To evaluate the influence of the addition of functionalized and non-functionalized TiO2 nanostructures on properties of a resin composite.
TiO2 nanostructures were synthesized and functionalized, ...using 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTMS) and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TSMPM). Characterizations were performed with XRD, EDS, TEM, and TGA. Resin composites containing Bis-GMA/TEGDMA, CQ, DABE, and barium-aluminum silicate glass were produced according to TiO2 nanostructure (nanotube or nanoparticle), concentration (0.3 or 0.9 wt%), and functionalization (APTMS or TSMPM). The resin composite without nanostructures was used as control. The amount of fillers was kept constant at 78.3 wt% for all materials. The degree of conversion (DC - at 0 h and 24 h), maximum polymerization rate (Rpmax), and Knoop microhardness (KHN before and after ethanol softening) were evaluated. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and Tukey's HSD (α = 0.05).
TGA results demonstrated that functionalizations were effective for both nanostructures. For DC, resin composites, time and interaction effect were significant (p < 0.001). Higher DC was found for 0.3-wt%-functionalized-nanotubes at 24 h. For nanoparticles, only 0.9-wt%-non-functionalized and 0.3-wt%-APTMS-functionalized showed DC similar to the control and all other groups showed higher DC (p < 0.05). Rpmax was higher for 0.3-wt%-APTMS-nanotubes, which corresponded to higher DC after 24 h. The lowest Rpmax occurred for 0.9-wt%-TSMPM-nanotubes, which showed smaller DC at 0 h. For KHN, resin composites, ethanol softening and interaction effect were significant (p < 0.001). KHN decreased after ethanol softening all groups, except for 0.3-wt%-TSMPM-nanotubes, 0.9-wt%-TSMPM-nanotubes, and 0.3-wt%-non-functionalized-nanoparticles.
The resin with 0.3-wt%-TSMPM-nanotubes showed higher DC after 24 h, while being the most stable material after the ethanol softening.
The addition of functionalized TiO2 nanostructures in resin-based materials may improve the properties of the material.
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the main causes of death from a single pathological agent,
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(
Mtb
). In addition, the emergence of drug-resistant TB strains has exacerbated even ...further the treatment outcome of TB patients. It is thus needed the search for new therapeutic strategies to improve the current treatment and to circumvent the resistance mechanisms of
Mtb
. The shikimate kinase (SK) is the fifth enzyme of the shikimate pathway, which is essential for the survival of
Mtb
. The shikimate pathway is absent in humans, thereby indicating SK as an attractive target for the development of anti-TB drugs. In this work, a combination of in silico and in vitro techniques was used to identify potential inhibitors for SK from
Mtb
(
Mt
SK). All compounds of our in-house database (Centro de Pesquisas em Biologia Molecular e Funcional, CPBMF) were submitted to in silico toxicity analysis to evaluate the risk of hepatotoxicity. Docking experiments were performed to identify the potential inhibitors of
Mt
SK according to the predicted binding energy. In vitro inhibitory activity of
Mt
SK-catalyzed chemical reaction at a single compound concentration was assessed. Minimum inhibitory concentration values for in vitro growth of pan-sensitive
Mtb
H37Rv strain were also determined. The mixed approach implemented in this work was able to identify five compounds that inhibit both
Mt
SK and the in vitro growth of
Mtb
.
Nutraceutical interventions supporting microbiota and eliciting clinical improvements in metabolic diseases have grown significantly. Chronic stress, gut dysbiosis, and metainflammation have emerged ...as key factors intertwined with sleep disorders, consequently exacerbating the decline in quality of life. This study aimed to assess the effects of two nutraceutical formulations containing prebiotics (fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), yeast β-glucans), minerals (Mg, Se, Zn), and the herbal medicine Silybum marianum L. Gaertn., Asteraceae (Milk thistle or Silymarin). These formulations, namely NSupple (without silymarin) and NSupple_Silybum (with silymarin) were tested over 180 days in overweight/obese volunteers from Brazil's southeastern region. We accessed fecal gut microbiota by partial 16S rRNA sequences; cytokines expression by CBA; anthropometrics, quality of life and sleep, as well as metabolic and hormonal parameters, at baseline (T0) and 180 days (T180) post-supplementation. Results demonstrated gut microbiota reshaping at phyla, genera, and species level post-supplementation. The Bacteroidetes phylum, Bacteroides, and Prevotella genera were positively modulated especially in the NSupple_Silybum group. Gut microbiota modulation was associated with improved sleep patterns, quality-of-life perception, cytokines expression, and anthropometric parameters post-supplementation. Our findings suggest that the nutraceutical blends positively enhance cardiometabolic and inflammatory markers. Particularly, NSupple_Silybum modulated microbiota composition, underscoring its potential significance in ameliorating metabolic dysregulation. Clinical trial registry number: NCT04810572. 23/03/2021.
