ESTABLISHING DEGRADATION OF THE C. ELEGANS DREAM COMPLEX IN THE GERMLINE

The highly conserved Dp, Rb, E2F, and MuvB (DREAM) complex is responsible for the transcriptional repression of cell cycle genes. The DREAM complex has been extensively studied in somatic (non-reproductive) cells, but there is a gap in knowledge regarding how the DREAM complex may function in germ (reproductive) cells. To demonstrate loss-of-function of DREAM in the germline, we used the auxin-inducible degron (AID) system to establish degradation of LIN-54, a subunit of DREAM’s MuvB subcomplex, and the Retinoblastoma-like pocket protein LIN-35 in C. elegans. Using transgenic lines that express the Arabidopsis thaliana TIR1 E3 ubiquitin ligase ubiquitously through all C. elegans tissues or specifically only in somatic tissue, we evaluated the effects following treatment of auxin that triggers TIR1-mediated rapid degradation of degron-tagged LIN-54 or degron-tagged LIN-35. In our LIN-54 evaluation, brood size counting experiments showed a difference in fertility between worms exposed to auxin and the control group in both TIR1 transgenic lines, suggesting either that LIN-54’s somatic activity is important for fertility or the somatic-expressed TIR1 transgene had some activity in the germline. Subsequent fluorescence microscopy revealed decreased expression of LIN-54 or LIN-35 in the germline in each TIR1-expressing transgenic worm background when exposed to auxin, as compared to the control group, indicating that the somatically-expressed TIR1 transgene does have activity in the germline. These results suggest that DREAM disruption in the germline negatively affects germ cell production and fertility. Our results underscore that new TIR1-expressing transgenic lines will have to be generated to confirm that DREAM’s somatic activity does not contribute to fertility in some form

The DCU laser ion source

Laser ion sources are used to generate and deliver highly charged ions of various masses and energies. We present details on the design and basic parameters of the DCU laser ion source (LIS). The theoretical aspects of a high voltage (HV) linear LIS are presented and the main issues surrounding laser-plasma formation, ion extraction and modeling of beam transport in relation to the operation of a LIS are detailed. A range of laser power densities (I ∼ 108–1011 W cm−2) and fluences (F = 0.1–3.9 kJ cm−2) from a Q-switched ruby laser (full-width half-maximum pulse duration ∼ 35 ns, λ = 694 nm) were used to generate a copper plasma. In “basic operating mode,” laser generated plasma ions are electrostatically accelerated using a dc HV bias (5–18 kV). A traditional einzel electrostatic lens system is utilized to transport and collimate the extracted ion beam for detection via a Faraday cup. Peak currents of up to I ∼ 600 μA for Cu+ to Cu3+ ions were recorded. The maximum collected charge reached 94 pC (Cu2+). Hydrodynamic simulations and ion probe diagnostics were used to study the plasma plume within the extraction gap. The system measured performance and electrodynamic simulations indicated that the use of a short field-free (L = 48 mm) region results in rapid expansion of the injected ion beam in the drift tube. This severely limits the efficiency of the electrostatic lens system and consequently the sources performance. Simulations of ion beam dynamics in a “continuous einzel array” were performed and experimentally verified to counter the strong space-charge force present in the ion beam which results from plasma extraction close to the target surface. Ion beam acceleration and injection thus occur at “high pressure.” In “enhanced operating mode,” peak currents of 3.26 mA (Cu2+) were recorded. The collected currents of more highly charged ions (Cu4+–Cu6+) increased considerably in this mode of operation

Manejo fisioterapéutico en pacientes hospitalizados con accidente cerebrovascular en fase aguda en el Complejo Hospitalario Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid de septiembre a noviembre del 2019

Este informe se llevó a cabo en las instalaciones del Complejo Hospitalario Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid durante la realización de la práctica profesional supervisada en el Servicio de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, en los meses de septiembre a noviembre de 2019, con la finalidad de dejar una guía para el manejo del accidente cerebrovascular en fase aguda. Se realizó la atención fisioterapéutica de distintos pacientes con patologías diversas, al estudiante le fue permitido asistir a docencias brindadas en el período de la práctica y realizar muchas otras actividades. Se propuso la intervención fisioterapéutica temprana en pacientes que sufrieron un accidente cerebrovascular y se encuentran en fase aguda, se llevó a cabo dicha propuesta y los resultados obtenidos en su mayoría fueron satisfactorios, dentro de esos resultados podemos encontrar que a lo largo de la intervención el nivel de gravedad que deja estos eventos fue disminuyendo, con una notable recuperación de la fuerza muscular y una cantidad significativa de pacientes pudo ir a su rehabilitación ambulatoria. El realizar esta intervención y dejar una guía en el Complejo del manejo de los pacientes, les sirve a los terapeutas que laboran en dicha institución para contribuir con el tratamiento y así lograr su máxima recuperación

