Highly Efficient Photoninitiators Based on 4H-Pyranylidene Derivatives for Two-Photon Laser Printing

A series of four donor–acceptor–donor derivatives bearing 4H-pyranylidene and 4-methylcyclohexan-1-one units as donor and acceptor groups respectively is designed, synthesized, and photophysically characterized. Both experimental and theoretical studies reveal good two-photon absorption (2PA) properties for these systems. Decoration of the exocyclic position of the 4H-pyranylidene moiety with a thiophene ring results in high 2PA cross-section values (σ2PA) ≈700\ua0nm, and remarkably, in the region between 900 and 1000\ua0nm. Furthermore, all chromophores are evaluated as photoinitiators (PIs) for two-photon-laser printing at 780\ua0nm, showing superior performance compared to the commonly used commercially available PI, phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide. Among the studied PIs, the ones equipped with a thiophene unit at the exocyclic position of the 4H-pyranylidene moiety exhibit the highest efficiency, enabling fast printing using low laser powers with even lower concentrations of PI. Overall, this study shows the great potential of this new class of PIs for application in the field of 3D nanoprinting

Slenderness in Wall-frame Systems: Corrective factors for the Valley of Mexico

Introduction: The methodologies and procedures used in the design of buildings shown in the Mexico City Building Regulations 2017 are based on reliability and performance techniques, however, the factors applied in this standard for irregular systems are based on engineering practice. Objective: The objective of this research is to obtain corrective factors applicable to the Mexican standards for the design of concrete structures with slenderness characteristics and with frame-wall system. Methodology: The analysis, design and comparison of two families of concrete buildings with dual system, the first family is characterized by complying with the requirements of regularity delimited in the norms, the second family breaks with the requirement of slenderness, both families are formed by buildings of 11, 15 and 20 levels. For each building, a sample of at least 50 buildings was created using the Monte Carlo method, varying their mechanical and geometric properties, live loads, dead loads and seismic actions. The samples were evaluated by means of a reliability analysis and then compared. Results: Recommendations are given for obtaining reliability and performance based factors associated with specific ground acceleration and different degrees of slenderness. Conclusions: The Mexico City Building Regulations only contemplate the slenderness irregularity factor when the height/base ratio is greater than 4 and there is also another irregularity in the building. This study shows that infrastructures with slenderness ratios greater than 4 should be considered as irregular and a corrective factor should be applied according to their degree of slenderness, this in turn without having infringed any other irregularityIntroduction: The methodologies and procedures used in the design of buildings shown in the Mexico City Building Regulations 2017 are based on reliability and performance techniques, however, the factors applied in this standard for irregular systems are based on engineering practice. Objective: The aim of this research is to obtain corrective factors applicable to the Mexican standards for the design of concrete structures with slenderness characteristics and with frame-wall system. Methodology: The analysis, design and comparison of two families of concrete buildings with dual system, the first family is characterized by complying with the requirements of regularity delimited in the regulations, the second family breaks with the requirement of slenderness, both families are formed by buildings of 11, 15 and 20 levels. For each building, a sample of at least 50 buildings was created using the Montecarlo method, varying their mechanical and geometric properties, live loads, dead loads and seismic actions. The samples were evaluated by means of a reliability analysis and then compared. Results: Recommendations are given for obtaining reliability and performance based factors associated with specific ground acceleration and different degrees of slenderness. Conclusions: The Mexico City Building Regulations only considers the slenderness irregularity factor when the height/base ratio is greater than 4 and there is also another irregularity in the building. This study shows that buildings with slenderness ratios greater than 4 should be considered as irregular and a corrective factor should be applied according to their degree of slenderness, this in turn without having infringed any other irregularity

