Development and characterization of hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides : policaju and chitosan

The development of hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides was investigated by preparing mixtures of policaju/chitosan at weight ratios of 1:4 and 2:3. Utilizing dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques for these mixtures, an increase on the hydrodynamic particle radius was observed varying their pH from 3.0 to 12.0. Furthermore, a reduction of ζ-potential was also observed for the same pH interval. Following rounds of drying/hydration cycles at a specific pH value, hydrogel matrices were formed. The pore size distribution of these formed hydrogels was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Further FT-IR analyses confirmed a physical interaction between the polysaccharides policaju and chitosan. Swelling experiments revealed water uptake values, after 24h of immersion in water, close to 270% for 1:4, and 320% for 2:3 hydrogels. Finally, rheological measurements were then conducted in order to confirm hydrogel viscoelastic features. These results indicate a promising road to biomaterials fabrication and biomedical applications. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Paulo A.G. Soares is a recipient of a scholarship from Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES) and the author Ana I. Bourbon is a recipient of a fellowship from the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, POPH-QREN and FSE (FCT, Portugal) through grant SFRH/BD/73178/2010. Maria G. Carneiro-da-Cunha, Maria T.S. Correia, Cesar AS, Andrade and Adalberto Pessoa Jr express their gratitude to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) for research grants. The authors are grateful to the Centro de Tecnologias Estrategicas do Nordeste (CETENE) of the Ministerio da Ciencia e Tecnologia for technical assistance and the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES/PROCAD) for financial suppor

Identificação de parvovírus suíno em javalis a partir do sequenciamento parcial do gene VP-2

Este estudo descreve a detecção e a identificação de DNA de parvovírus suíno (PVS) em amostras de órgãos de dois javalis, por PCR e sequenciamento direcionado ao gene VP-2. Pools de órgãos (baço, rins, fígado, linfonodos e tonsila) de três javalis adultos e assintomáticos de Paraguaçu Paulista, SP, criados com propósitos comerciais, foram submetidos à detecção de PVS, resultando em duas amostras positivas após reações de nested-PCR direcionadas aos genes NS-1 e VP-2. Os fragmentos parciais de VP-2 foram sequenciados e comparados a sequências homólogas de cepas NADL-2 e Kresse, demonstrando identidade nucleotídica de 100%. Com relação a 29 cepas de PVS previamente isoladas no Brasil, o grau de identidade nucleotídica variou de 99 a 100% (uma a três substituições de nucleotídeos). Estes resultados demonstram, pela primeira vez, a detecção direta por PCR de parvovírus suíno em javalis, confirmada por análise de sequenciamento genétic

Xyloglucan and Concanavalin A based dressings in the topical treatment of mice wound healing process

For medical biomaterials, xyloglucan dispersions can form films or gels to be applied as a wound dressing. For this purpose, the structural characterization of xyloglucan dressing (XG) and xyloglucan dressing containing 0.5 mg/mL of concanavalin A (XGL) was performed. The lectin release capacity and stability, cytotoxicity, and pro-wound healing effects were also investigated. XG and XGL films were prepared by mixing 0.5 % (w/v) xyloglucan with 0.3 % (v/v) glycerol. The ConA incorporated in the xyloglucan dressing maintained its biological activity for fourteen days in a controlled-release manner. The films were non-toxic, homogeneous, flexible, and accelerated the wound contraction compared with the control group, promoting less infiltration of inflammatory cells, angiogenesis, remodeling, and early epithelization. The films also alleviate the inflammation phase by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-, TNF-, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-12), especially the XGL film, which promoted the up- and down-regulation of important proteins associated with the wound repair. All these findings suggest that XG and XGL films may represent a good therapeutic approach for wound healing applications.The authors are grateful for the financial support for research grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnol ´ogico (CNPq), Coordenaç˜ao de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and the Fundaç˜ao de Amparo `a Ciˆencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE). We are grateful to the Centro de Tecnologias Estrat´egicas do Nordeste (CETENE) and to the Laborat´orio de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami-LIKA at the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) for access to its installation and technical assistance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Voluntary Intake of Tanzania Grass (\u3ci\u3ePanicum maximum\u3c/i\u3e) under Rotational Grazing by Lactating Cows

