A new heparan sulfate from the mollusk nodipecten nodosus inhibits merozoite invasion and disrupts rosetting and cytoadherence of plasmodium falciparum

Despite treatment with effective antimalarial drugs, the mortality rate is still high in severe cases of the disease, highlighting the need to find adjunct therapies that can inhibit the adhesion of Pf-iEs. In this context, we evaluated a new heparan sulfate (HS) from Nodipecten nodosus for antimalarial activity and inhibition of P. falciparum cytoadhesion and rosetting. Parasite inhibition was measured by SYBR green using a cytometer. HS was assessed in rosetting and cytoadhesion assays under static and flow conditions using CHO and HLEC cells expressing ICAM1 and CSA, respectively. This HS inhibited merozoite invasion similar to heparin. Moreover, mollusk HS decreased cytoadherence of P. falciparum to CSA (chondroitin sulfate A) and ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) on the surface of endothelial cells under static and flow conditions. In addition, this glycan efficiently disrupted rosettes. These findings support a potential use for mollusk HS as adjunct therapy for severe malaria114CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO CARLOS CHAGAS FILHO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO - FAPERJFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPnão temnão tem2012/16525-2; 2017/18611-7; 2010/18571-6; 2015/20774-

Continuum Terahertz Radiation Detection Using Membrane Filters

Technology of remote sensing in the terahertz range (frequency interval arbitrarily set between 0.1-30 THz) is the object of considerable development efforts addressed to a number of new civilian and military applications. Technical challenges appear in the THz sensing of temperature differences above an existing hot surface target, such as radiation patterns produced by high energy electrons in laboratory accelerators, and thermal differentiated structures in the solar disk in space. The efficient suppression of radiation in the visible and near infrared (set arbitrarily for wavelengths < 10 μm) is an essential requirement. An experimental setup has been prepared for testing at room temperature THz materials and detectors, aiming the detection of solar radiation. A custom-made detector consisted in a room-temperature micro-bolometer INO camera with HRFZ-Si window. The THz transmission of two "low-pass" membranes were tested for black body temperatures ranging 300-1000 K: Zitex G110G and TydexBlack. It has been demonstrated that both are effective suppressors of radiation at wavelengths < 15 μm, with the first one exhibiting a small radiation excess, that may be attributed to small visible and NIR allowance. We describe optical setups prepared to detect solar radiation, consisting in a microbolometer camera preceded by a photon pipe, low-pass membrane and band-pass resonant metal mesh, placed at the focus of the 1.5 m reflector for submillimeter waves (SST) at El Leoncito, Argentina Andes. ©2009IEEE.262266Harris, D.C., (1999) Materials for Infrared Windows and Domes, , SPIE Optical Engineering Press, Washington, USA, CSiegel, P.H., THz Technology: An Overview (2003) International Journal of High Speed Electronics and Systems, 13 (2), pp. 1-44Mlynczak, M., Johnson, D., Bingham, G., Far-Infrared Spectroscopy of the Troposphere (FIRST) project (2003) Proceedings of Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 1, p. 512Sherwin, M.S., Schmuttenmaer, C.A., Bucksbaum, P.H., Proceedings of DOE-NSF-NIH Workshop on Opportunities in THz Science, Arlington, VA, 2004Kinch, M.A., Infrared detector materials (2007) SPIE Optical Engineering Press, TT76. , Washington, USA, DCStrabala, K.I., Ackerman, S.A., Menzel, W.P., Cloud Properties inferred from 8-12-μm Data (1994) Journal of Applied Meteorology, 33 (2), p. 212Williams, G.P., FAR-IR/THz radiation from the Jefferson Laboratory, energy recovered linac, free electron laser (2002) Rev. Sci. Instrum., 73, pp. 1461-1463Kaufmann, P., Raulin, J.-P., Can microbunch instability on solar flare accelerated electron beams account for bright broadband coherent synchrotronmicrowaves? (2006) Phys. Plasmas, 13. , 070701-070701-70704Klopf, J.M., 1st SMESE Workshop, 10-12 March, Paris, France, 2008Benford, D.J., Gaidis, M.C., Kooi, J.W., Optical properties of Zitex in the infrared to submillimeter (2003) Applied Optics, 42, pp. 5118-5122(2008) Technical Note on THz Materials and Components, , www.tydex.ruBlackbody Radiance, , http://spectralcalc.com/blackbody_calculator/blackbody.php, GATS, IncKaufmann, P., New telescopes for ground-based solar observations at submillimeter and mid-infrared (2008) Proc. SPIE, 7012, pp. 70120L-1-8Kornberg, M., Rough Mirrors for the THz frequency range (2008) Proc. MOMAG 2008 - 13th SBMO and 8th CBMAG, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil, pp. 365-367(2008), ESSCO, West Concord, MA, USA, private communicationMelo, A.M., Submillimeter-wave Atmospheric Transmission at El Leoncito, Argentina Andes (2005) IEEE Trans Ant. Propagat., 53, p. 1528Gezari, D.Y., Joyce, R.R., Simon, M., Measurement of the Solar Brightness Temperature at 345, 450 and 1000 micrometers (1973) Astron.Astrophys., 26, pp. 409-411Melo, A.M., Metal mesh resonant filters for terahertz frequencies (2008) Applied Optics, 47, pp. 6064-6069Ruze, J., The effect of aperture errors on the antenna radiation pattern (1953) Nuovo Cimento Suppl., 9, pp. 364-38

