Proposal of a New Standardized Freeze-Thawing Technical Protocol for Leucocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma Preparation and Cryopreservation

A human platelet-rich plasma (PRP) concentrate can be defined as a preparation of autologous human plasma with increased platelet concentration produced by centrifugation of a larger volume of a patient's own blood. Platelets contain a plethora of growth factors in their α-granules that are concentrated through the centrifugation process in order to then be injected in supraphysiologic amounts to an injury site with the final aim of augmenting the natural healing process. Preparations of PRP concentrates can be further classified as leucocyte-rich (LR-PRP), defined as having a leucocyte concentration above baseline, and leucocyte-poor (LP-PRP), defined as having a leucocyte concentration below baseline. Although many preclinical and clinical trials have shown the ability of leucocyte-poor PRP concentrates to significantly improve symptomatic mild to moderate hip and/or knee osteoarthritis, to date there is no consensus on the optimal way of obtaining PRP preparations, specifically with respect to the concentration of blood components. In this technical report, we describe a new standardized freeze-thawing technique for leucocyte-poor PRP preparation and cryopreservation, which has been shown to be superior to currently available techniques based solely on centrifugation. By describing this technical protocol, which we have been using on a daily basis in the setting of a Regenerative Medicine Outpatient Clinic in a European tertiary university hospital center, we aim to contribute to a future consensus on the optimal way of obtaining and preserving leucocyte-poor PRP concentrates.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Polarimetric Responses and Scattering Mechanisms of Tropical Forests in the Brazilian Amazon

This chapter discusses the polarimetric responses of PALSAR (L-band) data and scattering mechanisms of some tropical forest typologies based on target decomposition. The fundamentals of polarimetric theory related to both SAR topics under development are summarized. For representation of polarimetric signatures, the cross-section of the forest target (σ) was plotted on a bi-dimensional graphic as a function of the orientation angle, ellipticity angle and the intensity of co-polar components of the radar signal. The analysis of scattering mechanisms was done by the association of entropy and mean alpha angle values of each sample, plotted in a bi-dimensional classification space. This study improves the understanding of the interaction mechanisms between L-band PALSAR signals and structural parameters, supporting the forest inventory in the Brazilian Amazon region

Bioethanol production from hydrothermally pretreated coconut fibre mature catalyzed with sodium hydroxide

In search to increase the offer of liquid energy, clean, renewable and sustainable in the world energy matrix, arises the alternative in the use lignocellulosic materials in bioethanol production. The objective of this work was evaluated the bioethanol production using different strategies as simultaneous (SSF) and semi-simultaneous (SSSF) saccharification on hydrothermally pretreated coconut fibre mature as raw material catalyzed with sodium hydroxide. The bioethanol production was performed by S. cerevisiae PE-2, P. stipitis Y7124 and Z. mobilis B14023. The coconut fibre mature after of the hydrothermal pretreatment was characterized by SEM, X-ray and crystallinity index. The semi-simultaneous saccharification at 48 ºC for 8 h had a positive effect on the overall ethanol yield, increasing from 84.64, 79.27, 81.71 % to 89.15, 85.04, 85.65 % for S. cerevisiae PE-2, P. stipitis Y7124 and Z. mobilis, respectively. For all the cases S. cerevisiae PE-2, P. stipitis Y7124 and Z. mobilis, SSSF strategy allowed obtained higher ethanol production than SSF

Avaliação fermentativa da levedura floculante e termotolerante Saccharomyces cerevisiae CA11 utilizando materiais lignocelulósicos pré-tratados

A oportunidade de utilizar materiais lignocelulósicos (MLCs) residuais ou cultivados em áreas inóspitas como matérias-primas para a produção de etanol é de extrema importância para a produção economicamente viável e sustentável do etanol. Neste sentido, o cacto, casca de coco verde, fibra de coco maduro e a casca de coco maduro foram pré-tratados com peróxido de hidrogênio seguido de hidróxido de sódio, autohidrólise, hidrotérmico catalisado com hidróxido de sódio e organosolv, os MLCs que melhor responderam a cada pré-tratamento foram selecionados, hidrolisados e posteriormente testados por sacarificação e fermentação simultânea (SSF) pela Saccharomyces cerevisiae CA11. Os rendimentos de conversão em etanol foram de 0.42 a 0.47 g/g. Os resultados obtidos pela SSF demonstram a promissora utilização desses MLCs pré-tratados juntamente com a levedura floculante e termotolerante na produção de etanol celulósico

Hidrólise enzimática, sacarificação e fermentação simultânea de materiais lignocelulósicos usando Saccharomyces cerevisiae CA11

