An easy preparation of magnetic particles with a chitosan external layer and zinc ferrite as core material was proposed. ZnFe2O4/chitosan particles were produced without any calcination step, ...characterized in detail, and, for the first time, applied for diclofenac (DCF) uptake from aqueous solution. The magnetic properties were checked, and revealed that the adsorbent particles have ability to be separated from the solution by an external magnetic field. Adsorption of DCF onto ZnFe2O4/chitosan particles was a fast process, well represented by pseudo–second order kinetic model, favored at initial pH of 4, with 0.2 g L−1 of adsorbent dosage and, reached the equilibrium within 20 min. The S–shaped equilibrium isotherms were well predicted by BET liquid–phase multilayer model. The adsorption was an exothermic, spontaneous and favorable process. The feasibility to produce chitosan magnetic particles, coupled with fast adsorption kinetics, high capacity (188 mg g−1), reusability (4 times) and the possibility to employ ZnFe2O4/chitosan particles for DCF adsorption, even in more concentrated solutions, were positive outcomes of this study.
•ZnFe2O4/chitosan magnetic particles were produced by a novel and simple technique.•ZnFe2O4/chitosan magnetic particles were used as adsorbent for diclofenac (DCF).•ZnFe2O4/chitosan presented fast adsorption kinetics, high capacity and reusability.•The material is a new alternative to treat contaminated waters containing DCF.
•A novel CoFe2O4/chitosan magnetic composite was synthetized to adsorb IBD dye.•The material was formed by an external layer of chitosan that covers CoFe2O4.•A simple magnetic field was able to ...provide solid/liquid separation after adsorption.•Maximum adsorption capacity was 380.8 mg g–1.•Only 15 min were required to attain the adsorption equilibrium.
A novel CoFe2O4/chitosan magnetic composite, where CoFe2O4 is known as cobalt ferrite, was synthetized, characterized and applied to adsorb indigotine blue dye (IBD). According to the central composite design (CCD), adsorption of IBD onto CoFe2O4/chitosan composite was favored when initial pH and adsorbent dosage were 3.0 and 0.75 g L–1, respectively. Adsorption was a fast process, well represented by pseudo–first order model, being the equilibrium reached at 15 min. Concerning the equilibrium behavior, the adsorption was satisfactorily modeled by the Langmuir model, reaching maximum adsorption capacity of 380.88 mg g–1 at 328 K. The thermodynamic parameters indicated a spontaneous, favorable and endothermic adsorption process. CoFe2O4/chitosan magnetic composite is an efficient adsorbent to remove dyes from aqueous media, presenting advantages like fast kinetic, high adsorption capacity and interesting magnetic properties that allows the easy separation after the adsorption operation.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have gained a prominent role as biomarkers in prostate cancer (PCa). Our study aimed to evaluate the potential suppressive effect of miR-137 in a model of advanced PCa with and ...without diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. In vitro, PC-3 cells were treated with 50 pmol of mimic miR-137 for 24 h, and gene and protein expression levels of SRC-1, SRC-2, SRC-3, and AR were evaluated by qPCR and immunofluorescence. We also assessed migration rate, invasion, colony-forming ability, and flow cytometry assays (apoptosis and cell cycle) after 24 h of miRNA treatment. For in vivo experiments, 16 male NOD/SCID mice were used to evaluate the effect of restoring miR-137 expression together with cholesterol. The animals were fed a standard (SD) or hypercholesterolemic (HCOL) diet for 21 days. After this, we xenografted PC-3 LUC-MC6 cells into their subcutaneous tissue. Tumor volume and bioluminescence intensity were measured weekly. After the tumors reached 50 mm3, we started intratumor treatments with a miR-137 mimic, at a dose of 6 μg weekly for four weeks. Ultimately, the animals were killed, and the xenografts were resected and analyzed for gene and protein expression. The animals' serum was collected to evaluate the lipid profile. The in vitro results showed that miR-137 could inhibit the transcription and translation of the p160 family, SRC-1, SRC-2, and SRC-3, and indirectly reduce the expression of AR. After these analyses, it was determined that increased miR-137 inhibits cell migration and invasion and impacts reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis rates. The in vivo results demonstrated that tumor growth was arrested after the intratumoral restoration of miR-137, and proliferation levels were reduced in the SD and HCOL groups. Interestingly, the tumor growth retention response was more significant in the HCOL group. We conclude that miR-137 is a potential therapeutic miRNA that, in association with androgen precursors, can restore and reinstate the AR-mediated axis of transcription and transactivation of androgenic pathway homeostasis. Further studies involving the miR-137/coregulator/AR/cholesterol axis should be conducted to evaluate this miR in a clinical context.
