Thermoelectric Properties of N-Type Poly (Ether Ether Ketone)/Carbon Nanofiber Melt-Processed Composites

The thermoelectric properties, at temperatures from 30 °C to 100 °C, of melt-processed poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) composites prepared with 10 wt.% of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are discussed in this work. At 30 °C, the PEEK/CNF composites show an electrical conductivity (σ) of ~27 S m−1 and a Seebeck coefficient (S) of −3.4 μV K−1, which means that their majority charge carriers are electrons. The origin of this negative Seebeck is deduced because of the impurities present in the as-received CNFs, which may cause sharply varying and localized states at approximately 0.086 eV above the Fermi energy level (EF) of CNFs. Moreover, the lower S, in absolute value, found in PEEK/CNF composites, when compared with the S of as-received CNFs (−5.3 μV K−1), is attributed to a slight electron withdrawing from the external layers of CNFs by the PEEK matrix. At temperatures from 30 °C to 100 °C, the σ (T) of PEEK/CNF composites, in contrast to the σ (T) of as-received CNFs, shows a negative temperature effect, understood through the 3D variable-range hopping (VRH) model, as a thermally activated hopping mechanism across a random network of potential wells. Moreover, their nonlinear S (T) follows the same behavior reported before for polypropylene composites melt-processed with similar CNFs at the same interval of temperatures

Sucrosomial Iron Supplementation for the Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Refractory to Oral Iron Treatment

Malaltia inflamatòria intestinal; Deficiència de ferro; Suplementació de ferroEnfermedad inflamatoria intestinal; Deficiencia de hierro; Suplementación con hierroInflammatory bowel disease; Iron deficiency; Iron supplementationIron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common manifestation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Oral iron supplements are the treatment of choice, but are not always well tolerated. Sucrosomial® iron (SI) may represent an alternative. This prospective study assessed the tolerability and effectiveness of SI, and quality of life (QoL) of IDA-IBD patients who were intolerant to oral iron salts. The study included 52 individuals treated with 1 capsule/day for 12 weeks. Tolerability was assessed through a gastrointestinal symptom severity questionnaire. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels and clinical symptoms of IDA were analyzed. QoL was assessed using IBDQ-9 and EuroQoL questionnaires. The percentage of patients with excellent/good health increased from 42.9% to 94.3%. Mean Hb concentration significantly increased at all follow-up visits (p < 0.05). Almost all participants (96.9%) were adherent to the study medication. Patients’ QoL improved (IBDQ-9: from 60.9 to 65.5). Patients also improved in mobility (71.8% to 78.1%), usual activities (51.3% to 68.7%), pain/discomfort (41.0% to 53.1%), and extreme depression/anxiety problems (7.7% to 3.2%); they worsened in self-care (100% to 90.6%), but perceived an enhancement in their global health [EQ-VAS score: 61.9 (±26.1) to 66.9 (±20.3)]. SI was well tolerated and improved IDA symptoms, IBD activity, and patients’ QoL. In conclusion, SI should be considered in IDA–IBD patients.The authors of this manuscript received financial support from ZAMBON S.A.U. for the writing of the manuscript. The sponsor had no role in the design or conduct of the study, data collection and analysis, or preparation of the manuscript

Unlocking The Bacterial And Fungal Communities Assemblages Of Sugarcane Microbiome

Plant microbiome and its manipulation herald a new era for plant biotechnology with the potential to benefit sustainable crop production. However, studies evaluating the diversity, structure and impact of the microbiota in economic important crops are still rare. Here we describe a comprehensive inventory of the structure and assemblage of the bacterial and fungal communities associated with sugarcane. Our analysis identified 23,811 bacterial OTUs and an unexpected 11,727 fungal OTUs inhabiting the endophytic and exophytic compartments of roots, shoots, and leaves. These communities originate primarily from native soil around plants and colonize plant organs in distinct patterns. The sample type is the primary driver of fungal community assemblage, and the organ compartment plays a major role in bacterial community assemblage. We identified core bacterial and fungal communities composed of less than 20% of the total microbial richness but accounting for over 90% of the total microbial relative abundance. The roots showed 89 core bacterial families, 19 of which accounted for 44% of the total relative abundance. Stalks are dominated by groups of yeasts that represent over 12% of total relative abundance. The core microbiome described here comprise groups whose biological role underlies important traits in plant growth and fermentative processes.6RepsolRepsol Sinope

Glycosaminoglycan distribution in the rat uterine cervix during the estrous cycle

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the amount of glycosaminoglycans in the uterine cervix during each phase of the rat estrous cycle. DESIGN: Based on vaginal smears, forty female, regularly cycling rats were divided into four groups (n = 10 for each group): GI - proestrous, GII - estrous, GIII - metaestrous and GIV - diestrous. Animals were sacrificed at each phase of the cycle, and the cervix was immediately removed and submitted to biochemical extraction and determination of sulfated glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronic acid. The results were analyzed by ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni post-hoc test. RESULTS: The uterine cervix had the highest amount of total sulfated glycosaminoglycans and dermatan sulfate during the estrous phase (8.90 ± 0.55 mg/g of cetonic extract, p<0.001; and 8.86 ± 0.57 mg/g of cetonic extract, p<0.001). In addition, there was more heparan sulfate at the cervix during the proestrous phase (0.185 ± 0.03 mg/g of cetonic extract) than during any other phase (p<0.001). There were no significant changes in the concentration of hyaluronic acid in the uterine cervix during the estrous cycle. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the amount of total sulfated glycosaminoglycans may be influenced by hormonal fluctuations related to the estrous cycle, with dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate being the glycosaminoglycans most sensitive to hormonal change.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departmento de Morfologia e GenéticaUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Departamento de Obstetrícia e GinecologiaUniversidade de São Paulo Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Department of PharmacologyEscola Paulista de Medicina Department of GynecologyUNIFESP, Departmento de Morfologia e GenéticaEscola Paulista de Medicina Department of GynecologySciEL

