Preparation and characterization of psf/vanillin capsules

La industria de detergentes y suavizantes de ropas ha ido incorporado en sus procesos la tecnología de microencapsulación de perfumes. Esta tecnología permite proteger los compuestos volátiles antes, durante y después de los procesos industriales; además, también protege las fragancias durante el ciclo de lavado; asimismo, ofrece una liberación prolongada del perfume durante el secado y almacenamiento de la ropa, haciendo que la fragancia se perciba por más tiempo. Sin embargo, algunas de las cápsulas industriales presentan una serie de desventajas tales como una baja estabilidad del material de la cápsula, una baja capacidad de encapsulación y además con el método industrial de encapsulación que actualmente utilizan es extremadamente complicado encapsular compuestos polares. Con el propósito de resolver estos problemas, se ha propuesto el uso de cápsulas de polisulfona (PSf) con contenido de vainilla y preparadas por la técnica de precipitación por inversión de fases En esta investigación, han sido exitosamente preparadas y caracterizadas cápsulas de PSf/Vanillin. Los resultados muestran que estas cápsulas pueden asegurar una alta capacidad de encapsulación de perfume, una liberación prolongada de la fragancia, una buena estabilidad del material y una protección óptima del perfume. Por todas estas cualidades, las cápsulas de PSf/Vanillin presentan el potencial de ser usadas no solo en detergentes y suavizantes de ropas, sino que también en otros productos textiles.Textile detergent and softener industries have been incorporating in their processes the perfume microencapsulation technology. This technology allows the protection of the fragrance before and during industrial processes, as well as in the product storage. Moreover, it protects the perfume during the laundry and it provides a long-lasting fragrance release after the drying and storage of fabrics. However, certain current industrial microcapsules present a number of drawbacks such as low material stability, low perfume encapsulation capacity and, in addition, with the industrial encapsulation method presently used it is extremely complicated to encapsulate polar perfumes. With the aim to solve these problems, polysulfone (PSf) capsules containing vanillin and prepared by phase inversion precipitation technique have been proposed. In this investigation, PSf/Vanillin capsules have been successfully prepared and characterized. Results show that PSf/Vanillin capsules may ensure a high perfume encapsulation capacity, a long lasting fragrance release, a good material stability, and an optimal perfume protection. Because all these qualities, PSf/Vanillin capsules have the potential to be used not only in detergents and softeners but also in other textile products

Cellular Biomechanic Impairment in Cardiomyocytes Carrying the Progeria Mutation: An Atomic Force Microscopy Investigation

Given the clinical effect of progeria syndrome, understanding the cell mechanical behavior of this pathology could benefit the patient's treatment. Progeria patients show a point mutation in the lamin A/C gene (LMNA), which could change the cell's biomechanical properties. This paper reports a mechano-dynamic analysis of a progeria mutation (c.1824 C > T, p.Gly608Gly) in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) using cell indentation by atomic force microscopy to measure alterations in beating force, frequency, and contractile amplitude of selected cells within cell clusters. Furthermore, we examined the beating rate variability using a time-domain method that produces a Poincaré plot because beat-to-beat changes can shed light on the causes of arrhythmias. Our data have been further related to our cell phenotype findings, using immunofluorescence and calcium transient analysis, showing that mutant NRVMs display changes in both beating force and frequency. These changes were associated with a decreased gap junction localization (Connexin 43) in the mutant NRVMs even in the presence of a stable cytoskeletal structure (microtubules and actin filaments) when compared with controls (wild type and non-treated cells). These data emphasize the kindred between nucleoskeleton (LMNA), cytoskeleton, and the sarcolemmal structures in NRVM with the progeria Gly608Gly mutation, prompting future mechanistic and therapeutic investigations

Megaproyectos urbanos y productivos. Impactos socio-territoriales

El desarrollo de megaproyectos productivos trae consigo oportunidades para el crecimiento económico, la generación de empleos y el desarrollo regional. No obstante, en la actualidad, los grandes temas como la expansión urbana, el desarrollo industrial, las cementeras, la minería, el uso intensivo del agua y demás recursos naturales, preocupan a las comunidades por los impactos generados y porque en lo general, no consideran la racionalidad y responsabilidad ambiental y social hacia el entorno. En este contexto son diversos los estudios científicos que, en el marco de la política de económica imperante, intentan posicionarse como alternativas a proyectos económicos que confrontan los intereses particulares y comunitarios y que afectan la salud humana y ambiental. Megaproyectos urbanos y productivos. Impactos socio-territoriales, reúne veinticinco textos académicos sobre las afectaciones que éstos emprendimientos tienen para la sociedad y el entorno. Los temas expuestos recogen experiencias en el desarrollo urbano, industrial, turístico, portuario y aeroportuario, entre otros. Así mismo se retoman temas como la ética, la dialéctica, la política y la economía y su relación en el emprendimiento de megaproyectos. La búsqueda de esquemas productivos racionales y responsables con el entorno, que reivindiquen el derecho de las comunidades a un medio ambiente sano, a la preservación del territorio y sus recursos y de las formas de vida tradicionales, son los referentes para la realización del presente libro. Como elemento central se concibe el territorio como contenedor de identidad y vida, siendo preocupación y tema de estudio de la comunidad académica, las organizaciones de la sociedad civil y las redes de activistas organizados.UAEM, CONACyT, se

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) applications in arrhythmo-genic cardiomyopathy

5Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is an inherited heart muscle disorder characterized by progressive replacement of cardiomyocytes by fibrofatty tissue, ventricular dilatation, cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Interest in molecular biomechanics for these disorders is constantly growing. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a well stablished technic to study the mechanobiology of biological samples under physiological and pathological conditions at the cellular scale. However, a review which described all the different data that can be ob-tained using the AFM (cell elasticity, adhesion behavior, viscoelasticity, beating force and fre-quency) is still missing. In this review, we will discuss several techniques that highlight the poten-tial of AFM to be used as a tool for assessing the biomechanics involved in ACM. Indeed, analysis of genetically mutated cells with AFM reveal abnormalities of the cytoskeleton, cell membrane structures and defects of contractility. The higher the Young’s modulus, the stiffer the cell, and it is well known that abnormal tissue stiffness is symptomatic of a range of diseases. The cell beating force and frequency provide information during the depolarization and repolarization phases, complementary to cell electrophysiology (calcium imaging, MEA, patch clamp). In addition, original data is also presented to emphasize the unique potential of AFM as a tool to assess fibro-sis in cardiac tissue.openopenBrisa Peña; Mostafa Adbel-Hafiz; Maria Cavasin; Luisa Mestroni; Orfeo Sbaizero;Peña, Brisa; Adbel-Hafiz, Mostafa; Cavasin, Maria; Mestroni, Luisa; Sbaizero, Orfe

Nanomaterials for Cardiac Tissue Engineering

End stage heart failure is a major cause of death in the US. At present, organ transplant and left-ventricular assist devices remain the only viable treatments for these patients. Cardiac tissue engineering presents the possibility of a new option. Nanomaterials such as gold nanorods (AuNRs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) present unique properties that are beneficial for cardiac tissue engineering approaches. In particular, these nanomaterials can modulate electrical conductivity, hardness, and roughness of bulk materials to improve tissue functionality. Moreover, they can deliver bioactive cargo to affect cell phenotypes. This review covers recent advances in the use of nanomaterials for cardiac tissue engineering

Altered microtubule structure, hemichannel localization and beating activity in cardiomyocytes expressing pathologic nuclear lamin A/C.

Given the clinical effect of laminopathies, understanding lamin mechanical properties will benefit the treatment of heart failure. Here we report a mechano-dynamic study of LMNA mutations in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM) using single cell spectroscopy with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and measured changes in beating force, frequency and contractile amplitude of selected mutant-expressing cells within cell clusters. Furthermore, since beat-to-beat variations can provide clues on the origin of arrhythmias, we analyzed the beating rate variability using a time-domain method which provides a Poincaré plot. Data were further correlated to cell phenotypes. Immunofluorescence and calcium imaging analysis showed that mutant lamin changed NRVMs beating force and frequency. Additionally, we noted an altered microtubule network organization with shorter filament length, and defective hemichannel membrane localization (Connexin 43). These data highlight the interconnection between nucleoskeleton, cytoskeleton and sarcolemmal structures, and the transcellular consequences of mutant lamin protein in the pathogenesis of the cardiac laminopathies

Altered microtubule structure, hemichannel localization and beating activity in cardiomyocytes expressing pathologic nuclear lamin A/C

Given the clinical effect of laminopathies, understanding lamin mechanical properties will benefit the treatment of heart failure. Here we report a mechano-dynamic study of LMNA mutations in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM) using single cell spectroscopy with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and measured changes in beating force, frequency and contractile amplitude of selected mutant-expressing cells within cell clusters. Furthermore, since beat-to-beat variations can provide clues on the origin of arrhythmias, we analyzed the beating rate variability using a time-domain method which provides a Poincaré plot. Data were further correlated to cell phenotypes. Immunofluorescence and calcium imaging analysis showed that mutant lamin changed NRVMs beating force and frequency. Additionally, we noted an altered microtubule network organization with shorter filament length, and defective hemichannel membrane localization (Connexin 43). These data highlight the interconnection between nucleoskeleton, cytoskeleton and sarcolemmal structures, and the transcellular consequences of mutant lamin protein in the pathogenesis of the cardiac laminopathies

Physical education policy compliance and Latino children's fitness: Does the association vary by school neighborhood socioeconomic advantage?

OBJECTIVES:To investigate the contribution of school neighborhood socioeconomic advantage to the association between school-district physical education policy compliance in California public schools and Latino students' physical fitness. METHODS:Cross-sectional Fitnessgram data for public-school students were linked with school- and district-level information, district-level physical education policy compliance from 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, and 2000 United States Census data. Multilevel logistic regression models examined whether income and education levels in school neighborhoods moderated the effects of district-level physical education policy compliance on Latino fifth-graders' fitness levels. RESULTS:Physical education compliance data were available for 48 California school districts, which included 64,073 Latino fifth-graders. Fewer than half (23, or 46%) of these districts were found to be in compliance, and only 16% of Latino fifth-graders attended schools in compliant districts. Overall, there was a positive association between district compliance with physical education policy and fitness (OR, 95%CI: 1.38, 1.07, 1.78) adjusted for covariates. There was no significant interaction between school neighborhood socioeconomic advantage and physical education policy compliance (p>.05): there was a positive pattern in the association between school district compliance with physical education policy and student fitness levels across levels of socioeconomic advantage, though the association was not always significant. CONCLUSIONS:Across neighborhoods with varying levels of socioeconomic advantage, increasing physical education policy compliance in elementary schools may be an effective strategy for improving fitness among Latino children