The objective of this work was to evaluate the productivity and beverage sensory quality of arabica coffee under the influence of tree species cultivated at different spacings. The experiment was set ...in 2012, in the municipality of Santo Antônio do Amparo, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A randomized complete block design was carried out with four replicates and seven treatments, as follows: Catuaí Vermelho IAC 99 Coffea arabica in monoculture (3.40x0.65 m); and this cultivar intercropped at two spacings (9.0x13.6 and 18.0x13.6 m) in the coffee row ‒ either with African mahogany (Khaya ivorensis), teak (Tectona grandis), or pink cedar (Acrocarpus fraxinifolius). Three coffee rows were fixed between rows, totaling 13.6 m between the wooded rows. Productivity, sensory analysis (cup test), and content analysis of sensory attributes were evaluated in the 2017 and 2018 crop years. The treatments and years of harvest influenced productivity. The sensory analysis was positive for coffee intercropped with African mahogany and teak, in 2018. Sensory attributes and nuances are modified by the years of harvest. Arabica coffee plants intercropped with African mahogany show a superior productivity, regardless of the spacing between species, as well as a higher sensory quality in the 2018 harvest.
Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade e a qualidade sensorial da bebida do café arábica sob a influência de espécies arbóreas cultivadas em diferentes espaçamentos. O ensaio foi instalado em 2012, no município do Santo Antônio do Amparo, no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Um delineamento de blocos ao acaso foi realizado, com quatro repetições e sete tratamentos, conforme a seguir: Coffea arabica Catuaí Vermelho IAC 99 em monocultivo (3,40x0,65 m); e essa cultivar consorciada em dois espaçamentos (9,0x13,6 e 18,0x13,6 m), na linha dos cafeeiros, com mogno-africano (Khaya ivorensis), teca (Tectona grandis), ou cedro-rosa (Acrocarpus fraxinifolius). Nas entrelinhas, foram fixadas três linhas de café, tendo totalizado 13,6 m entre as fileiras arborizadas. A produtividade, a análise sensorial (prova de xícara) e a análise de conteúdo dos atributos sensoriais foram avaliadas nas safras de 2017 e 2018. Os tratamentos e os anos de colheita influenciaram na produtividade. A análise sensorial foi positiva para o consórcio com o mogno-africano e a teca, em 2018. Os atributos sensoriais e as nuances são modificados pelos anos de colheita. Os cafeeiros arábica consorciados com mogno-africano apresentam produtividade superior, independentemente do espaçamento entre as espécies, bem como qualidade sensorial superior na colheita de 2018.
Display omitted
•Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CD) synthesized by solid-phase pyrolysis.•Massive size change, with anisotropic features, was observed depending on processing conditions.•Composites ...with varied ZnO/N-CD ratios were prepared and characterized.•Composites used as electron transport layer in blue-emitting polymer-based OLEDs.•Enhancement of luminance and current efficiency was observed at low concentrations of N-CD.
Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CD) were synthesized and added to ZnO dispersions. The resulting composites were deposited between an emissive poly(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO) layer and the top metal electrode of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The structural, morphological and optical properties of N-CD sample and composite films were investigated. In solid-state, the N-CD presented a highly anisotropic behaviour, with significant size change, as demonstrated in microscopic images. Nevertheless, it was found that small amounts of N-CD reduced the surface roughness of the ZnO films and facilitated electron injection from the electron transport layer (ETL) to the polymeric light-emitting layer, thus demonstrating that ZnO/N-CD composites with appropriate ratios can be successfully used as ETL to boost the performance of OLEDs. All the OLEDs investigated emitted the blue colour characteristic of PFO, with minor shifts in the chromaticity coordinates, suggesting that the N-CD did not play a significant role as light-emitters in these devices.
