Isotope effects on the lattice parameter of cubic SiC

Path-integral molecular dynamics simulations in the isothermal-isobaric (NPT) ensemble have been carried out to study the dependence of the lattice parameter of 3C-SiC upon isotope mass. This computational method allows a quantitative and nonperturbative study of such anharmonic effect. Atomic nuclei were treated as quantum particles interacting via a tight-binding-type potential. At 300 K, the difference Delta a between lattice parameters of 3C-SiC crystals with 12C and 13C amounts to 2.1 x 10^{-4} A. The effect due to Si isotopes is smaller, and amounts to 3.5 x 10^{-5} A when replacing 28Si by 29Si. Results of the PIMD simulations are interpreted in terms of a quasiharmonic approximation for the lattice vibrations.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Elementos estratégicos para afianzar y mejorar la competitividad del Valle del Cauca

El estudio de competitividad del departamento del Valle del Cauca aborda el análisis simultáneo de los factores competitivos que integran el desarrollo económico regional; desempeño de los sectores productivos, la inserción internacional del sector industrial, la infraestructura, el capital humano y social, el avance tecnológico, el medioambiente, y los recursos institucionales. El examen de los factores competitivos y su contraste con lo acontecido en otros departamentos hace posible establecer la calidad del entorno competitivo del departamento, toda vez que se descubre la esencia de aquellos factores que hacen la diferencia en la capacidad competitiva departamental, y que actúan para fortalecer o retardar su proyección económica. El texto aborda la evolución de la economía departamental en sus últimos quince años, muestra aspectos de la crisis desde mediados de los noventa, las expresiones de recuperación y las fortalezas del tejido productivo. A continuación aborda los factores críticos para el mayor desarrollo competitivo del departamento. Se destacan las finanzas públicas, el desarrollo humano, la infraestructura, ciencia y tecnología, y el medio ambiente. Se resaltan algunos aspectos críticos de opinión empresarial. La formulación y posterior desarrollo del ejercicio confirman la relación entre las posibilidades que ofrece el entorno y su organización y las oportunidades de crecimiento económico; las potencialidades de crecimiento competitivo están en consonancia con la forma como evolucionan los factores que rodean el estado competitivo del departamento. Las recomendaciones formulan tres ejes fundamentales para la acción pública: las finanzas y la inversión pública, el desarrollo productivo y el compromiso ciudadano. La responsabilidad del desarrollo de éstas y otras iniciativas tienen que plantearse como ejercicio compartido, colegiado, interactivo y complementario.

Caloric restriction reveals a metabolomic and lipidomic signature in liver of male mice

Lipid composition, particularly membrane unsaturation, has been proposed as being a lifespan determinant, but it is currently unknown whether caloric restriction (CR), an accepted life-extending intervention, affects cellular lipid profiles. In this study, we employ a liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight-based methodology to demonstrate that CR in the liver of male C57BL/6 mice: (i) induces marked changes in the cellular lipidome, (ii) specifically reduces levels of a phospholipid peroxidation product, 1-palmitoyl-2-glutaryl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine, (iii) alters cellular phosphoethanolamine and triglyceride distributional profiles, (iv) affects mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes, increasing complex II and decreasing complex III and (v) is associated with specific changes in liver metabolic pathways. These data demonstrate that CR induces a specific lipidome and metabolome reprogramming event in mouse liver which is associated with lower protein oxidative damage, as assessed by mass spectrometry-based measurements. Such changes may be critical to the increased lifespan and healthspan observed in C57BL/6 mice following CR

Production of Transglutaminase by Streptoverticillium ladakanum NRRL-3191 Using Glycerol as Carbon Source

The enzyme transglutaminase (TG) catalyses the formation of covalent bonds between adjacent proteins, thereby improving the gel structure of proteins and has important applications for the food industry. The aims of this work were: (i) to elucidate the effect of agitation speed during the biotechnological production of TG by Streptoverticillium ladakanum NRRL-3191 using glycerol as carbon source; and (ii) to improve TG production by optimising the composition of media based on glycerol, xylose and casein. An agitation speed of 250 rpm and a fermentation time of 72 h resulted in the optimal enzymatic activity (0.628 U/mL) with a productivity of 0.087 U/(mL·h). The composition of media with glycerol, xylose and casein were optimised using an experimental design to improve TG production. The model predicts that the maximum TG activity (0.725 U/mL) can be obtained using glycerol 50.5 g/L and casein 20 g/L without the addition of xylose

Computer-Aided Diagnosis in Neuroimaging

This chapter is intended to provide an overview to the most used methods for computer-aided diagnosis in neuroimaging and its application to neurodegenerative diseases. The fundamental preprocessing steps, and how they are applied to different image modalities, will be thoroughly presented. We introduce a number of widely used neuroimaging analysis algorithms, together with a wide overview on the recent advances in brain imaging processing. Finally, we provide a general conclusion on the state of the art in brain imaging processing and possible future developments

Production of Transglutaminase by Streptoverticillium ladakanum NRRL-3191 Grown on Media Made from Hydrolysates of Sorghum Straw

