Mutational analysis of Phanerochaete chrysosporium´s purine transporter.

We present here a mutational analysis of the purine transporter from Phanerochaete chrysosporium (PhZ), a member of the AzgA-like subfamily within the Nucleobase Ascorbate Transporters family. We identified key residues that determine its substrate specificity and transport efficiency. Thirteen PhZ mutants were generated and heterologously expressed in Aspergillus nidulans.

Ramachandran-like Conformational Space for DNA.

DNA's ability to exist in a wide variety of structural forms, subforms, and secondary motifs is fundamental to numerous biological processes and has driven the development of biotechnological applications. Major determinants of DNA flexibility are the multiple torsional degrees of freedom around the phosphodiester backbone. This high complexity can be rationalized by using two pseudotorsional angles linking atoms P and C4', from which Ramachandran-like plots can be built.

Obtaining of a rich-cellulose material from black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) bark residues.

Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) barks are residues produced by tannin industries in huge quantities, which are normally discharged on environmental or used for energy production. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the use of black wattle bark residues as a raw material on obtaining of a rich-cellulose material by alkaline (MET1), acetosolv (MET2), and organosolv (MET3) procedures.

The pseudotorsional space of RNA.

The characterization of the conformational landscape of the RNA backbone is rather complex due to the ability of RNA to assume a large variety of conformations. These backbone conformations can be depicted by pseudotorsional angles linking RNA backbone atoms, from which Ramachandran-like plots can be built. We explore here different definitions of these pseudotorsional angles, finding that the most accurate ones are the traditional (eta) and (theta) angles, which represent the relative position of RNA backbone atoms P and C4'.

Novel Adsorbent Material from for Removal of Cationic Dye from Aqueous Solution.

The food industry is responsible for the generation of large amounts of organic residues, which can lead to negative environmental and economic impacts when incorrectly disposed of. The jaboticaba peel is an example of organic waste, widely used in industry due to its organoleptic characteristcs. In this study, residues collected during the extraction of bioactive compounds from jaboticaba bark (JB) were chemically activated with HPO and NaOH and used to develop a low-cost adsorbent material for the removal of the cationic dye methylene blue (MB).

Trends in Bioactive Multilayer Films: Perspectives in the Use of Polysaccharides, Proteins, and Carbohydrates with Natural Additives for Application in Food Packaging.

The harmful effects on the environment caused by the indiscriminate use of synthetic plastics and the inadequate management of post-consumer waste have given rise to efforts to redirect this consumption to bio-based economic models. In this sense, using biopolymers to produce materials is a reality for food packaging companies searching for technologies that allow these materials to compete with those from synthetic sources. This review paper focused on the recent trends in multilayer films with the perspective of using biopolymers and natural additives for application in food packaging.

Estimation of sperm concentration limits to produce intrauterine insemination doses in swine.

This study evaluated the effect of sperm concentration of boar semen doses, for intrauterine artificial insemination (IUAI), on semen quality and established concentration limits for their production. Twenty ejaculates from four crossbred mature PIC boars were collected to produce 50 mL semen doses in a split sample, reaching the following sperm concentrations: ~20, 30, 60, and 100 × 10  cells/mL. Doses were produced using Androstar Plus, stored at 17°C, and evaluated until 120 h of storage.

Sphagnum perichaetiale Hampe biomass as a novel, green, and low-cost biosorbent in the adsorption of toxic crystal violet dye.

In this study, the Sphagnum perichaetiale Hampe biomass was collected, characterized, and used as a biosorbent in the removal of crystal violet from water. The chemical and morphological results suggest that even after minimal experimental procedures, the biomass presented interesting properties regarding the adsorption of contaminants. Results of adsorption showed that the pH was not a relevant parameter and the best adsorbent dosage was 0.

Antimicrobial Bilayer Film Based on Chitosan/Electrospun Zein Fiber Loaded with Jaboticaba Peel Extract for Food Packaging Applications.

This work focused on developing an active bilayer film based on natural extract. Thus, the jaboticaba peel extract (JPE) was produced and characterized and showed promising application as a natural additive in biopolymeric materials. The zein fiber and bilayer films were produced using a chitosan film (casting) and zein fiber (electrospinning), with and without JPE.

Brazilian Agroindustrial Wastes as a Potential Resource of Bioative Compounds and Their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities.

The study of the recovery of bioactive compounds from natural resources and its implications in several areas is very significant for the scientific community. This work aimed to study Brazilian agroindustrial wastes' antioxidant and antimicrobial activities using green extraction. Olive leaves, jaboticaba peel, araçá peel, and pecan nut shells were evaluated under four conditions: (1) convective-drying and aqueous extraction, (2) convective-drying and ethanolic extraction, (3) freeze-drying and aqueous extraction, and (4) freeze-drying and ethanolic extraction.

