Using gold nanobeacons as a theranostic technique to recognize, detect, and inhibit specific nucleic acids

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Nanomedicine-based strategies to target and modulate the tumor microenvironment

Funding Information: The authors acknowledge financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia / Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, e Ensino Superior in the framework of PhD grant 2020.06638.BD (to D.P.S.), and from the European Research Council grant agreement No 848325 (J.C. for the ERC Starting Grant). Funding Information: The authors acknowledge financial support from Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia/ Minist?rio da Ci?ncia, Tecnologia, e Ensino Superior in the framework of PhD grant 2020.06638.BD (to D.P.S.), and from the European Research Council grant agreement No 848325 (J.C. for the ERC Starting Grant). None declared by authors. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Inc.The interest in nanomedicine for cancer theranostics has grown significantly over the past few decades. However, these nanomedicines need to overcome several physiological barriers intrinsic to the tumor microenvironment (TME) before reaching their target. Intrinsic tumor genetic/phenotypic variations, along with intratumor heterogeneity, provide different cues to each cancer type, making each patient with cancer unique. This brings additional challenges in translating nanotechnology-based systems into clinically reliable therapies. To develop efficient therapeutic strategies, it is important to understand the dynamic interactions between TME players and the complex mechanisms involved, because they constitute invaluable targets to dismantle tumor progression. In this review, we discuss the latest nanotechnology-based strategies for cancer diagnosis and therapy as well as the potential targets for the design of future anticancer nanomedicines.publishersversionpublishe

Multiple UAV teams for multiple tasks

In a search and prosecute mission, multiple heterogeneous unmanned aerial vehicles UAVs that carry different resources need to perform the classify, prosecute and battle damage assessment (BDA) tasks on targets sequentially. Depending on the target resource requirement, it may be necessary to deploy a coalition of UAVs to perform the action. In this paper, we propose coalition formation algorithms that have low computational overhead to determine coalitions for the prosecute and the BDA tasks. We also develop a simultaneous strike mechanism based on Dubins curves for the UAVs to prosecute the target simultaneously. Monte-Carlo simulation results are presented to show how the algorithms work and the effect of increasing the number of BDA tasks on the mission performance. © 2009 IEEE

Régime alimentaire de Dasyatis pastinaca et Myliobatis aquila (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes) des Açores, Atlantique NE

This paper describes and discusses the feeding ecology of two stingray species that occur in the Azores: Dasyatis pastinaca and Myliobatis aquila. Both are common coastal species associated with sandy, muddy and rocky bottoms, from surface waters to depths of over 200 m. The diet described here is based on the stomach content analysis from 33 specimens (23 D. pastinaca, 10 M. aquila) collected by spearfishing between June and October 2010 at three different locations along the coast of Terceira Island, Azores. Food habits of D. pastinaca consist mainly of Decapod crustaceans (with a relevance for Pachygrapsus marmoratus) followed by other groups with high representativeness: Polychaeta and Mysidacea. The diet of M. aquila consists mainly of Calliostoma lusitanicum and Stramonita haemastoma. Both species from our sample proved to be generalist predators with different feeding habits. The diet of D. pastinaca is characterized by Crustacea (81% IRI) and that of M. aquila characterized by Mollusca (82% IRI).RÉSUMÉ: Cet article décrit et analyse l’écologie alimentaire de deux raies des Açores : Dasyatis pastinaca et Myliobatis aquila. Ce sont deux espèces côtières communes associées à des fonds sableux, vaseux et rocheux, se trouvant depuis les petits fonds jusqu’à plus de 200 m de profondeur. Le régime décrit ici est basé sur l’analyse du contenu stomacal de 33 spécimens (23 D. pastinaca, 10 M. aquila) récoltées en chasse sous-marine entre juin et octobre 2010 à trois endroits différents le long de la côte de l’île Terceira, aux Açores. Le régime alimentaire de D. pastinaca se compose principalement de crustacés décapodes (avec une préférence pour Pachygrapsus marmoratus), suivis par d’autres groupes fortement représentés: polychètes et mysidacés. Le régime de M. aquila se compose principalement de Calliostoma lusitanicum et Stramonita haemastoma. Les deux espèces sont des prédateurs généralistes avec des habitudes alimentaires différentes. Le régime alimentaire de D. pastinaca est caractérisé par les crustacés (81% IRI) et celui de M. aquila par les mollusques (82% IRI).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A marcha humana: uma abordagem biomecânica