The detection of signatures of selection in genomic regions provides insights into the evolutionary process, enabling discoveries regarding complex phenotypic traits. In this research, we focused on ...identifying genomic regions affected by different selection pressures, mainly highlighting the recent positive selection, as well as understanding the candidate genes and functional pathways associated with the signatures of selection in the Mangalarga Marchador genome. Besides, we seek to direct the discussion about genes and traits of importance in this breed, especially traits related to the type and quality of gait, temperament, conformation, and locomotor system. Three different methods were used to search for signals of selection: Tajima's D (TD), the integrated haplotype score (iHS), and runs of homozygosity (ROH). The samples were composed of males (n = 62) and females (n = 130) that were initially chosen considering well-defined phenotypes for gait: picada (n = 86) and batida (n = 106). All horses were genotyped using a 670 k AxiomR Equine Genotyping Array (Axiom MNEC670). In total, 27, 104 (chosen), and 38 candidate genes were observed within the signatures of selection identified in TD, iHS, and ROH analyses, respectively. The genes are acting in essential biological processes. The enrichment analysis highlighted the following functions: anterior/posterior pattern for the set of genes (GLI3, HOXC9, HOXC6, HOXC5, HOXC4, HOXC13, HOXC11, and HOXC10); limb morphogenesis, skeletal system, proximal/distal pattern formation, JUN kinase activity (CCL19 and MAP3K6); and muscle stretch response (MAPK14). Other candidate genes were associated with energy metabolism, bronchodilator response, NADH regeneration, reproduction, keratinization, and the immunological system. Our findings revealed evidence of signatures of selection in the MM breed that encompass genes acting on athletic performance, limb development, and energy to muscle activity, with the particular involvement of the HOX family genes. The genome of MM is marked by recent positive selection. However, Tajima's D and iHS results point also to the presence of balancing selection in specific regions of the genome.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The consumption of açaí fruit (
Euterpe oleracea
) has largely increased worldwide, resulting in a significant increase in the demand for its pulp. As a result, the small producing communities end up ...with large amounts of açaí endocarp residues, creating local environmental pollution problems. Therefore, chemical and physical routes were investigated for producing açaí endocarp adsorbents to propose a locally viable solution for this problem. The adsorption properties of the produced biochars were tested for clonazepam (CZM) removal, and the toxicity of the final solutions was evaluated. The results revealed that the chemical route generated biochar with about twice the surface area and pore volume (762 m
2
g
−1
and 0.098 cm
3
g
−1
) than the physical route (498 m
2
g
−1
and 0.048 cm
3
g
−1
). Furthermore, the Sips isotherm better described the CZM adsorption equilibrium for both biochars, with
q
s
values of 26.94 and 61.86 mg g
−1
for the physical- and chemical-activated adsorbents. Moreover, recycling studies were performed, and the chemical-activated biochar was stable for up to three cycles, reaching removal rates superior to 80%. Besides, the final toxicity decreased after the adsorptive treatment. Therefore, chemical activation can be used as a simple and effective method for producing stable and compelling adsorbents as an elegant way of adding value to the residues from açaí production, helping solve local environmental problems.
As whole-genome sequencing (WGS) becomes the gold standard tool for studying population genomics and medical applications, data on diverse non-European and admixed individuals are still scarce. Here, ...we present a high-coverage WGS dataset of 1,171 highly admixed elderly Brazilians from a census-based cohort, providing over 76 million variants, of which ~2 million are absent from large public databases. WGS enables identification of ~2,000 previously undescribed mobile element insertions without previous description, nearly 5 Mb of genomic segments absent from the human genome reference, and over 140 alleles from HLA genes absent from public resources. We reclassify and curate pathogenicity assertions for nearly four hundred variants in genes associated with dominantly-inherited Mendelian disorders and calculate the incidence for selected recessive disorders, demonstrating the clinical usefulness of the present study. Finally, we observe that whole-genome and HLA imputation could be significantly improved compared to available datasets since rare variation represents the largest proportion of input from WGS. These results demonstrate that even smaller sample sizes of underrepresented populations bring relevant data for genomic studies, especially when exploring analyses allowed only by WGS.
