Technical note:The horizontal scale dependence of the cloud overlap parameter α

The cloud overlap parameter α relates the combined cloud fraction between two altitude levels in a grid box to the cloud fraction as derived under the maximum and random overlap assumptions. In a number of published studies in this and other journals, it is found that α tends to increase with an increasing scale. In this Technical Note, we investigate this analytically by considering what happens to α when two grid boxes are merged to give a grid box with twice the area. Assuming that α depends only on scale, then between any two fixed altitudes, there will be a linear relationship between the values of α on the two scales. We illustrate this by finding the relationship when cloud cover fractions are assumed to be uniformly distributed, but with varying degrees of horizontal and vertical correlation. Based on this, we conclude that α increases with scale if its value is less than the vertical correlation coefficient in cloud fraction between the two altitude levels. This occurs when the clouds are deeper than would be expected at random (i.e. for exponentially distributed cloud depths)

Chitosan-alginate microparticles of Andrographis paniculata and Annona muricata extracts for Controlled Release

This study investigates the properties of microparticles prepared from Andrographis paniculata (AP) and Annona muricata (AM) aqueous extracts for controlled release. Extracts obtained by maceration of the dried powdered plant leaves were microencapsulated by counterion coacervation method. Microcapsules were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared-spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray difractometry (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).In vitro release studies were carried out at pH 1.2 for 2 h and 6.8 for a further 10 h. Release was monitored at274 and 230 nm for AM and AP, respectively. Encapsulation efficacy was less than 52% for AP and 70% for AM. In vitro drug release at pH 1.2 showed less than 40% release from the microcapsules after 2h while over 90% of extract was released after 6h at pH 6.8. Conventional capsules released the content within 1 h in simulated gastric fluid. FTIR, XRD and DSC results indicate the stable character of the extract within the microcapsules. Microencapsulation with chitosan- alginate controlled the release of Andrographis paniculata (AP) and Annona muricata (AM) aqueous extracts

Bioethics aspects in the administration of clinical information by students of Dentistry

Objetivo: Evaluar el proceso de construcción de competencias vinculadas con la formación bioética. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo sobre variables: “aspectos legales de la información clínica” y “implementación del derecho a la información clínica”. Se registró una encuesta cerrada, voluntaria, anónima a una muestra azarosa de 300 estudiantes avanzados de la Carrera de Odontología de la FOUNLP, Argentina. El muestreo comprendió 150 alumnos de cuarto año (Grupo A) y 150 de quinto año (Grupo B). Los análisis estadísticos fueron realizados con Epi Info ™ Versión 3.3.2 y EPIDAT 3.1.Facultad de Odontologí

EVALUATION OF LIVER PARENCHYMA AND PERFUSION USING DYNAMIC CONTRAST-ENHANCED COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND CONTRAST-ENHANCED ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN CAPTIVE GREEN IGUANAS (IGUANA IGUANA) UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Background: Contrast-enhanced diagnostic imaging techniques are considered useful in veterinary and human medicine to evaluate liver perfusion and focal hepatic lesions. Although hepatic diseases are a common occurrence in reptile medicine, there is no reference to the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) to evaluate the liver in lizards. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of change in echogenicity and attenuation of the liver in green iguanas (Iguana iguana) after administration of specific contrast media. Results: An increase in liver echogenicity and density was evident during CEUS and CECT, respectively. In CEUS, the mean \ub1 SD (median; range) peak enhancement was 19.9% \ub1 7.5 (18.3; 11.7-34.6). Time to peak enhancement was 134.0 \ub1 125.1 (68.4; 59.6-364.5) seconds. During CECT, first visualization of the contrast medium was at 3.6 \ub1 0.5 (4; 3-4) seconds in the aorta, 10.7 \ub1 2.2 (10.5; 7-14) seconds in the hepatic arteries, and 15 \ub1 4.5 (14.5; 10-24) seconds in the liver parenchyma. Time to peak was 14.1 \ub1 3.4 (13; 11-21) and 31 \ub1 9.6 (29; 23-45) seconds in the aorta and the liver parenchyma, respectively. Conclusion: CEUS and dynamic CECT are practical means to determine liver hemodynamics in green iguanas. Distribution of contrast medium in iguana differed from mammals. Specific reference ranges of hepatic perfusion for diagnostic evaluation of the liver in iguanas are necessary since the use of mammalian references may lead the clinician to formulate incorrect diagnostic suspicions

Multiple detection and spread of novel strains of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.177 (B.1.177.75) lineage that test negative by a commercially available nucleocapsid gene real-time RT-PCR

Several lineages of SARS-CoV-2 are currently circulating worldwide. During SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic activities performed in Abruzzo region (central Italy) several strains belonging to the B.1.177.75 lineage tested negative for the N gene but positive for the ORF1ab and S genes (+/+/- pattern) by the TaqPath COVID-19 CE-IVD RT-PCR Kit manufactured by Thermofisher. By sequencing, a unique mutation, synonymous 28948C > T, was found in the N-negative B.1.177.75 strains. Although we do not have any knowledge upon the nucleotide sequences of the primers and probe adopted by this kit, it is likely that N gene dropout only occurs when 28948C > T is coupled with 28932C > T, this latter present, in turn, in all B.1.177.75 sequences available on public databases. Furthermore, epidemiological analysis was also performed. The majority of the N-negative B.1.177.75 cases belonged to two clusters apparently unrelated to each other and both clusters involved young people. However, the phylogeny for sequences containing the +/+/- pattern strongly supports a genetic connection and one common source for both clusters. Though, genetic comparison suggests a connection rather than indicating the independent emergence of the same mutation in two apparently unrelated clusters. This study highlights once more the importance of sharing genomic data to link apparently unrelated epidemiological clusters and to, remarkably, update molecular tests