A análise biomecânica da marcha engloba, entre outros, dados cinemáticos, cinéticos e sinais electromiográficos, que, em conjunto, promovem a descrição do fenómeno da marcha. Neste trabalho é efectuada uma revisão dos estudos existentes que versam sobre os aspectos biomecânicos da marcha, de forma a perceber-se os componentes a ter em consideração na referida análise, bem como os modelos comuns que suportam achados experimentais. A análise efectuada permitiu verificar que a necessidade de redirecção da velocidade do centro de massa entre passos prediz um forte componente do dispêndio energético na marcha e que este, por sua vez, está associado à velocidade.The biomechanical analysis of gait involves, among others, kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic signals, which, together, allow describing the gait phenomenon. This paper reviews studies focusing on the biomechanical aspects of gait, in order to understand which components must be considered in that analysis and the models supporting experimental findings. The analysis performed showed that the need to redirect the center of mass speed between steps predicts a strong component of energy expenditure in gait and that this is associated with speed

N-(5-Amino-9H-benzo[a]phenoxazin-9-ylidene)propan-1-aminium chlorides as antifungal agents and NIR fluorescence probes

The search for benzo[a]phenoxazines, Nile Blue derivatives, with high antifungal activity and cell labelling capacity based on our previously published works in this type of compounds, led us to the design of compounds with specific substituents in the polycyclic system. Thus, in the present work, four new benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides, possessing at the 5-position amino or (3-aminopropyl) amino groups and at the 9-position propylamino or dipropylamino groups, were synthesized. Another analogue, with (3-aminopropyl) amino group at 5-position, ethyl amino group at 9-position and a methyl group at 10-position of the polycyclic system was also synthesized for comparison in the studies performed. Fundamental photophysics (absorption and fluorescent emission) was carried out in absolute ethanol, water, and other aqueous solutions of different pH values, relevant for the potential biological applications of these compounds. The antiproliferative activity of the synthesized benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides was determined using Saccharomyces cerevisiae PYCC 4072 and the microdilution method described for antifungal susceptibility tests in yeast. All compounds revealed antifungal activity, being the most active the one possessing an amino group at 5-position and an aminopropyl group at 9-position. The potential as fluorescent probes were evaluated by fluorescence microscopy, using S. cerevisae as a model system of eukaryotic cells, and it was found that the benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides stained the cells with preferential accumulation that seems to appear at the vacuolar membrane and/or the perinuclear membrane of the endoplasmatic reticulum.Thanks are due to Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) and FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development)-COMPETE-QRENEU for financial support through the research centres CQ/UM (UID/QUI/0686/2019 and UIDB/00686/2020) and CBMA (PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2019 and UID/BIA/04050/2020), as well as a PhD grant to J. C. F. (SFRH/BD/133207/2017). The NMR spectrometer Bruker Avance III 400 is part of the National NMR Network (PTNMR) and is partially supported by Infrastructure Project No. 022161 (co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE 2020, POCI and PORL and FCT through PIDDAC)

UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment (UPSA): validation of a Brazilian version in patients with schizophrenia

AbstractThe UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA) is a measure of Functional Capacity and assesses skills involved in community tasks. It has good psychometrics properties, and is currently recommended as a co-primary assessment of cognition in the MATRICS Project. To our knowledge so far, there are no studies in western developing countries concerning Functional Capacity in Schizophrenia. The aims of this study were to translate, culturally adapt and validate the UPSA to assess Functional Capacity in community-dwelling patients with Schizophrenia living in Brazil. Eighty-two subjects (52 patients, 30 controls) were evaluated using: the Brazilian version of the UPSA (UPSA-1-BR), PANSS, Personal and Social Performance (PSP) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). In the reliability test, UPSA-1-BR showed good Internal Consistency (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.88) and strong correlation between test and retest (4-month gap; r = 0.91; p < 0.01). Spearman’s rho values showed a moderate correlation between UPSA-1-BR and both PSP (0.50; p < 0.01) and GAF (0.46; p < 0.01) scores. UPSA-1-BR is capable of differentiating people with and without Schizophrenia. Patients scored lower than controls (58.9 versus 79.1), with an AUC of 0.79 (95%IC: 0.69–0.89). Sensitivity and specificity values of 0.71 and 0.70, respectively, were found in the cut-off point of 73.5, for separation of patients and controls, with predictive values of 80% (positive) and 58% (negative). UPSA-B-BR was also evaluated. UPSA-1-BR and its brief version presented adequate psychometric properties and proved to be valid and reliable instruments in the assessment of Functional Capacity in subjects with Schizophrenia

Application of shearband boudins analysis to understand ductile shear zones

The methodology used for the kinematic analysis of H-T ductile shear zones based on geometric analysis of boudins, proved to be a easy application tool. The boudin analysis begans with the measurement of the Lb (boudin axis) orientation, as a fundamental element of the kinematic analysis in simple shear – Lb proved always to be perpendicular to a local displacement plane (Sx) that is defined as the plane that contains different lineations (e.g., stretching lineation in the host rock) and so, validates the orientation of the outcrop plane. The methodology also includes the measurement of several angular and dimensional parameters. The main objective of this study deals with the validation of the broad utility of this methodology in shear zones with different P-T conditions. It was studied a shearband boudin field on a Grt-St shear zone, which was compared with previous studies on Sil shear zone.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT