Bisphenol a Interferes with Uterine Artery Features and Impairs Rat Feto-Placental Growth

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread environmental contaminant, found in human fluids and tissues. Maternal BPA exposure is associated with alterations in pregnancy outcomes. Because maternal uterine circulation plays a crucial role in normal placenta and fetal growth, we hypothesized that BPA compromises the function of uterine arteries (UAs) and fetoplacental development. Female rats were orally administered with BPA (2.5, 25 and 250 µg/kg/day) or with its vehicle (ethanol) for 30 days before pregnancy and during the first 20 days of pregnancy. To compare the effect of BPA in the reproductive vs. systemic circulation, it was tested on UAs and mesenteric arteries (MAs). Arteries were isolated and examined by pressure myography. Moreover, fetuses and placentas were weighed to provide an index of reproductive performance. In UAs of BPA-treated rats, lumen diameter, acetylcholine-relaxation and expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3), estrogen receptor α (ERα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ɣ (PPARɣ) were reduced. Conversely, no changes were observed in MAs. BPA treatment also reduced placental weights, while fetal weights were increased. For the first time, our results indicate that UAs represent a specific target of BPA during pregnancy and provide insight into the molecular mechanisms that underlie its negative effects on pregnancy outcomes.     

Pulsed Vacuum Osmotic Dehydration of Beetroot,Carrot and Eggplant Slices: Effect of Vacuum Pressure on the Quality Parameters

Pulsed vacuum osmotic dehydration (PVOD) is a widely used technique for reducing moisture content and water activity in biological products. This study aimed to analyze the effect of vacuum application (VA) on PVOD of beetroot, carrot, and eggplant slices, with respect to chemical (moisture, water activity, specific pigments, polyphenols, and sodium content), optical (color), mechanical (shrinkage, maximum stress, and elasticity), and structural (microstructure) properties. PVOD was conducted at three different vacuum pressures (0, 40, and 80 kPa, for 10 min), during a total process time of 300 min. Osmotic processing was performed at 35 °C by using a ternary osmotic solution [40% sucrose +?10% sodium chloride (w/w)]. Eggplant and carrot samples were more sensitive to VA, compared to beetroot. This was related to their porous and less compact structure. In general, VA reduced the moisture content and water activity and preserved the carotenoid content. VA caused loss of betalain and phenolic acid, favored sodium uptake, and induced significant changes in the optical, mechanical, and structural properties, compared to the osmotic processing conducted at atmospheric pressure.     

Antioxidant intake among Brazilian adults - The Brazilian Osteoporosis Study (BRAZOS): a cross-sectional study

Background  

Antioxidant nutrient intake and the lesser formation of free radicals seem to contribute to chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the intake profile of the main dietary antioxidants in a representative sample of the adult Brazilian population and discuss the main consequences of a low intake of these micronutrients on overall health.     

Cathodic behaviour of CoFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> spinel electrodes in alkaline medium

Spinel type CoFe₂O₄ thin films have been prepared, on stainless steel supports, by thermal decomposition of aqueous solutions of mixed cobalt and iron nitrates in 1:2 molar ratio at 400 °C. The electrochemical behaviour of the CoFe₂O₄/1 M KOH interface was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and impedance techniques. The studies allowed finding out the redox reactions occurring at the oxide surface. The results were compared with colloidal electrodes prepared by alkaline precipitation of Fe(II) or Fe(III) hydrous oxi-hydroxides on platinum electrodes. In addition, it has been concluded that the processes are diffusion-controlled and the diffusion of the hydroxide ion, through the oxide, acts as the rate-determining step. The diffusion coefficient of OH⁻ through the oxide film was determined using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques.     

In Silico Study,Physicochemical, and In Vitro Lipase Inhibitory Activity of α,β-Amyrenone Inclusion Complexes with Cyclodextrins

α,β-amyrenone (ABAME) is a triterpene derivative with many biological activities; however, its potential pharmacological use is hindered by its low solubility in water. In this context, the present work aimed to develop inclusion complexes (ICs) of ABAME with γ- and β-cyclodextrins (CD), which were systematically characterized through molecular modeling studies as well as FTIR, XRD, DSC, TGA, and SEM analyses. In vitro analyses of lipase activity were performed to evaluate possible anti-obesity properties. Molecular modeling studies indicated that the CD:ABAME ICs prepared at a 2:1 molar ratio would be more stable to the complexation process than those prepared at a 1:1 molar ratio. The physicochemical characterization showed strong evidence that corroborates with the in silico results, and the formation of ICs with CD was capable of inducing changes in ABAME physicochemical properties. ICs was shown to be a stronger inhibitor of lipase activity than Orlistat and to potentiate the inhibitory effects of ABAME on porcine pancreatic enzymes. In conclusion, a new pharmaceutical preparation with potentially improved physicochemical characteristics and inhibitory activity toward lipases was developed in this study, which could prove to be a promising ingredient for future formulations.     

A C<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis></Superscript> continuous generalized finite element formulation applied to laminated Kirchhoff plate model

A generalized finite element method based on a partition of unity (POU) with smooth approximation functions is investigated in this paper for modeling laminated plates under Kirchhoff hypothesis. The shape functions are built from the product of a Shepard POU and enrichment functions. The Shepard functions have a smoothness degree directly related to the weight functions adopted for their evaluation. The weight functions at a point are built as products of C ^∞ edge functions of the distance of such a point to each of the cloud boundaries. Different edge functions are investigated to generate C ^k functions. The POU together with polynomial global enrichment functions build the approximation subspace. The formulation implemented in this paper is aimed at the general case of laminated plates composed of anisotropic layers. A detailed convergence analysis is presented and the integrability of these functions is also discussed.     

Beyond Photoprotection: The Multifarious Roles of Flavonoids in Plant Terrestrialization

Plants evolved an impressive arsenal of multifunctional specialized metabolites to cope with the novel environmental pressures imposed by the terrestrial habitat when moving from water. Here we examine the multifarious roles of flavonoids in plant terrestrialization. We reason on the environmental drivers, other than the increase in UV-B radiation, that were mostly responsible for the rise of flavonoid metabolism and how flavonoids helped plants in land conquest. We are reasonably based on a nutrient-deficiency hypothesis for the replacement of mycosporine-like amino acids, typical of streptophytic algae, with the flavonoid metabolism during the water-to-land transition. We suggest that flavonoids modulated auxin transport and signaling and promoted the symbiosis between plants and fungi (e.g., arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM), a central event for the conquest of land by plants. AM improved the ability of early plants to take up nutrients and water from highly impoverished soils. We offer evidence that flavonoids equipped early land plants with highly versatile “defense compounds”, essential for the new set of abiotic and biotic stressors imposed by the terrestrial environment. We conclude that flavonoids have been multifunctional since the appearance of plants on land, not only acting as UV filters but especially improving both nutrient acquisition and biotic stress defense.     

Performance of an Adaptive Controller for the Neuromuscular Blockade Based on Inversion of a Wiener Model

An adaptive controller based on a minimally parameterized parsimonious Wiener model for the effect of the muscle relaxant rocuronium in the neuromuscular blockade is presented. The controller structure combines inversion of the recursively identified static nonlinearity of the Wiener model with a positive compartmental control law for the linearized system. The overall strategy exploits the fact that the model has only two parameters, which are estimated by an extended Kalman filter. Due to the fact that the positive control law for total mass conservation of compartmental systems is only proven to be convergent for time‐invariant systems, the identification of the parameter in the linear block of the minimally parameterized parsimonious Wiener model is stopped when the controller is turned on. The controller was implemented in the platform Galeno and tested in simulation and in thirteen real cases of patients under general anesthesia. The good reference tracking results and robustness to noise show the reliability of the proposed strategy.     

Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis: Pathogenic Mechanisms Involving the Cartilage and Subchondral Bone,and Potential Therapeutic Strategies for Joint Regeneration

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a specialized synovial joint that is crucial for the movement and function of the jaw. TMJ osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) is the result of disc dislocation, trauma, functional overburden, and developmental anomalies. TMJ OA affects all joint structures, including the articular cartilage, synovium, subchondral bone, capsule, ligaments, periarticular muscles, and sensory nerves that innervate the tissues. The present review aimed to illustrate the main pathomechanisms involving cartilage and bone changes in TMJ OA and some therapeutic options that have shown potential restorative properties regarding these joint structures in vivo. Chondrocyte loss, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, and subchondral bone remodeling are important factors in TMJ OA. The subchondral bone actively participates in TMJ OA through an abnormal bone remodeling initially characterized by a loss of bone mass, followed by reparative mechanisms that lead to stiffness and thickening of the condylar osteochondral interface. In recent years, such therapies as intraarticular platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid (HA), and mesenchymal stem cell-based treatment (MSCs) have shown promising results with respect to the regeneration of joint structures or the protection against further damage in TMJ OA. Nevertheless, PRP and MSCs are more frequently associated with cartilage and/or bone repair than HA. According to recent findings, the latter could enhance the restorative potential of other therapies (PRP, MSCs) when used in combination, rather than repair TMJ structures by itself. TMJ OA is a complex disease in which degenerative changes in the cartilage and bone develop through intricate mechanisms. The regenerative potential of such therapies as PRP, MSCs, and HA regarding the cartilage and subchondral bone (alone or in various combinations) in TMJ OA remains a matter of further research, with studies sometimes obtaining discrepant results.     

Femtosecond-laser selective printing of graphene oxide and PPV on polymeric microstructures

Direct laser writing techniques are suitable for the high precision-patterning of 2D and 3D micro/nanostructures, featuring a variety of geometries and materials. Here, we demonstrated the use of laser-induced forward transfer with fs-pulses (fs-LIFT) to selectively transfer graphene oxide and poly(p-phenylene vinylene) patterns onto polymeric microstructures, fabricated by two-photon polymerization. The influence of different fs-LIFT experimental parameters on the width and height of the printed patterns was investigated. Upon optimum fs-LIFT parameters, we achieved homogeneous printed areas of both materials onto specific regions of the microstructures. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that fs-LIFT does not change the donor material upon transfer. Overall, this work demonstrates a promising strategy with precise printing capabilities, thus opening new opportunities for the development of photonic and optoelectronic devices.