Vertebrate Animal Behaviors and Abundances on Estuarine Shorelines Stabilized with Biodegradable Materials Utilizing Wildlife Cameras

Living shoreline stabilization is a restoration technique that utilizes natural materials as breakwaters, plus vegetation landward of the breakwaters, to protect coastlines. This research does not provide information about how new, biodegradable restoration materials affect vertebrates that utilize these shorelines. For this project, I monitored 18 restoration sites along Canaveral National Seashore with wildlife trail cameras: 3 made with cement-infused jute breakwaters, 3 with metal gabion oyster shell breakwaters, and 4 with previously used breakwaters manufactured from plastic mesh oyster shell bags. This project used 4 sites as positive controls (intact vegetation) and 4 as negative controls (highly eroded, no vegetation). Wildlife cameras were used to continuously observe vertebrates for 1-month intervals, pre- and post-stabilization. I observed and recorded a total of 1,044 vertebrates (993 mammals, 51 birds), representing 15 species. The most abundant of these species was Procyon lotor (North American raccoon), and the least abundant was Anas platyrhynchos (mallard duck). The most common behavior among all recorded species was foraging and the least common was swimming. There were 3 observed vertebrate species utilizing restoration materials as a perch for stalking prey, suggesting that the presence of such material did not inhibit their behaviors. These vertebrates damaged neither the restoration materials nor plants deployed behind the breakwaters. Thus, there were no recorded observations of negative vertebrate interactions with these materials. However, all species had fewer post-restoration observations at all control sites

Fibrous based materials in sustainable civil and architectural applications – a review

The aim of this review paper is to present a survey on fibrous materials used in key areas of construction and architectural sectors. Here are highlighted conceptual challenges involved in some of the applications trying to define what we call a “green” building. The main applications reviewed are concrete reinforcement, structural health monitoring, insulation, and architectural membranes. On the other hand, tendencies in the area such as sustainability, weight reduction, enhanced durability and resistance, multi-functionality, bio-mimetization and hybridization are also discussed and analysed

Aplicação de materiais fibrosos na área militar

Os materiais fibrosos têm sofrido, nos últimos anos, desenvolvimentos que podem ser utilizados com enorme vantagem na área militar. Os militares, em teatro de operações, estão sujeitos a vários tipos de agressões que necessitam de protecção extrema, para evitarem ferimentos ou mesmo a morte. Assim, estão sujeitos a várias ameaças que incluem frio ou calor extremos (protecção térmica); fragmentos ou balas soltas (protecção mecânica); gases tóxicos nocivos e vírus que podem levar rapidamente à morte (protecção química e biológica); e, necessidade de se esconderem rapidamente do inimigo (camuflagem). As fibras têm aplicações na área militar representando verdadeiras vantagens como maior leveza, conforto, segurança que leva a um melhor cumprimento das funções que outros materiais são incapazes de oferecer. Este artigo de revisão bibliográfica mostra algumas dessas aplicações e aborda as tendências de investigação que estão a ser levadas a cabo no sentido de se conseguir atingir o objectivo do “soldado ideal”

Aplicações de materiais fibrosos na área médica

Os têxteis médicos têm sofrido um enorme desenvolvimento e tornaram-se uma área de grande interesse. As propriedades dos materiais fibrosos, como a biocompatibilidade ou a flexibilidade tornam estes materiais indicados para aplicações médicas. Assim, estes materiais encontram-se em quase todos os campos da medicina e dividem-se em: materiais cirúrgicos, dispositivos extra -corporais e produtos de saúde e higiene. As aplicações mais relevantes encontram-se nos materiais cirúrgicos implantáveis e, por isso, espera-se uma grande evolução destes, nos próximos anos. É, igualmente, expectável uma maior funcionalização das fibras, com maior especificidade, e uma integração mais intensa entre a tecnologia e a medicina, de modo a serem produzidas fibras com maior potencial, como, por exemplo, materiais fibrosos com capacidade de monitorização dos sinais vitais. Este artigo pretende demonstrar todo o potencial de interesse da aplicação de materiais fibrosos na medicina, recorrendo a vários exemplos de utilização, onde estes materiais desempenham um papel preponderante

Bone-Induced Expression of Integrin β3 Enables Targeted Nanotherapy of Breast Cancer Metastases

Bone metastases occur in approximately 70% of metastatic breast cancer patients, often leading to skeletal injuries. Current treatments are mainly palliative and underscore the unmet clinical need for improved therapies. In this study, we provide preclinical evidence for an antimetastatic therapy based on targeting integrin β3 (β3), which is selectively induced on breast cancer cells in bone by the local bone microenvironment. In a preclinical model of breast cancer, β3 was strongly expressed on bone metastatic cancer cells, but not primary mammary tumors or visceral metastases. In tumor tissue from breast cancer patients, β3 was significantly elevated on bone metastases relative to primary tumors from the same patient (n = 42). Mechanistic investigations revealed that TGFβ signaling through SMAD2/SMAD3 was necessary for breast cancer induction of β3 within the bone. Using a micelle-based nanoparticle therapy that recognizes integrin αvβ3 (αvβ3-MPs of ∼12.5 nm), we demonstrated specific localization to breast cancer bone metastases in mice. Using this system for targeted delivery of the chemotherapeutic docetaxel, we showed that bone tumor burden could be reduced significantly with less bone destruction and less hepatotoxicity compared with equimolar doses of free docetaxel. Furthermore, mice treated with αvβ3-MP-docetaxel exhibited a significant decrease in bone-residing tumor cell proliferation compared with free docetaxel. Taken together, our results offer preclinical proof of concept for a method to enhance delivery of chemotherapeutics to breast cancer cells within the bone by exploiting their selective expression of integrin αvβ3 at that metastatic site

Mechanical suppression of breast cancer cell invasion and paracrine signaling to osteoclasts requires nucleo-cytoskeletal connectivity

Exercise benefits the musculoskeletal system and reduces the effects of cancer. The effects of exercise are multifactorial, where metabolic changes and tissue adaptation influence outcomes. Mechanical signals, a principal component of exercise, are anabolic to the musculoskeletal system and restrict cancer progression. We examined the mechanisms through which cancer cells sense and respond to low-magnitude mechanical signals introduced in the form of vibration. Low-magnitude, high-frequency vibration was applied to human breast cancer cells in the form of low-intensity vibration (LIV). LIV decreased matrix invasion and impaired secretion of osteolytic factors PTHLH, IL-11, and RANKL. Furthermore, paracrine signals from mechanically stimulated cancer cells, reduced osteoclast differentiation and resorptive capacity. Disconnecting the nucleus by knockdown of SUN1 and SUN2 impaired LIV-mediated suppression of invasion and osteolytic factor secretion. LIV increased cell stiffness; an effect dependent on the LINC complex. These data show that mechanical vibration reduces the metastatic potential of human breast cancer cells, where the nucleus serves as a mechanosensory apparatus to alter cell structure and intercellular signaling

Comparative toxicity of Corexit\u3csup\u3e®\u3c/sup\u3e 9500, oil, and a Corexit\u3csup\u3e®\u3c/sup\u3e/oil mixture on the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin)

Given their particle feeding behavior, sessile nature, and abundance in coastal zones, bivalves are at significant risk for exposure to oil and oil dispersant following environmental disasters like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. However, the effects of oil combined with oil dispersants on the health of oysters are not well studied. Therefore, eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were exposed in vivo to Corexit® 9500, crude oil (high-energy water accommodated fraction; HEWAF), and a Corexit®/oil mixture (chemically-enhanced water accommodated fraction; CEWAF) to evaluate potential toxic effects on immunological (phagocytosis and respiratory burst), physiological (feeding rate), and histological endpoints. Phagocytosis was significantly increased following CEWAF exposure only. Respiratory burst was significantly decreased following Corexit® exposure, but significantly increased following exposure to the highest concentration of CEWAF. Oyster feeding rates were significantly decreased following exposure to Corexit®, HEWAF, and CEWAF, and were most sensitive to CEWAF exposure. These modulations of important immunological and physiological functions could result in serious health outcomes for oysters, such as increased parasitism and decreased growth. Our experiments showed that subtle, sub-lethal effects occurred following acute in vivo exposure to Corexit®, HEWAF, and CEWAF, though oysters were not equally sensitive to the three components. Data from this study can be used for more accurate risk assessment concerning the impact of oil and Corexit® on the health of oysters