LC-MS based quantification of 2’-ribosylated nucleosides Ar(p) and Gr(p) in tRNA

RNA nucleosides are often naturally modified into complex non-canonical structures with key biological functions. Here we report LC-MS quantification of the Ar(p) and Gr(p) 2'-ribosylated nucleosides in tRNA using deuterium labelled standards, and the first detection of Gr(p) in complex fungi

Jamming and percolation of k3 -mers on simple cubic lattices

Jamming and percolation of three-dimensional (3D) k×k×k cubic objects (k3-mers) deposited on simple cubic lattices have been studied by numerical simulations complemented with finite-size scaling theory. The k3-mers were irreversibly deposited into the lattice. Jamming coverage θj,k was determined for a wide range of k (2≤k≤40). θj,k exhibits a decreasing behavior with increasing k, being θj,k=∞=0.4204(9) the limit value for large k3-mer sizes. In addition, a finite-size scaling analysis of the jamming transition was carried out, and the corresponding spatial correlation length critical exponent νj was measured, being νj≈3/2. However, the obtained results for the percolation threshold θp,k showed that θp,k is an increasing function of k in the range 2≤k≤16. For k≥17, all jammed configurations are nonpercolating states, and consequently, the percolation phase transition disappears. The interplay between the percolation and the jamming effects is responsible for the existence of a maximum value of k (in this case, k=16) from which the percolation phase transition no longer occurs. Finally, a complete analysis of critical exponents and universality has been done, showing that the percolation phase transition involved in the system has the same universality class as the 3D random percolation, regardless of the size k considered.Fil: Buchini Labayen, Ana Carla. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; ArgentinaFil: Centres, Paulo Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; ArgentinaFil: Pasinetti, Pedro Marcelo. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; ArgentinaFil: Ramirez Pastor, Antonio Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; Argentin

Estudio del fenómeno de adsorción reversa en mezclas binarias considerando tamaño e interacciones laterales

Se ha observado en la adsorción de mezclas sobre superficies homogéneas que en algunos sistemas cuando se aumenta la presión una especie desplaza a otra, quedando en ocasiones sólo una de ellas presente en la superficie, esto es el fenómeno de adsorción reversa (Adsorption Preference Reversal). Este fenómeno se ha estudiado por un lado haciendo hincapié en las interacciones laterales entre moléculas adsorbidas, por medio de matriz transferencia1,2, simulación de Monte Carlo y campo medio3. Por otro lado en un trabajo posterior se estudió el mismo fenómeno considerando una mezcla k-mero/r-mero (partículas que ocupan k (r) sitios de adsorción consecutivos), mediante el cálculo exacto en una dimensión, y se mostró que si se consideraban los distintos tamaños de las moléculas, el mismo ocurría incluso sin energía de interacción lateral4. En dos dimensiones no existe solución exacta a este problema por lo que ha sido necesario proponer diversas aproximaciones5, éstas describen la adsorción de mezclas de k-meros/r-meros teniendo en cuenta el tamaño, pero la influencia de las interacciones laterales fue introducida sólo mediante la aproximación de Bragg-Williams (campo medio). En este trabajo avanzamos sobre este problema mediante la aproximación cuasi-química para mezclas kmero/r-mero con interacciones laterales atractivas y repulsivas. Se analizan las isotermas de adsorción y el cruce de isotermas parciales, dando una descripción tanto de la influencia de las interacciones laterales como del tamaño de las especies.Fil: Buchini Labayen, A. C.. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Davila, Mara Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; ArgentinaFil: Pasinetti, Pedro Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; ArgentinaFil: Ramirez Pastor, Antonio Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; ArgentinaVIII Encuentro de Física y Química de SuperficiesSan LuisArgentinaUniversidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés ZgrablichUniversidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de MatemáticaUniversidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Químic

Attitudes and practices towards vital signs monitoring on paediatric wards: Cross-validation of the Ped-V scale