Evaluation in vivo of biocompatibility of differents resin-modified cements for bonding orthodontic bands

<div><p>ABSTRACT The focus of this study was to test the hypothesis that there would be no difference between the biocompatibility of resin-modified glass ionomer cements. Sixty male Wistar rats were selected and divided into four groups: Control Group; Crosslink Group; RMO Group and Transbond Group. The materials were inserted into rat subcutaneous tissue. After time intervals of 7, 15 and 30 days morphological analyses were performed. The histological parameters assessed were: inflammatory infiltrate intensity; reaction of multinucleated giant cells; edema; necrosis; granulation reaction; young fibroblasts and collagenization. The results obtained were statistically analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn test (P<0.05). After 7 days, Groups RMO and Transbond showed intense inflammatory infiltrate (P=0.004), only Group RMO presented greater expression of multinucleated giant cell reaction (P=0.003) compared with the control group. After the time intervals of 15 and 30 days, there was evidence of light/moderate inflammatory infiltrate, lower level of multinucleated giant cell reaction and thicker areas of young fibroblasts in all the groups. The hypothesis was rejected. The Crosslink cement provided good tissue response, since it demonstrated a lower level of inflammatory infiltrate and higher degree of collagenization, while RMO demonstrated the lowest level of biocompatibility.</p></div