In vivo tracking and immunological properties of pulsed porcine monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Cellular therapies using immune cells and in particular dendritic cells (DCs) are being increasingly applied in clinical trials and vaccines. Their success partially depends on accurate delivery of cells to target organs or migration to lymph nodes. Delivery and subsequent migration of cells to regional lymph nodes is essential for effective stimulation of the immune system. Thus, the design of an optimal DC therapy would be improved by optimizing technologies for monitoring DC trafficking. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents a powerful tool for non-invasive imaging of DC migration in vivo. Domestic pigs share similarities with humans and represent an excellent animal model for immunological studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility using pigs as models for DC tracking in vivo. Porcine monocyte derived DC (MoDC) culture with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles was standardized on the basis of SPIO concentration and culture viability. Phenotype, cytokine production and mixed lymphocyte reaction assay confirmed that porcine SPIO-MoDC culture were similar to mock MoDCs and fully functional in vivo. Alike, similar patterns were obtained in human MoDCs. After subcutaneous inoculation in pigs, porcine SPIO-MoDC migration to regional lymph nodes was detected by MRI and confirmed by Perls staining of draining lymph nodes. Moreover, after one dose of virus-like particles-pulsed MoDCs specific local and systemic responses were confirmed using ELISPOT IFN-γ in pigs. In summary, the results in this work showed that after one single subcutaneous dose of pulsed MoDCs, pigs were able to elicit specific local and systemic immune responses. Additionally, the dynamic imaging of MRI-based DC tracking was shown using SPIO particles. This proof-of-principle study shows the potential of using pigs as a suitable animal model to test DC trafficking with the aim of improving cellular therapies.We want to thank: Ferrán López, Rosa López, Zoraida Cervera, Pamela Martinez-Orellana, Tufaria Mussá, Massimiliano Baratelli, Diego Pérez, Sergio López from CRESA and José Luis Ruiz de la Torre and Javier Aceña (UAB) for farm and technical support; Jaume Martorell (Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, UAB) for MRI support; Javier Domínguez (INIA) for the porcine antibodies; Antonio Lestuzzi, Michele Crisci and Raif Yucel for MR imaging support; Joaquim Segalés for anatomic pathology analysis; Mónica Pérez for immunohistochemical stainings; Aida Neira and Blanca Pérez for Perls staining; Eva Huerta y Marina Sibila for PCV2 PCR; David Andreu and Beatriz García de la Torre (Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona), and Esther Blanco (CISA-INIA, Madrid), for the FMDV 3A peptide; Alicia Solórzano for critically reviewing the manuscript. This work was funded by the project AGL2010-22200-C02 of Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. PhD studies of Raquel Cabezón are funded by a doctoral FI fellowship from the Generalitat de Catalunya

La gestión pedagógica y la calidad educativa de una Institución Educativa de Alto Trujillo, El Porvenir- 2017

La presente investigación, tiene por finalidad: Determinar la relación entre la Gestión Pedagógica y la Calidad Educativa, en la institución educativa “Virgen del Carmen” de Alto Trujillo, El Porvenir-2017, cuya Hipótesis: La gestión pedagógica se relaciona con la calidad educativa en la Institución Educativa “Virgen del Carmen” de Alto Trujillo, El Porvenir- 2017, con un enfoque cuantitativo, tipo de investigación no experimental y con un diseño Descriptivo Correlacional, el mismo que demandó la selección de dos instrumentos de recolección de datos: Una Escala Valorativa para evaluar la Gestión Pedagógica y una Guía de Entrevista para evaluar la Calidad Educativa, los mismos que cuentan con la validez y confiabilidad correspondientes y, con los cuales se recogió la información de una población censal compuesta por 28 profesores del nivel secundario de la mencionada institución. Procesados los datos mediante técnicas estadísticas se obtuvieron los siguientes resultados: en la variable Gestión Pedagógica, el nivel alcanzado por los docentes informantes, en su mayoría, es Alto, con el 46% de los mismos. Así mismo, en la variable Calidad Educativa, la mayoría de los informantes (75%) se ubicaron en el nivel Alto. En las relaciones de las dimensiones de la variable Gestión Pedagógica con la variable Calidad Educativa, también los coeficientes de correlación resultaron directos pero bajos y muy bajos; Currículo y Calidad Educativa r= 0,10, Formación docente y Calidad Educativa r= 0,03, Maestro comprometido y Calidad Educativa r= 0,27, Formación del estudiante y Calidad Educativa r= 0,01, obteniéndose como conclusión: La relación estadística entre la Gestión Pedagógica y la Calidad Educativa fue r = 0.08, valor que indica una relación directa pero muy baja. Se recomienda que el personal directivo de la I.E. “Virgen del Carmen” de Alto Trujillo del distrito El Porvenir, consideren en su Proyecto Educativo Institucional (PEI) acciones de capacitación y empoderamiento para los docentes que laboran en esta institución, a fin de lograr que contribuyan con sus aportes a la realización de una mejor gestión pedagógica, orientada al mejoramiento de la calidad educativa