A necessidade de aumentar a oferta de energia líquida e limpa na matriz energética mundial possibilita a produção de etanol como uma solução emergente e eficaz. Neste contexto, o objetivo desse trabalho consiste em analisar a hidrólise enzimática dos materiais lignocelulósicos pré-tratados (10 % p/v) e a fermentação e sacarificação simultânea (SSF) pela levedura floculante e termotolerante Saccharomyces cerevisiae CA11. As hidrólises enzimas apresentaram conversões dos materiais lignocelulósicos em glicose entre 75 a 85 %. A SSF realizada pela S. cerevisiae CA11 sob a fibra de coco maduro pré-tratada hidrotermicamente catalisada com hidróxido de sódio resultou em produção e rendimento de etanol de 25.83 g/L e 0.46 g/g, respectivamente. Dessa forma, os resultados obtidos sinalizam a possibilidade benéfica de utilizar esses materiais lignocelulósicos pré-tratados e a S. cerevisiae CA11 na produção de etanol celulósico

Insights from the felsic volcanic rocks hosting the sulphide ore of the giant Aljustrel deposit, Iberian Pyrite Belt

This is a contribution to the research project PetroGeo (LNEG)A geochronological study using SHRIMP U-Pb analysis of zircon grains has been conducted to date felsic volcanic rocks hosting the six massive sulphide deposits of the giant Aljustrel mining district in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. A multiple method age calculation approach was used to validate and ponder calculated Concordia ages (emplacement and inherited), which included weighted average, probability density peak(s), Tuff Zirc and Unmix functions. This approach was particularly useful to interpret the wide continuous single U-Pb ages (320–405 Ma) recorded in the Aljustrel volcanic rocks. The volcanic pile (>250 m) that hosts the Aljustrel deposits was emplaced between 359 and 353 Ma. Upper Devonian inheritance, representing subvolcanic activity, is well-represented in the volcanic rocks of Aljustrel (373–365 Ma). Older Devonian inherited zircon ages at 405 Ma, 388 Ma and 380 Ma were retrieved, hypothetically representing deep plutonism or other melting episodes, which suggests a long-lasting (~50 Ma) magmatic activity in the Aljustrel district. Older pre-Devonian inherited ages, uppermost Silurian and early to late Cambrian, and post-emplacement ages (~330–345 Ma) were also detected, with the latter reflecting Pb loss most likely driven by the main Variscan orogenic event. Maximum ages obtained for the volcanic rocks in the different deposits open the possibility that the last pulses of volcanic activity and subsequent deposition of the massive sulphides were diachronic in the different Aljustrel sub-basins. Additionally, results imply that, contrary to previously assumed, Gavião and São João-Moinho deposits are probably not the same ore lens disrupted by tardi-Variscan faults. This opens new opportunities for mining exploration and targeting in the Aljustrel district and points out the importance of high-resolution geochronological studies in mining and brownfield areas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comparison of delignified coconuts waste and cactus for fuel-ethanol production by the simultaneous and semi-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation strategies

It is of the highest importance to study different alternatives/strategies as simultaneous (SSF) and semi-simultaneous (SSSF) saccharification and fermentation process, as well as the prospects of the utilization of lignocellulosic residues as raw materials for fuel-ethanol production. In the first part of this work, different raw materials (cactus (CAC), green coconut shell (GCS), mature coconut fibre (MCF) and mature coconut shell (MCS)) were pretreated by sequential alkaline hydrogen peroxide (Alk-H2O2)–sodium hydroxide (NaOH) process. The characterization of the obtained solids by FTIR, SEM, X-ray and crystallinity indexes confirmed the higher susceptibility of these pretreated materials to enzymatic action. These results were further confirmed by the corresponding glucose conversion yields – 68.44%, 70.20%, 76.21% and 74.50% for CAC, GCS, MCF and MCS, respectively. Subsequently, the comparison between SSF and SSSF using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia stipitis, Zymomonas mobilis and pretreated MCF (selected in the enzymatic hydrolysis step) was done, being shown that a short presaccharification step at 50 °C for 8 h in the SSSF had a positive effect on the overall ethanol yield, with an increase from 79.27–84.64% to 85.04–89.15%. In all the cases, the SSSF strategy allowed the obtention of higher ethanol concentrations than SSF.The authors gratefully acknowledge the Brazilian research funding agencies CNPq and CAPES for financial support

Produção e purificação de proteína recombinante de A. marginale e Babesia sp.

Comissão organizadora: Grácia Maria Soares Rosinha, Alexandra Rocha de Oliveir, Rodrigo Carvalho Alva