The Journey to Antwerp: An Architectural Experience on Adaptive Reuse

I was fortunate to travel with the eight faculty members from the Philippine Women’s University (PWU) School of Fine Arts and Design and the School of Music. The grant provided by the Flemish government was one that I could not resist because the opportunity to experience life in Belgium is something that I always look forward to. In exchange, the journey should be significant in expressing my personal life in my artistic practice. As a designer, I have to immerse myself in a culture where individuals can express themselves through the visual outcomes they create. This travel narrative is similar to what Dr. Guillerma Mendoza shares about the industrial design discipline in her travels to South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Since this is my first trip to Belgium, the experience that I am referring to is our tour around the school, Sint Lucas Antwerpen. The students are free to express themselves in an immersive environment where the space allocation of their workspace is not confined to a specific area. The students are not dictated as to how big their work area is, but the movable panels make them decide to define their spaces

Effect of Chitosan Microparticles on the Uterine Microbiome of Dairy Cows with Metritis

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of chitosan microparticles on the uterine microbiome of cows with metritis. Dairy cows with metritis (n = 89) were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: chitosan microparticles (n = 21), in which the cows received an intrauterine infusion of chitosan microparticles at metritis diagnosis (day 0), day 2, and day 4; ceftiofur (n = 25), in which the cows received a subcutaneous injection of ceftiofur on day 0 and day 3; and no intrauterine or subcutaneous treatment (n = 23). Nonmetritic cows (n=20) were healthy cows matched with cows with metritis by the number of days postpartum at metritis diagnosis. Uterine swab samples collected on days 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 were used for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and 16S RNA gene copy number quantification by quantitative PCR. Principal-coordinate analysis showed that the microbiome of the ceftiofur-treated and metritic untreated groups progressed toward that of the nonmetritic group by day 3, whereas that of the chitosan microparticletreated group remained unchanged. The differences on day 3 were mainly due to a greater relative abundance of Fusobacteria, particularly Fusobacterium, in the chitosan microparticle-treated group than in the ceftiofur-treated and metritic untreated groups. Furthermore, the microbiome of the ceftiofur-treated group became similar to that of the nonmetritic group by day 9, whereas the microbiome of the chitosan microparticle-treated and metritic untreated groups became similar to that of the nonmetritic group only by day 12. The total bacterial 16S rRNA gene counts in the chitosan microparticle-treated group were greater than those in the metritic untreated controls on days 6 and 9, whereas the ceftiofur treatment group was the only group in which the total bacterial 16S rRNA gene count became similar to that in the nonmetritic group by day 12. In summary, chitosan microparticles slowed the progression of the uterine microbiome toward a healthy state, whereas ceftiofur hastened the progression toward a healthy state.Fil: Galvão, Klibs N.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: de Oliveira, Eduardo B.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Cunha, Federico. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Daetz, Rodolfo. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Jones, Kristi. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Ma, Zhengxin. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Jeong, Kwangcheol C.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Bicalho, Rodrigo C.. Cornell University; Estados UnidosFil: Higgins, Catherine H.. Cornell University; Estados UnidosFil: Rodrigues, Marjory X.. Cornell University; Estados UnidosFil: Gonzalez Moreno, Candelaria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Jeon, Soojin. Long Island University; Estados Unido

Role of rare earth sites and vacancies in the anomalous compression of modulated scheelite tungstates

