Microalgae Cultivation in Photobioreactors Aiming at Biodiesel Production

The search for a renewable source as an alternative to fossil fuels has driven the research on new sources of biomass for biofuels. An alternative source of biomass that has come to prominence is microalgae, photosynthetic micro-organisms capable of capturing atmospheric CO2 and accumulating high levels of lipids in their biomass, making them attractive as a raw material for biodiesel synthesis. Thus, various studies have been conducted in developing different types of photobioreactors for the cultivation of microalgae. Photobioreactors can be divided into two groups: open and closed. Open photobioreactors are more susceptible to contamination and bad weather, reducing biomass productivity. Closed photobioreactors allow greater control against contamination and bad weather and lead to higher rates of biomass production; they are widely used in research to improve new species and processes. Therefore, many configurations of closed photobioreactors have been developed over the years to increase productivity of microalgae biomass

Anti-CD25 Treatment Depletes Treg Cells and Decreases Disease Severity in Susceptible and Resistant Mice Infected with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are fundamental in the control of immunity and excessive tissue pathology. In paracoccidioidomycosis, an endemic mycosis of Latin America, the immunoregulatory mechanisms that control the progressive and regressive forms of this infection are poorly known. Due to its modulatory activity on Treg cells, we investigated the effects of anti-CD25 treatment over the course of pulmonary infection in resistant (A/J) and susceptible (B10.A) mice infected with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. We verified that the resistant A/J mice developed higher numbers and more potent Treg cells than susceptible B10.A mice. Compared to B10.A cells, the CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells of A/J mice expressed higher levels of CD25, CTLA4, GITR, Foxp3, LAP and intracellular IL-10 and TGF-beta. In both resistant and susceptible mice, anti-CD25 treatment decreased the CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cell number, impaired indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression and resulted in decreased fungal loads in the lungs, liver and spleen. In A/J mice, anti-CD25 treatment led to an early increase in T cell immunity, demonstrated by the augmented influx of activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells to the lungs. At a later phase, the mild infection was associated with decreased inflammatory reactions and increased Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine production. In B10.A mice, anti-CD25 treatment did not alter the inflammatory reactions but increased the fungicidal mechanisms and late secretion of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines. Importantly, in both mouse strains, the early depletion of CD25(+) cells resulted in less severe tissue pathology and abolished the enhanced mortality observed in susceptible mice. In conclusion, this study is the first to demonstrate that anti-CD25 treatment is beneficial to the progressive and regressive forms of paracoccidioidomycosis, potentially due to the anti-CD25-mediated reduction of Treg cells, as these cells have suppressive effects on the early T cell response in resistant mice and the clearance mechanisms of fungal cells in susceptible mice.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (CNPq

A Novel Technique to Label Cover Crop Biomass Using Stable Isotopes

Stable isotopes can be used as tracers for carbon and nitrogen pathways being a great tool to track nutrients in integrated systems. The objective of this experiment was to understand the partitioning of 15N and 13C within cover crop plants when they were labeled with stable isotopes, using chambers under field conditions. Cover crops were planted at the University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center-Marianna, located in Marianna, FL. Treatments were four cover crops, in which one was considered a typical cover crop system and the other three consisted of an integrated crop-livestock system with or without the inclusion of legume or different nitrogen fertilizer rates grazed every two weeks. All treatments were replicated three times in a randomized complete block design. Two chambers were built and placed in each plot to label the cover crop plants. For the 15N labeling, 15N2-labeled urea (98 atom% 15N) was applied at a rate of 0.5 kg N ha-1 only once. The target amount of 13CO2 (99 atom% 13C) was determined considering a 20% enrichment of the CO2 concentration present inside the chamber’s volume. The 13CO2 labeling was performed for 28 consecutive days. The labeling technique using chambers and stable isotopes to enrich cover crop species worked under field conditions for both, grass and legume species. Moving forward, this labeling technique can be a useful tool to track nutrient pathways, especially litter decomposition in diversified integrated crop and livestock systems under different management practices

Uso de beta-bloqueadores em pacientes maiores que 65 anos com insuficiência cardíaca sistólica

