How does the tidal cycle influence the estuarine dynamics of microplastics?

Estuaries are the main pathway for the microplastics (MPs) to enter into the oceans. However, factors that drive river-sea transport of MPs are not yet fully understood. Therefore, our research investigated the influence of the tidal cycle on the abundance and characteristics of MPs in an urban estuary, through high-frequency sampling (every 2-3 h) using a plankton net (120 μm mesh size) in two seasons (rainy and dry seasons).

Iota-Carrageenan from Marine Alga Prevents Naproxen-Induced Gastrointestinal Injury via Its Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used in therapy due to their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. However, their clinical use is often associated with gastrointestinal complications. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the protective effect of a sulfated iota-carrageenan isolated from the marine alga (IC-Sf) against naproxen-induced gastrointestinal injury.

Administration time of caffeine in preterm infants: systematic review and meta-analysis.

To assess the ideal time for caffeine administration in preterms, identifying its effects and safety. Study Design: Meta-analysis conducted including preterms <32 weeks GA or BW < 1500 g, comparing caffeine administration time: <24 x ≥24HOL, <48 x ≥48HOL, <72 x ≥72HOL. 18 studies included 76.

Referrals for rheumatologic evaluation following a positive antinuclear antibody test result. A cross-sectional single center Brazilian study.

Background: In general, patients are referred for rheumatological evaluation due to isolated laboratory abnormalities, especially antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity, with the risk of more severe patients remaining on the waiting list for longer than desired. The aim of this study was to analyze the demographic, clinical, and laboratory information of patients referred to a specialized rheumatological care unit because of positive antinuclear antibody.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 99 out of 1670 patients seen by the same rheumatologist between 01/01/2011 and 01/01/2019.

Acidophilic heterotrophs: basic aspects and technological applications.

Acidophiles comprise a group of microorganisms adapted to live in acidic environments. Despite acidophiles are usually associated with an autotrophic metabolism, more than 80 microorganisms capable of utilizing organic matter have been isolated from natural and man-made environments. The ability to reduce soluble and insoluble iron compounds has been described for many of these species and may be harnessed to develop new or improved mining processes when oxidative bioleaching is ineffective.

Applying a heat transfer mathematical model for the cryopreservation of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) sperm: How straw location over liquid nitrogen level affects freezing rate and fertilization yield.

Cryopreservation of rainbow trout semen under field conditions was analyzed. Straw location over liquid nitrogen level is a crucial variable that affects freezing rate and fertilization yield due to changes in nitrogen vapor external temperature. The objectives were: to analyze cryopreservation protocols by experimentally measuring the cooling rates and fertilization yield of 0.

Nanomaterials-combined methacrylated gelatin hydrogels (GelMA) for cardiac tissue constructs.

Among non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases are the most prevalent, accounting for approximately 17 million deaths per year. Despite conventional treatment, cardiac tissue engineering emerges as a potential alternative for the advancement and treatment of these patients, using biomaterials to replace or repair cardiac tissues. Among these materials, gelatin in its methacrylated form (GelMA) is a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer with adjustable biophysical properties.

Determination of intraocular pressure and Schirmer tear test and the comparison between the applanation tonometer (Tono-Pen AVIA®) and the rebound tonometer (TonoVet Plus®) in mini lionhead rabbits.

Objective: To determine intraocular pressure (IOP) and tear production, as well as to compare the IOP obtained with the TonoVet Plus® (rebound) with the Tono-Pen Avia® (applanation) tonometers.

Animals: Twenty-five Mini Lionhead rabbits (n = 50 eyes).

Procedure: Tear production was measured at 6:00 a.

Crucial role of carbon monoxide as a regulator of diarrhea caused by cholera toxin: Evidence of direct interaction with toxin.

The present study evaluated the role of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1)/carbon monoxide (CO) pathway in the cholera toxin-induced diarrhea and its possible action mechanism. The pharmacological modulation with CORM-2 (a CO donor) or Hemin (a HO-1 inducer) decreased the intestinal fluid secretion and Cl efflux, altered by cholera toxin. In contrast, ZnPP (a HO-1 inhibitor) reversed the antisecretory effect of Hemin and potentiated cholera toxin-induced intestinal secretion.

Naphth[1,2-]imidazoles Bioactive from β-Lapachone: Fluorescent Probes and Cytotoxic Agents to Cancer Cells.

Theranostics combines therapeutic and imaging diagnostic techniques that are extremely dependent on the action of imaging agent, transporter of therapeutic molecules, and specific target ligand, in which fluorescent probes can act as diagnostic agents. In particular, naphthoimidazoles are potential bioactive heterocycle compounds to be used in several biomedical applications. With this aim, a group of seven naphth[1,2-]imidazole compounds were synthesized from β-lapachone.

Performance of oxalic acid-chitosan/alumina ceramic biocomposite for the adsorption of a reactive anionic azo dye.

A biocomposite system was developed and tested for the removal of the azo dye Reactive Red (RR195) from wastewater. The biocomposite was synthesized using ceramic particles containing 75% alumina which were coated using chitosan cross-linked with oxalic acid. The biocomposite showed high performance at low pH (maximum adsorption capacity = 345.