An easy preparation of magnetic particles with a chitosan external layer and zinc ferrite as core material was proposed. ZnFe
O
/chitosan particles were produced without any calcination step, ...characterized in detail, and, for the first time, applied for diclofenac (DCF) uptake from aqueous solution. The magnetic properties were checked, and revealed that the adsorbent particles have ability to be separated from the solution by an external magnetic field. Adsorption of DCF onto ZnFe
O
/chitosan particles was a fast process, well represented by pseudo-second order kinetic model, favored at initial pH of 4, with 0.2 g L
of adsorbent dosage and, reached the equilibrium within 20 min. The S-shaped equilibrium isotherms were well predicted by BET liquid-phase multilayer model. The adsorption was an exothermic, spontaneous and favorable process. The feasibility to produce chitosan magnetic particles, coupled with fast adsorption kinetics, high capacity (188 mg g
), reusability (4 times) and the possibility to employ ZnFe
O
/chitosan particles for DCF adsorption, even in more concentrated solutions, were positive outcomes of this study.
The zwitterions resulting from the covalent attachment of 3‐ or 4‐hydroxy benzene to the 1,3‐dimethylimidazolium cation represent basic compounds (pKa of 8.68 and 8.99 in aqueous solutions, ...respectively) that chemisorb in aqueous solutions 0.58 mol/mol of carbon dioxide at 1.3 bar (absolute) and 40 °C. Equimolar amounts of chemisorbed CO2 in these solutions are obtained at 10 bar and 40 °C. Chemisorption takes place through the formation of bicarbonate in the aqueous solution using imidazolium‐containing phenolate. CO2 is liberated by simple pressure relief and heating, regenerating the base. The enthalpy of absorption was estimated to be −38 kJ/mol, which is about 30 % lower than the enthalpy of industrially employed aqueous solutions of MDEA (estimated at −53 kJ/mol using the same experimental apparatus). The physisorption of CO2 becomes relevant at higher pressures (>10 bar) in these aqueous solutions. Combined physio‐ and chemisorption of up to 1.3 mol/mol at 40 bar and 40 °C can be attained with these aqueous zwitterionic solutions that are thermally stable and can be recycled at least 20 times.
A new class of basic aqueous sorbents for CO2 based on zwitterions that present environmental and safety advantages that significantly reduce the risks of possible human and environmental contamination and they may be used in the nowadays employed amine scrubbing industrial plants with little or no modifications.
Dogs living in areas of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis transmission may present canine tegumentary leishmaniasis (CTL) characterized by cutaneous or muzzle ulcers as well as asymptomatic L. ...braziliensis infection. It is not clear if dogs participate in the transmission chain of L. braziliensis to humans. However, dogs may remain with chronic ulcers for a long time, and as there are no public policies about CTL, these animals die or are sacrificed. Here we compare the efficacy of intralesional meglumine antimoniate with intralesional 0.9% NaCl solution in CTL treatment. This randomized control study included 32 dogs with cutaneous or muzzle lesions who had L. braziliensis DNA detected by PCR in tissue biopsied. Group one received 5ml of intralesional Glucantime, and group two received 5ml 0.9% NaCl solution, both applied in the four cardinal points on days 0, 15, and 30. Cure was defined as complete healing of the ulcers in the absence of raised borders on day 90. There was no difference in animals' demographic and clinical features in the two groups (p >.05). While at the endpoint, the cure rate was 87.5% in the group test, and in those who received 0.9 NaCl the cure rate was only 12.5%. As important as the high cure rate, the healing time was faster in dogs treated with antimony than in those treated with saline (p < .001). Intralesional meglumine antimoniate is effective in the treatment of dogs with L. braziliensis infection and accelerates the healing time of CTL.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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