Nanocomposite Hydrogels as Platform for Cells Growth,Proliferation, and Chemotaxis

The challenge of mimicking the extracellular matrix with artificial scaffolds that are able to reduce immunoresponse is still unmet. Recent findings have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) infiltrating into the implanted scaffold have effects on the implant integration by improving the healing process. Toward this aim, a novel polyamidoamine‐based nanocomposite hydrogel is synthesized, cross‐linked with porous nanomaterials (i.e., mesoporous silica nanoparticles), able to release chemokine proteins. A comprehensive viscoelasticity study confirms that the hydrogel provides optimal structural support for MSC infiltration and proliferation. The efficiency of this hydrogel, containing the chemoattractant stromal cell‐derived factor 1α (SDF‐1α), in promoting MSC migration in vitro is demonstrated. Finally, subcutaneous implantation of SDF‐1α‐releasing hydrogels in mice results in a modulation of the inflammatory reaction. Overall, the proposed SDF‐1α‐nanocomposite hydrogel proves to have potential for applications in tissue engineering.     

A microfabricated sensor for thin dielectric layers

We describe a sensor for the measurement of thin dielectric layers capable of operation in a variety of environments. The sensor is obtained by microfabricating a capacitor with interleaved aluminum fingers, exposed to the dielectric to be measured. In particular, the device can measure thin layers of solid frozen from a liquid or gaseous medium. Sensitivity to single atomic layers is achievable in many configurations and, by utilizing fast, high sensitivity capacitance readout in a feedback system onto environmental parameters; coatings of few layers can be dynamically maintained. We discuss the design, readout, and calibration of several versions of the device optimized in different ways. We specifically dwell on the case in which atomically thin solid xenon layers are grown and stabilized, in cryogenic conditions, from a liquid xenon bath.     

Modelling hypermedia and web applications: the Ariadne Development Method

The development process of hypermedia and web systems poses very specific problems that do not appear in other software applications, such as the need for mechanisms to model sophisticated navigational structures, interactive behaviors, interfaces with external applications, security constraints and multimedia compositions. Even though experience, modelling skills and abstractions can be borrowed from existing software design methods, such as object-oriented modelling, hypermedia developers need specific mechanisms to analyze and design using entities that belong to the hypermedia domain (such as nodes, links, anchors and space and time-based relationships). Moreover, hypermedia methods should provide mechanisms to deal with all the aforementioned features in a progressive and integrated way. In this paper, we present the Ariadne Development Method (ADM), a software engineering method that proposes a systematic, flexible, integrative and platform-independent process to specify and evaluate hypermedia and web applications. ADM has been shown particularly useful in complex systems involving a huge number of users with different abilities to access information, with a complex structure where a huge number of nodes have to be organized in a clear way to produce specifications that are discussed by people with an heterogeneous background. This is the case of ARCE, a Latin American project where 21 countries are cooperating to produce a web platform to improve assistance in disaster mitigation situations.     

Development of Computational Approaches with a Fragment-Based Drug Design Strategy: In Silico Hsp90 Inhibitors Discovery

A semi-exhaustive approach and a heuristic search algorithm use a fragment-based drug design (FBDD) strategy for designing new inhibitors in an in silico process. A deconstruction reconstruction process uses a set of known Hsp90 ligands for generating new ones. The deconstruction process consists of cutting off a known ligand in fragments. The reconstruction process consists of coupling fragments to develop a new set of ligands. For evaluating the approaches, we compare the binding energy of the new ligands with the known ligands.     

Characterization and Functionality of Frozen Muscle Protein in Volador (Illexcoindetii), Pota (Todaropsis eblanae), and Octopus (Eledone cirrhosa)

ABSTRACT: Three species of cephalopods: volador (Illex coindetii) , pota (Todaropsis eblanae) , and octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) were classified according to sex, stage of sexual development, and anatomical zone for characterization and functionality of their muscle proteins. The 3 species exhibited very similar levels of total protein. Octopus mantles and arms contained the least proline and the most hydroxyproline. The highest solubility values in immature pota coincided with the lowest apparent viscosity and emulsifying capacity values. The highest insolubility values observed in octopus coincided with the highest viscosity and emulsifying capacity values. However, in volador which exhibited an intermediate solubility, viscosity was very high and emulsifying capacity was very low.     

Muscle protein solubility of some cephalopods (pota and octopus) during frozen storage

This study relates to myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic protein solubility in 5% NaCl and collagen solubility in 0.05 M acetic acid, from muscle and mantle of pota (Todaropsis eblanae) and octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) kept in frozen storage for 12 months. In both species, protein solubility in 5% NaCl remained high, over 60%, throughout the storage period. Solubility was lower in the octopus than in the pota lots. The species also behaved differently in terms of the increase in solubility, which occurred earlier in octopus (after 2 months) than in pota (after 5–6 months). Thereafter, solubility gradually declined. The values for solubility of proteins from mantle of both pota and octopus in 5% NaCl were greater in young specimens than in mature samples. There was no clear gender‐dependent tendency. The acid solubility of collagen also increased in most lots up to the sixth month, after which it characteristically began to decline. Pota collagen was significantly more soluble in mantles than in arms. In octopus mantle, collagen solubility gradually declined. In the sexually developed phases (immature and mature), no gender‐dependent differences were detected in the solubility of collagen from octopus mantle and arms. However, values did tend to be slightly higher in females. The mantles of immature specimens of pota and octopus were more suitable for freezing. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Controlled atmosphere as coadjuvant to chilled storage for prevention of melanosis in shrimps (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Parapenaeus longirostris</Emphasis>)

The effect of a controlled atmosphere with high CO₂ and low O₂ levels on melanosis in deepwater pink shrimps (Parapenaeus longirostris) treated with sulphites was studied in samples in chilled storage. The application of atmosphere in shrimps without antimelanotics did not inhibit melanosis. Shrimps treated with 4% sulphites in combination with a concentration of 53% CO₂ and 7% O₂ totally inhibited darkening during storage. Covering with crushed ice produced an undesirable shrinking of muscle shrimp after cooking. The application of lower concentrations of CO₂ (45%) reduced the effectiveness in preventing darkening, compared with 53% CO₂, except where the melanosis inhibitor was 4-hexylresorcinol (0.1%). The residual effect of the gas when the shrimps were kept in a controlled atmosphere for 24 h was insufficient to prevent melanosis during further cold storage.     

Sternal cleft. Surgical treatment in the newborn

The lack of total sternal fusion without other anomalies of the chest wall is extremely rare. We present the case of one 24 h. old female, clinically asymptomatic with complete sternal cleft without other symptoms. She was operated on within the first week of life, a sternal primary suture with costal condrotomy and alternate costal suture were performed. Good thoracic stability was obtained. We agree with other authors about the need for surgical correction during the neonatal period.     

Double outlet right ventricle with L-position of the aorta, D-loop, subaortic VSD, and pulmonary stenosis

We describe a case of double outlet right ventricle with subaortic ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis treated successfully with cardiopulmonary bypass. We consider the clinical history and angiocardiographic and surgical findings of this rare anomaly. We stress the difficulties of reconstruction of the outflow tract of the right ventricle, because of the anomalous pathway of the right coronary artery, the posterior situation of the pulmonary artery, and the abnormal anatomy present in the outflow tract of the right ventricle.