The reproductive management of the buffalo species still faces several unresolved problems, which directly affect the productivity of the herd, one of them being the presence of repeat breeder ...females. Given this scenario, this study aimed to verify the developmental competence of oocytes obtained from repeat breeder females and submitted to parthenogenetic activation. In addition, embryo gene expression was compared to normally fertile females. Murrah buffaloes were divided into two groups: repeat breeder (RB, n = 8) and normally fertile or control (CR, n = 7). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated by transvaginal ovum pick-up from estrus synchronized females. The COCs were submitted to IVM for 24 h, and subsequently, the oocytes were activated using ionomycin, followed by 6-DMAP. Afterwards, the presumptive parthenotes were cultured for six or seven days in a microenvironment of 5 % CO2, 5 % O2, and 90 % N2 at 38.5 °C. The expression of OCT4, GLUT1, BCL2 and TFAM genes from blastocysts was evaluated. The overall COCs recovery rate was 70.9 % (190/268). The maturation (57.8 vs 71.1), cleavage (45.2 vs 62.2) and blastocyst (30.1 vs 45.9) rates did not differ (P > 0.05) between RB and CR females, respectively. Similarly, no significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed for the expression of studied genes in both RB and CR females. In conclusion, oocytes obtained from RB were as developmentally competent as those collected from CR females, with similar energy metabolism and in vitro development capacity. Thus, the low fertility rate of repeat breeder buffaloes, when compared to normal cyclic females, must be due to subsequent events to the blastocyst stage.
•The overall ultrasound-guided transvaginal ovum pickup rate was more than 70 %.•Both oocyte competence and embryo development were similar for both groups.•The gene expression in parthenogenetic produced embryos was similar in both groups.•The repeat breeding in the buffaloes seems linked to post-blastocyst events.
It is known that obesity has a multifactorial etiology that involves genetic and environmental factors. The WHO estimates the worldwide prevalence of 1.9 billion overweight adults and more than 650 ...million people with obesity. These alarming data highlight the high and growing prevalence of obesity and represent a risk factor for the development and aggravation of other chronic diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that is frequently considered the hepatic outcome of type 2 diabetes. The use of non-pharmacological therapies such as food supplements, nutraceuticals, and natural integrative therapies has grown as an alternative tool for obesity-related diseases compared to conventional medications. However, it is a still little explored research field and lacks scientific evidence of therapeutic effectiveness. Considering this, the aim is to evaluate whether a new nutraceutical supplement composition can improve and supply essential mineral nutrients, providing an improvement of obesity-related metabolic and endocrine parameters.
Sedentary volunteers (women and men) with body mass index (BMI) ≤34.9 kg/m
were divided into two groups: Novel Nutraceutical Supplement_(S) (n = 30) and Novel Nutraceutical Supplement (n = 29), differing in the absence (S) or presence of silymarin, respectively. Volunteers were instructed to take two capsules in the morning and two capsules in the evening. No nutritional intervention was performed during the study period. The data (anthropometrics and anamneses) and harvest blood (biochemistry and hormonal exams) were collected at three different time points: baseline time day 0 (T0), day 90 (T90), and day 180 (T180) post-supplementation.
In the anthropometric analysis, the waist circumference in middle abdomen (WC-mid) and waist circumference in iliac crest (WC-IC) were reduced. Also, the waist-to-height ratio (WHt R) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) seem to slightly decrease alongside the supplementation period with both nutraceutical supplements tested as well as transaminase enzyme ratio aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AAR), a known as a biomarker of NAFLD, and endocrine hormones cortisol and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) at 90 and 180 days post-supplementation.
In a condition associated with sedentary and no nutritional intervention, the new nutraceutical supplement composition demonstrated the ability to be a strong and newfangled tool to improve important biomarkers associated with obesity and its comorbidities.
The purpose of the study was to characterize the microstructure, constituents, and mechanical properties of mono and bilayered zirconia specimens infiltrated with silica by the sol gel method.
180 ...zirconia discs (14-mm diameter) were divided in 3 groups (n = 60) according to thickness (1.2, 0.5 mm) and further divided in two groups (n = 30) according to treatment (infiltrated or not). Disk thickness was 1.2 mm for the control samples. Veneering feldspathic porcelain had two thicknesses (0.5 mm and 1 mm) at the tops of the zirconia discs. All groups were subjected to the biaxial flexural test in an aqueous medium. Weibull analysis was performed for determination of the Weibull modulus (m) and characteristic strength (σ0). The specimens were characterized by SEM and EDS and XRD. Hardness and elastic modulus were measured by nano-indentation and pulse-echo methods, respectively. Fracture toughness was determined by the nano-indentation technique. A scratch test was used for evaluation of the adhesion between the zirconia and porcelain.
