Tuning and Matching Error-Compensated, Quantitative Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.

NMR spectroscopy has long been recognized as a powerful quantitative analytical tool. Quantification is commonly done against internal and external standards. A third approach is to quantify against an electronic reference, which combines the advantages of the two methods. The implementation of this approach in solid-state NMR is more challenging due to the single-coil design of double resonance probes. In this study, a novel approach for implementing the electronic referencing method in solid-state NMR by injecting the reference signal using a broadband antenna installed near the NMR receiver coil is presented. This method demonstrates excellent accuracy and precision, as it remains robust to changes in the electronic conditions of the probe, including tuning and matching errors.

Echo pulses for background suppression by optimal control.

Materials used to construct magic-angle-spinning NMR probes can contain NMR active nuclei that produce a significant amount of background signal. Because these materials are located outside the sample coil, the use of spatially selective pulses to remove the background is a popular approach for background suppression. However, previously suggested spatially selective pulses suffer from limited excitation bandwidths, which may make them unsuitable for the acquisition of nuclei with a large chemical shift range. Here, a pulse (OC-BACK) is presented, which has been developed by optimal control, which has a flat profile of ~120 kHz with respect to off-resonance effects and extended pass and suppression bands with respect to the nominal nutation frequency. The presented solution is large enough to be effective for background suppression schemes in 19 F magic-angle-spinning NMR at medium and low magnetic fields.

Clinical characteristics and treatment of perianal fistulising Crohn's disease in Colombia: Results of a multicentric registry. / Características clínicas y tratamiento de la enfermedad de Crohn perianal fistulizante en Colombia: resultados de un registro multicéntrico.

INTRODUCTION: Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (CD) is a phenotype with a poor prognosis. There are no studies in our country. Our objective is to determine the clinical, sociodemographic and treatment characteristics of perianal fistulizing CD in a Colombian multicenter registry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, multicenter observational study was carried out, with prospective data collection, in the main reference centers for inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) in the country. Continuous variables were expressed as medians and interquartile ranges. The categorical outcome variables were compared by the Chi-square test. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients with perianal fistulizing CD were documented, with a median age of appearance of perianal fistula of 31.0 years (range: 24-42), predominantly in men (61.5%; H:M ratio: 1.4:1). Complex perianal fistulas were more frequent than simple ones (75.35 vs. 24.6%). Regarding medical treatment, 66.2% of the patients received antibiotics, 64.6% steroids, 78.5% biological therapy, 47.7% non-cutting setons, and 46.2% required surgical management, other than seton placement. Only 29.2% achieved complete remission of the fistula, and 9.2% of the patients ended up in a definitive colostomy. CD patients with complex fistulas received more biological therapy, compared to CD patients with simple fistulas (84.8 vs. 56.3%; P: 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Perianal fistulizing CD has a poor prognosis in our setting, only 3 out of 10 patients achieve complete remission despite treatment. A multidisciplinary management is essential for the comprehensive management of this difficult pathology.

Localization in Two-Dimensional Quasicrystalline Lattices.

We investigate the emergence of localization in a weakly interacting Bose gas confined in quasicrystalline lattices with three different rotational symmetries: five, eight, and twelve. The analysis, performed at a mean field level and from which localization is detected, relies on the study of two observables: the inverse participation ratio (IPR) and the Shannon entropy in the coordinate space. Those physical quantities were determined from a robust statistical study for the stationary density profiles of the interacting condensate. Localization was identified for each lattice type as a function of the potential depth. Our analysis revealed a range of the potential depths for which the condensate density becomes localized, from partially at random lattice sites to fully in a single site. We found that localization in the case of five-fold rotational symmetry appears for (6ER,9ER), while it occurs in the interval (12ER,15ER) for octagonal and dodecagonal symmetries.

Mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy versus retrograde intrarenal surgery for the treatment of 10-20 mm lower pole renal stones: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mini-PCNL) versus retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for treatment of 10-20 mm lower pole renal stones. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was conducted to identify all studies comparing mini-PCNL and RIRS for 10-20 mm lower pole renal stones before March 2019. Article selection proceeded according to the search strategy based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The meta-analysis was performed with the R program version 3.5.1. RESULTS: A total of five studies were included (two randomized controlled trials and three case-controlled trials) with a total of 587 patients included. The success rate was significantly higher in the mini-PCNL group (OR 1.67; 95% CI p = 0.05). Operative and fluoroscopy times were similar for both groups (MD 2.45; 95% CI p = 0.87 and MD 2.11; 95% CI p = 0.09, respectively). Concerning the hospital stay and overall complication rates, there were no differences between the two procedures (MD 41.94; 95% CI p = 0.18 and OR 1.76; 95% CI p = 0.11). CONCLUSION: Our analysis showed that both procedures are safe for treatment of 10-20 mm lower pole renal stones with similar complication rates, operative times, fluoroscopy times and length of hospital stay, but mini-PCNL was significantly superior in effectiveness with a higher success rate. Based on these results, mini-PCNL may be included in the guidelines as a safe and effective alternative treatment for 10-20 mm lower pole stones.

Autoimmune Hepatitis in Cuban Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical and Histological Profiles, Treatments, and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Population-based studies on the clinical course and prognosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) from Caribbean countries are limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to provide information regarding the clinical and laboratory findings, histological profile, treatments, and outcomes of patients with AIH with long-term follow-up in a tertiary referral center. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed at the National Institute of Gastroenterology in Havana, Cuba, by enrolling 82 patients with a well-documented, long-term clinical course of AIH. Clinical and laboratory findings, histological profiles, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: At diagnosis, 73 (89%) patients had AIH type 1, 84.1% were women, and their median age was 46.5 years (range, 17-79 years). The median follow-up period was 84 months (interquartile range, 12-276 months). Clinical onset was mild or subclinical in 72% of patients and asymptomatic in 12.2%. At diagnosis, the Hennes's median score was 6 (range, 3-8). Complications were seen in 44 (53.6%) patients, 42 (51.2%) with liver-related complications and 9 (10.9%) without liver-related complications. Cirrhosis was present at diagnosis in 32 (39%) patients. Cirrhosis was subsequently diagnosed in the other 28 patients who were not cirrhotic at diagnosis, over a median follow-up of 12 (IQR, 2-84) months. During follow-up, 6 patients died (7.3%). Cumulative survival at 5 and 10 years was 98.4% and 89%, respectively. A complete biochemical response was achieved in 79% of patients in a mean (SD) of 11.7 (11.6) months. Side effects due to treatment were reported in 76 (92.7%) patients, and no pretreatment factors were found to predict treatment response. CONCLUSIONS: These Cuban patients with AIH had acceptable disease remission rate and a prompt treatment response. Although most patients had advanced-stage liver disease at diagnosis or developed during follow-up, the cumulative survival rate was high when patients were receiving and complying with treatment.

Motility-Independent Formation of Antibiotic-Tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Aggregates.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterial pathogen that causes severe chronic infections in immunocompromised individuals. This bacterium is highly adaptable to its environments, which frequently select for traits that promote bacterial persistence. A clinically significant temporal adaptation is the formation of surface- or cell-adhered bacterial biofilms that are associated with increased resistance to immune and antibiotic clearance. Extensive research has shown that bacterial flagellar motility promotes formation of such biofilms, whereupon the bacteria subsequently become nonmotile. However, recent evidence shows that antibiotic-tolerant nonattached bacterial aggregates, distinct from surface-adhered biofilms, can form, and these have been reported in the context of lung infections, otitis media, nonhealing wounds, and soft tissue fillers. It is unclear whether the same bacterial traits are required for aggregate formation as for biofilm formation. In this report, using isogenic mutants, we demonstrate that P. aeruginosa aggregates in liquid cultures are spontaneously formed independent of bacterial flagellar motility and independent of an exogenous scaffold. This contrasts with the role of the flagellum to initiate surface-adhered biofilms. Similarly to surface-attached biofilms, these aggregates exhibit increased antibiotic tolerance compared to planktonic cultures. These findings provide key insights into the requirements for aggregate formation that contrast with those for biofilm formation and that may have relevance for the persistence and dissemination of nonmotile bacteria found within chronic clinical infections.IMPORTANCE In this work, we have investigated the role of bacterial motility with regard to antibiotic-tolerant bacterial aggregate formation. Previous work has convincingly demonstrated that P. aeruginosa flagellar motility promotes the formation of surface-adhered biofilms in many systems. In contrast, aggregate formation by P. aeruginosa was observed for nonmotile but not for motile cells in the presence of an exogenous scaffold. Here, we demonstrate that both wild-type P. aeruginosa and mutants that genetically lack motility spontaneously form antibiotic-tolerant aggregates in the absence of an exogenously added scaffold. Additionally, we also demonstrate that wild-type (WT) and nonmotile P. aeruginosa bacteria can coaggregate, shedding light on potential physiological interactions and heterogeneity of aggregates.

