3,717 research outputs found
MIARforest Reproducibility and Reliability for Assessing Occupational Risks in the Rainforest
The Method for the Integrated Assessment of Risks for rainforest (MIARforest) is a specific
methodology for assessing the risk of occupational accidents associated with working in native tropical
forests. MIARforest was validated for the results’ reproducibility and the reliability of calculated
risk levels through the Delphi approach. Two rounds of questionnaires illustrating ten scenarios
of activities associated with the logging process in the Eastern Amazon’s native rainforest (Brazil)
were presented to forestry and occupational health and safety (OHS) experts. In the first round, the
questionnaire was answered anonymously by 55 experts, and in the second, by 46. A percentage of
agreement of at least 80% in each question was considered to close the process. Questions that did not
meet the criterion in the first round were reassessed in the second round. The obtained results lead to
the conclusion that MIARforest, an occupational accident risk assessment tool, has been effectively
validated, demonstrating inter-rater reproducibility and reliability in determining risk values. These
results highlight the objectivity and reliability of MIARforest.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Occupational Risk Assessment in Native Rainforest Management (MIARforest)—Parameters Definition and Validation
Maintaining native rainforests as a sustainable ecosystem and their resilience to external
pressures involves their economic profitability as a natural resource of unique and renewable products.
For this purpose, new approaches have been developed and refined. This work seeks to contribute in
this direction in the context of occupational safety and health (OSH) by presenting a new method
for integrated assessment of risks for rainforests (MIARforest). The MIARforest is based on the MIAR,
a method that has shown promising results in occupational risk assessment in different industrial
sectors. Its parameters were discussed and assessed to improve their relevance, wording and risk
assessment through the Delphi methodology by a panel of 62 experts in forestry and OSH who
responded independently to questionnaires made available through Google Forms. A consensus of
over 79% among the experts was reached in two rounds. This result highlights the high objectivity
and the low percentage of dubious possible interpretations of the parameters and sub-parameters of
this occupational risk assessment method.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
A Target for Protective Interventions against Parkinson’s Disease
Funding Information: This research was funded by FWO and F.R.S.-FNRS under the Excellence of Science Program (EOS), MODEL-IDI Ref. number 30826052, and CD-INFLADIS Ref. number 40007512. A.C.P. is funded by FCT SFRH/BD/14611/2019. I.S.L was funded by FCT SFRH/BD/114552/2016 and is funded by MODEL-IDI Ref. number 30826052; A.C.M. was funded by FCT SFRH/BD/104599/2014; R.G. was funded by FCT IF 01495/2015. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.Sub-chronic inflammation, caused by age-related dysbiosis, primes the brain to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. Evidence revealed that Parkinson’s disease (PD) might originate in the gut, demonstrating gastro-intestinal disturbances, as reported by PD patients long before developing motor symptoms. In this study, we conducted comparative analyses in relatively young and old mice maintained in conventional or gnotobiotic conditions. We aimed to confirm that the effects induced by age-related dysbiosis, rather than aging itself, sensitize to PD onset. This hypothesis was confirmed in germ-free (GF) mice, which proved resistant to the pharmacological induction of PD, regardless of their age. Contrary to conventional animals, old GF mice did not develop an inflammatory phenotype or an accumulation of iron in the brain, two catalysts sensitizing to disease onset. The resistance of GF mice to PD is reverted when colonized with stool collected from conventional old animals, but not if receiving bacterial content from young mice. Hence, changes in gut microbiota composition are a risk factor for PD development and can be targeted preventively by iron chelators, shown to protect the brain from pro-inflammatory intestinal priming that sensitizes to neuroinflammation and the development of severe PD.publishersversionpublishe
Cellulose acetate/carbon nanotube composites by melt mixing
Cellulose acetate (CA) is produced from a natural polymer and presents excellent properties, finding applications in a variety of areas. Unlike cellulose, CA is melt processable and may be molded into parts and formed into fibers or films. In this context, the production of conductive CA composites that may be processable and integrated into parts to provide specific functionalities is an area of increasing interest. The present work aims to prepare electrically conductive composites based on CA and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by melt mixing. The nanocomposites were produced with pure and pyrrolidine-functionalized nanotubes, using a batch mixer and a twin-screw extruder. The morphology of carbon nanotube dispersion, the rheological behavior and the electrical conductivity of the final composites were evaluated. Rheological percolation was achieved for the composites with 0.5 wt% of CNT—both pure and functionalized—produced by extrusion; while electrical percolation was observed only for the composites with pure CNT.The authors acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation
of Science and Technology (SFRH/BD/81711/2011
and PEst-C/CTM/LA0025/2011) and n-SteP –
Nanostructured Systems for Tailored Properties, with
reference NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000039, supported
by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte
(ON.2).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Structure and dynamics of the supercluster of galaxies SC0028-0005
According to the standard cosmological scenario, superclusters are objects
that have just passed the turn around point and are collapsing. The dynamics of
very few superclusters have been analysed up to now. In this paper we study the
supercluster SC0028-0005, at redshift 0.22, identify the most prominent groups
and/or clusters that make up the supercluster, and investigate the dynamic
state of this structure. For the membership identification, we have used
photometric and spectroscopic data from SDSS-DR10, finding 6 main structures in
a flat spatial distribution. We have also used a deep multi-band observation
with MegaCam/CFHT to estimate de mass distribution through the weak-lensing
effect. For the dynamical analysis, we have determined the relative distances
along the line of sight within the supercluster using the Fundamental Plane of
early-type galaxies. Finally, we have computed the peculiar velocities of each
of the main structures. The 3D distribution suggests that SC0028-005 is indeed
a collapsing supercluster, supporting the formation scenario of these
structures. Using the spherical collapse model, we estimate that the mass
within ~Mpc should lie between 4 and . The
farthest detected members of the supercluster suggest that within ~Mpc
the density contrast is with respect to the critical density at
, implying a total mass of --,
most of which in the form of low-mass galaxy groups or smaller substructures.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA
The influence of melt mixing on the stability of cellulose acetate and its carbon nanotube composites
Cellulose derivatives, such as cellulose acetate (CA), are commonly used due to their ease of processing. These polymers present interesting mechanical properties and biodegradability, but low thermal stability under melt processing conditions. Composites of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and cellulose derivatives are expected to present enhanced properties, depending on the effect of nanotubes on polymer structure and thermal properties. This work aims to investigate the influence of melt mixing on the stability of CA and its CNT composites. Composites with 0 wt%, 0.1 wt% and 0.5 wt% CNTs, as received and functionalized with pyrrolidine groups, were prepared using a batch mixer and an extruder. Chain scission of CA occurred during processing, but the effect was considerably reduced in the presence of CNTs. The incorporation of small amounts of CNTs (with or without functionalization) decreased polymer degradation by thermomechanical effects induced during polymer processing.The authors acknowledge the Portuguese
Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/
BD/81711/2011) and n-STeP – Nanostructured systems
for Tailored Properties, with reference NORTE-07-0124-
FEDER-000039, supported by the Programa Operacional
Regional do Norte (ON.2).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Identification, characterization and localization of chagasin, a tight-binding cysteine protease inhibitor in Trypanosoma cruzi
Lysosomal cysteine proteases from mammalian cells and plants are regulated by endogenous tight-binding inhibitors from the cystatin superfamily. The presence of cystatin-like inhibitors in lower eukaryotes such as protozoan parasites has not yet been demonstrated, although these cells express large quantities of cysteine proteases and may also count on endogenous inhibitors to regulate cellular proteolysis. Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas heart disease, is a relevant model to explore this possibility because these intracellular parasites rely on their major lysosomal cysteine protease (cruzipain) to invade and multiply in mammalian host cells. Here we report the isolation, biochemical characterization, developmental stage distribution and subcellular localization of chagasin, an endogenous cysteine protease inhibitor in T. cruzi. We used high temperature induced denaturation to isolate a heat-stable cruzipain-binding protein (apparent molecular mass, 12 kDa) from epimastigote lysates. This protein was subsequently characterized as a tight-binding and reversible inhibitor of papain-like cysteine proteases. Immunoblotting indicated that the expression of chagasin is developmentally regulated and inversely correlated with that of cruzipain. Gold-labeled antibodies localized chagasin to the flagellar pocket and cytoplasmic vesicles of trypomastigotes and to the cell surface of amastigotes. Binding assays performed by probing living parasites with fluorescein (FITC)-cruzipain or FITC-chagasin revealed the presence of both inhibitor and protease at the cell surface of amastigotes. The intersection of chagasin and cruzipain trafficking pathways may represent a checkpoint for downstream regulation of proteolysis in trypanosomatid protozoa