There was less variability (higher Weibull modulus) in the infiltrated monolithic specimens; biaxial flexural strength was not statistically higher in the veneered infiltrated specimens and was decreased for the 1-mm veneered infiltrated group. The diffractograms showed formation of ZrSiO
crystal phase. Hardness also increased in the infiltrated monolithic zirconia, whereas fracture toughness decreased. Adhesion between zirconia and porcelain was superior in the non-infiltrated monolithic specimens.
Infiltration increased the structural homogeneity and hardness of the monolithic zirconia, but it reduced fracture toughness, and the adhesion to porcelain.
Within the limitations of the present study, it is possible to recommend the infiltration of silica gel in zirconia only for monolithic restorations.
Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is classically associated with the HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), although the mechanisms of this neurological ...disorder remain unclear. In addition, some patients who develop "minor" neurological signs that do not meet diagnostic criteria for HAM/TSP are classified as asymptomatic carriers. This study aims to demonstrate the neurological symptoms of Brazilian patients living with HTLV-1 classified as not-HAM.TSP. This observational study evaluated patients treated in an HTLV reference center in Bahia, Brazil, between February 2022 and July 2023. The data were obtained through the analysis of medical records and neurological consultation. Those individuals classified as HAM/ TSP were excluded from this study. 74 patients were submitted to a careful neurological evaluation: 23 HAM/TSP, 22 were classified with intermediate syndrome (IS), and 29 were oligosymptomatic. Self-reported symptoms were significantly more common in the IS group, including urinary symptoms such as nocturia, urgency, incontinence, dysuria, weakness, paresthesia, lumbar pain, xerostomia, and xerophthalmia. Physical examination findings consistent with reduced vibratory and tactile sensitivity were more common in the IS group (p = 0.017 and p = 0.013). Alterations in the V and VIII cranial nerves were present in both groups. HTLV-1 can lead to the development of important neurological signs and symptoms in apparently asymptomatic individuals. This data highlights the need for more research into the neurological aspects of HTLV-1 infection and emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis, treatment, and support for individuals living with this virus.
Cenostigma microphyllum (Mart. ex G. Don) Gagnon & G. P. Lewis and Cenostigma pyramidale (Tul.) Gagnon & G.P. Lewis are endemic species of the Caatinga biome, popularly known as “catingueira” and ...“catinga-de-porco”, respectively. Studies in lipid chemistry have been dedicated to the evaluation of vegetable oils extracted from unconventional seeds because of its bioactive compounds and sensory characteristics. This study aimed to determine the chemical composition and develop emulsions with fixed oils obtained from the seeds of two species of the genus Cenostigma. The oils were characterized for yield, chemical composition using NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and GC-MS (Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry), as well as evaluated physicochemically. The fixed oils were used for the development of emulsions, being evaluated for preliminary stability. With an average yield of 18.35%, the evaluation of the chemical composition of the oils showed linoleic acid as the majority fatty acid, with more than 50% in each oil. The physicochemical characterization indicated that the fixed oil from C. microphyllum (FOCm) and the fixed oil from C. pyramidale (FOCp) reproduce values within the standard for this type of product: acidity of 2.52 and 2.02 mg KOH g−1, peroxide value of 3.04 and 1.94 meq kg−1, saponification value of 235.00 and 229.80 mg KOH g−1, density of 0.926 and 0.922 g mL−1, viscosity of 70.07 mPa.s and 64.96 mPa.s and refractive index of 1.469 and 1.467, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that FOCm has stability up to 322 °C and FOCp up to 334 °C. Stable emulsions suitable for topical use, pseudoplastic and with cosmetic potential were obtained. It was possible to extract and characterize for the first time the fixed oils from the seeds of these two caatinga tree species. The majority composition of linoleic acid, as well as the quality standard favors the potential application of these oils in cosmetic emulsions.
Display omitted
•Extraction of two novel fixed oils from Caatinga species.•Fixed oils have triglycerides as the main compound.•The majority composition of linoleic acid favors application in cosmetics.•Obtaining six stable cosmetic emulsions containing the fixed oils.
PDF