Genome plasticity favours double chromosomal Tn4401b-blaKPC-2 transposon insertion in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa ST235 clone.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa Sequence Type 235 is a clone that possesses an extraordinary ability to acquire mobile genetic elements and has been associated with the spread of resistance genes, including genes that encode for carbapenemases. Here, we aim to characterize the genetic platforms involved in resistance dissemination in blaKPC-2-positive P. aeruginosa ST235 in Colombia. RESULTS: In a prospective surveillance study of infections in adult patients attended in five ICUs in five distant cities in Colombia, 58 isolates of P. aeruginosa were recovered, of which, 27 (46.6%) were resistant to carbapenems. The molecular analysis showed that 6 (22.2%) and 4 (14.8%) isolates harboured the blaVIM and blaKPC-2 genes, respectively. The four blaKPC-2-positive isolates showed a similar PFGE pulsotype and belonged to ST235. Complete genome sequencing of a representative ST235 isolate shows a unique chromosomal contig of 7097.241 bp with eight different resistance genes identified and five transposons: a Tn6162-like with ant(2″)-Ia, two Tn402-like with ant(3″)-Ia and blaOXA-2 and two Tn4401b with blaKPC-2. All transposons were inserted into the genomic islands. Interestingly, the two Tn4401b copies harbouring blaKPC-2 were adjacently inserted into a new genomic island (PAGI-17) with traces of a replicative transposition process. This double insertion was probably driven by several structural changes within the chromosomal region containing PAGI-17 in the ST235 background. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of a double Tn4401b chromosomal insertion in P. aeruginosa, just within a new genomic island (PAGI-17). This finding indicates once again the great genomic plasticity of this microorganism.

Performance characteristics of a fast real-time PCR assay for hepatitis B virus DNA quantification.

Detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is particularly important for detection of early acute and of occult HBV infection. On the other hand, HBV DNA detection and quantification are essential to diagnose and treat chronic HBV infection. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the real-time PCR SUMASIGNAL VHB (un paso) (Immunoassay Center, Cuba). The clinical and analytical specificity of the assay was 100%. Intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation ranged from 0.50 to 2.53% and from 1.23 to 3.03%, respectively. A strong correlation (r=0.926; P<0.001) with the COBAS® AmpliPrep/COBAS® TaqMan® HBV Test, v2.0 (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.) was obtained. The limit of detection using the third WHO international standard for HBV DNA was 377.47 IU/mL. The test was able to detect the most prevalent HBV genotypes (A-G) equally well. In conclusion, the SUMASIGNAL VHB (un paso) is a sensitive, specific, precise and accurate assay for the quantification of serum and plasma HBV DNA. Thus, this simple and fast real-time PCR test can be used as an aid in diagnosing an HBV infection and monitoring drug efficacy.

[Prevalencia de complicaciones de la diabetes y comorbilidades asociadas en medicina familiar del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social].