The study was conducted at Nucleo de Pesquisas Zootecnicas Nordeste of the Instituto de Zootecnia, Ribeirão Preto, SP, in a rotational grazing area of Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum), to estimate the dry matter intake by lactanting cows. The estimation of dry matter intake was calculated from the feces production estimated using extrusa Chromium-mordent and the in vitro digestibility of diet. The three treatments were crossbreed cows fed 3 kg.day-1 of concentrate, crossbred cows without concentrate suplementation and pure Gir cows also without concentrate supplementation. The milk production was 11.98, 6.53 and 5.46 kg per cow per day, the grass intake was 8.26 ± 5.66, 11.01 ± 5.37 and 9.55 ± 2.31 kg of dry matter per day or 2.15%, 2.37% and 2.34% of live weight for the three experimental groups respectively. The milk production was higher (P\u3c 0.01) for cows fed with concentrate. No difference was found for dry matter intake

Development and application of a mechanistic nutrient-based model for precision fish farming

This manuscript describes and evaluates the FEEDNETICS model, a detailed mechanistic nutrient-based model that has been developed to be used as a data interpretation and decisionsupport tool by fish farmers, aquafeed producers, aquaculture consultants and researchers. The modelling framework comprises two main components: (i) fish model, that simulates at the individual level the fish growth, composition, and nutrient utilization, following basic physical principles and prior information on the organization and control of biochemical/metabolic processes; and (ii) farm model, that upscales all information to the population level. The model was calibrated and validated for five commercially relevant farmed fish species, i.e., gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), using data sets covering a wide range of rearing and feeding conditions. The results of the validation of the model for fish growth are consistent between species, presenting a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) between 11.7 and 13.8%. Several uses cases are presented, illustrating how this tool can be used to complement experimental trial design and interpretation, and to evaluate nutritional and environmental effects at the farm level. FEEDNETICS provides a means of transforming data into useful information, thus contributing to more efficient fish farmingGrant agreement no. 818367; FEEDNETICS 4.0, funded by EUROSTARS-2 program; FEDER/ERDF, CRESC Algarve 2020 and NORTE 2020; PT-INNOVATION-0099; LA/P/0101/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Geo-environmental mapping using physiographic analysis: constraints on the evaluation of land instability and groundwater pollution hazards in the Metropolitan District of Campinas, Brazil

Geo-environmental terrain assessments and territorial zoning are useful tools for the formulation and implementation of environmental management instruments (including policy-making, planning, and enforcement of statutory regulations). They usually involve a set of procedures and techniques for delimitation, characterisation and classification of terrain units. However, terrain assessments and zoning exercises are often costly and time-consuming, particularly when encompassing large areas, which in many cases prevent local agencies in developing countries from properly benefiting from such assessments. In the present paper, a low-cost technique based on the analysis of texture of satellite imagery was used for delimitation of terrain units. The delimited units were further analysed in two test areas situated in Southeast Brazil to provide estimates of land instability and the vulnerability of groundwater to pollution hazards. The implementation incorporated procedures for inferring the influences and potential implications of tectonic fractures and other discontinuities on ground behaviour and local groundwater flow. Terrain attributes such as degree of fracturing, bedrock lithology and weathered materials were explored as indicators of ground properties. The paper also discusses constraints on- and limitations of- the approaches taken

The diversity of Triassic South American sphenodontians: a new basal form, clevosaurs, and a revision of rhynchocephalian phylogeny

Rhynchocephalians are a group of lizard-like diapsid reptiles that were very diverse during the Mesozoic but are now restricted to a single extant genus in New Zealand. Recent cladistic analyses have revealed two major clades, Eusphenodontia and the more crownward Neosphenodontia, but relationships of individual taxa have remained difficult to determine because of missing data and an unrevised data matrix. Here we drastically revise the established data matrix on rhynchocephalians by reassessing, evaluating, and adding new characters and operational taxonomic units, differing from any previous analyses in our goal to consider all known rhynchocephalians. In addition, we describe a new genus and species of an early eusphenodontian taxon from the Norian of southern Brazil, with a unique mosaic of plesiomorphic and apomorphic traits, and we re-examine the craniodental anatomy of the eusphenodontian Clevosaurus brasiliensis with µCT imaging, revealing a unique form of acrodonty amongst rhynchocephalians.Fil: Chambi Trowell, Sofia A. V.. University of Bristol; Reino UnidoFil: Martinelli, Agustín Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Whiteside, David I.. University of Bristol; Reino UnidoFil: Romo de Vivar Martínez, Paulo Rodrigo. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Bento Soares, Marina. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Schultz, Cesar. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Gill, Pamela G.. University of Bristol; Reino UnidoFil: Benton, Michael J.. University of Bristol; Reino UnidoFil: Rayfield, Emily J.. University of Bristol; Reino Unid