Multivariate relationship between the nitrogen excretion and the protein and fiber utilization in hair sheep fed Mombasa grass silage mixed with açai palm seeds.

This study evaluated the multivariate relationship among the crude protein (CP) intake and digestibility, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake and digestibility, and the nitrogen excretion in hair sheep fed Mombasa grass silage mixed with açai palm seeds using canonical correlation analysis (CCA). For this purpose, a dataset was constructed using the information derived from a metabolic experiment with Santa Ines sheep (BW ± SE: 33.9 ± 1.

Modulating redox metabolism to improve isobutanol production in Shimwellia blattae.

Background: Isobutanol is a candidate to replace gasoline from fossil resources. This higher alcohol can be produced from sugars using genetically modified microorganisms. Shimwellia blattae (p424IbPSO) is a robust strain resistant to high concentration of isobutanol that can achieve a high production rate of this alcohol.

High 2,3-butanediol production from glycerol by Raoultella terrigena CECT 4519.

Bioconversion of biodiesel-derived glycerol into 2,3-butanediol has received recently much attention due to its increasing surplus and its multiple uses in industry as bulk chemical. The influence of initial glycerol concentration on 2,3-butanediol production in batch runs has been studied. A concentration higher than 140 g/L produces an inhibitory effect on the final 2,3-butanediol concentration and its production rate.

Effect of the desiccation tolerance and cryopreservation methods on the viability of Citrus limon L. Burm cv. Eureka seeds.

Cryopreservation of the germplasm for long-term periods is of great importance to maintain the genetic resource. Argentina is one of the world's highest lemon producing country. The performance of different cooling/warming rates in the cryopreservation method of Citrus limon L.

Dihydroxyacetone production from glycerol using Gluconobacter oxydans: Study of medium composition and operational conditions in shaken flasks.

The production of dihydroxyacetone from glycerol employing aerobic cultures of Gluconobacter oxydans is studied. Dihydroxyacetone is one of the most important value-added products obtained from glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel production. The effect of organic nitrogen source and initial substrate concentrations has been studied together with the possibility of product inhibition.

Development of morin/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex: Enhancement of bioavailability, antihyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Morin is a flavonoid has been reported with several pharmacological effects such as, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, etc. However, morin has low solubility in water, which decreases the bioavailability and limits its clinical application. In this way, to improve the pharmaceutical properties, morin was complexed in hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and its oral bioavailability and anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated.

Resting cells isobutanol production by Shimwellia blattae (p424IbPSO): Influence of growth culture conditions.

Isobutanol is a promising gasoline additive and could even be a potential substitute used directly as combustible. In this work, the production of isobutanol from glucose by Shimwellia blattae (p424IbPSO) in resting cell cultures is studied. This production has two stages, involving a resting cell phase that has not been studied before.

Behavior of several pseudomonas putida strains growth under different agitation and oxygen supply conditions.

The growth rate of four strains of Pseudomonas putida, KT2440, KT2442, KTH2, and KTH2 (pESOX3), under different fluid dynamic conditions has been studied. The cultures were conducted in a stirred tank bioreactor by changing the stirrer speed. Several process variables, such as biomass concentration, dissolved oxygen concentration, oxygen mass transfer rate and oxygen uptake rate, have been measured or calculated.

Study on the effects of several operational variables on the enzymatic batch saccharification of orange solid waste.

In this work, batch enzyme-aided extraction and enzymatic saccharification of blade-milled orange waste was studied. The operation variables for this process were thoroughly analysed. It was determined that batch runs with initial pH values of 5.

1,3-Propanediol production from glycerol with a novel biocatalyst Shimwellia blattae ATCC 33430: Operational conditions and kinetics in batch cultivations.

Shimwellia blattae ATCC 33430 as biocatalyst in the conversion of 1,3-propanediol from glycerol is herein evaluated. Several operational conditions in batch cultivations, employing pure and raw glycerol as sole carbon source, were studied. Temperature was studied at shaken bottle scale, while pH control strategy, together with the influence of raw glycerol and its impurities during fermentation were studied employing a 2L STBR.

1,3-Propanediol production by NRRL-B199 from glycerol. Medium composition and operational conditions.

Production of 1,3-propanediol from glycerol using NRRL-B199 has been studied. Medium composition has been optimized by means of a statistical design based on the Taguchi method. Strong influences of glycerol and phosphate concentrations have been detected on biomass and product yields.

Determination of heat transfer coefficients in plastic French straws plunged in liquid nitrogen.

The knowledge of the thermodynamic process during the cooling of reproductive biological systems is important to assess and optimize the cryopreservation procedures. The time-temperature curve of a sample immersed in liquid nitrogen enables the calculation of cooling rates and helps to determine whether it is vitrified or undergoes phase change transition. When dealing with cryogenic liquids, the temperature difference between the solid and the sample is high enough to cause boiling of the liquid, and the sample can undergo different regimes such as film and/or nucleate pool boiling.

Analysis of dibenzothiophene desulfurization in a recombinant Pseudomonas putida strain.

Biodesulfurization was monitored in a recombinant Pseudomonas putida CECT5279 strain. DszB desulfinase activity reached a sharp maximum at the early exponential phase, but it rapidly decreased at later growth phases. A model two-step resting-cell process combining sequentially P.