Sequence-dependent structural properties of B-DNA: what have we learned in 40 years?

The structure of B-DNA, the physiological form of the DNA molecule, has been a central topic in biology, chemistry and physics. Far from uniform and rigid, the double helix was revealed as a flexible and structurally polymorphic molecule. Conformational changes that lead to local and global changes in the helix geometry are mediated by a complex choreography of base and backbone rearrangements affecting the ability of the B-DNA to recognize ligands and consequently on its functionality.

Development of Active Packaging Based on Agar-Agar Incorporated with Bacteriocin of .

In the search for new biodegradable materials and greater microbiological safety and stability of perishable food products, this study aimed to develop a bioplastic antibacterial film incorporating bacteriocin for application in commercial curd cheese and monitoring of microbiological stability. Films with good handling characteristics as well as physical, barrier, and mechanical properties were obtained. Regarding the antibacterial activity, the microbial reduction was demonstrated in a food matrix, obtaining a reduction of 3 logarithmic cycles for the group of coagulase positive staphylococci and from 1100 to <3.

Development and Characterization of Activated Carbon from Olive Pomace: Experimental Design, Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies in Nimesulide Adsorption.

The lack of adequate treatment for the removal of pollutants from domestic, hospital and industrial effluents has caused great environmental concern. Therefore, there is a need to develop materials that have the capacity to treat these effluents. This work aims to develop and characterize an activated charcoal from olive pomace, which is an agro-industrial residue, for adsorption of Nimesulide in liquid effluent and to evaluate the adsorption kinetics and equilibrium using experimental design.

New Active Packaging Based on Biopolymeric Mixture Added with Bacteriocin as Active Compound.

The objective of this work was to develop a chitosan/agar-agar bioplastic film incorporated with bacteriocin that presents active potential when used as food packaging. The formulation of the film solution was determined from an experimental design, through the optimization using the desirability function. After establishing the concentrations of the biopolymers and the plasticizer, the purified bacteriocin extract of was added, which acts as an antibacterial agent.

Network analysis and psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the eHealth Literacy Scale in a dental clinic setting.

Background: The eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) has become a standard tool for the evaluation of digital health literacy.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the eHEALS in a sample of patients from a dental clinic setting.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a dental setting.

A pilot study of an automated personal identification process: Applying machine learning to panoramic radiographs.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the usefulness of machine learning and automation techniques to match pairs of panoramic radiographs for personal identification.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred panoramic radiographs from 100 patients (50 males and 50 females) were randomly selected from a private radiological service database. Initially, 14 linear and angular measurements of the radiographs were made by an expert.

Antimicrobial peptides in the seedling transcriptome of the tree legume Peltophorum dubium.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play an essential role in plant defense against invading pathogens. Due to their biological properties, these molecules have been considered useful for drug development, as novel agents in disease therapeutics, applicable to both agriculture and medicine. New technologies of massive sequencing open opportunities to discover novel AMP encoding genes in wild plant species.

Molecular Determinants for Nitric Oxide Regulation of the Murine Cationic Amino Acid Transporter CAT-2A.

Cationic amino acid transporters (CATs) supply cells with essential and semiessential dibasic amino acids. Among them, l-arginine is the substrate for nitric oxide synthases (NOS) to produce nitric oxide (NO), a key signaling molecule and second messenger. In cardiac preparations, we showed that NO acutely and directly modulates transport activity by noncompetitively inhibiting these CATs.

Evaluation of the potential of coal fly ash produced by gasification as hexavalent chromium adsorbent.

The aim of this work was to characterize the coal fly ash from gasification process (G-CFA) and to analyze its potential as hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) adsorbent. The G-CFA was characterized in terms of physical, chemical, mineralogical, and morphological analyses. Bach adsorption studies were carried out in order to evaluate the influence of pH on the adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of Cr (VI).

Effect of whitening dentifrices on the surface roughness of a nanohybrid composite resin.

Objectives: The present study verified the influence of whitening dentifrices on the surface roughness of a nanohybrid composite resin.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two specimens were prepared with Filtek™ Z350 XT (3M/ESPE) and randomly divided into four groups (n = 08) that were subjected to brushing simulation equivalent to the period of 1 month. The groups assessed were a control group with distilled water (G1), Colgate Total 12 Professional Clean (G2), Sensodyne Extra Whitener Extra Fresh (G3), and Colgate Luminous White (G4).

[Anoplocephala sp. prevalence in equines at the Sociedade Hípica Paranaense, Curitiba, PR].

Anoplocephala sp. parasites are among the most frequent tapeworms in equines and are associated with intestinal infections. This survey had the objective to verify Anoplocephala sp.