Advanced treatment for arthritic diseases based on the capture and inactivation of interleukin-6 by biofunctionalized polymeric nanoparticles
Arthritic diseases, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, are associated with synovium inflammation (synovitis). Several pro-inflammatory cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and interleukins (IL), are important mediators of inflammation and articular cartilage destruction, supporting a potential possibility of anticytokine therapy in these diseases. IL-6 is one of the key regulators of the inflammatory response. Thus, human monoclonal antibodies against IL-6 may prevent its action, and consequently reduce inflammation after intra-articular (IA) injection. Indeed, several clinical trials have already demonstrated positive outcomes over disease progression. Although these treatments are very attractive, they are associated with limited efficacy because of the rapid clearance of antibodies by the synovium. A solution to overcome this problem is using nanoparticles (NPs) as a substrate to protect and extend the action of the antibodies. Natural-derived polymers, like chitosan (Ch) and hyaluronic acid (HA), are biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharides, being HA a natural component of the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage. Therefore, biodegradable polymeric NPs represent a good candidate for IA administration.
In the present work we propose natural biodegradable polymeric NPs biofunctionalized with immobilized antibodies that selectively capture and inactivate the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, reducing synovium inflammation. Ch-HA NPs were successfully prepared by polyelectrolyte complexation and further stabilized through carbodiimide chemistry (ethyl(dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC)/Nhydroxysuccinimide (NHS)). The particle size and zeta potential of the NPs were optimized. Stable NPs with 121.8 ± 2.4 of particle diameter, 0.11 ± 0.01 of polydispersity index and +25.12 ± 1.86 mV of zeta potential were produced with 0.25 mg/mL of initial polymers concentrations, at pH 5 and with 50/200 mM of EDC/NHS concentration. The anti-IL-6 antibody was immobilized at the surface of Ch-HA NPs. After determining the maximum antibody immobilization ability (7 µg/mL), the capacity to capture the recombinant IL-6 was evaluated. The efficacy was around 94-97%. Biological assays demonstrated not only the cytocompatibility of the produced NPs with human articular chondrocytes (hACs) (Fig 1) and human macrophages, but also the benefits of the capture and inactivation of IL-6 after stimulation with monocyte-derived macrophage conditioned medium. In conclusion, it is foreseeable that these NPs will overcome the limitations of the abovementioned treatments, since such NPs will increase the therapeutic efficacy due to their subcellular size, non-toxicity and high stability, being a promising approach for the local and sustained treatment of arthritic diseases.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Carbon threads sweat-based supercapacitors for electronic textiles
ERC-POC-2019, CAPSEL, 855018
UID/CTM/50025/2019Flexible and stretchable energy-storage batteries and supercapacitors suitable for wearable electronics are at the forefront of the emerging field of intelligent textiles. In this context, the work here presented reports on the development of a symmetrical wire-based supercapacitor able to use the wearer's sweat as the electrolyte. The inner and outer electrodes consists of a carbon-based thread functionalized with a conductive polymer (polypyrrole) which improves the electrochemical performances of the supercapacitor. The inner electrode is coated with electrospun cellulose acetate fibres, as the separator, and the outer electrode is twisted around it. The electrochemical performances of carbon-based supercapacitors were analyzed using a simulated sweat solution and displayed a specific capacitance of 2.3 F.g-1, an energy of 386.5 mWh.kg-1 and a power density of 46.4 kW.kg-1. Moreover, cycle stability and bendability studies were performed. Such energy conversion device has exhibited a stable electrochemical performance under mechanical deformation, over than 1000 cycles, which make it attractive for wearable electronics. Finally, four devices were tested by combining two supercapacitors in series with two in parallel demonstrating the ability to power a LED.publishersversionpublishe
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