Slenderness in Wall-frame Systems: Corrective factors for the Valley of Mexico

Introduction: The methodologies and procedures used in the design of buildings shown in the Mexico City Building Regulations 2017 are based on reliability and performance techniques, however, the factors applied in this standard for irregular systems are based on engineering practice. Objective: The aim of this research is to obtain corrective factors applicable to the Mexican standards for the design of concrete structures with slenderness characteristics and with frame-wall system. Methodology: The analysis, design and comparison of two families of concrete buildings with dual system, the first family is characterized by complying with the requirements of regularity delimited in the regulations, the second family breaks with the requirement of slenderness, both families are formed by buildings of 11, 15 and 20 levels. For each building, a sample of at least 50 buildings was created using the Montecarlo method, varying their mechanical and geometric properties, live loads, dead loads and seismic actions. The samples were evaluated by means of a reliability analysis and then compared. Results: Recommendations are given for obtaining reliability and performance based factors associated with specific ground acceleration and different degrees of slenderness. Conclusions: The Mexico City Building Regulations only considers the slenderness irregularity factor when the height/base ratio is greater than 4 and there is also another irregularity in the building. This study shows that buildings with slenderness ratios greater than 4 should be considered as irregular and a corrective factor should be applied according to their degree of slenderness, this in turn without having infringed any other irregularity

Impaired insulin signaling pathway in ovarian follicles of cows with cystic ovarian disease

Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is an important cause of infertility in dairy cattle. Follicular cell steroidogenesis and proliferation in ovulatory follicles is stimulated by hormones such as insulin and its necessary post-receptor response. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of insulin receptor (IR), IR substrate-1 (IRS1) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), key intermediates in the insulin pathway, in control cows and cows with spontaneous COD and ACTH-induced COD. IR and IRS1 mRNA levels were greater in granulosa cells and lower in follicular cysts than in control tertiary follicles. PI3K mRNA levels were similar in all follicles evaluated, whereas the expression of IR, IRS1 and PI3K was similar in theca cells. Protein expression of IR was higher in control tertiary follicles than in the same structures in animals with COD and with cysts. IRS1 and PI3K protein expression showed the same pattern in tertiary and cystic follicles. However, the protein expression of subunit alpha p85 of PI3K was greater in theca cells from tertiary follicles than in cystic follicles. These results provide new insights into the insulin response in cows with COD. The lower gene and protein expressions of some insulin downstream effectors at an early stage of the signaling pathway could negatively influence the functionality of ovaries and contribute to follicle persistence.Fil: Hein, Gustavo Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Panzani, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Fernanda Mariel. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Salvetti, Natalia Raquel. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, Pablo Uriel. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Gareis, Natalia Carolina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Benitez, G. A.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Hugo Hector. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Rey, Florencia. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas. Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentin

Can the pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) gene be used as an additional marker to discriminate among Blastocystis strains or subtypes?

Background Blastocystis spp. are the most prevalent intestinal eukaryotes identified in humans, with at least 17 genetic subtypes (ST) based on genes coding for the small-subunit ribosomal RNA (18S). It has been argued that the 18S gene should not be the marker of choice to discriminate between STs of these strains because this marker exhibits high intra-genomic polymorphism. By contrast, pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) is a relevant enzyme involved in the core energy metabolism of many anaerobic microorganisms such as Blastocystis, which, in other protozoa, shows more polymorphisms than the 18S gene and thus may offer finer discrimination when trying to identify Blastocystis ST. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess the suitability of the PFOR gene as an additional marker to discriminate among Blastocystis strains or subtypes from symptomatic carrier children. Methods Faecal samples from 192 children with gastrointestinal symptoms from the State of Mexico were submitted for coprological study. Twenty-one of these samples were positive only for Blastocystis spp.; these samples were analysed by PCR sequencing of regions of the 18S and PFOR genes. The amplicons were purified and sequenced; afterwards, both markers were assessed for genetic diversity. Results The 18S analysis showed the following frequencies of Blastocystis subtypes: ST3 = 43%; ST1 = 38%; ST2 = 14%; and ST7 = 5%. Additionally, using subtype-specific primer sets, two samples showed mixed Blastocystis ST1 and ST2 infection. For PFOR, Bayesian inference revealed the presence of three clades (I-III); two of them grouped different ST samples, and one grouped six samples of ST3 (III). Nucleotide diversity (π) and haplotype polymorphism (θ) for the 18S analysis were similar for ST1 and ST2 (π = ~0.025 and θ = ~0.036); remarkably, ST3 showed almost 10-fold lower values. For PFOR, a similar trend was found: clade I and II had π = ~0.05 and θ = ~0.05, whereas for clade III, the values were almost 6-fold lower. Conclusions Although the fragment of the PFOR gene analysed in the present study did not allow discrimination between Blastocystis STs, this marker grouped the samples in three clades with strengthened support, suggesting that PFOR may be under different selective pressures and evolutionary histories than the 18S gene. Interestingly, the ST3 sequences showed lower variability with probable purifying selection in both markers, meaning that evolutionary forces drive differential processes among Blastocystis STs

