In this study, we investigate the diversity and modulation of leukocyte populations represented in the gates defined by size and granularity at different time points of thioglycollate-induced ...peritonitis in mouse.
The inflammatory cells were distributed into four regions (R1-R4) of a data plot graph defined by cell size and granularity. R1 and R2 contained agranular cells that were small in size and predominately included T (CD3
) lymphocytes along with B (B220
) lymphocytes. Macrophages (F4/80
) were the predominant cells found in the R3 region. However, these cells were present in all regions, albeit at a lower frequency in R1 and R2. Granulocytes (Gr1
) were mainly distributed in R3 and R4. The wide distribution of F4/80
and Gr1
cells may reflect the recruitment and activation state of the different macrophage and granulocyte populations. Based on these observations, size and granularity may contribute to an initial step in the analysis and sorting of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal exudate cells. However, the developmental stage and cell activation state may interfere with cell segregation using size and granularity as parameters.
Single-axis knee prosthesis is an artificial biomechanical device that provides motion to amputees without the need for assistance appliances. Besides it is mainly composed of metallic materials, the ...current commercial materials did not group adequate properties for long-term usage or accessible cost. This study produced and characterized Ti-(10 -x)Al-xV (x = 0, 2, and 4 wt.%) alloys for potential use as single-axis knee prostheses. The samples exhibited a gradual decrease in the density values, with proper chemical mixing of the alloying elements on the micro-scale. The phase composition exhibited a primary α phase with a minor α' + β phase for the Ti-8Al-2V and Ti-6Al-4V samples. Due to their different atomic radius compared to Ti, the addition of alloying elements changed the cell parameters. Their selected mechanical properties (Young's modulus, Vickers microhardness, and damping factor) performed better values than the CP-Ti grade 4. The samples also exhibited good corrosion properties against the simulated marine solution. The tribocorrosion resistance of the samples was better than the reference material, with the wear tracks composed of some tribolayers and grooves resulting from adhesive and abrasive wear. The Ti-10Al alloy displayed the best properties and estimated low cost to be used as single-axis knee prostheses.
AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inoculation of strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from sugarcane grown in a Brazil on the quality of corn silage. METHODS AND RESULTS: ...Three strains of Lactobacillus buchneri (UFLA SLM11, UFLA SLM103 and UFLA SLM108), five strains of Lactobacillus plantarum (UFLA SLM08, UFLA SLM41, UFLA SLM45, UFLA SLM46 and UFLA SLM105), and one strain of Leuconostoc mesenteroides (UFLA SLM06) were evaluated at 0, 10, 30, 60 and 90 day after inoculating corn forage. The inoculation of the LAB strains did not influence the chemical composition of the silage, but pH, acetic acid and 1,2‐propanediol were affected by treatment. The silages inoculated with UFLA SLM11 and SLM108 contained the lowest yeast and filamentous fungi counts during fermentation. Bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, Clostridium genus were detected in the silages inoculated with Lact. buchneri UFLA SLM 11, 103 and 108, as shown by DGGE analysis. Silages inoculated with Lact. buchneri UFLA SLM 11 showed higher aerobic stability. CONCLUSIONS: The Lact. buchneri UFLA SLM11 strain was considered promising as a starter culture or inoculant for corn silages. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The selection of microbial inoculants for each crop promotes improvement of silage quality. Studies on the chemical and microbiological characteristics of silage provide useful information for improving ensiling techniques.
Zirconium pentatelluride was recently reported to be a 3D Dirac semimetal, with a single conical band, located at the center of the Brillouin zone. The cone's lack of protection by the lattice ...symmetry immediately sparked vast discussions about the size and topological or trivial nature of a possible gap opening. Here, we report on a combined optical and transport study of ZrTe5, which reveals an alternative view of electronic bands in this material. We conclude that the dispersion is approximately linear only in the a−c plane, while remaining relatively flat and parabolic in the third direction (along the b axis). Therefore, the electronic states in ZrTe5 cannot be described using the model of 3D Dirac massless electrons, even when staying at energies well above the band gap 2Δ=6 meV found in our experiments at low temperatures.
