Towards "green" smart materials for force and strain sensors: The case of polyaniline

Stress/strain sensors constitute a class of devices with a global ever-growing market thanks to their use in many fields of modern life. They are typically constituted by thin metal foils deposited on flexible supports. However, the low inherent resistivity and limited flexibility of their constituents make them inadequate for several applications, such as measuring large movements in robotic systems and biological tissues. As an alternative to the traditional compounds, in the present work we will show the advantages to employ a smart material, polyaniline (PANI), prepared by an innovative environmentally friendly route, for force/strain sensor applications wherein simple processing, environmental friendliness and sensitivity are particularly required.This work was supported by FEDER through the COMPETE Program and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Project PESTC/FIS/UI607/2011 and the project Matepro –Optimizing Materials and Processes”, ref. NORTE-070124-FEDER-000037”, co-funded by the “Programa Operacional Regional do Norte” (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), under the “Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional” (QREN), through the “Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional” (FEDER). The authors also thank FCT for financial support under project PTDC/CTM-NAN/112574/2009. The authors also thank the COST Actions MP1003 (European Scientific Network for Artificial Muscles, ESNAM) and MP0902 (Composites of Inorganic Nanotubes and Polymers, COINAPO)

Genetic diversity and coefficient of parentage between clones and sugarcane varieties in Brazil

The success of the development of new sugarcane varieties is associated with the ability to correctly select the genitor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity between 113 clones and sugarcane varieties using the Ward-modified location model procedure with added information about the coefficient of parentage and endogamy. In this study, data was used from 100 experiments that evaluated clones; the experimental phase was conducted in 70 places between the years 2002 and 2009 on the outlining in random blocks. According to the diversity analysis, 3 groups formed: G1, G2, and G3, which were composed of 58, 8, and 47 genotypes, respectively. The clones of groups G1 and G3 were the most outstanding. Thus, biparental crossbreeding involving clones and varieties of these 2 groups can efficiently obtain transgressive genotypes. Knowledge of the heterotypic groups indicated by the Ward-modified location model method, along with the parentage information, will make it a lot easier to define the desirable and undesirable crossbreeds for public and private breeding programs that develop sugarcane varieties

Increasing genetic variability in black oats using gamma irradiation

The black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) is commonly used for forage, soil cover, and green manure. Despite its importance, little improvement has been made to this species, leading to high levels of genotypic disuniformity within commercial cultivars. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of different doses of gamma rays [ ^60 Co] applied to black oat seeds on the increase of genetic variability of agronomic traits. We applied doses of 0, 10, 50, 100, and 200 Gy to the genotype ALPHA 94087 through exposure to [ ^60 Co]. Two experiments were conducted in the winter of 2008. The first aimed to test forage trait measurements such as plant height, dry matter yield, number of surviving tillers, and seedling stand. The second test assessed seed traits, such as yield and dormancy levels. Gamma irradiation seems not to increase seed yield in black oats, but it was effective in generating variability for the other traits. Tiller number and plant height are important selection traits to increase dry matter yield. Selection in advanced generations of mutant populations can increase the probability of identifying superior genotypes

Decrease in Bone Mass in Women After Liver Transplantation: Associated Factors

AbstractBackgroundIn the future, an increasing number of female liver transplant recipients will reach the climacteric with osteoporosis as a common complication. We evaluated the factors associated with decreased bone mass among women after liver transplantation.MethodsA prospective, cross-sectional study of 23 outpatient transplant recipients followed from February 2009 to March 2010 included women of age ≥35 years after liver transplantations ≥1 year prior. We recorded patient histories, liver enzyme levels, as well as bone mineral densities measured at the lumbar spine and femur. Statistical analysis used Fisher's exact test, simple odds ratio (OR), and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.ResultsThe mean patient age was 52.5 ± 11 years with 30.4% premenopausal, and 69.6% perimenopausal or postmenopausal. Approximately 21% showed osteoporosis and 35%, a low bone mass. Postmenopausal women: OR 69.0 (95% CI 2.89–1647.18; P < .0001), aged ≥49 years: OR 13.33 (95% CI 1.78–100.15; P = .0123) and receiving a transplant after 44 years of age: OR 49.50 (95% CI 3.84–638.43; P < .0001) were associated with a lower bone mass. Having undergone transplantation for more than 5.8 years lowered the risk of bone mass change: OR 0.11 (95% CI 0.02–0.78; P = .0361). Clinical and laboratory variables, including corticosteroid use, were not associated with decreased bone mass.ConclusionUnderstanding the prevalence and factors associated with osteoporosis among female liver transplant recipients is important to enhance the strategies to diagnose and treat these women, seeking to improve their quality of life