Esse artigo tem como objetivo apresentar uma revisão de literatura sobre o uso de beta-bloqueadores em pacientes idosos com insuficiência cardíaca sistólica, sua prescrição e eficácia terapêutica. A Insuficiência Cardíaca (IC) é uma síndrome multifatorial de alta incidência, com disfunção ventricular esquerda sistólica na maioria dos casos. A sua prevalência aumenta com a idade e com o número de comorbidades associadas. As diretrizes preconizam como tratamento a associação de um inibidor da enzima conversora da angiotensina II (iECA) ou bloqueador do receptor de angiotensina II (BRA) com beta-bloqueadores (BB), sendo estas drogas disruptivas no tratamento dessa doença

Dynamics of Recovery of Physiological Parameters After a Small-Sided Game in Women Soccer Players

Purpose: Training methods based on small-sided game (SSG) seem to promote physiological and tactical benefits for soccer players as they present characteristics more specific to the game. Thus, the main objective of the present study was to analyze the hormonal, biochemical, and autonomic parameters in an acute manner and the recovery dynamics (up to 72 h after) in a SSG.Methods: Thirteen professional female soccer players participated in the study (18.8 ± 0.8 years, body mass 59.4 ± 6.2 kg, and height 1.68 ± 0.05 m). During and after the SSG session (4 min × 4 min separated by 3 min of passive interval and 120 m2 coverage per player), autonomic modulation was analyzed in the time and frequency domains using heart rate variability, and blood samples (5 ml) were collected before (0 h) and after (10 min and 24, 48, 72 h) the SSG for biochemical and hormonal analysis.Results: The SSG induced an increase effect for LF (low frequency) (92,52%; Very likely increase) and a decrease effect for HF (high frequency) values (-65,72%; Very likely decrease), after 10 min of recovery. The LF/HF increase after 10 min of recovery (386,21%; Very likely increase). The RMSSD (square root of the mean squared differences of the successive N–N intervals) and pNN50 (measure of the number of adjacent NN intervals which differ by more than 50 ms) values presented a decrease effect 10 min after SSG (61,38%; Very likely decrease and-90%; Very likely decrease). The CK (creatine kinase) values presented no changes 10 min after SSG. The LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) values presented an increase effect 10 min after the SSG (19,22%; Likely increase). Both testosterone and cortisol concentrations presented the same behavior after SSG, where no alterations were observed with after 10 min (<0,37%; Most likely trivial).Conclusion: The SSG promoted significant cardiovascular stress that was restored within the first 24 h of recovery. Parasympathetic parameters continued to increase while sympathetic parameters declined significantly during the 72 h of recovery. In addition, the reduced game did not alter biochemical or hormonal responses during the 72 h

Efeitos da amplitude termica nos parâmetros fisiologicos de bezerros nos primeiros 28 dias de idade.

Cerca de dois terços do território nacional está situado na faixa tropical do planeta, onde predomina elevada temperatura e radiação solar, podendo ultrapassar a zona de conforto dos animais, levando ao estresse térmico. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o efeito da amplitude térmica sobre a temperatura retal, frequência cardíaca e respiratória de bezerros da raça holandesa nos primeiros 28 dias de idade. O experimento foi conduzido sob delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com dois tratamentos, zona termoneutra (ZT) (7 repetições, 3 machos e 4 fêmeas) e amplitude térmica (AT) (9 repetições, 5 machos e 4 fêmeas). Os animais do tratamento ZT foram mantidos em câmara climática com índice de temperatura e umidade (ITU) de 66,1 ± 3,25 durante as 24 horas do dia em todo o período experimental. O tratamento AT foi de 06h30min às 15h30min, com ITU= 80,0 ± 5,66 (calor); 15h30min às 18h30min, com ITU = 68,1 ± 1,54 (termoneutralidade); 18h30min às 03h30min, com ITU = 57,9 ± 0,59 (frio); 03h30min às 06h30min, com ITU = 67,3 ± 2,32 (termoneutralidade). A temperatura retal (TR), a frequência respiratória (FR) e frequência cardíaca (FC) foram registradas nos horários de 3:00hrs, 6:00 hrs, 10:00 hrs, 14:00 hrs, 16:00 hrs e 18:00 hrs. Os bezerros apresentaram maior TR e FR no tratamento amplitude térmica. A FC não apresentou diferença significativa entre os tratamentos (p>0,05). A variação de temperatura durante o dia aumenta a frequência respiratória e temperatura retal de bezerros nos primeiros 28 dias de idade

Recomendações para a produção de sementes de Andropogon gayanus BRS Sarandi.