ABSTRACT
Anomalous Microwave Emission (AME) is a significant component of Galactic diffuse emission in the frequency range 10–$60\, \mathrm{GHz}$ and a new window into the properties of ...sub-nanometre-sized grains in the interstellar medium. We investigate the morphology of AME in the ≈10○ diameter λ Orionis ring by combining intensity data from the QUIJOTE experiment at 11, 13, 17, and $19\, \mathrm{GHz}$ and the C-Band All Sky Survey (C-BASS) at $4.76\, \mathrm{GHz}$, together with 19 ancillary data sets between 1.42 and $3000\, \mathrm{GHz}$. Maps of physical parameters at 1○ resolution are produced through Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) fits of spectral energy distributions (SEDs), approximating the AME component with a lognormal distribution. AME is detected in excess of $20\, \sigma$ at degree-scales around the entirety of the ring along photodissociation regions (PDRs), with three primary bright regions containing dark clouds. A radial decrease is observed in the AME peak frequency from $\approx 35\, \mathrm{GHz}$ near the free–free region to $\approx 21\, \mathrm{GHz}$ in the outer regions of the ring, which is the first detection of AME spectral variations across a single region. A strong correlation between AME peak frequency, emission measure and dust temperature is an indication for the dependence of the AME peak frequency on the local radiation field. The AME amplitude normalized by the optical depth is also strongly correlated with the radiation field, giving an overall picture consistent with spinning dust where the local radiation field plays a key role.
The 2NN Study was a randomised comparison of the non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) nevirapine and efavirenz.
In this multicentre, open-label, randomised trial, 1216 ...antiretroviral-therapy-naive patients were assigned nevirapine 400 mg once daily, nevirapine 200 mg twice daily, efavirenz 600 mg once daily, or nevirapine (400 mg) and efavirenz (800 mg) once daily, plus stavudine and lamivudine, for 48 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with treatment failure (less than 1 log
10 decline in plasma HIV-1 RNA in the first 12 weeks or two consecutive measurements of more than 50 copies per mL from week 24 onwards, disease progression new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grade C event or death, or change of allocated treatment). Analyses were by intention to treat.
Treatment failure occurred in 96 (43·6%) of 220 patients assigned nevirapine once daily, 169 (43·7%) of 387 assigned nevirapine twice daily, 151 (37·8%) of 400 assigned efavirenz, and 111 (53·1%) of 209 assigned nevirapine plus efavirenz. The difference between nevirapine twice daily and efavirenz was 5·9% (95% CI −0·9 to 12·8). There were no significant differences among the study groups in the proportions with plasma HIV-1 RNA concentrations below 50 copies per mL at week 48 (p=0·193) or the increases in CD4-positive cells (p=0·800). Nevirapine plus efavirenz was associated with the highest frequency of clinical adverse events, and nevirapine once daily with significantly more hepatobiliary laboratory toxicities than efavirenz. Of 25 observed deaths, two were attributed to nevirapine.
Antiretroviral therapy with nevirapine or efavirenz showed similar efficacy, so triple-drug regimens with either NNRTI are valid for first-line treatment. There are, however, differences in safety profiles. Combination of nevirapine and efavirenz did not improve efficacy but caused more adverse events.
ABSTRACT
To investigate how and to what extent there are differences in the photosynthetic plasticity of trees in response to different light environments, six species from three successional groups ...(late successional, mid‐successional, and pioneers) were exposed to three different light environments deep shade – DS (5% full sunlight – FS), moderate shade – MS (35% FS) and full sunlight – FS.
Maximum net photosynthesis (Amax), leaf N partitioning, stomatal, mesophile, and biochemical limitations (SL, ML, and BL, respectively), carboxylation velocity (Vcmax), and electron transport (Jmax) rates, and the state of photosynthetic induction (IS) were evaluated.
Higher values of Amax, Vcmax, and Jmax in FS were observed for pioneer species, which invested the largest amount of leaf N in Rubisco. The lower IS for pioneer species reveals its reduced ability to take advantage of sunflecks. In general, the main photosynthetic limitations are diffusive, with SL and ML having equal importance under FS, and ML decreasing along with irradiance. The leaf traits, which are more determinant of the photosynthetic process, respond independently in relation to the successional group, especially with low light availability.
An effective partitioning of leaf N between photosynthetic and structural components played a crucial role in the acclimation process and determined the increase or decrease of photosynthesis in response to the light conditions.
Variations in the photosynthetic plasticity of tropical trees.
