Tamquam alter idem: formal similarities in a subset of reports on anti-inflammatory compounds in the years 2008–2019

Scientometrics - A literature search on the in vitro testing of anti-inflammatory compounds of natural origin revealed a considerable number of studies adopting a similar template for data...     

La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ nanofiber cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells by water-based sol-gel electrospinning: Synthesis and electrochemical behaviour

Water-based sol-gel electrospinning is employed to manufacture perovskite oxide La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3-δ (LSCF) nanofiber cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. LSCF fibrous scaffolds are synthesized through electrospinning of a sol-gel solution employing water as the only solvent. Morphological characterizations demonstrate that the LSCF fibers have highly crystalline structure with uniform elemental distribution. After heat treatment, the average fiber diameter is 250 nm and the porosity of the nanofiber tissue is 37.5 %. The heat treated LSCF nanofibers are applied directly onto a Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 (CGO) electrolyte disk to form a symmetrical cell. Electrochemical characterization is carried out through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the temperature range 550?°C–950?°C, and reproducibility of the electrochemical performance for a series of cells is demonstrated. At 650?°C, the average measured polarization resistance R_p is 1.0 Ω cm². Measured performance decay is 1 % during the first 33?h of operation at 750?°C, followed by an additional 0.7 % over the subsequent 70?h.     

Sofosbuvir Selects for Drug-Resistant Amino Acid Variants in the Zika Virus RNA-Dependent RNA-Polymerase Complex In Vitro

The nucleotide analog sofosbuvir, licensed for the treatment of hepatitis C, recently revealed activity against the Zika virus (ZIKV) in vitro and in animal models. However, the ZIKV genetic barrier to sofosbuvir has not yet been characterized. In this study, in vitro selection experiments were performed in infected human hepatoma cell lines. Increasing drug pressure significantly delayed viral breakthrough (p = 0.029). A double mutant in the NS5 gene (V360L/V607I) emerged in 3 independent experiments at 40–80 µM sofosbuvir resulting in a 3.9 ± 0.9-fold half- maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) shift with respect to the wild type (WT) virus. A triple mutant (C269Y/V360L/V607I), detected in one experiment at 80 µM, conferred a 6.8-fold IC₅₀ shift with respect to the WT. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the double mutant V360L/V607I impacts the binding mode of sofosbuvir, supporting its role in sofosbuvir resistance. Due to the distance from the catalytic site and to the lack of reliable structural data, the contribution of C269Y was not investigated in silico. By a combination of sequence analysis, phenotypic susceptibility testing, and molecular modeling, we characterized a double ZIKV NS5 mutant with decreased sofosbuvir susceptibility. These data add important information to the profile of sofosbuvir as a possible lead for anti-ZIKV drug development.     

The impacts of a GTL plant on Brazil's oil products supply and refinery expansion

This paper assesses the impacts of a GTL plant on the expansion of Brazil's oil refining segment. The GTL plant (50,000 bpd) was sized to start up operations in 2015, producing diesel and naphtha through the indirect route (FT-synthesis). This plant will consume the non-associated natural gas production from the recent discoveries at the Santos Basin (around 419 Bm³), and the associated gas production from the Campos Basin. Both basins are located in the Southeast of Brazil, the most populated, rich and industrialized region of the country. Two different criteria for refinery expansion were simulated in order to meet oil product demand scenarios. Findings show that depending on the refinery expansion criteria considered GTL will play a fundamental hole to meet the oil product demand forecast to Brazil in the next 10 years.     

A fuzzy clustering algorithm enhancing local model interpretability

In this work, simple modifications on the cost index of particular local-model fuzzy clustering algorithms are proposed in order to improve the readability of the resulting models. The final goal is simultaneously providing local linear models (reasonably close to the plant’s Jacobian) and clustering in the input space so that desirable characteristics (regarding final model accuracy, and convexity and smoothness of the cluster membership functions) are improved with respect to other proposals in literature. Some examples illustrate the proposed approach.     

