TEM-HRTEM study on the dehydration process of nanostructured Mg–Ca hydroxide into Mg–Ca oxide

The dehydration process from Mg0.97Ca0.03 (OH)2 nanoparticles (brucite type hexagonal structure) to Mg0.97Ca0.03O (periclase type cubic structure) was studied by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM-HRTEM), Electron Diffraction (SAED), Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) and image analysis. The transformation process was monitored in function of the reaction time applying 200 and 300 KV. Changes in porosity were possible to observe only during the irradiation with 200 KV. Depending on the irradiation time, the changes were gradual, producing an increase from the particle's edge towards the inner region. Different stages were observed, corresponding to the amount of water extracted from the particle, until finally a decrease in porosity and particle shrinkage occurs, coinciding with the formation of the Mg–Ca oxide. However, when samples were exposed to 300 KV, the dehydration process was much faster, and the pores structure was destroyed in a shorter time in comparison with lower doses of radiation. High resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM) applying 300 kV allowed identifying the progressive changes from brucite to periclase, including the formation of an intermediate dehydrated phase. The transformation along [0001]brucite and View the MathML sourcebrucite orientations was monitored determining differences in the kinetic of reaction related to the presence of point defects affecting the atomic lattice.This present research was funded by the Community of Madrid under the GEOMATERIALES 2 project (S2013/MIT-2914), by the Complutense University of Madrid’s Research Group: “The Alteration and Conservation of Stone Heritage” (921349), the Autonomous Region Program of Madrid, MULTIMAT-CHALLENGE (ref. S2013/MIT‐2862), the Innovation and Education Ministry ref. (MAT2013-47460-C5-5-P) and the Mat201019837/C06-05 projects.Peer reviewe

Obatoclax and Paclitaxel Synergistically Induce Apoptosis and Overcome Paclitaxel Resistance in Urothelial Cancer Cells

Paclitaxel is a treatment option for advanced or metastatic bladder cancer after the failure of first-line cisplatin and gemcitabine, although resistance limits its clinical benefits. Mcl-1 is an anti-apoptotic protein that promotes resistance to paclitaxel in different tumors. Obatoclax, a BH3 mimetic of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, antagonizes Mcl-1 and hence may reverse paclitaxel resistance in Mcl-1-overexpressing tumors. In this study, paclitaxel-sensitive 5637 and -resistant HT1197 bladder cancer cells were treated with paclitaxel, obatoclax, or combinations of both. Apoptosis, cell cycle, and autophagy were measured by Western blot, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Moreover, Mcl-1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in bladder carcinoma tissues. Our results confirmed that paclitaxel alone induced Mcl-1 downregulation and apoptosis in 5637, but not in HT1197 cells; however, combinations of obatoclax and paclitaxel sensitized HT1197 cells to the treatment. In obatoclax-treated 5637 and obatoclax + paclitaxel-treated HT1197 cells, the blockade of the autophagic flux correlated with apoptosis and was associated with caspase-dependent cleavage of beclin-1. Obatoclax alone delayed the cell cycle in 5637, but not in HT1197 cells, whereas combinations of both retarded the cell cycle and reduced mitotic slippage. In conclusion, obatoclax sensitizes HT1197 cells to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis through the blockade of the autophagic flux and effects on the cell cycle. Furthermore, Mcl-1 is overexpressed in many invasive bladder carcinomas, and it is related to tumor progression, so Mcl-1 expression may be of predictive value in bladder cancer.España, Sistema Público Andaluz Biobanco y ISCIII-Red de Biobancos PT17/0015/004

Effect of temperature and reaction time of the synthesis of nanocrystalline brucite

Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles has been successfully synthesized by means of the hydrothermal method. The effect of the reaction time and the synthesis temperature on the nanoparticles obtained has also been studied. The physic-chemical properties of the synthesized brucite samples have been characterized by X-Ray-diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-rays analysis (SEM/EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), thermogravimetry/ differential scanning Calorimetry (TG-DSC) and in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD). The influence of the synthesis parameters in the brucite samples has been discussed in detail. Furthermore, it has been shown that the increase of temperature from 180 to 200ºC improves the crystallinity degree of Mg(OH)2 nanostructured particles and also, promotes the formation of plates with bigger uniform size. As well, the increase in the time reaction induces the formation of bigger size brucite plates. So, this hydrothermal method has been shown to be a really promising method for the large scale production.Peer Reviewe

Downregulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase PTPL1 alters cell cycle and upregulates invasion-related genes in prostate cancer cells

The final publication is available at link.springer.comPTPL1, a non-receptor type protein tyrosine phosphatase, has been involved in the regulation of apoptosis and invasiveness of various tumour cell types, but its role in prostate cancer remained to be investigated. We report here that downregulation of PTPL1 by small interfering RNA in PC3 cells decreases cell proliferation and concomitantly reduces the expression of cell cycle-related proteins such as cyclins E and B1, PCNA, PTTG1 and phospho-histone H3. PTPL1 downregulation also increases the invasion ability of PC3 cells through Matrigel coated membranes. cDNA array of PTPL1-silenced PC3 cells versus control cells showed an upregulation of invasion-related genes such as uPA, uPAR, tPA, PAI-1, integrin α6 and osteopontin. This increased expression was also confirmed in PTPL1-silenced DU145 prostate cancer cells by quantitative real time PCR and western blot. These findings suggest that PTPL1 is an important mediator of central cellular processes such as proliferation and invasion. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.This work was supported by Grants from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (FIS PI10/02026 and SAF2008-05046-C02-02), ISCIIIRETIC-RD06/0020-FEDER, Consejería de Salud (PI-2009-0589, AI-2010-003 to M.A.J.), and Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa (CTS-6243), Junta de Andalucía (06/189, PI-2009-0589, and AI-2010-003 to M. A. J.). C. C. was supported by a pre-doctoral Grant from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación (F.P.I.: BES200612419) co-financiated by Fondo Social Europeo. C. S. was supported by a contract from Instituto de Salud Carlos III/FIS and Fundación Progreso y Salud, Consejería de Salud, Junta de Andalucía, Miguel Servet Program.Peer Reviewe

Kinetic studies of sodium and metforminium decavanadates decomposition and in vitro cytotoxicity and insulin-like activity

The kinetics of the decomposition of 0.5 and 1.0 mM sodium decavanadate (NaDeca) and metforminium decavanadate (MetfDeca) solutions were studied by51V NMR in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) medium (pH 7.4) at 25◦C. The results showed that decomposition products are orthovanadate [H2VO4]− (V1) and metavanadate species like [H2V2O7]2− (V2), [V4O12]4− (V4) and [V5O15]5− (V5) for both compounds. The calculated half-life times of the decomposition reaction were 9 and 11 h for NaDeca and MetfDeca, respectively, at 1 mM concentration. The hydrolysis products that presented the highest rate constants were V1 and V4 for both compounds. Cytotoxic activity studies using non-tumorigenic HEK293 cell line and human liver cancer HEPG2 cells showed that decavanadates compounds exhibit selectivity action toward HEPG2 cells after 24 h. The effect of vanadium compounds (8–30 µM concentration) on the protein expression of AKT and AMPK were investigated in HEPG2 cell lines, showing that NaDeca and MetfDeca compounds exhibit a dose-dependence increase in phosphorylated AKT. Additionally, NaDeca at 30 µM concentration stimulated the glucose cell uptake moderately (62%) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Finally, an insulin release assay in βTC-6 cells (30 µM concentration) showed that sodium orthovanadate (MetV) and MetfDeca enhanced insulin release by 0.7 and 1-fold, respectively.Fil: Silva Nolasco, Aniela M.. Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco; México. Instituto Nacional de Pediatría; MéxicoFil: Camacho, Luz. Instituto Nacional de Pediatría; MéxicoFil: Saavedra Díaz, Rafael Omar. Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco; MéxicoFil: Hernández Abreu, Oswaldo. Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco; MéxicoFil: Leon, Ignacio Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez Lombardo, Irma. Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco; Méxic

Petrología aplicada a la Conservación del Patrimonio

4 páginas. Ed. Miguel Ángel Rogerio Candelera y Cesáreo Sáiz Jiménez. Primera Reunión de la Red de Ciencia y Tecnología para la Conservación del Patrimonio (Madrid, 28-29 de junio de 2011).El grupo de Petrología Aplicada a la Conservación del Patrimonio (PAP) está constituido por investigadores del CSIC y de la UCM, que pertenecen al Instituto de Geociencias. Este instituto, creado en 2011, es una transformación del antiguo Instituto de Geología Económica (CSIC-UCM), del cual procede este grupo de investigación con más de 25 años de experiencia en la conservación del patrimonio cultural, principalmente del patrimonio arquitectónico y arqueológico realizado en piedra. El grupo participa en los estudios previos y en los realizados durante la fase de ejecución del proyecto de diferentes intervenciones encaminadas a la restauración y conservación del patrimonio (www.conservacionpatrimonio.es).Programas Geomateriales (S2009/MAT-1629) y CONSOLIDER-TCP (CSD2007-0058) y a la financiación de Grupo de Investigación de la UCM, "Alteración y Conservación de los Materiales Pétreos del Patrimonio" (ref. 921349).Peer reviewe