The ITRAX core scanner, a useful tool to distinguish anthropic vs. climatic influences in lagoon of Aveiro (N Portugal)

The main goal of this work is to distinguish anthropic and climatic influences in sediments from the lagoon of Aveiro (Portugal). This study is based on a core (240-cm long) collected in Murtosa Channel. Optical and X-radiographic images and high-resolution elemental profiles were acquired with ITRAX micro-X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanner. Samples collected at each ≈3 cm along the core were analysed for grain size and total organic carbon. Furthermore, the fine fraction of selected layers was subjected to geochemical analysis by ICP-MS, after total acid digestion of the sediments, and mineralogical analysis, by XRD techniques. A radiocarbon age was determined by AMS, using molluscs shells collected at a depth of 90 cm. Sediments along the core are composed by fine and medium sand, with several mud layers. Sediments composing the first 100-cm may have been deposited after 1950, as it is indicated by the radiocarbon data, the increasing trend of Zn/Al, Pb/Al and Cu/Al and total concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu, V, Cr, As and Ni in this interval that therefore might be linked with industrial activities of Chemical Complex of Estarreja. The progressive increase of Si/Al, Cl/Al, Rb/Al, K/Al and Br/Al and reduced Al concentrations, from the base to the top of this core, are interpreted as being related to higher marine influence and greater differences in tidal currents with longer exposition to air of the sediments with the consequent formation of brines favouring minerals precipitation in the area (e.g. anhydrite). These results seem to be a consequence of several works developed over time like: i) dredging to improve the navigation access to the harbour, located in the external sector of the lagoon; ii) the control of the course of some rivers influencing the supply of sediments. The tendency of sea level rise may have also emphasized the gradual increase of marine influence in this area. Fine-grained sections, related to an increase in Al, phyllosilicates, organic matter, pyrite and siderite contents would be attributed to phases of greater supply of fine-sediments during heavy rainfall events by the nearby Antuã river and other streams during negative phases of North Atlantic Oscillation. Higher deposition of organic matter enhanced diagenetic changes with pyrite and siderite formation. In the bottom of the core another record of pollution was unveiled to mining activities at the beginning of 20th century.FCT de Portugal - C/CTE/UI4035/2011CNPq - 401803/2010-

Regulation of Stress-Inducible Phosphoprotein 1 Nuclear Retention by Protein Inhibitor of Activated STAT PIAS1

Stress-inducible phosphoprotein 1 (STI1), a cochaperone for Hsp90, has been shown to regulate multiple pathways in astrocytes, but its contributions to cellular stress responses are not fully understood. We show that in response to irradiation-mediated DNA damage stress STI1 accumulates in the nucleus of astrocytes. Also, STI1 haploinsufficiency decreases astrocyte survival after irradiation. Using yeast two-hybrid screenings we identified several nuclear proteins as STI1 interactors. Overexpression of one of these interactors, PIAS1, seems to be specifically involved in STI1 nuclear retention and in directing STI1 and Hsp90 to specific sub-nuclear regions. PIAS1 and STI1 co-immunoprecipitate and PIAS1 can function as an E3 SUMO ligase for STI. Using mass spectrometry we identified five SUMOylation sites in STI1. A STI1 mutant lacking these five sites is not SUMOylated, but still accumulates in the nucleus in response to increased expression of PIAS1, suggesting the possibility that a direct interaction with PIAS1 could be responsible for STI1 nuclear retention. To test this possibility, we mapped the interaction sites between PIAS1 and STI1 using yeast-two hybrid assays and surface plasmon resonance and found that a large domain in the N-terminal region of STI1 interacts with high affinity with amino acids 450-480 of PIAS1. Knockdown of PIAS1 in astrocytes impairs the accumulation of nuclear STI1 in response to irradiation. Moreover, a PIAS1 mutant lacking the STI1 binding site is unable to increase STI1 nuclear retention. Interestingly, in human glioblastoma multiforme PIAS1 expression is increased and we found a significant correlation between increased PIAS1 expression and STI1 nuclear localization. These experiments provide evidence that direct interaction between STI1 and PIAS1 is involved in the accumulation of nuclear STI1. This retention mechanism could facilitate nuclear chaperone activity. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 12: 10.1074/mcp.M113.031005, 3253-3270, 2013