The yellow passion fruit (
Passiflora edulis Sims. f.
flavicarpa Degener) (YPFW) a powdered solid waste, was tested as biosorbent for the removal of a cationic dye, methylene blue (MB), from aqueous ...solutions. Adsorption of MB onto this low-cost natural adsorbent was studied by batch adsorption at 25
°C. The effects of shaking time, biosorbent dosage and pH on adsorption capacity were studied. In alkaline pH region the adsorption of MB was favorable. The contact time required to obtain the maximum adsorption was 48
h at 25
°C. Four kinetic models were tested, being the adsorption kinetics better fitted to pseudo-first order and ion exchange kinetic models. The ion exchange and pseudo-first order constant rates were 0.05594 and 0.05455
h
−1, respectively. The equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips and Redlich–Peterson isotherm models. Taking into account the analysis of the normal distribution of the residuals (difference of
q
measured
−
q
model), the data were best fitted to Sips isotherm model. The maximum amount of MB adsorbed on YPFW biosorbent was 44.70
mg
g
−1.
Cancer patients are at an increased risk of developing thromboembolic complications. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain cancer-associated thrombosis including the release of ...tumor-derived extracellular vesicles and the activation of host vascular cells. It was proposed that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to the prothrombotic phenotype in cancer. In this study, we evaluated the possible cooperation between tumor-derived exosomes and NETs in cancer-associated thrombosis. Female BALB/c mice were orthotopically injected with 4T1 breast cancer cells. The tumor-bearing animals exhibited increased levels of plasma DNA and myeloperoxidase in addition to significantly increased numbers of circulating neutrophils. Mice were subjected to either Rose Bengal/laser-induced venous thrombosis or ferric chloride-induced arterial thrombosis models. The tumor-bearing mice exhibited accelerated thrombus formation in both models compared to tumor-free animals. Treatment with recombinant human DNase 1 reversed the prothrombotic phenotype of tumor-bearing mice in both models. Remarkably, 4T1-derived exosomes induced NET formation in neutrophils from mice treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). In addition, tumor-derived exosomes interacted with NETs under static conditions. Accordingly, the intravenous administration of 4T1-derived exosomes into G-CSF-treated mice significantly accelerated venous thrombosis in vivo. Taken together, our observations suggest that tumor-derived exosomes and neutrophils may act cooperatively in the establishment of cancer-associated thrombosis.
•Increasing interest in single-cultivar extra-virgin olive oils (EVOOs), due to high-quality and high-price.•EVOOs are one of the food products most prone to fraud.•For the first time a ...potentiometric E-tongue allowed monovarietal EVOOs classification.•E-tongue coupled with LDA using simulated annealing variable selection algorithm.•EVOOs cvs. Cobrançosa, Madural, Verdeal Transmontana, Arbequina, Hojiblanca, Picual were studied.
Label authentication of monovarietal extra virgin olive oils is of great importance. A novel approach based on a potentiometric electronic tongue is proposed to classify oils obtained from single olive cultivars (Portuguese cvs. Cobrançosa, Madural, Verdeal Transmontana; Spanish cvs. Arbequina, Hojiblanca, Picual). A meta-heuristic simulated annealing algorithm was applied to select the most informative sets of sensors to establish predictive linear discriminant models. Olive oils were correctly classified according to olive cultivar (sensitivities greater than 97%) and each Spanish olive oil was satisfactorily discriminated from the Portuguese ones with the exception of cv. Arbequina (sensitivities from 61% to 98%). Also, the discriminant ability was related to the polar compounds contents of olive oils and so, indirectly, with organoleptic properties like bitterness, astringency or pungency. Therefore the proposed E-tongue can be foreseen as a useful auxiliary tool for trained sensory panels for the classification of monovarietal extra virgin olive oils.
The efficacy of a single dose of pegylated interferon lambda in preventing clinical events among outpatients with acute symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is unclear.
We conducted a ...randomized, controlled, adaptive platform trial involving predominantly vaccinated adults with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in Brazil and Canada. Outpatients who presented with an acute clinical condition consistent with Covid-19 within 7 days after the onset of symptoms received either pegylated interferon lambda (single subcutaneous injection, 180 μg) or placebo (single injection or oral). The primary composite outcome was hospitalization (or transfer to a tertiary hospital) or an emergency department visit (observation for >6 hours) due to Covid-19 within 28 days after randomization.
A total of 933 patients were assigned to receive pegylated interferon lambda (2 were subsequently excluded owing to protocol deviations) and 1018 were assigned to receive placebo. Overall, 83% of the patients had been vaccinated, and during the trial, multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants had emerged. A total of 25 of 931 patients (2.7%) in the interferon group had a primary-outcome event, as compared with 57 of 1018 (5.6%) in the placebo group, a difference of 51% (relative risk, 0.49; 95% Bayesian credible interval, 0.30 to 0.76; posterior probability of superiority to placebo, >99.9%). Results were generally consistent in analyses of secondary outcomes, including time to hospitalization for Covid-19 (hazard ratio, 0.57; 95% Bayesian credible interval, 0.33 to 0.95) and Covid-19-related hospitalization or death (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% Bayesian credible interval, 0.35 to 0.97). The effects were consistent across dominant variants and independent of vaccination status. Among patients with a high viral load at baseline, those who received pegylated interferon lambda had lower viral loads by day 7 than those who received placebo. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups.