Highlights from the 2018 European Respiratory Society International Congress: sleep and clinical physiology.

The 2018 European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress held in Paris, France, served as a platform to discover the latest research on respiratory diseases, the improvement in their treatments and patient care. Specifically, the scientific sessions organised by ERS Assembly 4 provided novel insights into sleep disordered breathing and fresh knowledge in respiratory physiology, stressing its importance to understanding and treating respiratory diseases. This article, divided by session, will summarise the most relevant studies presented at the ERS International Congress. Each session has been written by early career members specialised in the different fields of this interdisciplinary assembly

Semantic segmentation of Brazilian Savanna vegetation using high spatial resolution satellite data and U-net

Large-scale mapping of the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado) vegetation using remote sensing images is still a challenge due to the high spatial variability and spectral similarity of the different characteristic vegetation types (physiognomies). In this paper, we report on semantic segmentation of the three major groups of physiognomies in the Cerrado biome (Grasslands, Savannas and Forests) using a fully convolutional neural network approach. The study area, which covers a Brazilian conservation unit, was divided into three regions to enable testing the approach in regions that were not used in the training phase. A WorldView-2 image was used in cross validation experiments, in which the average overall accuracy achieved with the pixel-wise classifications was 87.0%. The F-1 score values obtained with the approach for the classes Grassland, Savanna and Forest were of 0.81, 0.90 and 0.88, respectively. Visual assessment of the semantic segmentation outcomes was also performed and confirmed the quality of the results. It was observed that the confusion among classes occurs mainly in transition areas, where there are adjacent physiognomies if a scale of increasing density is considered, which agrees with previous studies on natural vegetation mapping for the Cerrado biome. © Authors 2020. All rights reserved

Subclinical thyroid dysfunction and the risk for fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Data on the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and fractures conflict. PURPOSE: To assess the risk for hip and nonspine fractures associated with subclinical thyroid dysfunction among prospective cohorts. DATA SOURCES: Search of MEDLINE and EMBASE (1946 to 16 March 2014) and reference lists of retrieved articles without language restriction. STUDY SELECTION: Two physicians screened and identified prospective cohorts that measured thyroid function and followed participants to assess fracture outcomes. DATA EXTRACTION: One reviewer extracted data using a standardized protocol, and another verified data. Both reviewers independently assessed methodological quality of the studies. DATA SYNTHESIS: The 7 population-based cohorts of heterogeneous quality included 50,245 participants with 1966 hip and 3281 nonspine fractures. In random-effects models that included the 5 higher-quality studies, the pooled adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of participants with subclinical hyperthyroidism versus euthyrodism were 1.38 (95% CI, 0.92 to 2.07) for hip fractures and 1.20 (CI, 0.83 to 1.72) for nonspine fractures without statistical heterogeneity (P = 0.82 and 0.52, respectively; I2= 0%). Pooled estimates for the 7 cohorts were 1.26 (CI, 0.96 to 1.65) for hip fractures and 1.16 (CI, 0.95 to 1.42) for nonspine fractures. When thyroxine recipients were excluded, the HRs for participants with subclinical hyperthyroidism were 2.16 (CI, 0.87 to 5.37) for hip fractures and 1.43 (CI, 0.73 to 2.78) for nonspine fractures. For participants with subclinical hypothyroidism, HRs from higher-quality studies were 1.12 (CI, 0.83 to 1.51) for hip fractures and 1.04 (CI, 0.76 to 1.42) for nonspine fractures (P for heterogeneity = 0.69 and 0.88, respectively; I2 = 0%). LIMITATIONS: Selective reporting cannot be excluded. Adjustment for potential common confounders varied and was not adequately done across all studies. CONCLUSION: Subclinical hyperthyroidism might be associated with an increased risk for hip and nonspine fractures, but additional large, high-quality studies are needed. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Swiss National Science Foundation

