Wettability influences cell behavior on superhydrophobic surfaces with different topographies

Surface wettability and topography are recognized as critical factors influencing cell behavior on biomaterials. So far only few works have reported cell responses on surfaces exhibiting extreme wettability in combination with surface topography. The goal of this work is to study whether cell behavior on superhydrophobic surfaces is influenced by surface topography and polymer type. Biomimetic superhydrophobic rough surfaces of polystyrene and poly(l-lactic acid) with different micro/nanotopographies were obtained from smooth surfaces using a simple phase-separation based method. Total protein was quantified and showed a less adsorption of bovine serum albumin onto rough surfaces as compared to smooth surfaces of the same material. The mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell line and primary bovine articular chondrocytes were used to study cell attachment and proliferation. Cells attached and proliferate better in the smooth surfaces. The superhydrophobic surfaces allowed cells to adhere but inhibited their proliferation. This study indicates that surface wettability, rather than polymer type or the topography of the superhydrophobic surfaces, is a critical factor in determining cell behavior

Comparation Between Pulsed Nd: Yag Laser Superficial Treatment and Ceramic Coating in Creep Test of Ti-6aAl-4V Alloy

The objective of this work was evaluating the creep resistance of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy with superficial treatment of pulsed Nd:YAG laser and ceramic coating in creep test of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. It was used Ti-6Al-4V alloy as cylindrical bars under forged and annealing of 190oC by 6 hours condition and cooled by air. The Ti-6Al-4V alloy after the superficial treatment of pulsed Nd:YAG laser and ceramic coating was submitted to creep tests at 600°C and 125 at 319 MPa, under constant load mode. In the Nd:YAG pulsed laser treatment was used an environment of 40 % N and 60 % Ar, with 2.1 W of power and 10 m/s of speed. Yttria (8 wt.%) stabilized zirconia (YSZ) with a CoNiCrAlY bond coat was atmospherically plasma sprayed on Ti-6Al-4V substrates by Sulzer Metco Type 9 MB. The obtained results suggest the laser treatment on Ti-6Al-4V alloy improved its creep resistance

Growth of arabica coffee cultivars submitted to glyphosate doses

Avaliaram-se, neste trabalho, os efeitos do glyphosate sobre o crescimento de três cultivares de café arábica. Utilizou-se o esquema fatorial (3 x 5) em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, sendo os tratamentos compostos por três cultivares de café: Catucaí Amarelo (2 SL), Oeiras (MG-6851) e Topázio (MG-1190) e cinco doses de glyphosate (0; 57,6; 115,2; 230,4; e 460,8 g ha-1). O herbicida foi aplicado quando as plantas de café se apresentavam com 21 pares de folhas e de forma que não atingisse o terço superior delas. Aos 45 e 120 dias após a aplicação do glyphosate (DAA), avaliaram-se os incrementos na altura, na área foliar, no diâmetro do caule, no número de folhas e nos ramos plagiotrópicos, sendo eles mensurados inicialmente no dia da aplicação do herbicida; aos 10, 45 e 120 DAA, avaliou-se a porcentagem de intoxicação das plantas. A massa da matéria seca de folhas, raízes e caule, a densidade e o comprimento radicular foram avaliados aos 120 DAA. Os sintomas de intoxicação das plantas de café causados pelo glyphosate foram semelhantes nos diferentes cultivares, sendo caracterizados por clorose e estreitamento do limbo foliar. Os incrementos no número de folhas e ramos plagiotrópicos e no diâmetro do caule, independentemente do cultivar, não foram alterados pelo glyphosate. O cultivar Topázio foi o mais sensível ao glyphosate quanto a acúmulo de área foliar, de massa de matéria seca e densidade radicular.This study evaluated the effects of glyphosate on the growth of three arabica coffee cultivars. A factorial (3 x 5) was arranged in a randomized block design with four replications, with treatments consisting of three coffee varieties: Catucaí Amarelo (2 SL), Oeiras (MG-6851) and Topázio (MG-1190) and five glyphosate doses (0, 57.6, 115.2, 230.4 and 460.8 g ha-1 ). The herbicide was applied when the coffee plants reached 21 pairs of leaves, before reaching their upper third ones. At 45 and 120 days after glyphosate application (DAA), increase in leaf area, stem diameter, number of leaves and plagiotropic branches was evaluated, being initially measured on the day the herbicide was applied, and plant intoxication rate at 10, 45 and 120 DAA. Dry matter of leaves, roots and stem, and root length and density were measured at 120 DAA. Symptoms of coffee plant intoxication caused by glyphosate were similar in different cultivars, being characterized by chlorosis and leaf narrowing. Increase in the number of leaves, plagiotropic branches and stem diameter, regardless of the cultivar, was not affected by glyphosate. Cultivar Topázio was the most sensitive to glyphosate, in terms of accumulation of leaf area, root dry matter and root density.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)(FAPEMIG) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerai

Adsorção e dessorção de trifloxysulfuron-sodium e ametryn em solos brasileiros

O estudo objetivou avaliar os coeficientes adsortivos e dessortivos de ametryn e trifloxysulfuron-sodium em seis solos brasileiros, com intuito de prever o comportamento e o potencial de movimentação desses herbicidas nos solos. Utilizou-se o método Batch slurry, conduzido em condições controladas de laboratório. Para isso, 10,0 mL das soluções em CaCl2 0,01 mol L-1, contendo 0, 5, 10, 25, 50 e 100 µg mL-1 de ametryn e 0; 0,25; 0,5; 1,0; 2,0; e 4,0 µg mL-1 de trifloxysulfuron-sodium, foram adicionadas em frascos com 2,0 g de solo, permanecendo sob agitação orbital até atingir o tempo de equilíbrio. Após centrifugação e filtração, a concentração do sobrenadante foi determinada por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE), com detector UV a 245 nm. A dessorção foi avaliada para a maior dosagem utilizada de cada composto. O solo Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico - LVdf (Sete Lagoas) apresentou o maior coeficiente de adsorção (Kf) para ambos os herbicidas, sendo o mesmo atribuído ao seu elevado teor de matéria orgânica (MO). Verificou-se correlação positiva do Kf de ametryn com MO (0,81), percentual de argila (ARG) (0,80) e capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC) (0,75) dos solos, sendo a MO identificada como o principal contribuinte na sua adsorção. Entretanto, o Kf de trifloxysulfuron-sodium apresentou apenas pequena correlação com ARG (0,48) e MO (0,28), sendo sua adsorção dependente, possivelmente, do teor de óxidos de Fe e Al presentes no solo. Baixos índices H de histerese foram verificados no ametryn em relação a trifloxysulfuron-sodium, representando maior potencial de dessorção e, conseqüentemente, risco de lixiviação desse herbicida no perfil dos solos estudados.The aim of this work was to evaluate the adsorption and desorption coefficients of ametryn and trifloxysulfuron-sodium in six Brazilian soils to predict the potential of behavior and movement of these herbicides on soils. The "Batch slurry" method was used under controlled laboratory conditions. Thus, 10.0 mL of solutions in CaCl2 0.01 mol L-1, containing 0, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 µg mL-1 of ametryn and 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 µg mL-1 of trifloxysulfuron-sodium, were added to flasks containing 2.0 g soil, under orbital agitation until reaching balance time. After centrifugation and filtration, supernatant concentration was quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), with 245 nm UV detector. Desorption was evaluated considering the highest dosage of each compound. The Rhodic Hapludox soil (Sete Lagoas) presented the highest coefficient of adsorption (Kf) for both herbicides, due to its high amount of organic matter (OM). Positive correlation of ametryn Kf was verified with OM (0.81), clay percentage (ARG) (0.80) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) (0.75) of the soils, while OM was the main contributor to its adsorption. However, Kf of trifloxysulfuron-sodium presented only a small correlation with ARG (0.48) and OM (0.28), as its adsorption was possibly dependent on oxides of Fe and Al. Low hysteresis index H was verified for ametryn in relation to trifloxysulfuron-sodium, representing higher desorption potential and, consequently, leaching risk for that herbicide on the profile of the soils analyzed

EGCG mediated targeting of deregulated signaling pathways and non-coding rnas in different cancers: Focus on JAK/STAT, Wnt/\u3b2-catenin, TGF/SMAD, NOTCH, SHH/GLI, and TRAIL mediated signaling pathways

Decades of research have enabled us to develop a better and sharper understanding of multifaceted nature of cancer. Next-generation sequencing technologies have leveraged our existing knowledge related to intra-and inter-tumor heterogeneity to the next level. Functional genomics have opened new horizons to explore deregulated signaling pathways in different cancers. Therapeutic targeting of deregulated oncogenic signaling cascades by products obtained from natural sources has shown promising results. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has emerged as a distinguished chemopreventive product because of its ability to regulate a myriad of oncogenic signaling pathways. Based on its scientifically approved anticancer activity and encouraging results obtained from preclinical trials, it is also being tested in various phases of clinical trials. A series of clinical trials associated with green tea extracts and EGCG are providing clues about significant potential of EGCG to mechanistically modulate wide ranging signal transduction cascades. In this review, we comprehensively analyzed regulation of JAK/STAT, Wnt/\u3b2-catenin, TGF/SMAD, SHH/GLI, NOTCH pathways by EGCG. We also discussed most recent evidence related to the ability of EGCG to modulate non-coding RNAs in different cancers. Methylation of the genome is also a widely studied mechanism and EGCG has been shown to modulate DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and protein enhancer of zeste-2 (EZH2) in multiple cancers. Moreover, the use of nanoformulations to increase the bioavailability and thus efficacy of EGCG will be also addressed. Better understanding of the pleiotropic abilities of EGCG to modulate intracellular pathways along with the development of effective EGCG delivery vehicles will be helpful in getting a step closer to individualized medicines

O epitélio respiratório em ratos Wistar após 48 horas de exposição contínua ao ruído de baixa frequência

ABSTRACTPrevious studies show that exposure to low frequency noise (LFN) (≤500Hz, including infrasound) produces irreversible lesions in Wistar rat respiratory epithelia. Recovery periods for LFN-induced lesions have thus become an object of interest. Changes in the respiratory epithelia of Wistar rats after continuous short-term exposure to LFN are described. Twelve rats were exposed to continuous LFN for 48hrs, and 10 age-matched rats were kept in silence. Animals were treated in accordance with 86/609/CE. After exposure ceased, two rodents were sacrificed immediately, and another two after 6, 12, 24, 48hrs, and 7 days of post-exposure silence. Respiratory epithelial fragments were prepared for light and scanning/ transmission electron microscopy. Six hours after exposure, intense and irregular cellular tumefaction was visible and rosetta structures, formed by secretory cells (SC) centered on a brush cell (BC), were identifiable. Cilia were shorter and shaggy. BC microvilli tended to group, losing the uniform distribution seen in controls. Twelve hours after exposure, cell balooning was still present, BC shape was highly irregular and microvilli were grouped. SC microvilli were still shorter than controls. Seven days after exposure, controls and exposed were indistinguishable. LFN-induced epithelial lesions seem to be reversible if recovery periods are respected.REV PORT PNEUMOL 2003; IX (6): 473-47

Reduction of blood nitric oxide levels is associated with clinical improvement of the chronic pelvic pain related to endometriosis

The objective of this prospective study was to determine the plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) in women with chronic pelvic pain secondary to endometriosis (n=24) and abdominal myofascial pain syndrome (n=16). NO levels were measured in plasma collected before and 1 month after treatment. Pretreatment NO levels (μM) were lower in healthy volunteers (47.0±12.7) than in women with myofascial pain (64.2±5.0, P=0.01) or endometriosis (99.5±12.9, P<0.0001). After treatment, plasma NO levels were reduced only in the endometriosis group (99.5±12.9 vs 61.6±5.9, P=0.002). A correlation between reduction of pain intensity and reduction of NO level was observed in the endometriosis group [correlation = 0.67 (95%CI = 0.35 to 0.85), P<0.0001]. Reduction of NO levels was associated with an increase of pain threshold in this group [correlation = -0.53 (-0.78 to -0.14), P<0.0001]. NO levels appeared elevated in women with chronic pelvic pain diagnosed as secondary to endometriosis, and were directly associated with reduction in pain intensity and increase in pain threshold after treatment. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of NO in the pathophysiology of pain in women with endometriosis and its eventual association with central sensitization.484363369CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQSem informaçã

