Immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effect of cryopreserved allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells on spinal cord injury in rats

This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects of allogeneic and cryopreserved mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on spinal cord injury. A total of 120 rats were distributed into the following groups: negative control (NC) - without injury, positive control (PC) - with injury without treatment, and group treated with MSC (GMSC) - with injury and treated. Motor function was evaluated by the BBB test at 24, 48, and 72 h and at 8 and 21 postoperative days. Spinal cords were evaluated by histopathology and immunohistochemistry to determine the expression of CD68, NeuN, and GFAP. IL-10, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, TGF-beta, BDNF, GDNF, and VEGF expression was quantified by RT-PCR. The GMSC presented higher scores for motor function at 72 h and 8 and 21 days after injury, lower expression of CD68 at 8 days, and lower expression of GFAP at 21 days compared to the PC. In addition, higher expression of NeuN and lower degeneration of the white matter occurred at 21 days. The GMSC also showed higher expression of IL-10 24 h after injury, GDNF at 48 h and 8 days, and VEGF at 21 days. Moreover, lower expression of TNF-alpha was observed at 8 and 21 days and TGF-beta at 24 h and 21 days. There were no differences in the expression of IL-1 beta and BDNF between the GMSC and PC. Thus, cryopreserved MSCs promote immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects in rats with spinal cord injury by increasing IL-10, GDNF, and VEGF expression and reducing TNF-alpha and TGF-beta expression.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)CAPESVeterinary SchoolLaboratory of Molecular Biology of the Department of Immunology and Biochemistry of the Institute of Biological SciencesUniv Uberaba, Dept Med Ver, Uberaba, MG, BrazilUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Escola Med Vet, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Inst Ciencias Biol, Dept Bioquim & Imunol, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv Estadual Santa Cruz, Dept Ciencias Biol, Ilheus, BA, BrazilUniv Estadual Santa Cruz, Dept Ciencias Agr & Ambientais, Ilheus, BA, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biociencias, Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biociencias, Santos, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Phytoplankton dynamics in a highly eutrophic estuary in tropical Brazil

The port of Recife in northeastern Brazil is an important ecological and social area but little is known about its environmental quality. Observations, sampling and measurements of phytoplankton were performed during spring and neap tides in the dry (January-February, 2005) and rainy (June, 2005) seasons to assess the environmental quality of the port of Recife. The area had chlorophyll-a concentrations ranging from 3.30 to 54.40 mg m-3, the highest values occurring at low tide during the dry season. A total of 129 species were identified: 53 of them in the dry season and 97 in the rainy season. Diatoms were the most diverse group and comprised 75.47% of the phytoplankton collected in the dry season and 60.82% of those collected in the rainy season. The dry season was characterized by Coscinodiscus sp. and Helicotheca tamesis; the rainy season by Oscillatoria sp. and Coscinodiscus centralis. Species diversity indices varied from 1.06 to 3.74 bits cel-1. Low indices were related to the dominance of Helicotheca tamesis, Coscinodiscus centralis, Coscinodiscus sp. and Aulacoseira granulata. Seasonal forcing, rather than the estuarine flux, determined the phytoplankton community structure. The area is exposed to seasonally varying negative impacts due to metropolitan degradation and the high level of eutrophication.Para avaliar a qualidade ambiental Porto do Recife (Nordeste do Brasil), uma área ecológica e socialmente importante mas pouco investigada, observações, medições e amostragem do fitoplâncton foram realizadas durante as marés de sizígia e quadratura no período de estiagem (janeiro-fevereiro / 2005) e chuvoso (junho/2005). A área apresentou concentração de clorofila a variando de 3,30 a 54,40 mg m-3, com maiores valores registrados durante a maré baixa no período de estiagem. Um total de 129 espécies foi identificada com 53 espécies durante o período de estiagem e 97 espécies no chuvoso. As diatomáceas formaram o grupo mais diverso, com 75,47% no período de estiagem e 60,82% no chuvoso. Coscinodiscus sp. e Helicotheca tamesis caracterizaram o período de estiagem e Oscillatoria sp. e Coscinodiscus centralis o período chuvoso. A diversidade de espécie variou de 1,06 a 3,74 bits cel-1 . Os baixos índices foram relacionados com a dominância de Helicotheca tamesis, Coscinodiscus centralis, Coscinodiscus sp. e Aulacoseira granulata. A sazonalidade determinou a estrutura da comunidade fitoplanctônica, em vez do fluxo estuarino. A área é exposta sazonalmente a vários impactos negativos, devido à degradação metropolitana e ao elevado nível de eutrofização