The aim of this work was to elucidate the suitability of the biotechnological production of transglutaminase by Streptoverticillium ladakanum NRRL-3191 grown on media made from hydrolysates of sorghum straw. Transglutaminase activity was determined in fermentations on sorghum straw hydrolysates and commercial xylose with initial xylose 10, 20 or 30 g/L. Using media containing commercial xylose 20 g/L, transglutaminase activity up to 0.282 U/mL was obtained in 96 h. Using neutralized, charcoal-treated hydrolysates of sorghum straw with xylose 30 g/L sterilized in autoclave at 121 °C, up to 0.155 U/mL was obtained in 96 h. However, when the sterilization was performed by filtration, using the same hydrolysates with xylose 20 g/L, up to 0.348 U/mL was obtained in 72 h. It was demonstrated that hydrolysates of sorghum straw are suitable media for transglutaminase production by Streptoverticillium ladakanum

Production of Transglutaminase by Streptoverticillium ladakanum NRRL-3191 Grown on Media Made from Hydrolysates of Sorghum Straw

The aim of this work was to elucidate the suitability of the biotechnological production of transglutaminase by Streptoverticillium ladakanum NRRL-3191 grown on media made from hydrolysates of sorghum straw. Transglutaminase activity was determined in fermentations on sorghum straw hydrolysates and commercial xylose with initial xylose 10, 20 or 30 g/L. Using media containing commercial xylose 20 g/L, transglutaminase activity up to 0.282 U/mL was obtained in 96 h. Using neutralized, charcoal-treated hydrolysates of sorghum straw with xylose 30 g/L sterilized in autoclave at 121 °C, up to 0.155 U/mL was obtained in 96 h. However, when the sterilization was performed by filtration, using the same hydrolysates with xylose 20 g/L, up to 0.348 U/mL was obtained in 72 h. It was demonstrated that hydrolysates of sorghum straw are suitable media for transglutaminase production by Streptoverticillium ladakanum

HERRAMIENTA PARA MEDICIÓN Y ANÁLISIS DEL RECORRIDO DEL TRABAJO EN BODEGAS DE GESTIÓN DE MUESTRAS

The present paper shows the organization and methods of a work-and-route measurement tool carried out in the warehouse of reactive samples and in the warehouse of samples in custody of an Oil and Gas company in Colombia. This tool is twofold: first is to describe the task carried out and second, is to provide a scheme for the development and improvement processes in the Center of Investigation and development of Oil and Gas Sector, henceforth it is known as CEMIM. The measurement of this work is a research method based on the application of several techniques to determine the activities and content about a defined job, fixing the time in which a qualified worker takes to accomplish the task according to a pre-established standardized performance. Based on this, a work study was carried out at the CEMIM warehouses in accordance to the number of shelves, and the route made by themselves. The results show that when you are considering the route of patterns made by the worker, the analysis of the structured tool provides advantages related to the descrip-tion of the task and the development of methods for the improvement of processes.El presente artículo muestra la estructuración y método de una herramienta de medición y recorrido del trabajo realizado en la bodega de reactivos y la bodega de muestras en custodia de una empresa de Oil y Gas en Colombia. Esta herramienta tiene dos propósitos: el primero, es el de describir las tareas realizadas y el segundo, proporcionar un esquema para el desarrollo y mejoramiento de los procesos en el Centro de recepción de muestras de un Centro de Investigación y desarrollo del sector de Oil y Gas, en adelante CEMIM. La medición del trabajo es un método de investigación basado en la aplicación de diversas técnicas para determinar las actividades y el contenido de un trabajo definido, fijando el tiempo que tarda un trabajador calificado en realizar la tarea de acuerdo con un rendimiento estandarizado preestablecido. Con base en lo anterior, se realizó un estudio del trabajo en las bodegas del CEMIM de acuerdo con el número de estanterías, y el recorrido realizado en estas. Los resultados muestran que, al considerar explícitamente los patrones de recorrido realizados por el operario, el análisis de la herramienta estructurada proporciona ventajas relacionadas con la descripción de las tareas y el desarrollo de métodos para el mejoramiento de los procesos

Autoimmune neurological conditions associated with Zika virus infection

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging flavivirus rapidly spreading throughout the tropical Americas. mosquitoes is the principal way of transmission of the virus to humans. ZIKV can be spread by transplacental, perinatal, and body fluids. ZIKV infection is often asymptomatic and those with symptoms present minor illness after 3 to 12 days of incubation, characterized by a mild and self-limiting disease with low-grade fever, conjunctivitis, widespread pruritic maculopapular rash, arthralgia and myalgia. ZIKV has been linked to a number of central and peripheral nervous system injuries such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), transverse myelitis (TM), meningoencephalitis, ophthalmological manifestations, and other neurological complications. Nevertheless, mechanisms of host-pathogen neuro-immune interactions remain incompletely elucidated. This review provides a critical discussion about the possible mechanisms underlying the development of autoimmune neurological conditions associated with Zika virus infection