Glucose Sensor Using Sol-Gel Coating Layer Deposited on PMMA Optical Fiber: An Enzyme Activity Measurement System.

In the present work, a biocatalytic glucose optical sensor produced by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOD) as a recognition molecule over a PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) optical fiber is introduced. An enzymatic encapsulation process was carried out using the sol-gel method, depositing a TEOS-based coating by immersion at the end of an optical fiber; the biosensor was characterized using different glucose levels. Finally, the best way to encapsulate the enzyme and prevent it from degrading is to perform the process at room temperature, and later implement the deposition of the coating on the fiber.

Activity patterns and interactions of rodents in an assemblage composed by native species and the introduced black rat: implications for pathogen transmission.

Background: The degree of temporal overlap between sympatric wild hosts species and their behavioral interactions can be highly relevant to the transmission of pathogens. However, this topic has been scantly addressed. Furthermore, temporal overlap and interactions within an assemblage of wild rodents composed of native and introduced species have been rarely discussed worldwide.

Long-Tailed Pygmy Rice Rats Modify Their Behavioural Response and Faecal Corticosterone Metabolites in Response to Culpeo Fox but Not to Lesser Grison.

Even though behavioural and physiological reactions to predation risk exhibited by prey species have received considerable attention in scientific journals, there are still many questions still unsolved. Our aim was to broaden the knowledge on one specific question: do long-tailed pygmy rice rats adapt their behavioural and physiological antipredator strategies depending on the predator species? For this question, we live-trapped in a temperate forest in Southern Chile long-tailed pygmy rice rats (), which were exposed to three predator odour phases (Phase 0: preliminary, no predator cues; Phase 1: one plot with culpeo fox faeces (), one plot with lesser grison () faeces and one plot acting as a control with no odour; Phase 2: post treatment, no predator cues). We measured the behavioural response by the capture ratio.

Cross-modal plasticity in deaf child cochlear implant candidates assessed using visual and somatosensory evoked potentials.

Introduction: Cross-modal plasticity has been extensively studied in deaf adults with neuroimaging studies, yielding valuable results. A recent study in our laboratory with deaf-blind children found evidence of cross-modal plasticity, revealed in over-representation of median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP N20) in left hemisphere parietal, temporal and occipital regions. This finding led to asking whether SEP N20 changes are peculiar to deaf-blindness or are also present in sighted deaf children.

Prenatal p,p´-DDE exposure and neurodevelopment among children 3.5-5 years of age.

Background: The results of previous studies suggest that prenatal exposure to bis[p-chlorophenyl]-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT) and to its main metabolite, 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (DDE), impairs psychomotor development during the first year of life. However, information about the persistence of this association at later ages is limited.

Objectives: We assessed the association of prenatal DDE exposure with child neurodevelopment at 42-60 months of age.

[Stimulation at home and motor development among 36-month-old Mexican children].

Objective: To identify the relationship between stimulation at home and motor development among 36 month-old children.

Materials And Methods: The development of gross and fine motor skills of 169 infants (50.9% boys and 49.

Prenatal dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) exposure and neurodevelopment: a follow-up from 12 to 30 months of age.

In order to evaluate the persistency of the association between DDE and infant neurodevelopment we assessed mental and psychomotor development between 12 and 30 months of age in an ongoing cohort in Mexico. A total of 270 singleton children without perinatal asphyxia diagnosis, with a birth weight > or =2 kg, mothers>15 years of age with organochlorine maternal serum levels measured at least in one trimester of pregnancy, and who were evaluated at least in two of the four visits at 12, 18, 24 and 30 months of age, were included in this report. The Spanish version of Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSID_II; Bayley, 1993) was administered to the children and Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) and Mental Development Index (MDI) were calculated.

In utero p,p'-DDE exposure and infant neurodevelopment: a perinatal cohort in Mexico.

Background: Evidence suggests that p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (DDE) affects neurodevelopment in infants, although a critical exposure window has not yet been identified.

Objectives: Our goal was to assess the prenatal DDE exposure window and its effect on the psychomotor development index (PDI) and mental development index (MDI) during the first year of life.

Methods: We recruited 244 children whose pregnancies and deliveries were uncomplicated, and whose mothers were monitored throughout the pregnancy.