Localized surface plasmon effects on the photophysics of perovskite thin films embedding metal nanoparticles

Herein we provide direct experimental evidence that proves that the photophysical properties of thin methylammonium lead iodide perovskite films are significantly enhanced by localized surface plasmon resonances (SPRs). Observations are well supported by rigorous calculations that prove that improved light harvesting can be unequivocally attributed to plasmonic scattering and near field reinforcement effects around silver nanoparticles embedded within the semiconductor layer. Adequate design of the localized SPR allows raising the absorptance of a 300 nm thick film at well-defined spectral regions while minimizing the parasitic absorption from the metallic inclusions. Measured enhancements can be as large as 80% at specific wavelengths and 20% when integrated over the whole range at which SPR occurs, in agreement with theoretical estimations. Simultaneously, the characteristic quenching effect that the vicinity of metals has on the photoluminescence of semiconductors is largely compensated for by the combined effect of the enhanced photoexcitation and the higher local density of photon states occurring at SPR frequencies, with a two fold increase of the perovskite photoemission efficiency being measuredThe research leading to these results has received funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under grant MAT2017-88584-R (AEI/FEDER,UE). A. B. was supported by the U. S. Department of State through the Fulbright Program. S. C. P. is grateful for the support of the AEI under the Juan de la Cierva Incorporación programme (IJCI-2016-28549

Características Estereológicas del Hígado de Rata (Rattus norvergicus) sometidas a Menopausia Inducida por Ovariectomía

Trujillo, E (reprint author), Univ Talca, Univ La Frontera, Lircay S-N, Talca, Chile.During menopause, hormonal changes such as decreased estradiol and increased follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormones occur. In premenopausal women fibrosis and hepatic steatosis is less than in postmenopausal women and improves when hormone replacement therapy is administered. The aim of this study was to determine quantitative aspects of the liver of rats undergoing an experimental model of ovariectomy-induced menopause. We used 10 Sprague-Dawley (Rattus norvergicus) healthy adults. The rats were weighed and divided into two groups (bilateral oophorectomy = Group Ovx and control = Group Sham). The animals were sacrificed at 60 days and the liver removed, obtaining a piece of each liver. Five cuts were made of 4 microns and stained with HE. We analyzed five fields per slide. M42 test was used. Stereo logical parameters considered were as follows: Nv, Vv, Sv and total number (Tn) of hepatocytes and sinusoids. The average weight of Ovx and Sham group was 300.8 g and 285.8 g, respectively. The Nv of hepatocytes of rats subjected to sham surgery (CS) and Ovx (CO) was 6.89 and 7.70 x 10(5)/mm(3) x 10(5)/mm(3), respectively. The Vv of CS and CO hepatocytes was 71.92% and 80.48%, respectively. SV and CO, CS hepatocytes was 260.61mm(2)/mm(3) and 273.64 mm(2)/mm(3), respectively. The average volume of CS livers was 8.40 mm(3) and hepatocyte Tn averaged 5.79 x 10(6). The average volume was 9.28 mm(3) CO livers and Tn of 7.15 x 10(6). Regarding the sinusoids, the Nv in the liver CS and CO was 2.81 x 10(5)/mm(3) and 2.64 x 10(5)/mm(3), respectively. The Vv of sinusoids in CS and CO was 16.74% and 16.46%, respectively. The sinusoids in rats Sv CS and CO was 49.40 mm(2)/mm(3) and 45.21 mm(2)/mm(3), respectively. The sinusoids Tn CS and CO averaged 2.37 x 10(6) and 2.45 x 10(6), respectively. The lack of estrogen can cause fibrosis and hepatic steatosis as noted by other authors, but also changes in the organization and the proportion of the components of the liver, factors to consider during diagnosis and prognosis of liver disorders