Introduction: The prevalence of chronic complications and comorbidities in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has increased worldwide. Objective: To compare the prevalence of complications and chronic comorbidities in patients with T2D at 36 family medicine units of five chapters of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). Method: Complications (hypoglycemia, diabetic foot, kidney disease, retinopathy, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and heart failure) and comorbidities (liver disease, cancer and anemia) were identified according to codes of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision. Comparisons were made by chapter, age, gender and evolution time. Results: Complications and comorbidities were more common in subjects aged ≥ 62 years. Out of 297 100 patients, 34.9 % had any complication; microvascular complications (32 %) prevailed in the industrial North, whereas macrovascular complications (12.3 %) did in the rural East, and comorbidities (5 %) in southern Mexico City. Complications predominated in men (any complication, 30.2 %). Heart failure and comorbidities were more common in women (5.6 % and 4.9 %, respectively). Conclusions: T2D complications and comorbidities showed geographic and gender differences, and were greater with older age and longer evolution time. It is urgent for strategies for the prevention of complications and comorbidities to be reinforced in patients with T2D.

Introducción: La prevalencia de complicaciones crónicas y comorbilidades en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 (DT2) se han incrementado en el mundo. Objetivo: Comparar la prevalencia de complicaciones y comorbilidades crónicas en pacientes con DT2 en 36 unidades de medicina familiar de cinco delegaciones del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). Métodos: Conforme los códigos de la Décima Revisión de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades se identificaron las complicaciones (hipoglucemia, pie diabético, enfermedad renal, retinopatía, enfermedad cardiaca isquémica, enfermedad cerebrovascular y falla cardiaca) y comorbilidades (enfermedad hepática, cáncer, anemia) de DT2. Se compararon por delegación, edad, sexo y tiempo de evolución. Resultados: Las complicaciones y comorbilidades fueron más comunes en personas ≥ 62 años. De 297 100 pacientes, 34.9 % presentó cualquier complicación; microvasculares en el norte industrial (32 %), macrovasculares en el este rural (12.3 %) y comorbilidades (5 %) en el sur de la Ciudad de México; estas complicaciones predominaron en los hombres (cualquier complicación 30.2 %). La falla cardiaca y las comorbilidades fueron más comunes en mujeres (5.6 y 4.9 %). Conclusiones: Las complicaciones y comorbilidades de DT2 mostraron diferencias geográficas y de sexo y fueron mayores con la edad y el tiempo de evolución. Urge reforzar estrategias para la prevención de las complicaciones y comorbilidades en los pacientes con DT2.

Phosphatidylinositol-(3,4,5)-Trisphosphate Induces Phagocytosis of Nonmotile Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pathogenic bacteria that establish chronic infections in immunocompromised patients frequently undergo adaptation or selection for traits that are advantageous for their growth and survival. Clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative, opportunistic bacterial pathogen, exhibit a temporal transition from a motile to a nonmotile phenotype through loss of flagellar motility during the course of chronic infection. This progressive loss of motility is associated with increased resistance to both antibiotic and immune clearance. We have previously shown that loss of bacterial motility enables P. aeruginosa to evade phagocytic clearance both in vitro and in vivo and fails to activate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt-dependent phagocytic pathway. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that clearance of phagocytosis-resistant bacteria could be induced by exogenously pretreating innate immune cells with the Akt-activating molecule phosphatidylinositol-(3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3). Here, we demonstrate that PIP3 induces the uptake of nonmotile P. aeruginosa by primary human neutrophils >25-fold, and this effect is phenocopied with the use of murine phagocytes. However, surprisingly, mechanistic studies revealed that the induction of phagocytosis by PIP3 occurs because polyphosphoinositides promote bacterial binding by the phagocytes rather than bypassing the requirement for PI3K. Moreover, this induction was selective since the uptake of other nonmotile Gram-negative, but not Gram-positive, bacteria can also be induced by PIP3 Since there is currently no treatment that effectively eradicates chronic P. aeruginosa infections, these findings provide novel insights into a potential methodology by which to induce clearance of nonmotile pathogenic bacteria and into the endogenous determinants of phagocytic recognition of P. aeruginosa.

Energy-Dispersive Total-Reflection Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering as a Tool for Elemental Speciation in Contaminated Water.

This work presents a state-of the-art analytical methodology, by which chemical state information on metallic elements is obtained for liquid samples in a fast and simple manner. This method overcomes limitations of conventional X-ray techniques, such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy, by applying resonant inelastic X-ray scattering under total reflection geometry (TRIXS). TRIXS is particularly applicable for the analysis of small quantity of liquid samples deposited on polished reflectors. This feature is relevant for the chemical speciation of metallic trace elements contained in water samples, since the degree of their toxicity depends crucially on the concentration of specific chemical species included. The analytical merits of the proposed methodology were studied at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste and at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory. Contaminated water samples with low concentration of different chromium and manganese compounds were measured. Results prove the analytical potential of the TRIXS technique in characterizing different chemical species of metallic elements in water samples.

Multidetector CT for Evaluation of the Extrapleural Space.

The extrapleural space (EPS) is an anatomic space at the periphery of the chest that can be involved in a number of disease processes. This space lies between the inner surface of the ribs and the parietal pleura and contains adipose tissue, loose connective tissue, lymph nodes, vessels, endothoracic fascia, and the innermost intercostal muscle. It is often overlooked on cross-sectional imaging studies and almost invariably overlooked on conventional radiographic studies. At conventional radiography, the EPS occasionally can be seen when there is extrapleural fat proliferation, which might be confused with pleural thickening or pleural effusion. Knowledge of the normal anatomy of the EPS depicted at computed tomography (CT) and of the relationship of the EPS with parenchymal, pleural, and chest wall processes is key to the detection of extrapleural abnormalities. Disease entities that most commonly affect the EPS include chronic inflammatory disorders, infection, trauma, and neoplasms. Chronic inflammatory conditions and infectious processes of the lungs and pleurae induce adipocyte proliferation adjacent to the inflamed tissue, resulting in increased extrapleural fat. Chest wall trauma with extrapleural hematoma formation causes characteristic CT findings that enable differentiation of the extrapleural hematoma from hemothorax and warrant a different treatment approach. Extrapleural air is commonly seen in patients with pneumomediastinum and should be distinguished from pneumothorax because it requires a different treatment approach. Intrathoracic neoplasms can cause an increase in the attenuation of normal extrapleural fat owing to pleural inflammation, lymphatic obstruction, lymphangitic spread, or direct invasion by tumor. The normal and pathologic appearances of the EPS, as depicted at thoracic CT, and the differential diagnosis of findings in the EPS are reviewed. ©RSNA, 2017.

Titanium diffusion in shinbone of rats with osseointegrated implants.

Dental implants are composed of commercially pure Ti (which is actually an alloy of titanium, and minor or trace components such as aluminium and vanadium). When the implant is inserted, its surface undergoes a number of chemical and mechanical processes, releasing particles of titanium to the medium. The metabolism of free ions of titanium is uncertain; the uptaking processes in the body are not well known, nor their toxic dose. In addition, physical properties of newly formed bone, such as diffusivity and activation energy, are scarce and rarely studied. In this study, we analysed the diffusion of titanium in the titanium-implanted shinbones of six adult male Wistar rats by spatially resolved micro x-ray fluorescence. The measurements were carried out at the microfluorescence station of the x-ray fluorescence (XRF) beamline of the Brazilian synchrotron facility LNLS (from Portuguese 'Laboratorio Nacional de Luz Sincrotron'). For each sample, XRF spectra were taken by linear scanning in area near the new bone formed around the Ti implant. The scanning line shows a clear effect of titanium diffusion whereas calcium intensity presents a different behaviour. Moreover, a clear correlation among the different structures of bones is observed in the Ti and Ca intensities. The results obtained in these measurements may allow determining quantitatively the parameters of diffusion rates and other physical properties of new bone like diffusion coefficients.

[A fine line between legal and illegal oral drug repackaging]. / La delgada línea entre lo legal e ilegal en el reenvasado de los medicamentos orales.

