Development of supramolecular peptide-based magnetolipogels: towards on-demand drug delivery

Solid and aqueous magnetoliposomes were encapsulated in supramolecular naproxen N-capped dehydrodipeptide-based hydrogels. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to assess the dynamics of magnetoliposomes during gelation through co-encapsulation of Nile Red and curcumin. The final localization environment of encapsulated molecules was demonstrated to be independent of the magnetoliposomes architecture and of the used hydrogel.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT-Portugal) for Funding of CF-UM-UP (UIDB/04650/2020) and CQUM (UIDB/00686/2020) and research projects PTDC/QUI-QFI/28020/2017 and PTDC/QUIQOR/29015/2017. S.R.S.V. acknowledges FCT for a PhD grant (SFRH/BD/144017/2019)

Técnicas no convencionales de flotación de partículas finas de sulfuros de cobre y molibdeno

Se presentan resultados (laboratorio y piloto) de dos técnicas de flotación de partículas minerales finas (menor 38 um) de sulfuros de Cu y Mo: Acondicionamiento en Alta Intensidad y flotación extensora (extender). La eficiencia global fue superior con las técnicas estudiadas: mayores recuperaciones de Cu y Mo, mejor cinética y menores grados de arrastre hidrodinámico. Con la flotación “extender” (mejores resultados), empleando aceite Diesel (mayor 60 gt-1), las recuperaciones de Cu y Mo y sus cinéticas fueron 2-5 por ciento superiores al estándar. Se analizan los mecanismos y el potencial de estas técnicas para el tratamiento avanzado de finos de minerales

The Analyticity of a Generalized Ruelle's Operator

In this work we propose a generalization of the concept of Ruelle operator for one dimensional lattices used in thermodynamic formalism and ergodic optimization, which we call generalized Ruelle operator, that generalizes both the Ruelle operator proposed in [BCLMS] and the Perron Frobenius operator defined in [Bowen]. We suppose the alphabet is given by a compact metric space, and consider a general a-priori measure to define the operator. We also consider the case where the set of symbols that can follow a given symbol of the alphabet depends on such symbol, which is an extension of the original concept of transition matrices from the theory of subshifts of finite type. We prove the analyticity of the Ruelle operator and present some examples

Magnetoliposomes incorporated in peptide-based hydrogels: towards development of magnetolipogels

A major problem with magnetogels is the encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs. Magnetoliposomes not only provide these domains but also improve drug stability and avert the aggregation of the magnetic nanoparticles. In this work, two magnetoliposome architectures, solid and aqueous, were combined with supramolecular peptide-based hydrogels, which are of biomedical interest owing to their biocompatibility, easy tunability, and wide array of applications. This proof-of-concept was carried out through combination of magnetoliposomes (loaded with the model drug curcumin and the lipid probe Nile Red) with the hydrogels prior to pH triggered gelation, and fluorescence spectroscopy was used to assess the dynamics of the encapsulated molecules. These systems allow for the encapsulation of a wider array of drugs. Further, the local environment of the encapsulated molecules after gelation is unaffected by the used magnetoliposome architecture. This system design is promising for future developments on drug delivery as it provides a means to independently modify the components and adapt and optimize the design according to the required conditions.FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(UIDB/00686/2020

Microbiomes of Velloziaceae from phosphorus-impoverished soils of the campos rupestres, a biodiversity hotspot

The rocky, seasonally-dry and nutrient-impoverished soils of the Brazilian campos rupestres impose severe growth-limiting conditions on plants. Species of a dominant plant family, Velloziaceae, are highly specialized to low-nutrient conditions and seasonal water availability of this environment, where phosphorus (P) is the key limiting nutrient. Despite plant-microbe associations playing critical roles in stressful ecosystems, the contribution of these interactions in the campos rupestres remains poorly studied. Here we present the first microbiome data of Velloziaceae spp. thriving in contrasting substrates of campos rupestres. We assessed the microbiomes of Vellozia epidendroides, which occupies shallow patches of soil, and Barbacenia macrantha, growing on exposed rocks. The prokaryotic and fungal profiles were assessed by rRNA barcode sequencing of epiphytic and endophytic compartments of roots, stems, leaves and surrounding soil/rocks. We also generated root and substrate (rock/soil)-associated metagenomes of each plant species. We foresee that these data will contribute to decipher how the microbiome contributes to plant functioning in the campos rupestres, and to unravel new strategies for improved crop productivity in stressful environments6COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP88881.068071/2014-012016/23218-0Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [2016/23218-0]; U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE-JGI)United States Department of Energy (DOE) [CSP 503222]; Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)CAPES [88881.068071/2014-01]; FAPESPFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [2018/04240-0]; CAPESCAPES; Office of Science of the U.S. Department of EnergyUnited States Department of Energy (DOE) [DE-AC02-05CH11231