X-ray powder diffraction experiments at high pressures combining conventional sources and synchrotron radiation, together with theoretical simulations have allowed us to study the anomalous compression of the entire α-RE2(WO4)3 (RE = La-Ho) family with modulated scheelite structure (α phase). The investigated class of materials is of great interest due to their peculiar structural behavior with temperature and pressure, which is highly sought after for specialized high-tech applications. Experimental data were analyzed using full-profile refinements and were complemented with computational methods based on density functional theory (DFT) total energy calculations for a subset of the samples investigated. An unusual change in the compression curves of the lattice parameters a, c, and β was observed in both the experiments and theoretical simulations. In particular, in all the studied compounds the lattice parameter a decreased with pressure to a minimum value and then increased upon further compression. Pressure evolution of the experimental x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and cell parameters is correlated with the ionic radius of the rare earth element: (1) the lighter La-Nd tungstates underwent two phase transitions, and both transition pressures decreased as the rare earth's ionic radius increased. The XRD patterns of the first high pressure phase could be indexed with propagation vectors parallel to the a axis (tripling the unit cell). At higher pressures, the lattice parameters for the second phase (referred to as the preamorphous phase) showed little variation with pressure. (2) The heavier tungstates, from Sm to Dy, undergo a transition to the preamorphous phase without any intermediate phase. The reversibility of both phase transitions was investigated. DFT calculations support this unusual response of the crystal structures under pressure and shed light on the structural mechanism of negative linear compressibility (NLC) and the resulting softening. The pressure dependence of the structural modifications is related to tilting, along with small elongation and alignment, of the WO2−4 tetrahedrons. These changes correlate with those in the alternating RE…RE…RE chains and blocks of cationic vacancies arranged along the a axis. Possible stacking defects, which emerge between them, helped to explain this anomalous compression and the pressure induced amorphization. Such mechanisms were compared with other ferroelastic families of molybdates, niobates, vanadates, and other compounds with similar structural motifs classified as having “hinge frames.

Morphological and molecular studies on the Brazilian native red seaweed Laurencia oliveirana (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales)

Morphological and molecular studies were carried out on Laurencia oliveirana from the type locality (Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). This species is easily recognized by its small size, sub-erect habit forming intricate cushion-like tufts and unilateral pectinate branching. The species displays all the typical characters of the genus Laurencia, such as the production of the first pericentral cell underneath the basal cell of the trichoblast, tetrasporangia produced from particular pericentral cells, with the third and fourth pericentral cells becoming fertile, without production of additional pericentral cells, spermatangial branches produced from one of two laterals on the suprabasal cell of trichoblasts, and procarp-bearing segment with five pericentral cells. Details of tetrasporangial plants and development of procarp and male plants are described for the first time for the species. The phylogenetic position of L. oliveirana was inferred by analysis of the chloroplast-encoded rbcL gene sequences from 57 taxa. In all phylogenetic analyses, L. oliveirana grouped with L. caraibica, L. caduciramulosa, L. venusta and L. natalensis, forming a monophyletic clade within the Laurencia sensu stricto. The genetic divergence between L. oliveirana and the molecularly closest species, L. caraiba collected in Brazil, was 2.3%

DNA Methylation-Independent Reversion of Gemcitabine Resistance by Hydralazine in Cervical Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND: Down regulation of genes coding for nucleoside transporters and drug metabolism responsible for uptake and metabolic activation of the nucleoside gemcitabine is related with acquired tumor resistance against this agent. Hydralazine has been shown to reverse doxorubicin resistance in a model of breast cancer. Here we wanted to investigate whether epigenetic mechanisms are responsible for acquiring resistance to gemcitabine and if hydralazine could restore gemcitabine sensitivity in cervical cancer cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The cervical cancer cell line CaLo cell line was cultured in the presence of increasing concentrations of gemcitabine. Down-regulation of hENT1 & dCK genes was observed in the resistant cells (CaLoGR) which was not associated with promoter methylation. Treatment with hydralazine reversed gemcitabine resistance and led to hENT1 and dCK gene reactivation in a DNA promoter methylation-independent manner. No changes in HDAC total activity nor in H3 and H4 acetylation at these promoters were observed. ChIP analysis showed H3K9m2 at hENT1 and dCK gene promoters which correlated with hyper-expression of G9A histone methyltransferase at RNA and protein level in the resistant cells. Hydralazine inhibited G9A methyltransferase activity in vitro and depletion of the G9A gene by iRNA restored gemcitabine sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results demonstrate that acquired gemcitabine resistance is associated with DNA promoter methylation-independent hENT1 and dCK gene down-regulation and hyper-expression of G9A methyltransferase. Hydralazine reverts gemcitabine resistance in cervical cancer cells via inhibition of G9A histone methyltransferase