Audits and inspections are never enough: a critique to enhance food safety

Internal and external food safety audits are conducted to assess the safety and quality of food including on-farm production, manufacturing practices, sanitation, and hygiene. Some auditors are direct stakeholders that are employed by food establishments to conduct internal audits, while other auditors may represent the interests of a second party purchaser or a third-party auditing agency. Some buyers conduct their own audits or additional testing, while some buyers trust the results of third-party audits or inspections. Third-party auditors, however, use various food safety audit standards and most do not have a vested interest in the products being sold. Audits are conducted under a proprietary standard, while food safety inspections are generally conducted within a legal framework. There have been many foodborne illness outbreaks linked to food processors that have passed third-party audits and inspections, raising questions about the utility of both. Supporters argue third-party audits are a way to ensure food safety in an era of dwindling economic resources. Critics contend that while external audits and inspections can be a valuable tool to help ensure safe food, such activities represent only a snapshot in time. This paper identifies limitations of food safety inspections and audits and provides recommendations for strengthening the system, based on developing a strong food safety culture, including risk-based verification steps, throughout the food safety system

Communicating Arteries of the Cerebral Arterial Circle: Biometric Features and their Relation with the Cephalic Index

Indexación: ScieloLa clínica neuroquirúrgica tiene la necesidad de un acabado conocimiento anatómico de las arterias comunicantes como integrantes del círculo arterial del cerebro, por su variabilidad morfológica, su relación compleja con las estructuras adyacentes y por la alta frecuencia observada en la conformación de aneurismas. Debido a la importancia de estos vasos, efectuamos un estudio biométrico de los mismas, relacionando datos de calibre y longitud con índice cefálico. En el sexo masculino, el calibre promedio de la ACoP fue de 1,07 mm en el lado derecho y de 1,06 mm en el izquierdo; en el sexo femenino fue de 1,12 mm en el lado derecho y de 1,14 mm en el izquierdo. En el grupo de individuos con índice braquicéfalo, el calibre de la ACoP fue de 1,15 mm y en el grupo dolicomesocéfalo fue de 1,05 mm. Su longitud fue de 18,65 mm en los braquicéfalos y de 16,44 mm en los dolicomesocéfalos.El calibre de la ACoA fue de 1,53 mm en el sexo masculino y de 1,05 mm en el femenino, mientras que su longitud fue de 2,81 mm en el sexo masculino y de 2,33 mm en el femenino.La descripción biométrica y bioantropológica muestra parámetros importantes a considerar en la clínica quirúrgica. PALABRAS CLAVE : Anatomía; Biometría; Círculo arterial cerebral; Arterias comunicantes; Indice cefálico. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESUMEN: The neurosurgical clinic needs extensive and thorough anatomical knowledge of the communicating arteries as part of the cerebral arterial circle for their morphological variability, their complex relation as adjacent structures, and for the frequency observed in the formation of aneurisms. Considering the importance of these vessels, we conducted a biometric study of these, relating caliber and longitude information to the cephalic index. In the male, the mean caliber of the PCoA <p was of 1.07 mm on the right side and 1.06 mm on the left; in the female it was of 1.12 mm on the right side and of 1.14 mm on the left. In the group of individuals with brachiocephalic index, the caliber of the ACoP was of 1.15 mm and in the dolichomesocephalic groups was 1.05 mm. Its longitude was 18.65 mm in the brachiocephalous and of 16.44 mm in the dolichomesochephalic. The caliber of the ACoA was of 1.53 mm in the male and 1.05 mm in the female, while its longitude was of 2.81 mm in the male and 2.33 mm in the female. The biometric and bioanthropologic description shows important parameters to be considered in clinical surgery. KEY WORDS : Anatomy; Biometry; Cerebral arterial circle; Communicating arteries; Cephalic index

UPR in palmitate-treated pancreatic beta-cells is not affected by altering oxidation of the fatty acid

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Elevated levels of lipids are detrimental for beta-cell function and mass. One of the mechanisms of how fatty acids induce apoptosis is development of the unfolded protein response (UPR). It is still far from understood how fatty acids activate the UPR, however.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined how palmitate-induced activation of the UPR was affected by altering the metabolism of the fatty acid in insulin-secreting INS-1E and MIN6 cell lines and intact human islets. To increase oxidation, we used low glucose (5.5 mM) or AICAR; and to reduce oxidation, we used high glucose (25 mM) or etomoxir. UPR was measured after 3, 24 and 48 hours of palmitate treatment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Modulation of palmitate oxidation by either glucose or the pharmacological agents did not affect palmitate-induced UPR activation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our finding suggests that other factors than oxidation of palmitate play a role in the activation of UPR in fatty acid-treated beta-cells.</p

