Lipid nanocarriers for anti-HIV therapeutics: a focus on physicochemical properties and biotechnological advances

Since HIV was first identified, and in a relatively short period of time, AIDS has become one of the most devastating infectious diseases of the 21st century. Classical antiretroviral therapies were a major step forward in disease treatment options, significantly improving the survival rates of HIV-infected individuals. Even though these therapies have greatly improved HIV clinical outcomes, antiretrovirals (ARV) feature biopharmaceutic and pharmacokinetic problems such as poor aqueous solubility, short half-life, and poor penetration into HIV reservoir sites, which contribute to the suboptimal efficacy of these regimens. To overcome some of these issues, novel nanotechnology-based strategies for ARV delivery towards HIV viral reservoirs have been proposed. The current review is focused on the benefits of using lipid-based nanocarriers for tuning the physicochemical properties of ARV to overcome biological barriers upon administration. Furthermore, a correlation between these properties and the potential therapeutic outcomes has been established. Biotechnological advancements using lipid nanocarriers for RNA interference (RNAi) delivery for the treatment of HIV infections were also discussed.This research was funded by FCT/MCTES—Foundation for Science and Technology I.P. from the Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education (PIDDAC) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) by the COMPETE—Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade (POFC) through the project CONCERT [POCI-01-0145-FEDER-032651 and PTDC/NANMAT/326512017] and the Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2019 and “Contrato-Programa” UIDB/ 04469/2020 (CF-UM-UP and CBMA). Marlene Lúcio thanks FCT and ERDF for the doctoral position [CTTI-150/18-CF (1)] in the scope of the project CONCERT. Maria João Faria thanks FCT for PhD grant [2020.06561.BD]

Avaliação agroeconômica do sistema de produção do consórcio mamona e feijão-caupi.

O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a viabilidade agroeconômica do sistema de produção do consórcio mamona e feijão-caupi. O trabalho foi conduzido em campo na safra 2004/2005 em condições de sequeiro, nos municípios de Teresina, Anísio de Abreu e São Raimundo Nonato, PI, nos meses de março, Janeiro e fevereiro, respectivamente. A unidade experimental, em cada local, foi formada por um hectare do consórcio mamona com feijão-caupi. Houve variação nas produtividades de bagas de mamona, entre os três locais (800 kg ha-1 em Teresina, 1.300 kg ha-1 em Anísio de Abreu e 1.500 kg ha-1 em São Raimundo Nonato), mostrando que o ambiente tem grande influencia sobre este caráter. Em termos econômicos, o custo variável total, por hectare, foi de R$1.249,60, para os três municípios, com receitas líquidas de R$ 432,40, R$869,40 e R$997,40, resultando em uma relação benefício/custo de 0,35; 0,70 e 0,80, em Teresina, Anísio de Abreu e São Raimundo Nonato, respectivamente. Esta relação indica um retorno líquido de R$0,35 (trinta e cinco centavos), R$0,70 (setenta centavos) e R$0,80 (oitenta centavos) para cada real investido. A receita obtida com a comercialização do feijão-caupi foi suficiente para cobrir o custo variável total do sistema de consórcio da mamona com feijão-caupi, restando à produção da mamona como renda líquida

Flashing LEDs for microalgal production

Flashing lights are next-generation tools to mitigate light attenuation and increase the photosynthetic efficiency of microalgal cultivation systems illuminated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Optimal flashing light conditions depend on the reaction kinetics and properties of the linear electron transfer chain, energy dissipation, and storage mechanisms of a phototroph. In particular, extremely short and intense light flashes potentially mitigate light attenuation in photobioreactors without impairing photosynthesis. Intelligently controlling flashing light units and selecting electronic components can maximize light emission and energy efficiency. We discuss the biological, physical, and technical properties of flashing lights for algal production. We combine recent findings about photosynthetic pathways, self-shading in photobioreactors, and developments in solid-state technology towards the biotechnological application of LEDs to microalgal production.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]Nord UniversityNordland County Government (project Bioteknologi en framtidsrettet naering)INTERREG V-A Espana-Portugal project [0055 ALGARED + 5E]Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [SFRH/BD/105541/2014, SFRH/BD/115325/2016]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estimativas de parâmetros genéticos em linhagens de feijão-caupi nos municípios de Balsas, MA e Primavera do Leste, MT.

