Reflections on the institutionalization process of scientific research in Latin America: the case of Cinvestav

Scientometrics - Consolidation of the scientific activity in Latin American research centers has been a matter of serious concern in recent years. In the present study we use a data set of the WoS...     

Lipids and Fatty Acids of the Gonads of Sea Urchin Diadema setosum (Echinodermata) From the Coastal Area of the Nha Trang Bay,Central Vietnam

The sea urchin Diadema setosum is edible and desirable as food by locals in central Vietnam and a promising target for potential fishing. The lipid profiles of the gonads of the sea urchin inhabiting the coastal area in Nha Trang Bay are studied for the first time. The determination of the content of the total lipids (TL), total phospholipids (PL), monoacylglycerols (MAG), diacylglycerols (DAG), triacylglycerols (TAG), cholesterol (Chol), sterol esters, and free fatty acids (FFA) is analyzed by high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC); the phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylcholine (PC), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and sphingomyelin (SM) are determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC); and the fatty acid levels of TLs are identified using gas chromatography (GC). Non-polar TAG, FFA, Chol, and DAG dominated. The content of total PL is significant. PC is abundant among PL fractions, followed by PE, PI, and PS. The TLs contain a high proportion of PUFA, mainly due to arachidonic fatty acid and eicosapentanoic fatty acid. The (n−6)/(n−3) ratio is 1.68, and the atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes of D. setosum are 1.13 and 0.73. The results can be used in the development of marine bioprospecting and methodological approaches for the creation of functional substances.     

Oxidative Stress and Low-Grade Inflammation in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Controversies and New Insights

The pathophysiology of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is quite complex and different mechanisms could contribute to hyperandrogenism and anovulation, which are the main features of the syndrome. Obesity and insulin-resistance are claimed as the principal factors contributing to the clinical presentation; in normal weight PCOS either, increased visceral adipose tissue has been described. However, their role is still debated, as debated are the biochemical markers linked to obesity per se. Oxidative stress (OS) and low-grade inflammation (LGI) have recently been a matter of researcher attention; they can influence each other in a reciprocal vicious cycle. In this review, we summarize the main mechanism of radical generation and the link with LGI. Furthermore, we discuss papers in favor or against the role of obesity as the first pathogenetic factor, and show how OS itself, on the contrary, can induce obesity and insulin resistance; in particular, the role of GH-IGF-1 axis is highlighted. Finally, the possible consequences on vitamin D synthesis and activation on the immune system are briefly discussed. This review intends to underline the key role of oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation in the physiopathology of PCOS, they can cause or worsen obesity, insulin-resistance, vitamin D deficiency, and immune dyscrasia, suggesting an inverse interaction to what is usually considered.     

Lactones in the Synthesis of Prostaglandins and Prostaglandin Analogs

In the total stereo-controlled synthesis of natural prostaglandins (PGs) and their structural analogs, a vast class of compounds and drugs, known as the lactones, are encountered in a few key steps to build the final molecule, as: δ-lactones, γ-lactones, and 1,9-, 1,11-, and 1,15-macrolactones. After the synthesis of 1,9-PGF_2α and 1,15-PGF_2α lactones, many 1,15-lactones of E₂, E₃, F₂, F₃, A₂, and A₃ were found in the marine mollusc Tethys fimbria and the quest for understanding their biological role stimulated the research on their synthesis. Then 1,9-, 1,11-, and 1,15-PG lactones of the drugs were synthesized as an alternative to the corresponding esters, and the first part of the paper describes the methods used for their synthesis. The efficient Corey procedure for the synthesis of prostaglandins uses the key δ-lactone and γ-lactone intermediates with three or four stereocenters on the cyclopentane fragment to link the PG side chains. The paper describes the most used procedures for the synthesis of the milestone δ-Corey-lactones and γ-Corey-lactones, their improvements, and some new promising methods, such as interesting, new stereo-controlled and catalyzed enantioselective reactions, and methods based on the chemical/enzymatic resolution of the compounds in different steps of the sequences. The many uses of δ-lactones not only for the synthesis of γ-lactones, but also for obtaining 9β-halogen-PGs and halogen-substituted cyclopentane intermediates, as synthons for new 9β-PG analogs and future applications, are also discussed.     

Cytotoxic Potential of a-Azepano- and 3-Amino-3,4-SeCo-Triterpenoids

Semi-synthetic triterpenoids, holding an amino substituted seven-membered A-ring (azepano-ring), which could be synthesized from triterpenic oximes through a Beckmann type rearrangement followed by a reduction of lactame fragment, are considered to be novel promising agents exhibiting anti-microbial, alpha-glucosidase, and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. In this study, in an attempt to develop new antitumor candidates, a series of A-ring azepano- and 3-amino-3,4-seco-derivatives of betulin, oleanolic, ursolic, and glycyrrhetinic acids were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines and non-malignant mouse fibroblasts by means of a colorimetric sulforhodamine assay. Azepanoallobetulinic acid amide derivative 11 was the most cytotoxic compound of this series but showed little selectivity between the different human tumor cell lines. Flow cytometry experiments showed compound 11 to act mainly by apoptosis (44.3%) and late apoptosis (21.4%). The compounds were further screened at the National Cancer Institute towards a panel of 60 cancer cell lines. It was found that compounds 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, and 20 showed growth inhibitory (GI₅₀) against the most sensitive cell lines at submicromolar concentrations (0.20–0.94 μM), and their cytotoxic activity (LC₅₀) was also high (1–6 μM). Derivatives 3, 8, 11, 15, and 16 demonstrated a certain selectivity profile at GI₅₀ level from 5.16 to 9.56 towards K-562, CCRF-CEM, HL-60(TB), and RPMI-8226 (Leukemia), HT29 (Colon cancer), and OVCAR-4 (Ovarian cancer) cell lines. Selectivity indexes of azepanoerythrodiol 3 at TGI level ranged from 5.93 (CNS cancer cell lines SF-539, SNB-19 and SNB-75) to 14.89 for HCT-116 (colon cancer) with SI 9.56 at GI₅₀ level for the leukemia cell line K-562. The present study highlighted the importance of A-azepano-ring in the triterpenic core for the development of novel antitumor agents, and a future aim to increase the selectivity profile will thus lie in the area of modifications of azepano-triterpenic acids at their carboxyl group.     

When agility meets open innovation: two approaches to manage inbound projects

Open Innovation is a leading paradigm in the current landscape, and scholars have been highly focused on defining the characteristics and capabilities that firms need to implement it successfully. This research aims to understand how organizations may implement inbound OI projects. Relying on a multiple case study approach and based on primary and secondary sources, this research highlights two main approaches: team‐centred and individual‐centred. The two approaches are discussed according to previous studies, highlighting how the first one is particularly coherent with previous research on Open Innovation, while the second one offers great insights from an Agile Project Management perspective. In particular, this research suggests how the Open Innovation literature can be enriched by considering the recent advancements in the Agile literature, valuing the individual and its autonomy to embrace external ideas from an OI perspective.     

Transverse magnetoresistance peculiarities of thermoelectric Lu-doped Bi2Te3 compound due to strong electrical disorder

The n-type thermoelectric Bi_1.9Lu_0.1Te₃ was prepared by microwave-solvothermal method and spark plasma sintering. The magnetic field and temperature dependences of transverse magnetoresistance measured within temperature 2–200 K interval allow finding the peculiarities characteristic for strongly disordered and inhomogeneous semiconductors. The first peculiarity is due to appearance of linear-in-magnetic field contribution to the total magnetoresistance reflected in a crossover from quadratic magnetoresistance at low magnetic fields to linear magnetoresistance at high magnetic fields. The linear magnetoresistance can result from the Hall resistance picked up from macroscopically distorted current paths due to local variations in stoichiometry of the compound studied. The second peculiarity is that both linear magnetoresistance magnitude and crossover field are functions of carrier mobility which is in agreement with the Parish and Littlewood model developed for disordered and inhomogeneous semiconductors. An increase in the mobility due to a decrease in temperature is accompanied by an increase in the magnetoresistance magnitude and a decrease in the crossover field. Finally, the third peculiarity is related to the remarkable deviation of the total magnetoresistance measured at various temperatures from the Kohler's rule. Presence of strong inhomogeneity and disorder in the Bi_1.9Lu_0.1Te₃ structure concluded from the magnetoresistance peculiarities can be responsible for the remarkable reduction in the total thermal conductivity of this compound.     

One-step synthesis of graphene supported platinum nanoparticles as electrocatalyst for PEM fuel cells

Here in, we describe an ultrafast, single-step microwave irradiation route (MW) to prepare graphene supported Pt nanoparticles, during which the small Pt nanoparticles are distributed uniformly on a reduced graphene oxide surface. This route provides evident advantages namely low cost, easiness, low time consuming and high yield in comparison to actual chemical methods to develop efficient Pt/rGO catalyst with Pt content close to state-of-the-art commercial composition. The structure and composition of prepared samples have been studied by specific techniques, while the electrocatalytic stability has been studied using ex-situ and in-situ measurements. High performance and electrochemically stable catalyst for PEM fuel cells was developed using the sample with highest loading and good dispersion. The fabricated Pt-rGO-based MEA was investigated for durability under fuel starvation in comparison with commercial Pt/C-based MEA. The electrocatalytic activity was investigated and the electrochemical response revealed the higher stability during accelerated degradation test under fuel starvation in comparison with commercial Pt/C. This study promotes the applicability of described preparation method to noble or transition metal nanoparticles embedded on graphene-based materials.     

Cocaine Induces Cytoskeletal Changes in Cardiac Myocytes: Implications for Cardiac Morphology

Cocaine is one of the most widely abused illicit drugs worldwide and has long been recognised as an agent of cardiac dysfunction in numerous cases of drug overdose. Cocaine has previously been shown to up-regulate cytoskeletal rearrangements and morphological changes in numerous tissues; however, previous literature observes such changes primarily in clinical case reports and addiction studies. An investigation into the fundamental cytoskeletal parameters of migration, adhesion and proliferation were studied to determine the cytoskeletal and cytotoxic basis of cocaine in cardiac cells. Treatment of cardiac myocytes with cocaine increased cell migration and adhesion (p < 0.05), with no effect on cell proliferation, except with higher doses eliciting (1–10 μg/mL) its diminution and increase in cell death. Cocaine downregulated phosphorylation of cofilin, decreased expression of adhesion modulators (integrin-β3) and increased expression of ezirin within three hours of 1 μg/mL treatments. These functional responses were associated with changes in cellular morphology, including alterations in membrane stability and a stellate-like phenotype with less compaction between cells. Higher dose treatments of cocaine (5–10 μg/mL) were associated with significant cardiomyocyte cell death (p < 0.05) and loss of cellular architecture. These results highlight the importance of cocaine in mediating cardiomyocyte function and cytotoxicity associated with the possible loss of intercellular contacts required to maintain normal cell viability, with implications for cardiotoxicity relating to hypertrophy and fibrogenesis.