Lactobacillus species produce biosurfactants that can contribute to the bacteria's ability to prevent microbial infections associated with urogenital and gastrointestinal tracts and the skin. Here, ...we described the biological and physicochemical properties of biosurfactants produced by Lactobacillus jensenii P.sub.6A and Lactobacillus gasseri P.sub.65. The biosurfactants produced by L. jensenii P.sub.6A and L. gasseri P.sub.65 reduced the water surface tension from 72 to 43.2 mN m.sup.-1 and 42.5 mN m.sup.-1 as their concentration increased up to the critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of 7.1 and 8.58 mg mL.sup.-1, respectively. Maximum emulsifying activity was obtained at concentrations of 1 and 5 mg mL.sup.-1 for the P.sub.6A and P.sub.65 strains, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data revealed that the biomolecules consist of a mixture of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. The gas chromatography-mass spectrum analysis of L. jensenii P.sub.6A biosurfactant showed a major peak for 14-methypentadecanoic acid, which was the main fatty acid present in the biomolecule; conversely, eicosanoic acid dominated the biosurfactant produced by L. gasseri P.sub.65. Although both biosurfactants contain different percentages of the sugars galactose, glucose and ribose; rhamnose was only detected in the biomolecule produced by L. jensenii P.sub.6A. Emulsifying activities were stable after a 60-min incubation at 100 degreesC, at pH 2-10, and after the addition of potassium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, but not in the presence of sodium chloride. The biomolecules showed antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, with MIC values of 16 microg mL.sup.-1, and against Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Enterobacter aerogenes and Klebsiella pneumoniae at 128 microg mL.sup.-1. The biosurfactants also disrupted preformed biofilms of microorganisms at varying concentrations, being more efficient against E. aerogenes (64%) (P.sub.6A biosurfactant), and E. coli (46.4%) and S. saprophyticus (39%) (P.sub.65 biosurfactant). Both strains of lactobacilli could also co-aggregate pathogens. This report presents the first characterization of biosurfactants produced by L. jensenii P.sub.6A and L. gasseri P.sub.65. The antimicrobial properties and stability of these biomolecules indicate their potential use as alternative antimicrobial agents in the medical field for applications against pathogens that are responsible for infections in the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts and the skin.
It is well established that helper T cell responses influence resistance or susceptibility to Mycobacterium leprae infection, but the role of more recently described helper T cell subsets in ...determining severity is less clear. To investigate the involvement of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of leprosy, we determined the immune profile with variant presentations of leprosy. Firstly, IL‐17A, IFN‐γ and IL‐10 were evaluated in conjunction with CD4+ T cell staining by confocal microscopy of lesion biopsies from tuberculoid (TT) and lepromatous leprosy (LL) patients. Secondly, inflammatory cytokines were measured by multiplex assay of serum samples from Multibacillary (MB, n = 28) and Paucibacillary (PB, n = 23) patients and household contacts (HHC, n = 23). Patients with leprosy were also evaluated for leprosy reaction occurrence: LR+ (n = 8) and LR‐ (n = 20). Finally, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analysed by flow cytometry used to determine the phenotype of cytokine‐producing cells. Lesions from TT patients were found to have more CD4+IL‐17A+ cells than those from LL patients. Higher concentrations of IL‐17A and IL‐1β were observed in serum from PB than MB patients. The highest serum IFN‐γ concentrations were, however, detected in sera from MB patients that developed leprosy reactions (MB LR+). Together, these results indicate that Th1 cells were associated with both the PB presentation and also with leprosy reactions. In contrast, Th17 cells were associated with an effective inflammatory response that is present in the PB forms but were not predictive of leprosy reactions in MB patients.
Abstract It is a fact that the regions that cultivate the most maize crop do not have fully adequate technologies to measure productivity losses caused by irregularities in water availability. The ...objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological characteristics of maize hybrids tolerant (DKB 390) and sensitive (BRS 1030) to drought, at V5 growth stage and under water restriction, in order to understand the mechanisms involved in the induction of tolerance to drought by chitosan in contrasting maize genotypes. Plants were cultivated in pots at a greenhouse, and chitosan 100 ppm was applied by leaf spraying. The water restriction was imposed for 10 days and then leaf gaseous exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were evaluated. The tolerant hybrid (DKB 390) showed higher photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, carboxylation efficiency, electron transport rate, and non-photochemical quenching when chitosan was used. Plants from tolerant genotype treated with chitosan were more tolerant to water stress because there were more responsive to the biopolymer.
Resumo As regiões que cultivam milho como cultura principal ainda não possuem tecnologias adequadas para mensurar as perdas na produtividade decorrentes na disponibilidade irregular de água. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar as características fisiológicas de híbridos de milho tolerante (DKB 390) e sensível (BRS1030) à seca, no estádio de crescimento V5 e sob restrição hídrica, para compreender os mecanismos envolvidos na indução de tolerância à seca pela quitosana em genótipos contrastantes. As plantas foram cultivadas vasos na casa de vegetação e a quitosana 100 ppm foi aplicada por pulverização foliar. A restrição hídrica durou 10 dias e foram avaliadas as trocas gasosas e a fluorescência da clorofila. O híbrido tolerante (DKB 390) apresentou maior fotossíntese, condutância estomática, eficiência de carboxilação, taxa de transporte de elétrons e quenching não fotoquímico quando aplicada a quitosana. As plantas do genótipo tolerante tratadas com quitosana foram mais tolerantes ao déficit hídrico porque foram mais responsivas ao biopolímero.
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