Intracranial and spinal dissemination of an ACTH secreting pituitary neoplasia. Case report and review of the literature

Smoking is associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and markers of the insulin resistance syndrome. This study investigated adipose tissue lipolysis in situ by subcutaneous microdialysis twice in 10 healthy, male smokers after smoking four cigarettes over 2 h and after the administration of an equal amount of nicotine given as nasal spray (NNS). Glucose and insulin levels, in situ lipolysis and adipose tissue blood flow were studied in the post-absorptive state and after a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Post-absorptively, acute smoking and NNS increased neither subcutaneous adipose tissue glycerol production nor plasma free fatty acid (FFA) or glycerol levels. After the OGTT, plasma insulin and lactate levels were significantly higher after smoking, whereas FFA levels were higher after NNS. Normal smoking or the administration of a normal dose of NNS caused only minor metabolic changes. Thus, it does not seem likely that increased lipolysis is an important contributor to the dyslipidaemia seen in smokers.     

Dexamethasone inhibition of interferon-alpha 2-induced stimulation of cortisol and growth hormone secretion in chronic myeloproliferative syndrome

This study investigated the acute effects of interferon-alpha 2 (IFN-alpha 2) on hormonal secretion in adult patients affected by a chronic myeloproliferative syndrome and tried to shed some light on the mechanism by which IFN-alpha 2 stimulates cortisol and GH secretion in humans. We compared the pattern of IFN-alpha 2-induced cortisol and GH release with that elicited after the same challenge given subsequent to pretreatment with dexamethasone (Dex). We studied eight patients affected by a chronic myeloproliferative syndrome (thrombocythemia) who had been selected for treatment with IFN-alpha 2. Four sets of experiments were performed: 1) 2 mL iv saline was given at 0800 h in eight cases; 2) 3 x 10(6) IU iv IFN-alpha 2 was given at 0800 h in eight cases; 3) 3 x 10(6) IU iv IFN-alpha 2 was given at 0800 h after pretreatment with 1.5 mg Dex (1 mg at midnight the previous night and 0.5 mg at 0700 h on the day of the test) in six cases; and 4) 2 mL iv saline was given at 0800 h after the same Dex pretreatment in four cases. Cortisol and GH were measured in plasma samples drawn at 30-min intervals between 0800 and 1300 h. Acute iv administration of IFN-alpha 2 stimulated the release of both cortisol and GH in each patient with a significant increment vs. control values, as assessed by areas under the curve. The administration of Dex significantly decreased basal plasma cortisol secretion and abolished cortisol response to IFN-alpha 2 administration. These data suggest that the stimulatory action of IFN-alpha 2 on cortisol release is mediated via a modulation of the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis rather than through a direct effect at the level of the adrenal cortex. After Dex plus saline administration, no significant effect was observed on plasma GH levels, which remained low. Dex administration significantly decreased GH response to IFN-alpha 2. These data suggest that a hypothalamic or pituitary stimulation (or both) is involved in the mechanism of IFN-alpha 2-induced GH secretion. It remains to be established whether IFN-alpha 2 directly stimulates pituitary somatotropic cells or whether the cytokine exerts a stimulatory action on GH secretion by indirectly modulating the hypothalamic or pituitary activity. In conclusion, acute iv administration of IFN-alpha 2 represents a potent stimulus for cortisol and GH secretion in adult human subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Analysis of the MSS51 region on chromosome XII of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have localized gene MSS51 on chromosome XII of Saccharomyces cerevisiae between the RDN1 and CDC42 loci. 'Head to head' with MSS51 is another gene, QRI5, the function of which is unknown. However, the proximity of these genes, the structure of the intergenic region and the presence of an ABF1 binding site right in the middle of this region suggest that the MSS51 and QRI5 expressions are submitted to a common regulatory process.