A size dependent evaluation of the cytotoxicity and uptake of nanographene oxide

Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted great interest due to its extraordinary potential for biomedical application. Although it is clear that the naturally occurring morphology of biological structures is crucial to their precise interactions and correct functioning, the geometrical aspects of nanoparticles are often ignored in the design of nanoparticles for biological applications. A few in vitro and in vivo studies have evaluated the cytotoxicity and biodistribution of GO, however very little is known about the influence of flake size and cytotoxicity. Herein, we aim at presenting an initial cytotoxicity evaluation of different nano-sized GO flakes for two different cell lines (HeLa (Kyoto) and macrophage (J7742)) when they are exposed to samples containing different sized nanographene oxide (NGO) flakes (mean diameter of 89 and 277 nm). The obtained data suggests that the larger NGO flakes reduce cell viability as compared to smaller flakes. In addition, the viability reduction correlates with the time and the concentration of the NGO nanoparticles to which the cells are exposed. Uptake studies were also conducted and the data suggests that both cell lines internalize the GO nanoparticles during the incubation periods studied. © 2015 The Royal Society of Chemistry114151sciescopu

Arthropods in coarse woody debris in jarrah forest and rehabilitated bauxite mines in Western Australia

Coarse woody debris (CWD) is returned to Alcoa’s rehabilitated mined areas in the jarrah forest as potential vertebrate fauna habitat, however, its value for invertebrate fauna has not been investigated. We sought to determine if CWD in rehabilitated areas supported a similar arthropod fauna to that on fallen logs in the adjacent unmined jarrah forest. Using emergence tents, sampling from logs in 5-year old and 15-year old rehabilitated forest, and in unmined forest, yielded 2266 specimens from 187 taxa. Collembola (43% of total) and Acarina (32%) were the most abundant groups, followed by Diptera (11%), Araneae (4%) and Coleoptera (3%). There were no significant differences in either taxa richness or overall abundance among the three forest types. However, community composition varied significantly. Species richness from the Araneida, Coleoptera and Diptera was highest in the 5-year old rehabilitated forest, while Collembola and Acarina were better represented in the unmined forest; this was related to changes in the environment surrounding the logs as rehabilitated forest develops, and to log condition. The composition of arthropods on logs in the 15-year old rehabilitated forest was intermediate, indicating a trend of increasing similarity to the unmined forest in arthropod fauna as the rehabilitated forest ages. We suggest that over longer time periods, CWD in rehabilitated forest will support arthropod communities similar to those found in unmined forest. Future work should determine if returning logs to mined areas facilitates the return of CWD-dependent taxa

Características da carcaça de bovinos de quatro grupos genéticos submetidos a dietas com ou sem adição de gordura protegida Carcass characteristics of bovines from four genetic groups fed diets with or without protected fat

Com o objetivo de avaliar o rendimento e as características de carcaça de quatro grupos genéticos de bovinos, foram abatidos 32 animais machos inteiros, dos grupos Nelore (N), F1 Canchim x Nelore (CN), F1 Limousin x Nelore (LN) e F1 Aberdeen Angus x Nelore (AN), com idade aproximada de 19 meses e peso vivo médio de 558 kg, terminados em regime de confinamento, recebendo dietas com ou sem adição de gordura protegida, durante 166 dias. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, seguindo esquema fatorial 2 x 4 (dieta, grupo genético). Observou-se efeito do grupo genético sobre o rendimento de cortes primários, tendo o grupo AN apresentado as maiores médias de dianteiro (41,65%) e ponta de agulha (13.90%) e o grupo LN, o maior rendimento de traseiro (47,40%). A área de olho de lombo (AOL) sofreu efeito da dieta, apresentando médias de 81,31 cm² vs. 88,50cm², para as dietas sem e com gordura protegida, respectivamente. A composição física da carcaça foi influenciada pelo grupo genético, tendo o grupo LN apresentado a maior porcentagem de músculo (63,62%) e a menor porcentagem de tecido adiposo (21,65%), enquanto o grupo Nelore apresentou a maior porcentagem de tecido adiposo (28,28%) e menor porcentagem de músculo (56,76%). A composição química da seção HH sofreu efeito do grupo genético, tendo sido observados os maiores teores de proteína bruta nos grupos LN (27,24%) e CN (26,10%) e de extrato etéreo no grupo Nelore (68,35%), que não diferiu do grupo AN (68,02%). Os menores teores de Ca, P e Mg (2,62; 1,32; e 0,081%) foram observados no grupo Nelore.<br>The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the yield and carcass characteristics of steers from the following four genetic group: Nellore (N), F1 Canchim x Nellore (CN), F1 Limousin x Nellore (LN) and F1 Aberdeen Angus x Nellore (NA). For this purpose, 32 steers, with age of 19 months and live weight average of 558 kg, raised in confinement and fed diet with and without protected fat for 166 days, were slaughtered. A completely randomized design, with four replicates, following a factorial scheme of 2 x 4 (diet, genetic group), was used. The effect of genetic group was observed on the prime cuts yield and the group NA presented the greatest yield means of the hindquarter (41.65%) and spare ribs (13.90%) and the group LN presented a greater yield of forequarter (47.40%). The loin eye area (AOL) was affected by the diet, showing means of 81.31 cm² vs. 88.50 cm² in the diets without and with protected fat, respectively. The physical composition of the carcass was affected by the genetic group, and the group LN showed the greatest percentage of muscle (63.62%) and the lowest percentage of fat tissue (21.65%), while the group Nellore showed the greatest percentage of fat tissue (28.28%) and the lowest percentage of muscle (56.76%). The chemical composition of the HH section was affected by the genetic group, and the greatest contents of crude protein were observed in the groups LN (27.24%) and CN (26.10%), and the ether extract in the group Nellore (68.35%), that did not differ form the AN (68.02%). The lowest contents of Ca, P and Mg (2.62; 1.32 and 0.081%) were observed in the group Nellore