Role of MAPK in apolipoprotein CIII-induced apoptosis in INS-1E cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have elevated levels of circulating apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII). ApoCIII plays an important role for plasma triglyceride levels and elevated levels of the apolipoprotein have been connected with dyslipidemia in T2DM subjects. In addition, apoCIII has been linked to enhanced β-cell apoptosis. The present study was undertaken to investigate apoptotic mechanisms induced by the apolipoprotein.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ApoCIII (10 μg/ml) enhanced apoptosis 2-fold in insulin-producing INS-1E cells after 24 hours exposure to the apolipoprotein. At this time point phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 had doubled but ERK1/2 and JNK were not activated. Instead, ERK1/2 showed rapid and transient phosphorylation (2-fold after 0.5 hour). No JNK phosphorylation was observed. In support of a role of activation of not only p38 but also ERK1/2 in apoCIII-induced apoptosis, inclusion of p38 inhibitor SB203580 (10 μM) or ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (100 μM) normalized apoptosis. Whereas influx of Ca²⁺was linked to apoCIII-induced ERK1/2 activation, pro-apoptotic protein CHOP/GADD of the unfolded protein response (UPR) was not affected by apoCIII.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is suggested that elevated circulating apoCIII levels may contribute to β-cell apoptosis via activation of p38 and ERK1/2 in individuals with T2DM. Therapies aiming at normalizing levels of apoCIII could be beneficial not only for the function of the β-cell but also for cardiovascular protection.</p

Proteins altered by elevated levels of palmitate or glucose implicated in impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by aberrant insulin secretory patterns, where elevated insulin levels at non-stimulatory basal conditions and reduced hormonal levels at stimulatory conditions are major components. To delineate mechanisms responsible for these alterations we cultured INS-1E cells for 48 hours at 20 mM glucose in absence or presence of 0.5 mM palmitate, when stimulatory secretion of insulin was reduced or basal secretion was elevated, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After culture, cells were protein profiled by SELDI-TOF-MS and 2D-PAGE. Differentially expressed proteins were discovered and identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. Complimentary protein profiles were obtained by the two approaches with SELDI-TOF-MS being more efficient in separating proteins in the low molecular range and 2D-PAGE in the high molecular range. Identified proteins included alpha glucosidase, calmodulin, gars, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A3, lon peptidase, nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen (NADH) dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase, proteasome p45, rab2, pyruvate kinase and t-complex protein. The observed glucose-induced differential protein expression pattern indicates enhanced glucose metabolism, defense against reactive oxygen species, enhanced protein translation, folding and degradation and decreased insulin granular formation and trafficking. Palmitate-induced changes could be related to altered exocytosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The identified altered proteins indicate mechanism important for altered β-cell function in T2DM.</p

Biometrics of the Posterior Communicating Artery and the Posterior Cerebral Artery in its Precommunicating Segment (P1) of the Arterial Circle of Brain (Willis)

Indexación: ScieloEl conocimiento anatómico y clínico preciso del círculo arterial del cerebro, se hace cada vez más necesario, por la compleja relación neural que presentan las diversas arterias que entran en su formación y además por su gran variabilidad. Utilizamos 36 encéfalos humanos frescos, provenientes de especímenes autopsiados adultos, cuyos datos bioantropológicos fueron previamente registrados. El calibre de las aa. comunicantes posteriores fue, en promedio, de 1,08 mm (DE 0,45 ) en ambos lados y su longitud de 17,51 mm( DE 7,9) en el lado derecho y de 16,9 mm (DE 8,0 ) en el lado izquierdo. La ACP en el segmento P1 presentó un calibre de 2,56 mm (DE 077) en el lado derecho y de 2,32 mm (DE 0,64) en el lado izquierdo. La longitud de estas arterias correspondió a 9,43 mm (DE 8,92) en el lado derecho y de 8,82 mm (DE 7,33 ) en el lado izquierdo. Las dimensiones observadas demuestran variabilidad que consideramos interesante de considerar en la anatomía quirúrgica.http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0717-95022006000500015&lang=p