Selective Spectral Detection Of Continuum Terahertz Radiation

The knowledge of THz continuum spectra is essential to investigate the emission mechanisms by high energy particle acceleration processes. Technical challenges appear for obtaining selective spectral sensing in the far infrared range to diagnose radiation produced by solar flare burst emissions measured from space as well as radiation produced by high energy electrons in laboratory accelerators. Efforts are been carried out intended for the development of solar flare high cadence radiometers at two THz frequencies to operate outside the terrestrial atmosphere (i.e. at 3 and 7 THz). One essential requirement is the efficient suppression of radiation in the visible and near infrared. Experimental setups have been assembled for testing (a) THz transmission of "low-pass" filters: rough surface mirrors; membranes Zitex G110G and TydexBlack; (b) a fabricated 2.4 THz resonant grid band-pass filter transmission response for polarization and angle of incidence; (c) radiation response from distinct detectors: adapted commercial microbolometer array using HRFZ-Si window, pyroelectric module and Golay cell; qualitative detection of solar radiation at a sub-THz frequency has been tested with a microbolometer array placed at the focus of the 1.5 m reflector for submillimeter waves (SST) at El Leoncito, Argentina Andes. © 2010 SPIE.7741Harris, D.C., (1999) Materials for Infrared Windows and Domes, , SPIE Optical Engineering Press, Washington, USASiegel, P.H., THz technology: An overview (2003) International Journal of High Speed Electronics and Systems, 13 (2), pp. 1-44Mlynczak, M., Johnson, D., Bingham, G., Far-Infrared Spectroscopy of the Troposphere (FIRST) project (2003) Proceedings of Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 1, p. 512Sherwin, M.S., Schmuttenmaer, C.A., Bucksbaum, P.H., (2004) Proceedings of DOE-NSF-NIH Workshop on Opportunities in THz Science, , Arlington, VAKinch, M.A., (2007) Infrared Detector Materials, , SPIE Optical Engineering Press, TT76, Washington, USA, DCStrabala, K.I., Ackerman, S.A., Menzel, W.P., Cloud Properties inferred from 8-12-μm Data (1994) Journal of Applied Meteorology, 33 (2), p. 212Williams, G.P., FAR-IR/THz radiation from the Jefferson Laboratory, energy recovered linac, free electron laser (2002) Rev. Sci. Instrum., 73, pp. 1461-1463Kaufmann, P., Raulin, J.-P., Can microbunch instability on solar flare accelerated electron beams account for bright broadband coherent synchrotron microwaves? (2006) Phys. Plasmas, 13. , 070701-070701-4Klopf, J.M., (2008) 1st SMESE Workshop, , 10-12 March, Paris, FranceKaufmann, P., (2004) Astrophys. J., 603, pp. L121Kaufmann, P., Continuum terahertz radiation detection using membrane filters (2009) International Microwave and Optoelectronics Conference, SBMO & IEEE-MTT, pp. 262-266. , Nov. 3-6 2009, Belem, Para, BrazilBennett, H.E., Porteus, J.O., Relation between surface roughness and specular reflectance at normal incidence (1961) J. Opt. Soc.Am., 51, pp. 123-129Kostiuk, T., Deming, D., A solar infrared photometer for space flight application (1991) Infrared Physics, 32, pp. 225-233Romberg, M., Rough mirrors for the thz frequency range (2008) Proc. MOMAG 2008 - 13th SBMO and 8th CBMAG, pp. 365-367. , Florianópolis, SC, Brazil, 7-10 September 2008Benford, D.J., Gaidis, M.C., Kooi, J.W., Optical properties of Zitex in the infrared to submillimeter (2003) Applied Optics, 42, pp. 5118-5122(2008), www.tydex.ru, Tydex JSCo, St. Petersburg, Russia, Technical Note on THz materials and componentsKaufmann, P., Flare infrared experiment (FIRE) (1998) NASA Proposal to FBMS in Response to AO-98-OSS-01Melo, A.M., Metal mesh resonant filters for terahertz frequencies (2008) Applied Optics, 47, pp. 6064-6069MacDonald, M.E., Spectral transmittance of lossy printed resonant-grid terahertz bandpass filters (2000) IEEE Trans. on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 48, pp. 712-718http://www.ino.ca/en-CAKaufmann, P., New telescopes for ground-based solar observations at submillimeter and mid-infrared (2008) Proc. SPIE, 7012. , Ground-based and airborne telescopes II (ed. By L.M. Stepp and R. Gimozzi), 70120L-1-70120L-8(2008), ESSCO, West Concord, MA, USA, private communicationhttp://www.spectrumdetector.comhttp://www.tydexoptics.com/productsl/thz-optics/golay-cell

Uncooled detectors of continuum terahertz radiation

THz continuum spectral photometry has new and unique applications in different civil and military areas presenting a number of distinctive advantages on the well known microwaves or mid- to near-infrared technologies. THz sensing is essential to investigate the emission mechanisms by high energy particle acceleration processes. Technical challenges appear to diagnose radiation produced by solar flare burst emissions measured from space as well as radiation produced by high energy electrons in laboratory accelerators. THz filters and detectors have been investigated for the construction of solar flare high cadence radiometers to operate outside the terrestrial atmosphere. Experimental setups have been assembled for testing THz continuum radiation response from distinct detectors: adapted commercial microbolometer array, pyroelectric module, and opto-acoustic (Golay cell). The results permitted the final design of a THz double radiometer using Golay cells to be flown in stratosphere balloon missions

Metais pesados em solos de área de mineração e metalurgia de chumbo: I - Fitoextração Heavy metals in soils of a lead mining and metallurgy area: I - Phytoextraction