Purpose: To develop and psychometrically test an instrument measuring the attitudes and practices towards vital signs (VS) monitoring in nurses caring for children on paediatric wards (Ped-V scale).Design and methods: This is a multicentre cross-validation study with a cross-sectional design. The Ped-V scale was developed by adapting the V-scale to the paediatric context and administered to a convenience sample of clinical nurses working in paediatric wards from January to May 2020. The content validity of the Ped-V scale was evaluated by a group of 10 experts. The psychometric properties of the scale were tested through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).Results: Overall, 10 Italian hospitals participated in the study, and 640 questionnaires were completed (87% female). At EFA a 30-item version of the scale and four factors emerged. This solution was confirmed at CFA: F1) 'Inaccuracy of VS monitoring and workload'; F2) 'Clinical competence and communication'; F3) 'Standardization and protocol adherence'; F4) 'Misconceptions about key indicators'. Cronbach's alpha ranged between 0.63 and 0.85.Conclusions: The Ped-V scale is valid and reliable for use in the paediatric context to identify barriers concerning nurses' self-efficacy, competences, and knowledge of clinical indicators of paediatric critical deterioration, attitudes towards accuracy, standardization, communication to senior team members and the appropriate use of technology in paediatric VS monitoring.Practice implications: The Ped-V scalemay assist in identifying gaps in nurses' attitudes and devising strategies to change nurses' beliefs, knowledge, skills and decreasing individual, local cultural or organizational barriers towards VS monitoring.(C) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

In vitro selection of oligonucleotides that bind double-stranded DNA in the presence of triplex-stabilizing agents

A SELEX approach has been developed in order to select oligonucleotides that bind double-stranded DNA in the presence of a triplex-stabilizing agent, and was applied to a target sequence containing an oligopurine–oligopyrimidine stretch. After only seven rounds of selection, the process led to the identification of oligonucleotides that were able to form triple helices within the antiparallel motif. Inspection of the selected sequences revealed that, contrary to GC base pair which were always recognized by guanines, recognition of AT base pair could be achieved by either adenine or thymine, depending on the sequence context. While thymines are strongly preferred for several positions, some others can accommodate the presence of adenines. These results contribute to set the rules for designing oligonucleotides that form stable triple helices in the presence of triplex-stabilizing agents at physiological pH. They set the basis for further experiments regarding extension of potential target sequences for triple-helix formation or recognition of ligand–DNA complexes

Interruptions and medication administration in critical care

Background: Medication administration has inherent risks, with errors having enormous impact on the quality and efficiency of patient care, particularly in relation to experience, outcomes and safety. Nurses are pivotal to the medication administration process and therefore must demonstrate safe and reliable practice. However, interruptions can lead to mistakes and omissions. Aim: To critique and synthesize the existing literature relating to the impact that interruptions have during medication administration within the paediatric critical care (PCC) setting. Search strategy: Key terms identified from background literature were used to search three electronic databases (Medline, CINHAL and BNI). Selected sources were critically appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool. Findings: There is confusion within the literature concerning the definition of interruption. Moreover, an assumption that all interruptions have a negative impact on patient safety exists. The literature identifies the multi-dimensional nature of interruptions and their impact on medication administration and patient safety. The cumulative effect of interruptions depends on what type of task is being completed, when it occurs, what the interruption is and which method of handling is utilized. A conceptual schema has been developed in order to explicate the themes and concepts that emerged. Conclusions: This review summarizes debates within the international arena concerning the impact of interruptions on medication administration. However, conclusions drawn appear applicable in relation to practice, education and future research to other critical care settings. Relevance to clinical practice: Findings show that no single strategy is likely to improve the negative effect of interruptions without focus on patient safety. Practice education to improve team building interactions is required that equips nurses with the skills in managing interruptions and delegating high priority secondary tasks

The triple helix: 50 years later, the outcome

Triplex-forming oligonucleotides constitute an interesting DNA sequence-specific tool that can be used to target cleaving or cross-linking agents, transcription factors or nucleases to a chosen site on the DNA. They are not only used as biotechnological tools but also to induce modifications on DNA with the aim to control gene expression, such as by site-directed mutagenesis or DNA recombination. Here, we report the state of art of the triplex-based anti-gene strategy 50 years after the discovery of such a structure, and we show the importance of the actual applications and the main challenges that we still have ahead of us