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•Two new cationic amino acid based-surfactants (LPAM and LTAM) were synthesized.•The pure LPAM and LTAM showed a strong inhibitory effect on Candida spp.•Their antifungal activity ...seems to be related to damage of cell membrane.•These compounds showed anti-Candida biofilm activity and low cytotoxicity.•The new cationic surfactants potentiate the antifungal activity of amphotericin B.
In the past two decades, the increase in microbial resistance to conventional antimicrobials has spurred scientists around the world to search tirelessly for new treatments. Synthetic amino acid-based surfactants constitute a promising alternative to conventional antimicrobial compounds. In this work, two new cationic amino acid-based surfactants were synthesized and their physicochemical, antifungal and antibiofilm properties evaluated. The surfactants were based on phenylalanine-arginine (LPAM) and tryptophan-arginine (LTAM) and prepared from renewable raw materials using a simple chemical procedure. The critical micelle concentrations of the new surfactants were determined by conductivity and fluorescence. Micellization of LPAM and LTAM took place at 1.05 and 0.54 mM, respectively. Both exhibited good antifungal activity against fluconazole-resistant Candida spp. strains, with a low minimum inhibitory concentration (8.2 μg/mL). Their mechanism of action involves alterations in cell membrane permeability and mitochondrial damage, leading to death by apoptosis. Furthermore, when LPAM and LTAM were applied with Amphotericin B, a significant synergistic effect was observed against all the studied Candida strains. These new cationic surfactants are also able to disperse biofilms of Candida spp. at low concentrations. The results indicate that LPAM and LTAM have potential application to combat the advance of fungal resistance as well as microbial biofilms.
We present a versatile and highly substrate-independent approach for preparing multisandwich layers based on thermally reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) which gets strongly attached by bio-interfactants ...using a layer-by-layer (LBL) aqueous dipping and rinsing process. The process allows for the deposition of homogeneous ultra-thin films (∼5.5 nm) in distinct surface topographies, thicknesses and compositions by varying the bio-interfactant layer(s). The layers formed on quartz or other semi conductive material are electrically conductive, flexible, and transparent. The here-developed approach could be applied for the fabrication of wearables, sensors, and antistatic transparent films.
Our objective was to investigate whether there is an interaction between the COVID-19 pandemic, demographic characteristics and erectile/sexual (E/S) function in individuals from Latin America.
...Cross-sectional study which included Latin American individuals over 18 years old, recruited through social media and interviewed between July and August 2020 by online surveys (Google Forms) in Portuguese and Spanish languages. The E/S function was evaluated through the following questionnaires: Simplified International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI); while post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed through the Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R). The data was analyzed by T Student, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression, with significance determined by the Wald test (p<0.05), using the R software v4.0.
Out of the 2016 individuals that responded to the survey, 1986 were included and 743 of them presented E/S dysfunction. PTSD occurrence was greater among people with E/S dysfunction when compared to those without E/S dysfunction, in the total score (males: IES-R=26.54±19.17 and females: IES-R=35.92±19.25) and also in the three domains. It was found that those who do not live with a partner were 74% more likely to have E/S dysfunction, but living with a partner during the pandemic had a greater impact on E/S function.
A negative interaction between the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and erectile/sexual function of the Latin American population was observed, with greater implications among the individuals who live with their partners.
Main conclusion
The infection of wheat leaves by
Pyricularia oryzae
induced remarkable reprogramming of the primary metabolism (amino acids, sugars, and organic acids) in favor of a successful fungal ...infection and certain changes were conserved among cultivars regardless of their level of resistance to blast.
Wheat blast, caused by
Pyricularia oryzae
, has become one of the major threats for food security worldwide. Here, we investigated the behavior of three wheat cultivars (BR-18, Embrapa-16, and BRS-Guamirim), differing in their level of resistance to blast, by analyzing changes in cellular damage, antioxidative metabolism, and defense compounds as well as their photosynthetic performance and metabolite profile. Blast severity was lower by 45 and 33% in Embrapa-16 and BR-18 cultivars (moderately resistant), respectively, at 120 h after inoculation in comparison to BRS-Guamirim cultivar (susceptible). Cellular damage caused by
P. oryzae
infection was great in BRS-Guamirim compared to BR-18. The photosynthetic performance of infected plants was altered due to diffusional and biochemical limitations for CO
2
fixation. At the beginning of the infection process, dramatic changes in both carbohydrate metabolism and on the levels of amino acids, intermediate compounds of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and polyamines were noticed regardless of cultivar suggesting an extensive metabolic reprogramming of the plants following fungal infection. Nevertheless, Embrapa-16 plants displayed a more robust and efficient antioxidant metabolism, higher phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and polyphenoloxidase activities and higher concentrations of phenolics and lignin, which, altogether, helped them to counteract more efficiently the infection by
P. oryzae
. Our results demonstrated that
P. oryzae
infection significantly modified the metabolism of wheat plants and different types of metabolic defence may act both additively and synergistically to provide additional plant protection to blast.
The coast of Amapá state is the most preserved and least populated region in Brazil, characterized by a variety of complex ecosystems subject to hydroclimatic variability and anthropogenic pressures. ...Despite its significant hydrological and ecological importance, the area is also the least studied and understood in the country. This study aimed to analyze the water surface variability in both oceanic and estuarine Amapá coastal areas between 1985 and 2022, correlating them with hydroclimatic (precipitation and sea level rise) and anthropogenic (soy and mining) variables. The methodology included the following steps: (1) obtaining water surface time-series data for each coastal municipality and considering hydroclimatic and anthropogenic variables, followed by spatiotemporal analysis using geographic information systems (GIS); (2) conducting analyses of the environmental and physiographic features of the coastal basins; and (3) performing statistical integration and data modeling to test for potential correlations that explain water surface variations. We found that the water surfaces experienced distinct and significant variations, mainly influenced by the expansion of soy cultivation and sea level rise (
p
< 0.05). Furthermore, the oceanic region had a greater simultaneous impact from anthropogenic and hydroclimatic variables (
R
2
aj
= 90.55%) than the estuarine region (
R
2
aj
= 62.46%). We conclude that considerable hydrological changes have been occurring on the coast of Amapá, and thus this region should be a priority in terms of management and conservation of its vulnerable coastal ecosystems.
Oral Mucosa and Saliva Alterations Related to Vape Carvalho, Bruna Fernandes do Carmo; Faria, Natália de Carvalho; Foiani, Letícia ...
Clinical and experimental dental research,
08/2024, Volume:
10, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Abstract Objectives Electronic nicotine delivery systems (e‐cigarette, pod, and vape) are currently among the tobacco consumption of adolescents and young adults. The aim is to show oral mucosa and ...saliva alterations related to vape. Material and Methods A vape‐user patient, presenting a white plaque in the posterior region of the hard palate, underwent clinical examination, sialometry, pH evaluation, and excisional biopsy of the white lesion. Molecular changes in saliva and vape liquid were analyzed by vibrational spectroscopy. Results The histopathological analyses showed hyperparakeratosis without dysplasia. Formaldehyde, ketones, and aromatic hydrocarbon species were identified in e‐cig liquid by the FTIR. Conclusions The use of vape may be related to the development of hyperkeratotic lesions in the oral mucosa as well as significantly modify the patient's salivary patterns as the vape liquid presents carcinogenic and cytotoxic components in its composition.
We propose an estimation method for quantum measurement tomography (QMT) based on semidefinite programming (SDP) and discuss how it may be employed to detect experimental imperfections, such as shot ...noise and/or faulty preparation of the input states on near-term quantum computers. Moreover, if the positive operator-valued measure (POVM) we aim to characterize is informationally complete, we put forward a method for self-consistent tomography, i.e., for recovering a set of input states and POVM effects that is consistent with the experimental outcomes and does not assume any a priori knowledge about the input states of the tomography. Contrary to many methods that have been discussed in the literature, our approach does not rely on additional assumptions such as low noise or the existence of a reliable subset of input states.
The aim ofthis research is to analyze the influence ofinnovation investments on net sales from major national sectors. The data was collected from the free access to the Technological Innovation ...Research (PINTEC) database. To proceed the analysis, we collected the PINTEC data from the years 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2011, consolidating them in a specific way. The analysis were developed through regressions of panel data with fixed effects, according to Hausman test, and the definition of large scale sectors was based on the median of net sales. The results suggest that, on average, for the large scale sectors the acquisition of machinery & equipment and industrial projects & other technical improvements are statistically relevant variables to increase the net sales.
The use of biodegradable polymers applied in active packaging systems, where additives are incorporated that aim to extend the shelf life of foods, is a promising topic in the search for ecologically ...correct materials. However, it is not known whether in these systems, the presence of the antimicrobials additive, will exert a negative influence on the biodegradation process of this polymeric material. Thus, in this work, the biodegradation process of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) films additive with orange essential oil in anaerobic biodigesters was monitored, as well as the growth of microorganisms involved during the process, and the production of methane gas that is the main metabolite in this type of biodegradation. PBAT films were produced through the extrusion process and added orange essential oil at concentrations of 0 and 15% wt. were used. The films before and after the 90-day biodegradation were macroscopically evaluated by medium infrared, exploratory differential calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the evaluated period was not sufficient to mineralize the polymer and that orange essential oil had no influence on the biodegradation process. The PBAT and PBAT/EO films were stable when submitted to biodegradation in sludge for 90 days.
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