Choline deficiency induces apoptosis in SV40-immortalized CWSV-1 rat hepatocytes in culture

Immortalized CWSV-1 rat hepatocytes, in which p53 protein is inactivated by SV40 large T antigen, had increased numbers of cells with strand breaks in genomic DNA (terminal dUTP end labeling) when grown in 0 μM choline (67-73% of cells) than when grown in 70 μM choline (2-3% of cells). Internucleosomal fragmentation of DNA (DNA ladders) was detected in cells grown with 5 μM and 0 μM choline for 72 h. Cells treated with 0 or 5 μM choline for 72 h detached from the substrate in high numbers (58% of choline deficient cells vs. 1.4% of choline sufficient cells detached) exhibited a high incidence of apoptosis (apoptotic bodies were seen in 55-75% of cells; 67-73% had DNA strand breaks), and an absence of mitosis and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression. Cells undergoing DNA fragmentation had functioning mitochondria. At 24 h, cells grown in 0 or 5 μM choline synthesized DNA more rapidly than those grownin 70 μM choline. By 72 h, the cells grown in 0 or 5 μM choline were forming DNA much more slowly than control cells (assessed by thymidine incorporation, PCNA expression, and mitotic index). Western blot analysis showed that p53 in the nucleus of cells was detected in direct association with SV40 T-antigen, and was therefore likely to be inactive. We conclude that choline deficiency kills CWSV-1 hepatocytes in culture by inducing apoptosis via what may be a p53-independent process, and that this process begins in viable cells before they detach from the culture dish

Effective cytocompatible nanovectors based on serine-derived gemini surfactants and monoolein for small interfering RNA delivery

Supplementary data to this article can be found online athttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.09.077.Non-viral gene therapy based on gene silencing with small interfering RNA (siRNA) has attracted great interest over recent years. Among various types of cationic complexation agents, amino acid-based surfactants have been recently explored for nucleic acid delivery due to their low toxicity and high biocompatibility. Monoolein (MO), in turn, has been used as helper lipid in liposomal systems due to its ability to form inverted nonbilayer structures that enhance fusogenicity, thus contributing to higher transfection efficiency. In this work, we focused on the development of nanovectors for siRNA delivery based on three gemini amino acid-based surfactants derived from serine (12Ser)2N12, amine derivative; (12Ser)2COO12, ester derivative; and (12Ser)2CON12, amide derivative individually combined with MO as helper lipid. The inclusion of MO in the cationic surfactant system influences the morphology and size of the mixed aggregates. Furthermore, the gemini surfactant:MO systems showed the ability to efficiently complex siRNA, forming stable lipoplexes, in some cases clearly depending on the MO content, without inducing significant levels of cytotoxicity. High levels of gene silencing were achieved in comparison with a commercially available standard indicating that these gemini:MO systems are promising candidates as lipofection vectors for RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapies.The authors acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnolo-gia (FCT) for financial support through projects UIDB/00081/2020 and UIDB/50006/2020. This work was supported by the‘‘Contrato-Programa” UIDB/04050/2020 funded by national fundsthrough the FCT I.P. Dr. Marisa Passos is gratefully acknowledged for help with the statistical analysis of cytotoxicity data. Fundingby the CCDR-N/NORTE2020/Portugal2020 through project DESign-BIOtechHealth (ref. Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000024) is also acknowledged. I. S. Oliveira and S.G. Silva also acknowledge finan-cial support from FCT through PhD grant SFRH/BD/108629/2015 and Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus - CEEC Indi-vidual grant CEECIND/01932/2017, respectivelyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio