Photocatalytic Activity and UV-Protection of TiO(2) Nanocoatings on Poly(lactic acid) Fibres Deposited by Pulsed Magnetron Sputtering

The application of nanocoatings in the textile finishing is increasingly being explored because they open a whole new vista of value-addition possibilities in the textile sector. In the present work, low temperature pulsed DC magnetron sputtering method was used to create functional TiO2 nanocoatings on poly(lactic acid) textile fibres surfaces. In this study, the principal objectives in the application of TiO2 nanocoatings to textile materials are to impart UV protection functions and self-cleaning properties to the textile substrates. The TiO2 films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy and contact angle analysis. The Photocatalytic activity of the films was tested by measuring the photodegradation rates of rhodamine-B dye aqueous solution under UV light irradiation. The ultraviolet protection function was tested according to the Australian/New Zealand standards. It was observed that the TiO2 nanocoatings on poly(lactic acid) fibres showed an excellent ultraviolet protection (>40) function and the photocatalytic efficiency was maintained even after a strong washing treatment.We acknowledge the PhD grant of J. H. O. Nascimento to Programa ALBAN-"Programa de bolsas de alto nivel da Uniao Europeia para a America Latina, bolsa no E06D104090BR.

Supplementing alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and vitamin D3 in high fat diet decrease IL-6 production in murine epididymal adipose tissue and 3T3-L1 adipocytes following LPS stimulation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is well known that high fat diets (HFDs) induce obesity and an increase in proinflammatory adipokines. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is considered the major inflammatory mediator in obesity. Obesity is associated with a vitamin deficiency, especially of vitamins E and D3. We examined the effects of vitamin D3 and vitamin E supplementation on levels of IL-6 and IL-10 (as a marker of anti-inflammatory cytokines since, a balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is maintained) protein expression in adipose tissue of mice provided with an HFD. Additionally, we measured the effects of vitamin E and vitamin D3 treatment on LPS-stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes IL-6 and IL-10 secretion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>IL-6 protein levels and the IL-6/IL-10 ratio were decreased in epididymal white adipose tissue in groups receiving vitamins E and D3 supplementation compared to the HFD group. A 24-hour treatment of vitamin D3 and vitamin E significantly reduced the IL-6 levels in the adipocytes culture medium without affecting IL-10 levels.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Vitamin D3 and vitamin E supplementation in an HFD had an anti-inflammatory effect by decreasing IL-6 production in epididymal adipose tissue in mice and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes stimulated with LPS. Our results suggest that vitamin E and D3 supplementation can be used as an adjunctive therapy to reduce the proinflammatory cytokines present in obese patients.</p

Production of photocatalytic road pavements using TiO2 nanoparticles

posterMan’s activity and mismanagement of resources conducted to dangerous levels of pollution in water, air and earth and to incalculable deficiencies, harmful to the physical and social health of mankind. Industrial activities, heating systems and road traffic are the main responsibles for the emission of pollutant gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). As so, its harmful impacts are observed far beyond large cities and jam-packed streets. It is important to refer that the health costs related only with road traffic air pollution represents 0.9%-2.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in France, for example. Under this context, the combination of nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) and bituminous formulations represents a tool, with considerable degree of innovation, towards the reduction of environmental impacts. In this work, conventional hot mix asphalt (HMA) was produced with standard materials to play the role of a control sample. Afterwards, an aqueous solution of TiO2 nanoparticles was sprayed over sample’s surface. By another hand, a HMA samples was also modified through the volume incorporation of small quantities of TiO2 nanoparticles and recycled glass cullets. It is expected that the inclusion of glass in the asphalt formulations should promote an in-depth conduction and entrapment of light , thus enhancing the photocatalytic performance of this samples. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis were conducted in order to infer about the morphology of the modified HMA samples and the surface as well as the in-depth dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles and recycled glass cullets. The produced samples were also subjected to wearing tests using the tire-road contact method. Before and after the wearing process, the photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated via the decomposition rate of an aqueous solution of Methylene Blue (MB) under UV light irradiation

Dispersão de machos estéreis de Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) em pomar comercial de manga (Mangifera indica L.) na região Sudoeste da Bahia.

O cultivo de manga é a principal opção econômica do pólo de fruticultura de Anagé, Região Sudoeste da BA. As moscas-das-frutas são pragas quarentenárias e se constituem nos principais problemas fitossanitários da região. Em conformidade com os princípios da Produção Integrada de Frutas, a Técnica do Inseto Estéril (TIE) apresenta-se como uma estratégia de manejo vantajosa e de baixo impacto ambiental. Estudos sobre dispersão de moscamed (Ceratitis capitata Wied.) estéril são necessários para gerar subsídios à implantação da TIE no Brasil. Esse trabalho teve por objetivos estimar a capacidade de dispersão de machos moscamed estéril em pomar comercial de manga e a sua sobrevivência em campo. Cerca de 18.000 machos estéreis de moscamed, linhagem TSL Viena 8, procedentes de Mendonza, Argentina, foram liberados no centro do pomar de 20 ha, às 06h00. Para a recaptura, foram utilizadas armadilhas Jackson, dispostas a cada 25m nas direções N, S, L, O, NO, NE. SO e SE, totalizando 80 armadilhas, num raio máximo de 250 m. No 1º, 3º, 5º, 7º, 9º e 11º dia da liberação, as armadilhas foram expostas às 8h00 e retiradas após uma hora, sendo levadas a uma sala escura, sob lâmpada negra, para contagem de machos estéreis e selvagens. Foram recapturados apenas 22 machos estéreis (0,12%) em 16 armadilhas (20,0%) no primeiro dia após a liberação, sendo que nos demais dias a recaptura foi nula. As recapturas ocorreram principalmente nas armadilhas a sudoeste do ponto de liberação, à distância mínima de 25 metros (SO, NE, NO, SE) e máxima de 250 metros (S). Boa parte dos adultos (40%) foi recapturada num raio de 50m do ponto de liberação. A distância média de dispersão foi de 157,0 m/dia e a área abrangida foi de 29.008,33 m²/dia. A sobrevivência dos machos em campo foi insatisfatóri

Recorte circular de cenas computacionais aplicado na separação de íris humana

O reconhecimento de padrões da íris humana é um processo não invasivo e que permite a extracção de características individuais. A localização e separação da íris do restante da imagem é fundamental para o bom desempenho dos métodos desenvolvidos nesta área. O isolamento da íris costuma ser um processo que exige a varredura da imagem e a comparação da localização de cada um de seus pixels. Como esta possui formato arredondado, o recorte de cenas computacionais, com janela de corte circular, pode ser aplicado nas imagens de íris para fazer este isolamento. No entanto, encontrar os limites de uma janela de visualização é um processo exigente computacionalmente, principalmente para estruturas de dados do tipo bitmap, que devem ser processadas pixel a pixel. Na tentativa de reduzir o processamento para tornar viável a aplicação na separação de íris, este trabalho usa os conceitos de hashing e a equação da circunferência para definir os pontos da imagem original bitmap pertencentes a uma área de visualização circular, sem a necessidade de percorrer todos os pixels da mesma. Apresenta-se o resultado da aplicação deste método para a separação da íris humana em imagens bitmap, sem a necessidade de comparar a localização de todos os seus pixels

Tinctorial behavior of curaua and banana fibers and dyeing wastewater treatment by porous alumina membranes

Physicochemical and dyeing properties using reactive dyes of curaua and banana fibers were studied by means of color strength (K/S), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses. SEM analysis of alkali-treated fibers showed an increase in roughness due to surface lignin and hemicellulose defibrillation. DSC analysis showed for all the samples an endothermic and an exothermic peak at 70–80 and 340–360 ̊C due to the loss of adsorbed/ absorbed water and to decomposition of α-cellulose, respectively. Alkali-treated fibers dis- played a second peak around 290 ̊C attributed to the degradation of hemicellulose. FTIR spectra of the studied fibers show similar bands with different intensities attributed to the main components of cellulose-based materials. Alkali-pretreated fibers demonstrated excel- lent dyeing ability for all the tested dyes. Dye absorption depends on the chemical fiber, dye structure, and concentration. The results of washing fastness are very good for all the tested fibers. The dyeing effluent treated with an advanced microfiltration method using an improved alumina ceramic membrane shows an average efficiency of 98% in turbidity and color reduction. Low-cost ceramic alumina microfiltration membranes are a very promising advanced treatment for textile industrial effluents allowing water reuse.C2011-UMINHO-2C2T-01 acknowledges the funding from Programa Compromisso para a Ciência 2008, Portugal

Inactivated vaccine against trivalent influenza: a comparative study of antigenicity by haemagglutination inhibition and simple radial haemolysis