A cultivar BRS Sarandi é adaptada a solos de baixa e média fertilidade. Possui altura média-alta, com hábito de crescimento semiereto e um grande número de perfilhos. A produtividade anual de matéria seca é de 11 t/ha, concentrada no período chuvoso (90%). Do total de MS produzida, 60% são folhas. A BRS Sarandi foi registrada no Registro Nacional de Cultivares (RNC/Mapa) sob o número 41670 (29/10/2019) e está protegida pelo Sistema Nacional de Proteção de Cultivares (SNPC/Mapa) sob o número de certificação 20200031 (26/8/2019). Sementes da BRS Sarandi são comercializadas exclusivamente pelo grupo de empresas integrantes da Associação Unipasto (https://www.unipasto.com.br/). Parte das orientações a seguir baseia-se nas informações disponíveis na literatura para a cv. Planaltina, ajustadas às características do BRS Sarandi: altura menor (20 cm a 30 cm menor que a cultivar Planaltina), maior perfilhamento e florescimento tardio (final abril)

Farmacocinética de nanopartículas de cloxacilina administradas em caprinos diagnosticados com linfadenite caseosa.

Resumo: A linfadenite caseosa, é uma doença causada pela bactéria Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, e afeta pequenos ruminantes em todo o mundo, reduzindo significativamente a produção de leite, lã e carne. As lesões encapsuladas nos linfonodos superficiais são a barreira para a penetração de antibióticos no local da infecção. Portanto, os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a taxa de penetração farmacocinética no abscesso de nanoesferas poliméricas carregadas com cloxacilina em cabras infectadas. Material e Métodos: Foi preparada uma solução de cloxacilina sódica, produzida pela técnica de polimerização interfacial PCL. A formulação nanoparticulada foi caracterizada por técnicas de Dispersão Dinâmica de Luz (DLS) e Microscopia de Força Atômica (AFM). Foram utilizadas 8 fêmeas da raça Toggenburg, distribuídas em 3 grupos, de acordo com o tempo de drenagem do conteúdo de abcesso após administração subcutânea da formulação. A atividade antibacteriana foi determinada por testes in vitro de cultura de macrófagos. A quantificação da cloxacilina foi realizada por espectrometria de massas tipo triplo quadrupolo (Waters, Inglaterra). Resultados e Discussão: A taxa mais elevada de inibição bacteriana no compartimento intracelular sugere a entrega de cloxacilina às células fagocitárias. Subsequentemente à administração de dose única, considerando a concentração no plasma e abscesso, uma retenção crescente do antibiótico pode ser identificada nos abscessos durante o período da experiência. A concentração de cloxacilina no abscesso foi muito maior do que a concentração inibitória in vitro, mesmo após o antibiótico não ser mais detectado no sistema circulatório. Conclusões: A concentração de cloxacilina no abscesso foi muito maior do que a concentração in vitro, mesmo após esse não ser mais detectado no sistema circulatório. Os dados são promissores para o desenvolvimento de uma abordagem eficaz para o tratamento com cloxacilina

TLR9 activation dampens the early inflammatory response to paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Impacting host survival

Background: Paracoccidioides brasiliensis causes paracoccidioidomycosis, one of the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America. Thus, understanding the characteristics of the protective immune response to P. brasiliensis is of interest, as it may reveal targets for disease control. The initiation of the immune response relies on the activation of pattern recognition receptors, among which are TLRs. Both TLR2 and TLR4 have been implicated in the recognition of P. brasiliensis and regulation of the immune response. However, the role of TLR9 during the infection by this fungus remains unclear.J.F. Menino was supported by a grant from Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal (SFRH/BD/33446/2008). This work was supported by a grant from FCT (PTDC/BIA-MIC/108309/2008). M. Saraiva is a Ciencia 2007 fellow and M. Sturme is a Ciencia 2008 fellow. We would also like to thank FAPESP (Fundacao para Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico) for financial support. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript