Tailored-Made Polydopamine Nanoparticles to Induce Ferroptosis in Breast Cancer Cells in Combination with Chemotherapy

Ferroptosis is gaining followers as mechanism of selective killing cancer cells in a non-apoptotic manner, and novel nanosystems capable of inducing this iron-dependent death are being increasingly developed. Among them, polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) are arousing interest, since they have great capability of chelating iron. In this work, PDA NPs were loaded with Fe³⁺ at different pH values to assess the importance that the pH may have in determining their therapeutic activity and selectivity. In addition, doxorubicin was also loaded to the nanoparticles to achieve a synergist effect. The in vitro assays that were performed with the BT474 and HS5 cell lines showed that, when Fe³⁺ was adsorbed in PDA NPs at pH values close to which Fe(OH)₃ begins to be formed, these nanoparticles had greater antitumor activity and selectivity despite having chelated a smaller amount of Fe³⁺. Otherwise, it was demonstrated that Fe³⁺ could be released in the late endo/lysosomes thanks to their acidic pH and their Ca²⁺ content, and that when Fe³⁺ was co-transported with doxorubicin, the therapeutic activity of PDA NPs was enhanced. Thus, reported PDA NPs loaded with both Fe³⁺ and doxorubicin may constitute a good approach to target breast tumors.     

Accurate estimation of capacities and cross-traffic of all links in a path using ICMP timestamps

The estimation of the link capacity and its available bandwidth in an end-to-end path is crucial for network management, admission control and flow control for adaptive applications. This paper introduces an estimation mechanism able to accurately estimate the available bandwidth of all links in an end-to-end path, through its capacity and cross-traffic estimation. The estimation procedures resort to the dispersions of packet pairs and trains using the concepts of ICMP Timestamp and Traceroute that, efficiently used together, enable the measurement of the dispersions in all links in the path. These mechanisms were evaluated through simulation experiments, where we analyzed the influence of the several network parameters on each estimation mechanism. The results show that these estimation methods are able to accurately estimate both the capacity and the cross-traffic of all links in a path with moderate length and with low overhead.     

Preparation, Characterisation and Catalytic Behaviour of a New TeVMoO Crystalline Phase

TeM_xMo_1.7O mixed oxides (M = V and/or Nb; x = 0-1.7) have been prepared by calcination of the corresponding salts at 600 °C in an atmosphere of N₂. A new crystalline phase, with a Te/V/Mo atomic ratio of 1/0.2-1.5/1.7, has been isolated and characterised by XRD and IR spectroscopy. This phase is observed in the TeVMo or TeVNbMo mixed oxide but not in the TeNbMo mixed oxide. The new crystalline phase shows an XRD pattern similar to Sb₄Mo₁₀O₃₁ and probably corresponds to the M1 phase recently proposed by Aouine et al. (Chem. Commun. 1180, 2001) to be present in the active and selective MoVTeNbO catalysts. Although these catalysts present a very low activity in the propane oxidation, they are active and selective in the oxidation of propene to acrolein and/or acrylic acid. However, the product distribution depends on the catalyst composition. Acrolein or acrylic acid can be selectively obtained from propene on Nb-free or Nb-containing TeVMo catalysts, respectively. The presence of both V and Nb, in addition to Mo and Te, appears to be important in the formation of acrylic acid from propene.     

Atmospheric corrosion of reference metals in Antarctic sites

This paper presents the results obtained at three Antarctic test sites participating in the “Ibero-American Map of Atmospheric Corrosiveness” (MICAT), a project on atmospheric corrosion carried out during the period 1988–1994 at some 70 sites distributed across 12 countries of the Latin-American region, Spain and Portugal. The three Antarctic sites are located near the coastline.The singular climatic characteristics of Antarctic regions are related with the purity of the air, the absence of rainfall and the formation of ice on the metallic surface during an important part of the exposure time. However, electrochemical activity is possible below ice layers. This situation affects the structure and morphology of corrosion product films and the resulting corrosion rates of metallic surfaces.     