Among predominantly vaccinated outpatients with Covid-19, the incidence of hospitalization or an emergency department visit (observation for >6 hours) was significantly lower among those who received a single dose of pegylated interferon lambda than among those who received placebo. (Funded by FastGrants and others; TOGETHER ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04727424.).
4T1 metastatic breast cancer model have been widely used to study stage IV human breast cancer. However, the frequent inoculation of a large number of cells, gives rise to fast growing tumors, as ...well as to a surprisingly low metastatic take rate. The present work aimed at establishing the conditions enabling high metastatic take rate of the triple-negative murine 4T1 syngeneic breast cancer model. An 87% 4T1 tumor incidence was observed when as few as 500 cancer cells were implanted. 4T1 cancer cells colonized primarily the lungs with 100% efficiency, and distant lesions were also commonly identified in the mesentery and pancreas. The drastic reduction of the number of inoculated cells resulted in increased tumor doubling times and decreased specific growth rates, following a Gompertzian tumor expansion. The established conditions for the 4T1 mouse model were further validated in a therapeutic study with peguilated liposomal doxorubicin, in clinical used in the setting of metastatic breast cancer. Inoculated cell density was proven to be a key methodological aspect towards the reproducible development of macrometastases in the 4T1 mouse model and a more reliable pre-clinical assessment of antimetastatic therapies.
Staphylococcal protein A chromatography is an established core technology for monoclonal antibody purification and capture in the downstream processing. MabSelect SuRe involves a tetrameric chain of ...a recombinant form of the B domain of staphylococcal protein A, called the Z‐domain. Little is known about the stoichiometry, binding orientation, or preferred binding. We analyzed small‐angle X‐ray scattering data of the antibody–protein A complex immobilized in an industrial highly relevant chromatographic resin at different antibody concentrations. From scattering data, we computed the normalized radial density distributions. We designed three‐dimensional (3D) models with protein data bank crystallographic structures of an IgG1 (the isoform of trastuzumab, used here; Protein Data Bank: 1HZH) and the staphylococcal protein A B domain (the native form of the recombinant structure contained in MabSelect SuRe resin; Protein Data Bank: 1BDD). We computed different binding conformations for different antibody to protein A stoichiometries (1:1, 2:1, and 3:1) and compared the normalized radial density distributions computed from 3D models with those obtained from the experimental data. In the linear range of the isotherm we favor a 1:1 ratio, with the antibody binding to the outer domains in the protein A chain at very low and high concentrations. In the saturation region, a 2:1 ratio is more likely to occur. A 3:1 stoichiometry is excluded because of steric effects.
Different ratio of antibody to Protein A domain of MabSelect SuRe are found depending on the isotherm region. In the linear range of the isotherme the 1:1 stoichiometry is the most probable configuration. In the non linear range we argue for a 2:1 stoichiometry. According to the stoichiometry antibodies adsorb in different orientations. The 3:1 stoichiometry may be found at higher bulk concentrations.
Although regional studies and projections suggest the deterioration of estuaries as a consequence of climate change, it is still difficult to fully understand the importance of such changes in ...estuarine systems. This limitation is particularly important considering their high dynamism and the lack of temporally extended in situ databases with a good spatial coverage for these systems worldwide. Furthermore, contradictory patterns have been observed across the globe. Motivated by these issues, in this study we question the availability of in situ observational evidence of climate change in estuarine systems through a detailed meta-analysis of existing publications. A topic-related search considering the outputs of the Web of Science library was conducted in order to obtain a characterization of the existing studies on climate change in estuarine systems.
Results confirmed that climate change has increasingly been studied since 2000 and that marine climate change constituted the focus of 9.69 % of those studies. From these, only 9.30 % encompassed estuarine studies and just 1.13 % used in situ observations from estuarine systems (i.e., 0.11 % of the total climate change publications). Reanalysis products were the most used tools to assess changes in estuarine systems and sea temperature was the most analyzed variable. These results highlight the need to further address such questions using in situ observational data and to implement long-term observatories to fully identify evidence of climate change in estuarine systems, supporting modelling approaches and promoting the development of effective mitigation plans.
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•Data is lacking to fully understand the importance of climate change in estuaries.•Only 0.11 % of climate change studies focus observational changes in estuaries.•Water temperature is the most studied variable in the literature focusing estuaries.•Numerical models are the most used approach to assess these type of changes.•We highlight the urgent need to implement long-term observatories in estuaries.
Animals have been used as models to help to better understand biological and anatomical systems, and pathologies in both humans and non-human species, and sheep are often used as an in vivo ...experimental model for orthopedic research. Gait analysis has been shown to be an important tool in biomechanics research with clinical applications. The purpose of this study was to perform a kinematic analysis using a tridimensional (3D) reconstruction of the sheep hindlimb. Seven healthy sheep were evaluated for natural overground walking, and motion capture of the right hindlimb was collected with an optoelectronic system while the animals walked in a track. The analysis addressed gait spatiotemporal variables, hip, knee and ankle angle and intralimb joint angle coordination measures during the entire walking cycle. This study is the first that describes the spatiotemporal parameters from the hip, knee and ankle joints in a tridimensional way: flexion/extension; abduction/adduction and inter/external rotation. The results of this assessment can be used as an outcome indicator to guide treatment and the efficacy of different therapies for orthopedic and neurological conditions involving the locomotor system of the sheep animal model.
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