Atualmente, o cultivo de feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) no Brasil se concentra nas regiões Norte e Nordeste ganhando expansão para a região Centro-Oeste, em consequência do desenvolvimento de cultivares com características que favorecem o cultivo mecanizado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar parâmetros genéticos para a produtividade de grãos em linhagens de feijão-caupi avaliadas em dois ensaios preliminares instalados no município de Balsas, MA e em Primavera do Leste, MT, no ano agrícola de 2009. O teste F revelou que houve diferença significativa entre as linhagens avaliadas em Primavera do Leste. O coeficiente de variação entre os dois locais foi 22,42% e 26,57% para Primavera do Leste e Balsas, respectivamente. O coeficiente de variação genético apresentado para produtividade de grãos em Primavera do Leste (27,25 %) confirma que o caráter para este local mostrou maior variabilidade. A relação CVg/CVe mostra que a seleção em relação ao caráter produção de grãos é facilitada em Primavera do Leste. A análise de variância conjunta para produtividade de grãos entre os dois locais indica que não houve variabilidade genética entre as linhagens em relação aos dois locais experimentais, ou seja, elas não se comportaram diferentemente em relação às variações ambientais. As linhagens avaliadas em Primavera do Leste apresentaram maior variabilidade genética, facilitando a seleção para o caráter produtividade de grãos.CONAC 2012. Disponível em: http://www.conac2012.org/resumos/pdf/132a.pdf. Acesso em: 22 jul. 2013

Preliminary Results on the Non-Destructive Determination of Pear (Pyrus communis L.) cv. Rocha Ripeness by Visible/Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

Pear (Pyrus communis L.), cv. Rocha was rapidly adopted by consumers due to its inherent quality and currently has great acceptance in both national and international markets, being mainly produced in the west region of Portugal. We report here a first approach to the use of the non-intrusive method of Visible/Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (Vis/NIRS) to estimate the ripeness of pear cv. Rocha. Mature unripe pears obtained from Frutoeste (Mafra, Portugal) after a six-month cold-storage, were maintained in a dark room at circa 20 degrees C during three weeks. They were followed using the Vis/NIRS in the wavelength band between 400 and 950 nm with two different configurations for the spectra acquisition, namely the Integrating Sphere (IS) and the Partial Transmittance (PT). The diffuse reflectance spectra obtained by the two configurations were compared with the respective fruit ripening parameters (colour, firmness, soluble solids content and % dry matter), determined through the standard techniques. Concerning the rough estimation of ripening parameters, data suggested an increase in both the intensity in the green to red band and pulp %dry matter, but a decreasing firmness. All other parameters remained constant. Relatively to the optical results, we have observed that the PT spectra exhibited clearer features than the IS spectra, especially from 700 nm onwards. This is probably due to the fact that the PT configuration probes more deeply into the fruit pulp. Three peaks at 600 (circa 30%), 725 and 812 nm (both at circa 50%) and a minimum at 675 nm, were identified in both IS and PT spectra. The values of reflectance peaks were approximately constant during ripening, but they moved to slightly lower wavelengths in the second week. A significant increase (circa 3-fold) in the minimal diffuse reflectance was observed in the second week, most probably associated partially, to a decrease in the fruit peel chlorophyll content

Monitoramento da população de Oryzophagus oryzae e de resíduos de fipronil em arrozal utilizando sementes tratadas com inseticidas.

bitstream/item/79722/1/comunicado-261.pd

Chlorophyll a Fluorescence: a Fast and Low-Cost Tool to Detect Superficial Scald in 'Rocha' Pear (Pyrus communis L. 'Rocha')?

This study aimed to test whether the chlorophyll a (Chla) fluorescence determined by a low-cost non-modulated fluorometer could provide fast, reliable and non-invasive estimators of superficial scald in 'Rocha' pear (Pyrus communis L. 'Rocha'). Fruit were harvested before the optimal maturation stage and cold stored under normal atmosphere for 7 months (NA: 0 degrees C, 90-95% RH) and 2 in controlled atmosphere (CA: 0 degrees C, 90-95% RH, 1.5 kPaO(2) + 0.5 kPa CO2) (T), or harvested at the optimal maturation stage and cold stored for 9 months under CA (C). Then, they were transferred to shelf-life conditions (22+/-2 degrees C, 70% RH) and followed for 7 d. Chla fluorescence, scald index (SI), ripening attributes, alpha-farnesene, conjugated trienols, and photosynthetic pigments were determined for each pear in both groups. Conditions chosen before shelf-life did not prevent the subsequent ripening of any fruit, but changed dramatically the superficial scald development pattern: in C fruit, the disorder developed progressively during shelf-life, whereas in T fruit, it peaked during storage. C fruit exhibited a significant negative correlation (R=-0.65; p<0.05) between Fv/Fm and scald development, but not with ripening (R=-0.15; p<0.05). As expected, the opposite was observed in T fruit, in which only a low, positive, yet significant correlation was found between Fv/Fm and ripening (R=0.44; p<0.05). The multiple regression approach using Fv/Fm and other Chla fluorescence parameters produced an equation from which we calculated the 'predicted' scald index in C fruit. This correlated clearly (R=0.73; p<0.05) with the real values visually assessed. If color values a*, b* and Hue were included in this multiple regression, the correlation was significantly enhanced (0.91; p<0.05). Although preliminary, this study has shown that basic Chla fluorescence parameters are valuable estimators of superficial scald in 'Rocha' pear and might be used in the early detection of the disorder