Composite Central Face Design—An Approach to Achieve Efficient Alginate Microcarriers

Funding: This work was supported by Portuguese Agency for Innovation (PT2020) through the projects (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000014) and (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-017771). It was also supported by the project PAMI – Portuguese Additive Manufacturing Initiative (project nº22158 – SAICT- AAC nº 01/SAICT/2016) and also, by the CDRSP– ID/Multi/04044/2019, funded by the Portuguese Government through FCT/MCTES and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Partnership Agreement PT2020. This work was also supported by funds from the Health Sciences Research Center (CICS-UBI) through National Funds by FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology (UID / Multi / 00709/2019).Microparticulated drug delivery systems have been used as promising encapsulation systems for protecting drugs for in vitro and in vivo applications, enhancing its stability, providing an increased surface to volume ratio, reducing adverse effects, and hence an improvement in bioavailability. Among the studied microparticles, there is a rising interest in the research of alginate microparticles for pharmaceutical and biomedical fields confirming its potential to be used as an effective matrix for drug and cell delivery. Moreover, calcium alginate has been one of the most extensively forming microparticles in the presence of divalent cations providing prolonged drug release and suitable mucoadhesive properties. Regarding the above mentioned, in this research work, we intended to produce Ca-alginate micro-vehicles through electrospraying, presenting high encapsulation efficiency (EE%), reduced protein release across the time, reduced swelling effect, and high sphericity coefficient. To quickly achieve these characteristics and to perform an optimal combination among the percentage of alginate and CaCl2, design of Experiments was applied. The obtained model presented to be statistically significant (p-value < 0.05), with a coefficient of determination of 0.9207, 0.9197, 0.9499, and 0.9637 for each output (EE%, release, swelling, and sphericity, respectively). Moreover, the optimal point (4% of alginate and 6.6% of CaCl2) was successfully validated.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Floristic Checklist From An Atlantic Forest Vegetation Mosaic In Reserva Particular Do Patrimônio Natural Fazenda Tabatinga, Pernambuco, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)A floristic inventory was made in the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Fazenda Tabatinga to show the importance of small forest fragments for conservation of the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest. The reserve protects a vegetation mosaic typical of coastal habitats in an area of ​ca. 20 ha, located in the northern part of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Samples of vascular plants were collected between January 2010 and November 2011, and altogether 329 species were recorded. These are classified in 230 genera and 79 families of angiosperms and two genera and two families of ferns. Among the species found, 28 are endemic to the Atlantic Forest, while others are rare and restricted to the Pernambuco Endemism Center. In addition, three threatened species were detected. The presence of endemic, rare, and threatened species, along with floristic patterns typical of coastal areas of Brazil, reinforce the importance of the area for the conservation. © 2016 Check List and Authors.126BMBF, Bundesministerium für Bildung und ForschungCNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoDEB-0946618, NSF, National Science FoundationConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Modelling of large displacements and large strains in coupled electromagnetic/solid mechanics/heat transfer problems

International audienceThe current work deals with the modelling strategies for the improvement of coupled electromagnetic thermomechanical problems due to induced large deformations or displacements. We introduce a sequentially-coupled algorithm that includes two types of mesh management models. The methodology enables automatic switching between the mesh management models in order to balance computational time and results accuracy

Morphometric Study In Stomach Of Rabbits [estudio Morfométrico Del Estómago En Conejos]

Thirty three healthy, New Zealand rabbits, underwent a total gastrectomy via laparotomy and subsequent evaluation of gastric dimensions. Were measured the lengths of theu lesser and greater gastric curvature, in addition to the largest diameters of the organ. They presented average overall length of the lesser and greater curvature, respectively 6.7 cm and 27.3 cm. In addition, open surgical specimen presented a total area of 172.6 cm2. The sample was divided into two groups by age to perform comparisons between weight and stomach measures. Group 1 consisted of animals with age equal or less than 138 days and group 2 those with more than 138 days. No significant differences were found between the groups. This may suggest the use of younger animals to perform experiments related to surgical training involving the stomach, without dimensional prejudice of organ or generation of technical difficulties. Finally, it was noted also the predominance of the left gastric artery in the irrigation of the gastric wall and the presence of a transparent film between the liver and stomach in all animals.321227231Abidu-Figueiredo, M., Xavier-Silva, B., Cardinot, T.M., Babinski, M.A., Chagas, M.A., Celiac artery in New Zealand rabbit: Anatomical study of its origin and arrangement for experimental research and surgical practice (2008) Pesq. Vet. Bras, 28 (5), pp. 237-240Alves, J.R., Lopes, L.R., Sasasaki, T., Perioperative care in an animal model for training in abdominal surgery: Is it necessary a preoperative fasting? (2011) Acta Cir. Bras, 26 (6), pp. 541-548Amorim, M.J.A.A.L., Amorim, J.R.A.A., Villarouco, F.M.O., Capacid del estómago de conejos sin raza definida (Oryctolagus cuniculus) (2001) Rev. Chil. Anat, 19 (3), pp. 259-262Bensley, B.A., Craigie, E.H., (1948) Practical Anatomy of the Rabbit, , 8th ed. Canada, University of Toronto PressBrewer, N., Biology of the rabbit (2006) J. Am. Assoc. Lab. Anim. Sci, 45 (1), pp. 8-24Calasans-Maia, M.D., Monteiro, M.L., Áscoli, F.O., Granjeiro, J.M., The rabbit as an animal model for experimental surgery (2009) Acta Cir. Bras, 24 (4), pp. 325-328Conover, W.J., (1971) Practical Nonparametric Statistics, , New York, John Wiley & Sons, IncGalvão, F.H.F., Farias, A.Q., Pompeu, E., Waisberg, D.R., Teixeira, A.R.F., de Mello, E.S., Costa, A.C., D'Albuquerque, L.A.C., Endoscopic features in a model of multivisceral xenotransplantation (2010) Xenotransplantation, 17 (6), pp. 423-428Ghoshal, N.G., Bal, H.S., Comparative morphology of the stomach of some laboratory mammals (1989) Lab Anim, 23 (1), pp. 21-29Hristov, H., Kostov, D., Vladova, D., Topographical anatomy of some abdominal organs in rabbits (2006) Trakia J. Sci, 4 (3), pp. 7-10Hulley, S.B., Cummings, S.R., Browner, W.S., Grady, D., Hearst, N., Newman, T.B., (2003) Delineando a Pesquisa Clínica: Uma Abordagem Epidemiológica. 2a Ed, , Porto Alegre, ArtmedJohnson-Delaney, C.A., (2006) Anatomy and Physiology of the Rabbit and Rodent Gastrointestinal System, , http://www.chincare.com/HealthLifestyle/HLdocs2/gastrointestinal.pdfMeredith, A., Jepson, L., (2011) The Rabbit, , http://www.morfz.com/THERABBIT.pdf, Head of Exotic Animal Services Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies University of EdinburghOliveira, L.R., Molinari, S.L., Natali, M.R.M., Michelan, A.C., Scapinello, C., Morphologic considerations about the wall of the glandular stomach of young rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) (2001) Rev. Chil. Anat, 19 (3), pp. 253-258Piasecki, C., Wyatt, C., Patterns of blood supply to the gastric mucosa. A comparative study revealing an end-artery model (1986) J. Anat, 149, pp. 21-39Rodrígues-Alarcón, C., Pérez, E., Martín, U., Rivera, R., Hernández, A., Vivo, J., Beristain, M., Usón, J., Morfometría del Esófago Abdominal y del Estómago del Conejo (Orycotolagus cuniculus): Aplicaciones a la Cirugía Laparoscópica (2010) Int. J. Morphol, 28 (1), pp. 27-3

FH phenotype: monogenic, polygenic and other causes

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a monogenic disorder characterised by high LDL-C concentrations and increased cardiovascular risk. However, in clinically defined FH cohorts worldwide, an FH-causing variant is only found in 40-50% of the cases. The aim of this work was to characterise the genetic cause of the FH phenotype in Portuguese clinical FH patients. Methods and Results Between 1999 and 2017, 731 index patients (311 children and 420 adults) who met the Simon Broome diagnostic criteria had been referred to our laboratory. LDLR, APOB, PCSK9, APOE, LIPA, LDLRAP1, ABCG5/8 genes were analysed by PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. The 6-SNP LDL-C genetic risk score (GRS) for polygenic hypercholesterolaemia was validated in the Portuguese population and cases with a GRS over the 25th percentile were considered to have a high likelihood of polygenic hypercholesterolaemia. An FH-causing mutation was found in 39% of patients (94% in LDLR, 5% APOB and 1% PCSK9), while at least 29% have polygenic hypercholesterolaemia and 1% have other lipid disorders. A genetic cause for the FH phenotype was found in 503 patients (69%). All known causes of the FH phenotype should be investigated in FH cohorts to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.Cibelle Mariano was supported by a PhD student grant [SFRH/BD/52494/2014]. Marta Futema is supported by the Fondation Leducq Transatlantic Networks of Excellence Program grant (no 14 CVD03). The work of Marilia Antunes is partially funded by UID/MAT/000016/2019. SEH acknowledges funding from the British Heart Foundation grant (BHF PG08/008) and from the NIHR UCLH BRC. MB acknowledges funding from Science and Technology Foundation (PIC/IC/83020/2007) (PIC/IC/83333/2007) for the e_COR and Portuguese FH Study and from Portuguese Cardiology Society for the Portuguese FH Study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Robust LHC Higgs Search in Weak Boson Fusion

We demonstrate that an LHC Higgs search in weak boson fusion production with subsequent decay to weak boson pairs is robust against extensions of the Standard Model or MSSM involving a large number of Higgs doublets. We also show that the transverse mass distribution provides unambiguous discrimination of a continuum Higgs signal from the Standard Model.Comment: 12p, 2 figs., additional comments on backgrounds, version to appear in PR

Mixed initial conditions to estimate the dynamic critical exponent in short-time Monte Carlo simulation

We explore the initial conditions in short-time critical dynamics to propose a new method to evaluate the dynamic exponent z. Estimates are obtained with high precision for 2D Ising model and 2D Potts model for three and four states by performing heat-bath Monte Carlo simulations.Comment: Latex paper, 2 eps figure

Complementarity of the CERN Large Hadron Collider and the e+e−e^+e^- International Linear Collider

The next-generation high-energy facilities, the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the prospective $e^+e^-$ International Linear Collider (ILC), are expected to unravel new structures of matter and forces from the electroweak scale to the TeV scale. In this report we review the complementary role of LHC and ILC in drawing a comprehensive and high-precision picture of the mechanism breaking the electroweak symmetries and generating mass, and the unification of forces in the frame of supersymmetry.Comment: 14 pages, 17 figures, to be published in "Supersymmetry on the Eve of the LHC", a special volume of European Physical Journal C, Particles and Fields (EPJC) in memory of Julius Wes

On the recurrence and robust properties of Lorenz'63 model

Lie-Poisson structure of the Lorenz'63 system gives a physical insight on its dynamical and statistical behavior considering the evolution of the associated Casimir functions. We study the invariant density and other recurrence features of a Markov expanding Lorenz-like map of the interval arising in the analysis of the predictability of the extreme values reached by particular physical observables evolving in time under the Lorenz'63 dynamics with the classical set of parameters. Moreover, we prove the statistical stability of such an invariant measure. This will allow us to further characterize the SRB measure of the system.Comment: 44 pages, 7 figures, revised version accepted for pubblicatio

Control of assembly of extra-axonemal structures: The paraflagellar rod of trypanosomes

Eukaryotic flagella are complex microtubule based organelles and in many organisms there are extra axonemal structures present, including the outer dense fibres of mammalian sperm and the paraflagellar rod (PFR) of trypanosomes. Flagellum assembly is a complex process occurring across three main compartments, the cytoplasm, the transition fibre-transition zone, and the flagellum. It begins with translation of protein components, followed by their sorting and trafficking into the flagellum, transport to the assembly site and then incorporation. Flagella are formed from over 500 proteins; the principles governing axonemal component assembly are relatively clear. However, the coordination and sites of extra-axonemal structure assembly processes are less clear. We have discovered two cytoplasmic proteins in T. brucei that are required for PFR formation, PFR assembly factors 1 and 2. Deletion of either PFR-AF1 or PFR-AF2 dramatically disrupted PFR formation and caused a reduction in the amount of major PFR proteins. The presence of cytoplasmic factors required for PFR formation aligns with the concept of processes occurring across multiple compartments to facilitate axoneme assembly and this is likely a common theme for extra-axonemal structure assembly