Chromosomal, epigenetic and microRNA-mediated inactivation of LRP1B, a modulator of the extracellular environment of thyroid cancer cells

The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP1B), encoding an endocytic LDL-family receptor, is among the 10 most significantly deleted genes across 3312 human cancer specimens. However, currently the apparently crucial role of this lipoprotein receptor in carcinogenesis is not clear. Here we show that LRP1B inactivation (by chromosomal, epigenetic and microRNA (miR)-mediated mechanisms) results in changes to the tumor environment that confer cancer cells an increased growth and invasive capacity. LRP1B displays frequent DNA copy number loss and CpG island methylation, resulting in mRNA underexpression. By using CpG island reporters methylated in vitro, we found that DNA methylation disrupts a functional binding site for the histone-acetyltransferase p300 located at intron 1. We identified and validated an miR targeting LRP1B (miR-548a-5p), which is overexpressed in cancer cell lines as a result of 8q22 DNA gains. Restoration of LRP1B impaired in vitro and in vivo tumor growth, inhibited cell invasion and led to a reduction of matrix metalloproteinase 2 in the extracellular medium. We emphasized the role of an endocytic receptor acting as a tumor suppressor by modulating the extracellular environment composition in a way that constrains the invasive behavior of the cancer cells

III Congresso Ibero-Americano de Empreendedorismo, Energia, Ambiente e Tecnologia: livro de atas

O III Congresso Ibero-Americano de Empreendedorismo, Energia, Ambiente e Tecnologia (CIEEMAT), dá continuidade ao trabalho desenvolvido no Brasil pelo Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca – Rio de Janeiro, atravessando o oceano Atlântico para a sua primeira edição no contexto da Península Ibérica. Concebido para englobar um conjunto abrangente de áreas temáticas, este evento serve de ponto de encontro entre profissionais, investigadores, professores e estudantes dos países Ibero-Americanos, num fórum que reforça o perfil internacional do Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, assim como das demais Instituições Organizadoras e Parceiras, designadamente, no âmbito de Programas de Dupla Diplomação. Nos três dias do evento, esperamos que encontrem oportunidades para a partilha de ideias e resultados de investigação, reforçando ou estabelecendo novos contactos e parcerias no espaço Latino-Americano. Por fim, espero que a Vossa estadia em Bragança seja agradável e que levem de volta gratas recordações do CIEEMAT 2017.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

New insights on the ultramafic intrusions surrounding the Kunene Anorthosite Complex (SW Angola) from gravity, magnetic and radiometric data [Abstract]

ABSTRACT: The Kunene Anorthosite Complex (KAC), located in SW Angola, is one of the largest anorthosite structures in the world. Dating from the Mesoproterozoic, its installation process is still not clear. Several mafic and ultramafic outcrops can be found surrounding the KAC. Once considered related with its emplacement, the study of these bodies may help us understand the history of this unique geological feature. While geochronological data show that they are synchronous, or possibly a bit younger, than the embedding granites and migmatites of Paleoproterozoic age, the question arises of whether they are intrusions installed in the host rock or if they are instead recycled remains of older Arch crust. The development of these outcrops in depth provides relevant clues regarding the origin of these bodies and their relationship with the Eburnean (~1.93-2.04 Ga) and Epupa-Namibe (~1.83-1.74 Ga) events. One of these mafic outcrops, designated the Hamutenha outcrop (Huíla Province) exhibits an elongated shape and a NW-SE orientation and is characterized by an internal zonation. Generally, the innermost part is composed of ultramafic rocks of (mostly harzburgites and dunites), with diorites outcropping in its NW and SE borders. The Hamutenha outcrop was previously identified for potentially bearing Cr, Ni and PGE mineralization.N/

Adipose tissue-derived stem cell therapy in rat cryopreserved ovarian grafts

Abstract\ud The preliminary results of ovarian transplantation in clinical practice are encouraging. However, the follicular depletion caused by ischemic injury is a main concern and is directly related to short-term graft survival. Cell therapy with adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) could be an alternative to induce early angiogenesis in the graft. This study aimed to evaluate ASCs therapy in rat cryopreserved ovarian grafts. A single dose of rat ASC (rASCs) or vehicle was injected into the bilateral cryopreserved ovaries of twelve adult female rats immediately after an autologous transplant. Daily vaginal smears were performed for estrous cycle evaluation until euthanasia on postoperative day 30. Follicle viability, graft morphology and apoptosis were assessed. No differences were found with respect to estrous cycle resumption and follicle viability (P > 0.05). However, compared with the vehicle-treated grafts, the morphology of the ASCs-treated grafts was impaired, with diffuse atrophy and increased apoptosis (P < 0.05). ASCs direct injected in the stroma of rat cryopreserved ovarian grafts impaired its morphology although may not interfere with the functional resumption on short-term. Further investigations are necessary to evaluated whether it could compromise their viability in the long-term.We thank: 1) São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for grant support\ud (Process numbers: 2010/17897-5 and 2012/09469-9) and Coordenação de\ud Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for post-doctoral\ud scholarship