A fitoextração tem sido sugerida como alternativa viável às práticas tradicionais de recuperação de solos contaminados por metais pesados (remoção do solo e destinação em aterros ou coprocessamento em cimento, etc.), em razão dos menores custos e por ser menos impactante ao ambiente. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a fitoextração induzida (uso de ácido cítrico como agente quelante) de metais pesados, com o cultivo de aveia-preta (Avena strigosa Schreber), girassol (Helianthus annuus L.) e grama-batatais (Paspalum notatum Flügge), em solos poluídos (solos 2, 3 e 4) de uma área de mineração de Pb em Adrianópolis (PR). O solo 1 foi amostrado em área de mata nativa (referência). O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação, com três repetições. Foram determinados os teores de Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr e Zn no solo com HNO3/HCl (3:1) concentrados. Após a colheita das plantas, determinaram-se a massa de matéria seca e os teores de metais pesados nas raízes e parte aérea (digestão nítrico-perclórica). Os solos contaminados (2, 3 e 4) apresentaram as seguintes faixas de teores de metais pesados (mg kg-1): Pb - 2.598,5 a 9.678,2; Cd - 1,9 a 22,2; Cu - 165,5 a 969,2; Ni - 22,6 a 38,4; Cr - 15,2 a 27,8; e Zn - 87,4 a 894,8. A adição de quelante não induziu a uma absorção mais efetiva de metais pesados pelas plantas. O solo 2 possibilitou melhor crescimento das plantas, e o girassol deve ser preferido na fitorremediação das áreas sob as mesmas condições. Na área próxima à planta fabril (solo 3) e nas áreas com grande ocorrência de rejeitos (solo 4), a fitoextração não foi eficiente. Nesses ambientes, recomenda-se o estudo de outras plantas nativas e, ou, exóticas resistentes a altos teores de Pb (solo 3) ou a remobilização de solo mais rejeito para aterros industriais (solo 4).<br>Phytoextraction has been suggested as a viable alternative to traditional restoration practices for heavy metal-contaminated soils (e.g., soil removal and disposal in land fill areas, or co-processing in cement), in view of the lower costs and lower environmental impact. This study had the objective of evaluating induced phytoextraction (use of chelating agent) of heavy metals in black oat (Avena strigosa Schreber), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) in polluted soils (soils 2, 3, and 4) of a Pb mining and processing area in Adrianópolis (PR), Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, with three replications. The soil Pb and Zn contents were determined using concentrated HNO3/HCl (3:1). After harvest, the dry biomass and heavy metal contents in the root and shoot parts were determined by nitro-perchloric digestion. The following values of heavy metal content were found in the contaminated soils (2, 3 and 4) (mg kg-1): Pb - 2,598.5 to 9,678.2; Cd - 1.9 to 22.2; Cu - 165.5 to 969.2; Ni - 22.6 to 38.4; Cr - 15.2 to 27.8 and Zn - 87.4 to 894.8. Chelate addition did not induce heavy metal uptake by the plants. Plant development in soil 2 was better and sunflower should be preferred for phytoremediation in areas under similar conditions. In the area surrounding the industrial plant (soil 3) and in the areas with high waste disposal (soil 4), phytoextraction was not efficient. In these environments other native plants and/or exotic Pb-resistant plants should be tested (soil 3) as well as the remobilization of soil with residues to industrial landfills

Correlação entre o California Mastitis Test (CMT) e a Contagem de Células Somáticas (CCS) do leite de búfalas Murrah Correlation between the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and Somatic Cells Count on milk from Murrah buffalo cows

O objetivo neste trabalho foi estimar as correlações entre o California Mastitis Test (CMT), a contagem células somáticas (CCS) e a produção de leite. Foram colhidas 544 amostras de leite de 38 búfalas em lactação nos anos de 2002 e 2003. O manejo de ordenha consistiu em uma ordenha diária, em que os tetos das búfalas eram desinfectados com solução de iodo, secos individualmente com papel toalha e submetidas à ordenha mecânica. O CMT foi realizado imediatamente após higienização dos tetos e as amostras de leite foram enviadas ao laboratório do DHVSP da Unesp/Botucatu, para realização da Contagem de Células Somáticas, em aparelho eletrônico Somacount 300. Foram efetuadas correlações entre Contagem de Células Somáticas, CMT, produção de leite, proteína, gordura e sólidos totais, que foram analisadas pelo SAEG (1997). A média de células somáticas foi de 63.380 células/mL, a produção diária de leite, de 4,07 &plusmn; 1,3 kg e a produção ajustada para os 270 dias, de 1214,25 &plusmn; 293,54 kg. Não foram encontradas correlações entre produção de leite, contagem de células somáticas e CMT. Para CCS e CMT, a correlação foi positiva e significativa (r = 0,53).<br>The objective of this trial was to investigate correlations among the California Mastitis Test, somatic cells count (SCC), and milk yield. Milk samples were collected from thirty-eight Murrah buffalo cows in the years of 2002 and 2003. Milking management included cleaning teats with individual paper towel followed by attachment of the milk units in cows that were milked once daily. The CMT was done immediately after teat cleaning and collected milk samples were sent to the laboratory for determination of SCC using a Somacount 300. Correlations including variables such as SCC, CMT, milk yield, and percentages of fat, protein, and total solids were done using SAEG (1997). Somatic cells count averaged 63.380 cells/mL while average milk production and milk production adjusted for 270 days were 4.07 &plusmn; 1.3 kg and 1214.25 &plusmn; 293.54 kg, respectively. No significant correlations between milk yield and SCC and milk yield and CMT were observed in this study. However, a positive and significant correlation (0.53) between SCC and CMT was found