Spectroscopic investigation of Indium Bromide for lighting purposes

Laser Induced Fluorescence was used to study the radiative properties of InBr for lighting purposes. Results include the temperature dependence of the fluorescence decay time, spectroscopic constants and rotational temperature determination from a LIF spectrum

AC ignition of HID lamps –statistical and formative lag times

Noble gas discharges are typically used in lighting applications, under a very large range of conditions. A lot of modelling and experimental work has already been done in order to describe the starting behaviour of lamps. Focusing on high-pressure systems, high voltages needed for the ignition of lamps pose a problem. The purpose of this work is to examine the mechanisms of AC lamp ignition, which was already proven to be efficient in lowering HID lamp ignition voltage. More specifically, we use electrical measurements and observe the discharge by means of iCCD imaging to determine the lag times associated with AC lamp ignition. We use sine voltage with frequencies ranging from 60 kHz to 1 MHz, with various rise rates of the voltage amplitudes. Lamps we use are standard 70 W Philips burners, filled with 0.3 or 0.7 bar Argon or Xenon. We find that the statistical lag times in the system can be as long as 0.15 s and that they are at least two orders of magnitude longer than formative lag times

The energy balance of high intensity discharge lamps

Wen want to determine the energy balance of an HID lamp, by mapping the input energy and the energy flows to the total output energy of the lamp. For such a mapping, we need to determine the total spectral radiance. Therefore we will analyze absolute calibrated integrating sphere measurements of the complete spectrum. The current focus of the project is the infared range of the spectrum. New in this work is that absolute calibrated integratng spere measurements will be employed in the infrared part of the spectrum. Calibrating an integrating sphere in this wavelength range will be discussed

Psychological building blocks for dynamic road lighting: Understanding light's role in feelings of safety at night

Road lighting serves a host of functions at night, yet puts a substantial burden on our total energy consumption. Without exception, technical solutions to reduce the use of energy (e.g., new light sources, interactive road lighting) impact user perceptions and acceptance in ways that are not yet understood. In an experimental field study, conducted in our interactive road lighting testbed, we investigated pedestrians’ preferences for various static road lighting scenarios, in particular as they relate to feelings of safety, and the psychological mechanisms behind them. The testbed enabled us to manipulate the light, keeping other factors constant, thus offering experimental rigor and control. Following a paired-comparison paradigm, fifty female participants rated three light distributions on two street segments according to perceived safety. They then assessed each light distribution for each street segment on psychological and perceptual attributes. Research is ongoing; results will be reported at the conference

Iridoid Glycosides from Globularia Davisiana

From the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Globularia davisiana. a new iridoid glycoside, davisioside (1), was isolated. Davisioside (1) comprises a rare iridoid aglycone structure with a saturated double bond between C-3 and C-4. Nine known iridoid glycosides, asperuloside (2). alpinoside (3), geniposide (4), globularin (5), globularicisin (6), 10-O-benzoylcatalpol (7), lytanthosalin (8), melampyroside (9), agnuside (10), and three known phenylethanoid glycosides, verbascoside, isoacteoside and leucosceptoside A Acre also isolated and characterized. The structures of the isolates were established by spectroscopic methods (one-dimensional (1D)- and two-dimensional (2D)-NMR, MS).WoSScopu

Study of TiO2 anatase nano and microstructures with dominant {001} facets for NO oxidation

Introduction: TiO2 anatase nanoplates and hollow microspheres were fabricated by a solvothermal-hydrothermal method using titanium isopropoxide as a titanium precursor and hydrofluoric acid as a capping agent in order to enhance the formation of the {001} crystal facets of the anatase nanocrystals. Methods: These different morphological structures of TiO2 anatase can be achieved by only changing the solvent, keeping the amount of the precursor and of the capping agent identical during the solvothermal-hydrothermal process. Results and discussion: After calcination of the samples, the adsorbed fluoride atoms on the {001} crystal facets of the TiO2 anatase nanocrystals were completely removed from their surface according to XPS analysis. The calcined TiO2 anatase structures were higher crystallized and the specific surface area of the catalysts increased, enhancing their photocatalytic activity in comparison to the non-calcined TiO2 anatase structures. All TiO2 anatase samples with adsorbed as well as non-adsorbed fluoride atoms on their {001} crystal facets, exhibited a higher photonic efficiency than Degussa P25, which was used as a reference. Conclusion: The fluoride free TiO2 anatase nanoplates exhibited the best photocatalytic activity in oxidizing the NO gas to NO2 and NO3-. © 2012 Springer-Verlag