Animal protein-based soft materials for tissue engineering applications

Proteins have long been used in coatings for cell culture plates and to supplement cell culture media. Due to their unmatched biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioactivity and immune-privilege, the interest in proteins rapidly advanced for the design and engineering of more complex substrates for biomedical applications. In this chapter, the proteins typically used in the design and fabrication of biomedical devices are presented and discussed, with particular focus in human-based platforms. However, restrictions in the use of protein-derived materials are associated with their limited processability and stability, but to overcome this, multiple bioconjugation techniques have been described and are herein presented. An overview of current protein-based materials that have found clinical application and that have been commercialized is also provided.publishe

Synergistic potential of dillapiole oil for synthetic pyrethroid insecticides against the fall armyworm.

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a serious lepidopterous pest of several economically important crops. Control of the fall armyworm has depended exclusively on insecticides. As a result, this pest has developed resistance to major classes of insecticides. There has been mounting interest in the use of synergist to reduce this resistance by combined application of insecticide with synergists. A highly effective, expensive insecticide might be used at a diluted rate with a less expensive chemical to give satisfactory control of a target insect and minimize the contamination of agro ecosystem

Synergistic potential of dillapiole-rich essential oil with synthetic pyrethroid insecticides against fall armyworm.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the synergy and response homogeneity of the Spodoptera frugiperda larvae population to the Piper aduncum essential oil in combination with pyrethroid insecticides (alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, fenpropathrin, and gamma-cyhalothrin) compared to piperonylbutoxide (PBO) as positive control. Synergism (SF) comparisons were obtained using lethal concentration (LC50) and lethal dose (LD50) ratios of insecticides individually and in their respective synergistic combinations with essential oil and PBO. Dose/concentration-mortality slope curves were used to establish relative toxicity increase promoted by synergism. They also determined homogeneity response. Residual contact revealed significant potentiation for commercial insecticides formulated with beta-cypermethrin (SF=9.05-0.5) and fenpropathrin (SF=34.05-49.77) when combined with the P. aduncum essential oil. For topical contact, significant potentiation occurred only for alpha-cypermethrin (SF=7.55-3.68), fenpropathrin (SF=3.37-1.21), and gamma-cyhalothrin (SF=5.79-10.48) insecticides when combined with essential oil. With the exception of fenpropathrin and gamma-cyhalothrin, insecticides synergistic combinations presented homogeneous response by topical as well as residual contact at least with essential oil. The SF significance values of the P. aduncum essential oil combined with alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, fenpropathrin, and gamma-cyhalothrin insecticides indicated potential for this oil to be used as an alternative to PBO

Sinérgico alternativo para inseticidas inibidores de acetilcolinesterase.

A importância da utilização de sinergistas está relacionada à minimização da quantidade de inseticida químico necessária para o controle de insetos, podendo contribuir com a diminuição da contaminação ambiental e preservação de insetos benéficos. Assim, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito sinérgico e da homogeneidade de resposta de lagartas de Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) às doses subletais do óleo essencial de Piper aduncum L. (OEPA) em combinações com formulações de organofosforados e carbamato, comparadas àquelas com butóxido de piperonila (PBO). Foram obtidos fatores de sinergismo (FS) para comparação dos tratamentos entre si. Por contato residual, evidenciou-se significativa potencialização dos inseticidas Profenofós (FS= 5,4 - 7,7), Fenitrotiona (FS= 3,9 - 29,2) e Clorpirifós (FS= 3,4 - 7,8). Já por contato tópico ocorreu significativa potencialização dos inseticidas: Profenofós + ¼ da DL50 do OEPA (FS= 5,4), Fenitrotiona + ¼ da DL50 do OEPA (FS= 33,8) e Clorpirofós + 1/2 da DL50 do OEPA (FS= 2,5). O metomil não foi sinergizado pelo OEPA nas duas vias de contaminação e não apresentou aumento da pressão de seleção para resistência na população avaliada de lagartas de S. frugiperda. Não foi possível concluir sobre a homogeneidade de resposta e consequentemente da pressão de seleção com relação aos inseticidas organofosforados para S. frugiperda. Os resultados indicam que o óleo essencial de Piper aduncum apresenta potencial como sinergista para Fenitrotiona, Profenofós e Clorpirifós, podendo ser uma alternativa ao butóxido de piperonila

Promoção do consumo de frutas, legumes e verduras junto a comunidades atendidas pelo Programa Saúde da Família (PSF) e Programa de Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (PACS): diagnóstico inicial.

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ESPRESSO: The next European exoplanet hunter

The acronym ESPRESSO stems for Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations; this instrument will be the next VLT high resolution spectrograph. The spectrograph will be installed at the Combined-Coud\'e Laboratory of the VLT and linked to the four 8.2 m Unit Telescopes (UT) through four optical Coud\'e trains. ESPRESSO will combine efficiency and extreme spectroscopic precision. ESPRESSO is foreseen to achieve a gain of two magnitudes with respect to its predecessor HARPS, and to improve the instrumental radial-velocity precision to reach the 10 cm/s level. It can be operated either with a single UT or with up to four UTs, enabling an additional gain in the latter mode. The incoherent combination of four telescopes and the extreme precision requirements called for many innovative design solutions while ensuring the technical heritage of the successful HARPS experience. ESPRESSO will allow to explore new frontiers in most domains of astrophysics that require precision and sensitivity. The main scientific drivers are the search and characterization of rocky exoplanets in the habitable zone of quiet, nearby G to M-dwarfs and the analysis of the variability of fundamental physical constants. The project passed the final design review in May 2013 and entered the manufacturing phase. ESPRESSO will be installed at the Paranal Observatory in 2016 and its operation is planned to start by the end of the same year.Comment: 12 pages, figures included, accepted for publication in Astron. Nach