Characterization of femtosecond laser written waveguides for integrated biochemical sensing

Fluorescence detection is known to be one of the most sensitive among the different optical sensing techniques. This work focuses on excitation and detection of fluorescence emitted by DNA strands labeled with fluorescent dye molecules that can be excited at a specific wavelength. Excitation occurs via optical channel waveguides written with femtosecond laser pulses applied coplanar with a microfluidic channel on a glass chip. The waveguides are optically characterized in order to facilitate the design of sensing structures which can be applied for monitoring the spatial separation of biochemical\ud species as a result of capillary electrophoresis

Integration of femtosecond laser written waveguides for optical detection in microfluidic chips

Optical waveguides have been fabricated focusing femtosecond laser pulses into a commercial microfluidic chip. The waveguides intersect the channels and are used to optically excite their content. Fluorescence from the optically addressed volume is efficiently collected by a fiber, resulting in an highly compact and portable setup

Separation and characterization of nonphosphorylated and serine-phosphorylated urokinase. Catalytic properties and sensitivity to plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1.

Urokinase synthesized by human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells is phosphorylated on serine (Mastronicola, M. R., Stoppelli, M. P., Migliaccio, A., Auricchio, F., and Blasi, F. (1990) FEBS Lett. 266, 109-114). To test the possibility that phosphorylation may have specific effects on urokinase function, the phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated forms of urokinase were separated by Fe(3+)-Sepharose chromatography. Both forms exhibit indistinguishable Km and kcat for plasminogen activation. On the other hand, their sensitivity toward the specific plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 is different as assessed by measuring both the stability of the covalent complex and the residual enzymatic activity. Phosphorylated urokinase was 50% inhibited at a concentration of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 4-fold higher than nonphosphorylated urokinase (0.7 versus 0.15 nM). Furthermore about 10% of phosphorylated urokinase was resistant to plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 at a concentration as high as 20 nM. Thus, phosphorylation affects urokinase sensitivity to plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, therefore resulting in a net, although indirect, increase of urokinase activity. These results suggest the existence of a novel cellular regulatory mechanism of extracellular proteolysis

A stochastic model for simulation and forecasting of emergencies in the area of Milano

In this paper a method for estimating and forecasting the demand of ambulance service in the area of Milano is presented. We assume that time and location of an emergency service request are outcomes of a space-time marked point process. Thus we estimate the intensity of the process on the basis of the records of specific emergency call history over 3 years (2005- 2007). The mean number of emergencies occurring daily is also related, via a linear regression model, to some exogenous variables, which can be measured and used for the forecasting procedure. Simulation results based on such estimates and real data observed during 2008 are presented

Divane de Vargas CORRESPONDING AUTHOR

Submission: 11-04-2014 Approval: 07-28-2015 ABSTRACT Objective: to describe and understand the conceptions of nursing assistants working in Psychosocial Care Centers for alcohol and drugs (CAPS ad), about the patient with addictions. Method: sixteen nursing assistants and technicians from nine of the CAPS ad in São Paulo were interviewed, and data were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Results: performing the functions in the CAPS ad enabled the change in staff's conception from a stigmatizing and prejudiced view, to the concept of chemical dependence as a disease and those who are chemically dependent as patients with comorbidities and family problems, in need of help and treatment. Conclusion: professional practice in specialized services for alcohol and other drugs enables changes in the staff's conceptions about chemically dependent individuals, highlighting the need to include the subject of alcohol and drugs in the school curriculum. Key words: Nursing, Team; Substance-Related Disorders; Mental Health Services. RESUMO Objetivo: descrever e compreender as concepções dos profi ssionais de nível médio em enfermagem dos Centros de Atenção Psicossocial álcool e drogas (CAPS ad), perante o dependente químico. Método: foram entrevistados 16 auxiliares e técnicos de enfermagem de 9 CAPS ad do município de São Paulo, e os dados foram analisados utilizando-se o método de comparação constante. Resultados: o desempenho das funções no CAPS ad possibilitou a mudança de concepção dos trabalhadores, de uma visão estigmatizante e preconceituosa, para a concepção da dependência química como doença e dos dependentes químicos como pessoas doentes que possuem comorbidades e problemas familiares, que necessitam de auxílio e tratamento. Conclusão: a prática profi ssional em serviços especializados em álcool e outras drogas favorece a mudança nas concepções dos trabalhadores sobre o dependente químico, destacando-se a necessidade da inclusão do tema álcool e drogas no currículo escolares. Descritores: Equipe de Enfermagem; Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias; Serviços de Saúde Mental. RESUMEN Objetivo: describir y comprender las concepciones de técnicos y auxiliaries de Enfermería de los Centros de Atención Psicosocial alcohol y drogas (CAPS ad), frente al dependiente químico. Método: fueron entrevistados 16 auxiliares y técnicos de enfermería de 9 CAPS ad del municipio de São Paulo, los datos fueron analisados utilizando el método de comparación constante. Resultados: el desempeño de las funciones en el CAPS ad facilitó el cambio de la concepción de los trabajadores, de una vision estigmatizante y prejuiciosa, hacia una comcepción de la dependencia química como una enfermerdad, y de los dependientes químicos como personas enfermas que poseen co-morbilidades y problemas familiars, que necesitan de auxilio y tratamiento. Conclusión: la práctica professional en servicios especializados en alcohol y otras drogas favorece el cambio en las concepciones de los trabajadores sobre el dependiente químico, destacandose la necesidad de la inclusion del tema de alcohol y drogas en los curriculos escolares

Biallelic Mutations in DNM1L are Associated with a Slowly Progressive Infantile Encephalopathy

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles, undergoing continuous fission and fusion, and mitochondrial dynamics is important for several cellular functions. DNM1L is the most important mediator of mitochondrial fission, with a role also in peroxisome division. Few reports of patients with genetic defects in DNM1L have been published, most of them describing de novo dominant mutations. We identified compound heterozygous DNM1L variants in two brothers presenting with an infantile slowly progressive neurological impairment. One variant was a frame-shift mutation, the other was a missense change, the pathogenicity of which was validated in a yeast model. Fluorescence microscopy revealed abnormally elongated mitochondria and aberrant peroxisomes in mutant fibroblasts, indicating impaired fission of these organelles. In conclusion, we described a recessive disease caused by DNM1L mutations, with a clinical phenotype resembling mitochondrial disorders but without any biochemical features typical of these syndromes (lactic acidosis, respiratory chain complex deficiency) or indicating a peroxisomal disorder