Targeted metabolomic profiling in rat tissues reveals sex differences

Sex differences affect several diseases and are organ-and parameter-specific. In humans and animals, sex differences also influence the metabolism and homeostasis of amino acids and fatty acids, which are linked to the onset of diseases. Thus, the use of targeted metabolite profiles in tissues represents a powerful approach to examine the intermediary metabolism and evidence for any sex differences. To clarify the sex-specific activities of liver, heart and kidney tissues, we used targeted metabolomics, linear discriminant analysis (LDA), principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis and linear correlation models to evaluate sex and organ-specific differences in amino acids, free carnitine and acylcarnitine levels in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Several intra-sex differences affect tissues, indicating that metabolite profiles in rat hearts, livers and kidneys are organ-dependent. Amino acids and carnitine levels in rat hearts, livers and kidneys are affected by sex: male and female hearts show the greatest sexual dimorphism, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Finally, multivariate analysis confirmed the influence of sex on the metabolomics profiling. Our data demonstrate that the metabolomics approach together with a multivariate approach can capture the dynamics of physiological and pathological states, which are essential for explaining the basis of the sex differences observed in physiological and pathological conditions

Human Cryptic Host Defence Peptide {GVF}27 Exhibits Anti-Infective Properties against Biofilm Forming Members of the Burkholderia cepacia Complex

Therapeutic solutions to counter Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) bacteria are challenging due to their intrinsically high level of antibiotic resistance. Bcc organisms display a variety of potential virulence factors, have a distinct lipopolysaccharide naturally implicated in antimicrobial resistance. and are able to form biofilms, which may further protect them from both host defence peptides (HDPs) and antibiotics. Here, we report the promising anti-biofilm and immunomodulatory activities of human HDP GVF27 on two of the most clinically relevant Bcc members, Burkholderia multivorans and Burkholderia cenocepacia. The effects of synthetic and labelled GVF27 were tested on B. cenocepacia and B. multivorans biofilms, at three different stages of formation, by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Assays on bacterial cultures and on human monocytes challenged with B. cenocepacia LPS were also performed. GVF27 exerts, at different stages of formation, antibiofilm effects towards both Bcc strains, a significant propensity to function in combination with ciprofloxacin, a relevant affinity for LPSs isolated from B. cenocepacia as well as a good propensity to mitigate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human cells pre-treated with the same endotoxin. Overall, all these findings contribute to the elucidation of the main features that a good therapeutic agent directed against these extremely leathery biofilm-forming bacteria should possess

Towards the development of antioxidant cerium oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications: Controlling the properties by tuning synthesis conditions

In this work CeO2 nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) were synthesized through the thermal de-composition of Ce(NO3)3·6H2O, using as capping agents either octylamine or oleylamine, to evaluate the effect of alkyl chain length, an issue at 150 °C, in the case of octylamine and at 150 and 250 °C, in the case of oleylamine, to evaluate the effect of the temperature on NPs properties. All the nanoparticles were extensively characterized by a multidisciplinary approach, such as wide-angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, UV-Vis, fluorescence, Raman and FTIR spectroscopies. The analysis of the experimental data shows that the capping agent nature and the synthesis temperature affect nanoparticle properties including size, morphology, aggregation and Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio. Such issues have not been discussed yet, at the best of our knowledge, in the literature. Notably, CeO2-NPs synthesized in the presence of oleylamine at 250 °C showed no tendency to aggregation and we made them water-soluble through a further coating with sodium oleate. The obtained nanoparticles show a less tendency to clustering forming stable aggregates (ranging between 14 and 22 nm) of few NPs. These were tested for biocompatibility and ROS inhibiting activity, demonstrating a remarkable antioxidant activity, against oxidative stress

Formación y difusión científica en la enseñanza de la Farmacología

Dado que la docencia y la investigación son dos funciones primordiales de las universidades, decidimos relacionar ambas aplicando nuestros hallazgos científicos a la enseñanza de la farmacología. Los propósitos generales fueron propiciar la apertura temprana a la investigación científica, sus métodos, criterios y aplicaciones. La propuesta consiste en trabajos prácticos a desarrollar tras los teóricos sobre fármacos antimicrobianos en el grado. El tema central es la búsqueda de medicamentos para tratar micosis superficiales. Como recurso didáctico complementario, elaboramos un video digital que incluye la información necesaria para la comprensión y desarrollo del tema. La primera parte muestra los materiales y procedimientos técnicos que condujeron al descubrimiento de principios activos en Citrus aurantium L. (naranja amarga). La segunda ilustra aspectos clínicos de las micosis superficiales, sus manifestaciones, diagnóstico, tratamiento, etc. Después de analizar el video, los alumnos reproducirán en el laboratorio de la Cátedra las técnicas mostradas y analizarán los resultados en un contexto farmacológico global. La propuesta propicia la formación temprana de criterios científicos en ciencias de la salud, en beneficio del futuro desempeño ya sea en ámbitos científicos, académicos o profesionales. La combinación de métodos multimediales, experimentación en laboratorios y análisis de información diversa mejoraría la enseñanza de la farmacología.Trabajos del área Ciencias NaturalesDepartamento de Ciencias Exactas y Naturale