Mechanical improvement of concrete by irradiated polypropylene fibers

Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) contains fibers physically mixed with gravel, sand, cement, and water. So far, adequate mechanical performance of FRC has been obtained at high cost and using complex technologies; important here is the geometry and surface characteristics of the polymers. We have modified polymeric‐fiber surfaces by using gamma radiation. Irradiated polypropylene (PP) fibers were submitted to 0, 5, 10, 50, and 100 kGy of gamma irradiation dosages. First, tensile strength of PP fibers was evaluated, and then fibers blended at 0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% in volume with Portland cement, gravel, sand, and water. The highest values of compressive strength were obtained with irradiated‐fibers at 10 kGy and 1.5% in volume of fiber. The result is 101 MPa, as compared to 35 MPa for simple concrete without fibers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:1426–1431, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Do individual factors matter? A survey of scientists’ patenting in Portuguese public research organisations

This paper addresses scientists’ behaviour regarding the patenting of knowledge produced in universities and other public sector research organisations (PSROs). Recent years have witnessed a rapid growth in patenting and licensing activities by PSROs. We argue that the whole process depends to a certain extent on scientists’ willingness to disclose their inventions. Given this assumption, we conduct research into individual behaviour in order to understand scientists’ views concerning the patenting of their research results. Data from a questionnaire survey of Portuguese researchers from nine PSROs in life sciences and biotechnology is presented and analysed and complemented with in-depth interviews. The results reveal that overall the scientists surveyed show a low propensity to become involved in patenting and licensing activities, despite the fact that the majority had no “ethical” objections to the disclosure of their inventions and the commercial exploitation of these. Perceptions about the impacts of these activities on certain fundamental aspects of knowledge production and dissemination are however divergent. This may account for the low participation levels. Furthermore, most scientists perceived the personal benefits deriving from this type of activity to be low. Similarly, the majority also believed that there are many difficulties associated with the patenting process and that they receive limited support from their organisations, which lack the proper competences and structures to assist with patenting and licensing.     

Medium and substitution pattern effects on the action of hydroxyflavones as photoprotectors against singlet molecular oxygen-mediated photooxidation of fats

The ability of mono-, di-, tri-and tetra-hydroxyflavones (7-and 3-hy-droxyflavones, 7, 8-dihydroxyflavone, baicalein and fisetin) to act as photoprotectors against singlet molecular oxygen [O²(Δ_g)]-initiated photooxidation of fats has been established by a kinetic study. The overall quenching rate constants for a series of five hydroxyflavones perfectly parallel their respective behaviour as inhibitors of the sensitized photooxidation of linoleic acid. The best antioxidative effect was exerted by 7-hydroxyflavone which does not chemically react with O²(¹Δ_g). Nevertheless for the remaining flavonoids of the series, the physical deactivation of O²(¹Δ_g) largely prevails over the chemical process. As for the cases of phenols and related hydroxy-aromatic derivatives, the ionization of the -OH group in the flavones, dramatically accelerates the rate of photooxidation. Under these conditions, the 7-hydroxyflavone also reacts effectively with O²(¹Δ_g). Given that flavonoids are natural oil components, this medium effect should be taken into account during the oil-refining process, in order to avoid the flavonoid photodestruction.     

Cardiac beta-adrenoceptors, G-proteins and adenylate cyclase regulation during myocardial hypertrophy

Reactivity to Alcohol and Neutral Cues was compared in male, inpatient problem drinkers (N = 30). Subjects reported an overall desire not to drink alcohol which decreased in the presence of the Alcohol Cue. There were no cue-specific changes in heart rate, blood pressure and arousal level and a non-significant trend for increased stress in the Alcohol Cue condition. Subgroups of subjects reporting positive and negative desire for alcohol were identified. Subjects who reported negative desire for alcohol in the Alcohol Cue condition also reported greater self-efficacy to resist drinking in the future. These findings have implications for understanding the nature of self-reported desire for alcohol and its potential role in the treatment of alcohol dependence.