HER2 expression in cervical cancer as a potential therapeutic target

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against the HER2 receptor is currently being used in breast and other tumor types. Early studies have shown that a variable proportion of cervical carcinoma tumors overexpress the HER2 receptor as evaluated by diverse techniques and antibodies. Currently it is known that a tumor response to trastuzumab strongly correlates with the level of HER2 expression evaluated by the Hercep Test, thus, it seems desirable to evaluate the status of expression of this receptor using the FDA-approved Hercep Test and grading system to gain insight in the feasibility of using trastuzumab in cervical cancer patients. METHODS: We analyzed a series of cervical cancer cell lines, the primary tumors of 35 cases of cervical cancer patients and four recurrent cases, with the Hercep Test in order to establish whether this tumor type overexpress HER2 at level of 2+/3+ as trastuzumab is currently approved for breast cancer having such level of expression. RESULTS: The results indicate that only 1 out of 35 primary tumors cases overexpress the receptor at this level, however, two out of four recurrent tumors that tested negative at diagnosis shifted to Hercep Test 2+ and 3+ respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The low frequency of expression in primary cases suggests that trastuzumab could have a limited value for the primary management of cervical cancer patients, however, the finding of "conversion" to Hercep Test 2+ and 3+ of recurrent tumors indicates the need to further evaluate the expression of HER2 in the metastatic and recurrent cases

Heteroatom Doped High Porosity Carbon Nanomaterials as Electrodes for Energy Storage in Electrochemical Capacitors: A Review

At present it is indispensable to develop and implement new/state-of-the-art carbon nanomaterials as electrodes in electrochemical capacitors, since conventional activated carbon based supercapacitor cells cannot fulfil the growing demand of high energy and power densities of electronic devices of the present era, as a result of the rapid developments in this field. Functionalized carbon nanomaterials symbolize the type of materials with huge potential for their use in energy related applications in general and as an electrode active material for electrochemical capacitors in particular. Nitrogen doping of carbons has shown promising results in the field of energy storage in electrochemical capacitors, gaining attention of researchers to evaluate the performance of new heteroatoms functionalised materials such as sulphur, phosphorus and boron lately. Literature is widely available on nitrogen doped materials research for energy storage applications; however, there has been a limited number of review works on other functional materials beyond nitrogen. This review article thus aims to provide important insights and an up-to-date analysis of the most recent developments, the directions of future research, and the techniques used for the synthesis of these functional materials. A critical review of the electrochemical performance including specific capacitance and energy/power densities is made, when these single doped or co-doped active materials are used as electrodes in electrochemical capacitors

Graphene-Based Nanocomposites for Energy Storage

Since the first report of using micromechanical cleavage method to produce graphene sheets in 2004, graphene/graphene-based nanocomposites have attracted wide attention both for fundamental aspects as well as applications in advanced energy storage and conversion systems. In comparison to other materials, graphene-based nanostructured materials have unique 2D structure, high electronic mobility, exceptional electronic and thermal conductivities, excellent optical transmittance, good mechanical strength, and ultrahigh surface area. Therefore, they are considered as attractive materials for hydrogen (H2) storage and high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors, rechargeable lithium (Li)-ion batteries, Li–sulfur batteries, Li–air batteries, sodium (Na)-ion batteries, Na–air batteries, zinc (Zn)–air batteries, and vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB), etc., as they can improve the efficiency, capacity, gravimetric energy/power densities, and cycle life of these energy storage devices. In this article, recent progress reported on the synthesis and fabrication of graphene nanocomposite materials for applications in these aforementioned various energy storage systems is reviewed. Importantly, the prospects and future challenges in both scalable manufacturing and more energy storage-related applications are discussed