Body weight impact of the sugar- sweetened beverages tax in Mexican children: A modeling study

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156213/3/ijpo12636_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156213/2/ijpo12636-sup-0001-supinfo.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156213/1/ijpo12636.pd

Desarrollo de una experiencia de mejora docente para la formación inicial del profesorado a través de la investigación-acción participativa con las TIC

La experiencia que presentamos se basa en la organización de dos asignaturas de la titulación de Magisterio alrededor de un diseño de investigación-acción participativa en el marco de un modelo de "comunidad de indagación". Nuestra comunidad está integrada por el alumnado y profesorado universitario junto con el profesorado y alumnado de Primaria del C.E.I.P. "Pablo García Baena" de Córdoba. El centro de Primaria participante inicia su andadura este año como Centro TIC y su claustro de profesorado nos propone que todos trabajemos alrededor de un tema de especial interés para este centro: "Hábitos de uso de las tecnologías de la información y comunicación por el alumnado de primaria". El objetivo es que nuestro alumnado universitario adquiera el dominio de herramientas profesionales básicas que le permitan diseñar estrategias adecuadas de recogida de información, análisis e intervención educativa en contextos naturales. Se trata, por tanto, de un marco de colaboración inter-institucional que beneficia la formación del alumnado de ambas instituciones y permite utilizar la información obtenida para promover procesos de mejora de la calidad educativa en el marco de los proyectos que desarrollan cada uno de los centrosThe study that we present here is based on the organization of two subjects of the degree in Education, concerning the design of participatory action research as part of a "community of inquiry". Our community comprises university students and teachers along with primary school teachers and students at the "Pablo Garcia Baena” Primary School in Córdoba. The school begins this year as an ICT Centre and its teachers' committee has suggested that we should collaborate on an issue of particular interest to the school: "Habits in the use of information and communication, technologies among pnmary school pupds". The goal is for our University students to master basic professional tools for the design of strategies for information gathering, analysis and training in natural educational contexts. This is thus a framework for inter-institutional collaboration that will benefit the training of students of both lnstitutions and enable all of us to use the information to improve the quallty of education in the context of development projects in both centres of educatio

Medical audit: prenatal care program in a health center in southern Brazil

INTRODUCTION: A medical audit on the prenatal care program in the Vila Municipal Health Center, Pelotas, RS, Brazil, was described with the purpose of verifying the aspects of the medical process and improving the program's effectiveness. METHODS: Data from prenatal specific records were collected. Pregnant women with delivery due date in 1997 and in the first semester of 1998 were included in the study. Women registered in the program when they were 4-month pregnant and who had had at least 5 visits were also enrolled. Bivariate analysis was used to detect health care indicators. RESULTS: A total of 73 pregnant women were registered in the program in 1997 and 75 in 1998. In 1997, the average number of medical visits was 5.2, while in 1998 this average was 6.2. The difference between the means was statistically significant (pOBJETIVO: Descreve-se a auditoria médica realizada entre as mulheres que se inscreveram em programa de pré-natal com o objetivo de verificar as características da assistência à gestação e de estabelecer diretrizes de atenção. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se levantamento epidemiológico dos cartões das gestantes inscritas no Programa de Pré-natal do Posto de Saúde da Vila Municipal, Pelotas, RS, com data provável de parto durante 1997 e no primeiro semestre de 1998. Foram incluídas as mulheres ingressadas no Programa até o quarto mês de gestação e que tiveram cinco consultas no mínimo. Foi utilizada a análise bivariada para detectar as condições marcadoras da assistência médica. RESULTADOS: Em 1997, 73 mulheres se inscreveram no Programa de Pré-natal e, em 1998, 75. A média de consultas durante o pré-natal foi de 5,2 em 1997 e 6,2 em 1998. Essa diferença foi significativa (