The inactivated vaccine anti-influenza virus, prepared at the Butantan Institute, containing 200 U.H. from each one these virus strains, Influenza A/SP/1/80 (H3N2), A/SP/1/78 (H1N1), B/England/847/73, was administered to 110 human volunteers in one and two doses to 62 and 48 persons respectively, with an interval of 21 days between these doses. The response to specific antibodies to influenza was analysed comparatively by the methods of Haemagglutination-Inhibition (HI) and Single-Radial-Haemolysis (SRH). These methods demonstrated a correlation between themselves, with a percentual correspondence in the negative HI titres, ; 1:640, corresponded to hemolysis zones >; 7.5 mm in diameter. Soroconversion rate occurred those vaccinated, which corresponded to an increase of 4 times or more in the antibody titres obtained from the HI test and an increase of 3.0 mm or more in the haemolysis zone diameter.A vacina inativada contra gripe, trivalente, preparada no Instituto Butantan, contendo 200 unidades hemaglutinantes de cada uma das cepas de virus Influenza A/SP/1/80 (H3N2), A/SP/1/78 (H1N1) e B/England/847/73, foi administrada em 110 voluntários humanos adultos, sendo que 62 receberam uma dose de vacina e 48 duas doses, com intervalo de 21 dias. A resposta de anticorpos específicos para influenza foi analisada comparativamente pelos testes de Inibição da Hemaglutinação (IH) e Hemólise Radial Simples (HRS). Ocorreu aumento significativo do teor de anticorpos nos indivíduos vacinados, correspondente a um aumento de 4 vezes ou mais nos títulos obtidos pelo teste IH e a um aumento de 3,0 mm ou maior no diâmetro das zonas de hemólise pelo teste HRS. Os métodos demonstraram correlação satisfatória entre si

Sleep deprivation affects inflammatory marker expression in adipose tissue

<p>Abstract</p> <p/> <p>Sleep deprivation has been shown to increase inflammatory markers in rat sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Inflammation is a condition associated with pathologies such as obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. We investigated changes in the pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines in different depots of white adipose tissue in rats. We also assessed lipid profiles and serum levels of corticosterone, leptin, and adiponectin after 96 hours of sleep deprivation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study consisted of two groups: a control (C) group and a paradoxical sleep deprivation by 96 h (PSD) group. Ten rats were randomly assigned to either the control group (C) or the PSD. Mesenteric (MEAT) and retroperitoneal (RPAT) adipose tissue, liver and serum were collected following completion of the PSD protocol. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6, interleukin (IL)-10 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were analysed in MEAT and RPAT, and leptin, adiponectin, glucose, corticosterone and lipid profile levels were analysed in serum.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>IL-6 levels were elevated in RPAT but remained unchanged in MEAT after PSD. IL-10 protein concentration was not altered in either depot, and TNF-α levels decreased in MEAT. Glucose, triglycerides (TG), VLDL and leptin decreased in serum after 96 hours of PSD; adiponectin was not altered and corticosterone was increased.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>PSD decreased fat mass and may modulate the cytokine content in different depots of adipose tissue. The inflammatory response was diminished in both depots of adipose tissue, with increased IL-6 levels in RPAT and decreased TNF-α protein concentrations in MEAT and increased levels of corticosterone in serum.</p

Clinical Benefits After the Implementation of a Protocol of Restricted Perioperative Intravenous Crystalloid Fluids in Major Abdominal Operations

Abstract Background Perioperative fluid replacement is a challenging issue in surgical care. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of two different perioperative hydration protocols on the outcome in patients undergoing major abdominal operations. Methods This was a prospective study involving 61 patients (42 men/19 women; mean age: 52 years; age range: 18-81 years) who underwent major abdominal operations. The study had two distinct phases: before (conventional group; administered 30-50 ml/kg per day of crystalloid fluids; n = 33) and after the implementation of a protocol of restricted use of intravenous fluids (restricted group; administered less than 30 ml/kg per day of crystalloid fluids; n = 28). The total volume of intravenous crystalloid fluids infused was recorded until postoperative day (POD) 4. Morbidity, mortality, and the length of postoperative hospital stay were the main clinical variables. Results Mortality was 4.9% (p [ 0.05 between groups). Intravenous therapy in the restricted group was terminated earlier (p \ 0.001) and the patients received 2.4 l less crystalloid fluid than did those in the conventional group from POD 1 through POD 4 (p \ 0.001). The adoption of the restricted protocol shortened the postoperative hospital stay by 2 days (p = 0.02) and diminished the morbidity by 25% (p = 0.04). Conclusions Restriction of perioperative intravenous crystalloid fluid is associated with reductions in morbidity and length of postoperative hospital stay after major abdominal operations

Synthesis, Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial activities of 5-benzylidene-2- [(pyridine-2-ylmethylene)hydrazono]-thiazolidin-4-one Derivatives

A novel series of 5-benzylidene-2-[(pyridine-2-ylmethylene)hydrazono]-thiazolidin-4-ones 3a-i has been synthesized. 2-[(Pyridine-2-ylmethylene)hydrazono]-thiazolidin-4-ones 2a-c were also obtained and used as intermediates to give the target compounds. The in vitro cytotoxic activity was evaluated for both series. The findings obtained showed that the compounds 2a, 2b, 3b and 3c were effective against the HEp-2 cell lines with IC50 in the 1.6 - 0.5 μg/mL range, whereas the compounds 2a (IC50 = 3.6 μg/mL), 2b (IC50 = 2.4 μg/mL) and 3f (IC50 = 3.5 μg/mL) showed good inhibitory effects against HT-29 cell lines. As complementary biological test, all 4-thiazolidinones were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against various bacterial and fungal species.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire