se llevó adelante un estudio de tipo exploratorio. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica y el análisis de los datos fue de tipo cualitativo. El estudio se enfocó desde una perspectiva de derechos humanos y género, considerando que la violencia obstétrica es un fenómeno generalizado y sistemático en las prácticas del sistema médico vinculado a la violación de estos derechos. Las conclusiones de este estudio evidencian cómo las prácticas implementadas en la pandemia por COVID-19 atentan contra la atención perinatal integral de mujeres, personas gestantes y sus recién nacidos; intensificándose por parte de instituciones públicas y privadas la vulneración de las disposiciones normativas y recomendaciones de atención vigentes. Así, la violencia obstétrica se incrementa poniendo en riesgo la salud mental perinatal.publishedVersionFil: Dangelo, Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Seminario Introducción a la Psicología Perinatal. CCPC. Comisión Cuestiones de Familia; Argentina.Fil: Fa, Consuelo Verónica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Seminario Introducción a la Psicología Perinatal; Argentina.Fil: Hueller, María Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Seminario Introducción a la Psicología Perinatal; Argentina.Fil: López, Agustina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Seminario Introducción a la Psicología Perinatal; Argentina.Fil: Otto, María Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Seminario Introducción a la Psicología Perinatal; Argentina

Microrreservas marinas artificiales en la línea de costa. Hacia un nuevo modelo de gestión de la biodiversidad en áreas litorales

Recientemente se ha propuesto a la comunidad científica la nueva figura de protección MRMA (Microrreserva Marina Artificial; AMMR en inglés) la cual también ha sido formalmente solicitada a la UNESCO para que esta institución considere reconocerla y consecuentemente, validarla. Se expone la contribución de las MRMAs a la preservación de especies protegidas, particularmente a las consideradas en peligro de extinción que propendan, de forma natural, a establecerse en escolleras y diques de abrigo de instalaciones costeras. Se mencionan las especies protegidas localizadas en las MRMAs, así como sus figuras de protección y disposiciones oficiales que les conciernen. Se exponen criterios generales de designación de MRMAs, posibles vías de solución ante problemas previsibles que puedan surgir (entendimiento entre administraciones, calidad de aguas, medidas de contingencia ante vertidos accidentales, etc.) y se deja entrever las potencialidades de las MRMAs como activo ecológico, medioambiental, urbanístico y educativo, así como el futuro papel que desempeñarán las MRMAs en la gestión del medio litoral y en el campo de la biología de la conservación. Finalmente, se establece una revisión de la legislación actual que más pudiera concernirles, destacándose los aspectos más importantes que en ellas pudieran influir. Al respecto, se destaca que ley 41/2010 de Protección del Medio Marino (Artº 26) establece que podrán formar parte de la red de Áreas Marinas Protegidas “ las áreas protegidas por instrumentos internacionales, sin perjuicio de que su declaración y gestión se ajustará a lo dispuesto en su correspondiente normativa internacional ” por lo que, si la nueva figura de protección “Microrreserva Marina Artificial” consiguiera marchamo UNESCO, aquélla podría incorporarse a la legislación española sin ninguna dificultad especial

Simplifying the detection of MUTYH mutations by high resolution melting analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>MUTYH</it>-associated polyposis (MAP) is a disorder caused by bi-allelic germline <it>MUTYH </it>mutation, characterized by multiple colorectal adenomas. In order to identify mutations in <it>MUTYH </it>gene we applied High Resolution Melting (HRM) genotyping. HRM analysis is extensively employed as a scanning method for the detection of heterozygous mutations. Therefore, we applied HRM to show effectiveness in detecting homozygous mutations for these clinically important and frequent patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, we analyzed phenotype and genotype data from 82 patients, with multiple (>= 10) synchronous (19/82) or metachronous (63/82) adenomas and negative <it>APC </it>study (except one case). Analysis was performed by HRM-PCR and direct sequencing, in order to identify mutations in <it>MUTYH </it>exons 7, 12 and 13, where the most prevalent mutations are located. In monoallelic mutation carriers, we evaluated entire <it>MUTYH </it>gene in search of another possible alteration. HRM-PCR was performed with strict conditions in several rounds: the first one to discriminate the heteroduplex patterns and homoduplex patterns and the next ones, in order to refine and confirm parameters. The genotypes obtained were correlated to phenotypic features (number of adenomas (synchronous or metachronous), colorectal cancer (CRC) and family history).</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>MUTYH </it>germline mutations were found in 15.8% (13/82) of patients. The hot spots, Y179C (exon 7) and G396D (exon 13), were readily identified and other mutations were also detected. Each mutation had a reproducible melting profile by HRM, both heterozygous mutations and homozygous mutations. In our study of 82 patients, biallelic mutation is associated with being a carrier of ≥10 synchronous polyps (p = 0.05) and there is no association between biallelic mutation and CRC (p = 0.39) nor family history (p = 0.63). G338H non-pathogenic polymorphism (exon 12) was found in 23.1% (19/82) of patients. In all cases there was concordance between HRM (first and subsequent rounds) and sequencing data.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Here, we describe a screening method, HRM, for the detection of both heterozygous and homozygous mutations in the gene encoding <it>MUTYH </it>in selected samples of patients with phenotype of MAP. We refine the capabilities of HRM-PCR and apply it to a gene not yet analyzed by this tool. As clinical decisions will increasingly rely on molecular medicine, the power of identifying germline mutations must be continuously evaluated and improved.</p

Impact of an endurance training program on exercise-induced cardiac biomarker release

We evaluated the influence of a 14-wk endurance running program on the exercise-induced release of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and NH2-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Fifty-eight untrained participants were randomized to supervised endurance exercise (14 wk, 3–4 days/wk, 120–240 min/wk, 65–85% of maximum heart rate) or a control group. At baseline and after the training program, hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP were assessed before and 5 min, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h after a 60-min maximal running test. Before training, hs-cTnT was significantly elevated in both groups with acute exercise (P < 0.0001) with no between-group differences. There was considerable heterogeneity in peak hs-cTnT concentration with the upper reference limit exceeded in 71% of the exercise tests. After training, both baseline and postexercise hs-cTnT were significantly higher compared with pretraining and the response of the control group (P = 0.008). Acute exercise led to a small but significant increase in NT-proBNP, but this was not mediated by training (P = 0.121). In summary, a controlled endurance training intervention resulted in higher pre- and postexercise values of hs-cTnT with no changes in NT-proBNP