In 2009, with the implementation of the National Hospital Pharmacy Model, Mexico began regulating single-dose drugs. The repackaging of oral drugs is fundamental and critical and should be standardized by Mexican health legislation to enable quality drugs to be dispensed. Data is required on stability, compatibility, drug interactions, containers, and repackaging methods, in order to establish a new expiration date. The literature on health regulations applicable to repackaging was analyzed, revealing major conceptual imprecisions since there is no legislation in Mexico that regulates repackaging; rather, everything is carried out according to pharmacists' recommendations and criteria. The conclusion is that the regulations need to be rewritten to establish minimum single-dose oral drug criteria for dispensing hospitals-regulations that cover infrastructure, equipment, and professionals complying with good practices in oral drug repackaging. A proposal is offered to implement an official Mexican standard that regulates single-dose repackaging and unifies concepts, criteria, and means of verification, while the pharmaceutical industry would be responsible for the technology and resources for single-dose drug packaging designed for the health sector.

[Virulence of Sporothrix globosa in murine models]. / Virulencia de Sporothrix globosa en modelos murinos.

INTRODUCTION: The sporothricosis disease is an infection caused by species included in Sporothrix schenkii complex. OBJECTIVE: Verify the virulence of a strain of S. globosa using two different concentrations of inoculum by intraperitoneally and subcutaneously, into a mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nonrandomized pilot study, in murine inoculated with a strain of S. globosa (CBS 14.076M) by intraperitoneally and subcutaneously with inoculum concentrations of 0.5 and 4 McFarland. For this purpose 18 rodents CF-1 (ISP, Santiago, Chile) were used. RESULTS: The studied strain did not induce illness or injury on animals, they all survived and neither the tissue culture nor the histopathological analysis showed fungal growth or suggestive infection by organ abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: The S. globosa strain did not present any virulence enough to cause disease at 0.5 and 4.0 McFarland concentration inoculum when inoculated in both intraperitoneally and subcutaneously, in murine models.

Exploratory methodology for retrieving oxidation state information from X-ray resonant Raman scattering spectrometry.

It has been observed recently that the resonant Raman scattering (RRS) peak of an X-ray spectrum contains information about the chemical environment of the irradiated matter. This information is extracted with complex processing of the spectrum data. Principal component analysis (PCA) is a statistical multivariate technique that allows exploring the variance-covariance structure of a set of data, through a few linear combinations of the original variables. This methodology can be applied to obtain information from RRS spectra. To analyze its potentiality, several measurements of different oxides in surface nanolayers were measured in total reflection conditions using synchrotron radiation. Multivariate analysis techniques, in particular, PCA, were used to obtain the information encrypted in the RRS peak, and to establish a new methodology, simpler and more accurate. The results show that multivariate analysis techniques are suitable for the analysis of this kind of spectra, foreseeing its application in future research.

An internet of things example: classrooms access control over near field communication.

The Internet of Things is one of the ideas that has become increasingly relevant in recent years. It involves connecting things to the Internet in order to retrieve information from them at any time and from anywhere. In the Internet of Things, sensor networks that exchange information wirelessly via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee or RF are common. In this sense, our paper presents a way in which each classroom control is accessed through Near Field Communication (NFC) and the information is shared via radio frequency. These data are published on the Web and could easily be used for building applications from the data collected. As a result, our application collects information from the classroom to create a control classroom tool that displays access to and the status of all the classrooms graphically and also connects this data with social networks.

A low-cost real color picker based on Arduino.

Color measurements have traditionally been linked to expensive and difficult to handle equipment. The set of mathematical transformations that are needed to transfer a color that we observe in any object that doesn't emit its own light (which is usually called a color-object) so that it can be displayed on a computer screen or printed on paper is not at all trivial. This usually requires a thorough knowledge of color spaces, colorimetric transformations and color management systems. The TCS3414CS color sensor (I2C Sensor Color Grove), a system for capturing, processing and color management that allows the colors of any non-self-luminous object using a low-cost hardware based on Arduino, is presented in this paper. Specific software has been developed in Matlab and a study of the linearity of chromatic channels and accuracy of color measurements for this device has been undertaken. All used scripts (Arduino and Matlab) are attached as supplementary material. The results show acceptable accuracy values that, although obviously do not reach the levels obtained with the other scientific instruments, for the price difference they present a good low cost option.