Nuclear pumping of a neutral carbon laser

Nuclear pumped lasing on the neutral carbon line at 1.45 micron was achieved in mixtures of He-CO, He-N2-CO, He-CO2, and Ne-CO and Ne-CO2. A minimum thermal neutron flux of 2 x 10 to the 14th power sq cm-sec was sufficient for oscillation in the helium mixtures. The peak of the laser output was delayed up to 5.5 ms relative to the neutron pulse in He-CO2, He-N2-CO, Ne-CO, and Ne-CO2 mixtures while no delay was observed in He-CO mixtures. Lasing was obtained with helium pressures from 20 to 800 T, Ne pressures from 100 to 200 T, CO from 0.25 to 20 mT, N2 from 0.5 mT, and CO2 from 0.1 to 25 mT in the respective mixtures

Self-focusing in processes of laser generation of highly-charged and high-energy heavy ions

Laser-beam interaction with expanding plasma was investigated using the PALS high-power iodine-laser system. The interaction conditions are significantly changing with the laser focus spot position. The decisive role of the laser-beam self-focusing, participating in the production of ions with the highest charge states, was proved

Factors influencing parameters of laser ion sources

Various applications demand various kinds of ions. Charge state, energy and the amount of laser produced ions depend, primary, on the wavelength, the energy, the pulse duration, and the focusing ability of the laser used. Angle of the target irradiation, angle of the ion extraction (recording), and mainly the focus setting may significantly influence especially the portion of ions with the highest charge states. The participation of non-linear processes on the generation of ions with extremely high parameters is demonstrated. The observed effects support the idea of a longitudinal structure of the self-focused laser beam with a space period of ∼200 µm

Floor and Ceiling Effects, Time to Completion, and Question Burden of PROMIS CAT Domains Among Shoulder and Knee Patients Undergoing Nonoperative and Operative Treatment

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computer adaptive tests (CATs) have emerged as an efficient technique for measuring patient-reported outcomes among orthopaedic patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the floor and ceiling (F/C) effects, time to completion (TTC), and question burden of PROMIS CATs administered to patients presenting to a shoulder and sports medicine orthopaedic clinic. Methods: Patients prospectively completed PROMIS CATs including the physical function (PROMIS-PF) or upper-extremity function (PROMIS-UE), pain interference (PROMIS-PI), and depression (PROMIS-D) domains at their initial encounter and were retrospectively included in this study. Adult patients indicating a single problem involving either the shoulder or knee were included. Patients were also grouped as either preoperative or nonoperative. F/C effects were defined as the proportion of respondents scoring the highest (ceiling) or lowest (floor) possible score across a given domain. Results: Included were 2,952 patients (average age, 51.0 ± 16.9 years). The PROMIS-UE, PROMIS-PF, and PROMIS-PI demonstrated negligible F/C effects across all shoulder and knee patients (\u3c2%). The PROMIS-D displayed moderate to significant floor effects (13.9% to 18.9%) and a 0% ceiling effect in all main patient groups. The mean TTC and mean question burden of the PROMIS-UE, PROMIS-PF, and PROMIS-PI ranged from 45.3 to 54.4 seconds and 4.1 to 4.9 questions for all patient groups, while the PROMIS-D exhibited a TTC ranging from 20.9 to 38.6 seconds for all groups and a question burden that ranged from 6.2 to 6.7 questions. Conclusions: The PROMIS-PF, PROMIS-UE, and PROMIS-PI demonstrated favorable F/C effects, TTC, and question burden among both nonoperative and preoperative patients. These findings justify consideration of the PROMIS-PF, PROMIS-UE, and PROMIS-PI for clinical and research applications involving shoulder and knee sports medicine patients. Additionally, we found moderate to significant floor effects for the PROMIS-D in all patient groups, which may be multifactorial in nature and may not be unexpected in patients with an isolated joint concern. Clinical Relevance: This study highlights the psychometric properties of PROMIS CAT forms for knee and shoulder patients. Understanding these basic properties is important in considering the adoption of PROMIS CAT forms for patients with musculoskeletal conditions