Estudio de la microestructura y composición química de dos suelos limo-arcillosos, tratados con nano-sílice

En el presente trabajo se lleva a cabo la caracterización de dos suelos limo-arcillosos con contenidos de agua diferentes, recolectados en el Estado de México. Por medio del microscopio electrónico de barrido (MEB) se observaron partículas aglutinantes de nano-sílice adheridas a las partículas de limo y a cenizas volcánicas presentes en los suelos, lo cual modificó y mejoró algunas características mecánicas e hidráulicas del mismo. Por difracción de Rayos X en polvo (DRX) la muestra presenta abundante silicio y aluminio, una gravedad especifica en promedio de 2.4, el tamaño predominante es del orden de 0.01 a 0.001 mm correspondiente al 49% en peso de la muestra analizada.In the present work, the characterization of two silty-clayey soils with different water contents, collected in the State of Mexico, is carried out. Through the scanning electron microscope (SEM) nano-silica binding particles were observed adhered to the silt particles and volcanic ash present in the soils, which modified sorne mechanical and hydraulic characteristics of the same. By X-Ray powder diffraction (XRD) the sample Present abundant silicon and aluminum, an average specific gravity of 2.4, the predominant size is of the arder of 0.01 to 0.001 mm corresponding to 49% by weight of the analyzed sample

A mutation in the POT1 gene is responsible for cardiac angiosarcoma in TP53-negative Li-Fraumeni-like families

Cardiac angiosarcoma (CAS) is a rare malignant tumour whose genetic basis is unknown. Here we show, by whole-exome sequencing of a TP53-negative Li-Fraumeni-like (LFL) family including CAS cases, that a missense variant (p.R117C) in POT1 (protection of telomeres 1) gene is responsible for CAS. The same gene alteration is found in two other LFL families with CAS, supporting the causal effect of the identified mutation. We extend the analysis to TP53-negative LFL families with no CAS and find the same mutation in a breast AS family. The mutation is recently found once in 121,324 studied alleles in ExAC server but it is not described in any other database or found in 1,520 Spanish controls. In silico structural analysis suggests how the mutation disrupts POT1 structure. Functional and in vitro studies demonstrate that carriers of the mutation show reduced telomere-bound POT1 levels, abnormally long telomeres and increased telomere fragility

Digital T ransformation of SMEs in Paraguay: Challenges and Opportunities

Este artículo revisa la transformación digital de las PYMES en Paraguay, Ecuador y México, con el objetivo de identificar desafíos y oportunidades específicos en cada país. La metodología incluyó una revisión sistemática de la literatura en bases de datos clave, seleccionando estudios publicados en los últimos cinco años. Los resultados revelan divergencias notables: en Paraguay, la capacitación del personal emerge como clave; en Ecuador, estrategias de marketing digital adaptadas a la cultura son fundamentales; en México, la inversión en tecnologías avanzadas se destaca. Estos hallazgos, respaldados por autores como González et al. (2021) y Gómez et al. (2019), sugieren que la transformación digital debe ser contextualizada y estratégica. Se identifican desafíos persistentes, como la ciberseguridad, y se subraya la importancia de políticas gubernamentales adaptadas. Este estudio contribuye a la comprensión global de la transformación digital en PYMES y destaca la necesidad de estrategias locales efectivas.This article reviews the digital transformation of SMEs in Paraguay, Ecuador, and Mexico with the aim of identifying specific challenges and opportunities in each country. The methodology included a systematic literature review of key databases, selecting studies published in the last five years. The results reveal notable divergences: in Paraguay, employee training emerges as crucial; in Ecuador, culturally adapted digital marketing strategies are fundamental; in Mexico, investment in advanced technologies stands out. These findings, supported by authors such as González et al. (2021) and Gómez et al. (2019), suggest that digital transformation must be contextualized and strategic. Persistent challenges, such as cybersecurity, are identified, emphasizing the importance of tailored government policies. This study contributes to the global understanding of digital transformation in SMEs and underscores the need for effective local strategies