A IMPORTÂNCIA DA INFORMAÇÃO FINANCEIRA NAS EMPRESAS PORTUGUESAS: O JUSTO VALOR DO ATIVO FIXO TANGÍVEL

RESUMO Motivação: A União Europeia preconizou, através do Regulamento 1606/2002, a obrigatoriedade da adoção das normas do IASB nas contas consolidadas de todas as empresas cotadas em bolsas europeias, a partir de 1 de Janeiro de 2005. A transição para as IAS/IFRS em 2005 na Europa proporciona uma oportunidade única para estudar forças e fatores explicativos das práticas contabilísticas, particularmente na adoção do justo valor. O modo de mensuração tradicionalmente adotado pelas empresas europeias, no relato financeiro, é o custo histórico, enquanto as normas do IASB apresentam-se mais próximas do critério do justo valor. Objetivo do estudo: O presente estudo investiga a importância da informação financeira para investidor, nomeadamente o justo valor nas empresas portuguesas cotadas em bolsa de valores, no que concerne aos ativos fixos tangíveis. Assumindo que as escolhas contabilísticas são influenciadas por um conjunto de variáveis e que as empresas ponderam e reconhecem a importância da informação financeira, procurou-se neste estudo identificar se a informação sobre o valor do ativo fixo tangível, endividamento, o resultado líquido e o ganho de revalorização está incorporado no preço das ações. Metodologia: O presente estudo empírico baseia-se em empresas cotadas portuguesas, incluídas na Bolsa de Valores de Lisboa, tendo sido analisado o período de 1995 a 2014. Para o efeito, utilizamos a base de dados Thomson Worldscope Database. Para identificar se a informação financeira está incorporada no preço das ações, utilizamos o modelo de avaliação de Ohlson (1995). Resultados / Contribuições: No geral, os resultados obtidos vão de encontro às nossas expectativas. Eles indicam que, tanto antes da adoção das IFRS, como após a adoção das IFRS, a informação representada no valor das ações pelas empresas, é influenciada, de modo significativo, pelo valor dos ativos, o nível de endividamento e o resultado líquido. Palavras-chave: Ativo Fixo Tangível, Justo Valor, IFRS, Portuga

CDM Accelerating Cosmology as an Alternative to LCDM model

A new accelerating cosmology driven only by baryons plus cold dark matter (CDM) is proposed in the framework of general relativity. In this model the present accelerating stage of the Universe is powered by the negative pressure describing the gravitationally-induced particle production of cold dark matter particles. This kind of scenario has only one free parameter and the differential equation governing the evolution of the scale factor is exactly the same of the $\Lambda$CDM model. For a spatially flat Universe, as predicted by inflation ($\Omega_{dm}+\Omega_{baryon}=1$), it is found that the effectively observed matter density parameter is $\Omega_{meff} = 1- \alpha$, where $\alpha$ is the constant parameter specifying the CDM particle creation rate. The supernovae test based on the Union data (2008) requires $\alpha\sim 0.71$ so that $\Omega_{meff} \sim 0.29$ as independently derived from weak gravitational lensing, the large scale structure and other complementary observations.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Accretion and ejection in black-hole X-ray transients

Aims: We summarize the current observational picture of the outbursts of black-hole X-ray transients (BHTs), based on the evolution traced in a hardness-luminosity diagram (HLD), and we offer a physical interpretation. Methods: The basic ingredient in our interpretation is the Poynting-Robertson Cosmic Battery (PRCB, Contopoulos & Kazanas 1998), which provides locally the poloidal magnetic field needed for the ejection of the jet. In addition, we make two assumptions, easily justifiable. The first is that the mass-accretion rate to the black hole in a BHT outburst has a generic bell-shaped form. This is guaranteed by the observational fact that all BHTs start their outburst and end it at the quiescent state. The second assumption is that at low accretion rates the accretion flow is geometrically thick, ADAF-like, while at high accretion rates it is geometrically thin. Results: Both, at the beginning and the end of an outburst, the PRCB establishes a strong poloidal magnetic field in the ADAF-like part of the accretion flow, and this explains naturally why a jet is always present in the right part of the HLD. In the left part of the HLD, the accretion flow is in the form of a thin disk, and such a disk cannot sustain a strong poloidal magnetic filed. Thus, no jet is expected in this part of the HLD. The counterclockwise traversal of the HLD is explained as follows: the poloidal magnetic field in the ADAF forces the flow to remain ADAF and the source to move upwards in the HLD rather than to turn left. Thus, the history of the system determines the counterclockwise traversal of the HLD. As a result, no BHT is expected to ever traverse the entire HLD curve in the clockwise direction. Conclusions: We offer a physical interpretation of accretion and ejection in BHTs with only one parameter, the mass transfer rate.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&