| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Aimonen, Kukka, et al.
(författare)
-
Role of Surface Chemistry in the In Vitro Lung Response to Nanofibrillated Cellulose
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Nanomaterials. - : MDPI. - 2079-4991. ; 11:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Wood-derived nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) has emerged as a sustainable material with a wide range of applications and increasing presence in the market. Surface charges are introduced during the preparation of NFC to facilitate the defibrillation process, which may also alter the toxicological properties of NFC. In the present study, we examined the in vitro toxicity of NFCs with five surface chemistries: nonfunctionalized, carboxymethylated, phosphorylated, sulfoethylated, and hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium-substituted. The NFC samples were characterized for surface functional group density, surface charge, and fiber morphology. Fibril aggregates predominated in the nonfunctionalized NFC, while individual nanofibrils were observed in the functionalized NFCs. Differences in surface group density among the functionalized NFCs were reflected in the fiber thickness of these samples. In human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells, all NFCs showed low cytotoxicity (CellTiter-GloVR luminescent cell viability assay) which never exceeded 10% at any exposure time. None of the NFCs induced genotoxic effects, as evaluated by the alkaline comet assay and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. The nonfunctionalized and carboxymethylated NFCs were able to increase intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation (chloromethyl derivative of 2 ',7 '-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay). However, ROS induction did not result in increased DNA or chromosome damage.
|
|
| 3. |
- Amaral, Rita, et al.
(författare)
-
Profiling Persistent Asthma Phenotypes in Adolescents : A Longitudinal Diagnostic Evaluation from the INSPIRERS Studies
- 2021
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 18:3
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We aimed to identify persistent asthma phenotypes among adolescents and to evaluate longitudinally asthma-related outcomes across phenotypes. Adolescents (13-17 years) from the prospective, observational, and multicenter INSPIRERS studies, conducted in Portugal and Spain, were included (n = 162). Latent class analysis was applied to demographic, environmental, and clinical variables, collected at a baseline medical visit. Longitudinal differences in clinical variables were assessed at a 4-month follow-up telephone contact (n = 128). Three classes/phenotypes of persistent asthma were identified. Adolescents in class 1 (n = 87) were highly symptomatic at baseline and presented the highest number of unscheduled healthcare visits per month and exacerbations per month, both at baseline and follow-up. Class 2 (n = 32) was characterized by female predominance, more frequent obesity, and uncontrolled upper/lower airways symptoms at baseline. At follow-up, there was a significant increase in the proportion of controlled lower airway symptoms (p < 0.001). Class 3 (n = 43) included mostly males with controlled lower airways symptoms; at follow-up, while keeping symptom control, there was a significant increase in exacerbations/month (p = 0.015). We have identified distinct phenotypes of persistent asthma in adolescents with different patterns in longitudinal asthma-related outcomes, supporting the importance of profiling asthma phenotypes in predicting disease outcomes that might inform targeted interventions and reduce future risk.
|
|
| 4. |
- Armisen, David, et al.
(författare)
-
Transcriptome-based phylogeny of the semi-aquatic bugs (Hemiptera Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) reveals patterns of lineage expansion in a series of new adaptive zones
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Molecular biology and evolution. - : Oxford University Press. - 0737-4038 .- 1537-1719. ; 39:11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Key innovations enable access to new adaptive zones and are often linked to increased species diversification. As such, innovations have attracted much attention, yet their concrete consequences on the subsequent evolutionary trajectory and diversification of the bearing lineages remain unclear. Water striders and relatives (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) represent a monophyletic lineage of insects that transitioned to live on the water-air interface and that diversified to occupy ponds, puddles, streams, mangroves and even oceans. This lineage offers an excellent model to study the patterns and processes underlying species diversification following the conquest of new adaptive zones. However, such studies require a reliable and comprehensive phylogeny of the infraorder. Based on whole transcriptomic datasets of 97 species and fossil records, we reconstructed a new phylogeny of the Gerromorpha that resolved inconsistencies and uncovered strong support for previously unknown relationships between some important taxa. We then used this phylogeny to reconstruct the ancestral state of a set of adaptations associated with water surface invasion (fluid locomotion, dispersal and transition to saline waters) and sexual dimorphism. Our results uncovered important patterns and dynamics of phenotypic evolution, revealing how the initial event of water surface invasion enabled multiple subsequent transitions to new adaptive zones on the water surfaces. This phylogeny and the associated transcriptomic datasets constitute highly valuable resources, making Gerromorpha an attractive model lineage to study phenotypic evolution.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Arnell, Robert, et al.
(författare)
-
Analytical Characterization of Chiral Drug-Protein Interactions: Comparison between the Optical Biosensor (Surface Plasmon Resonance) Assay and the HPLC Perturbation Method
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Analytical Chemistry. ; 78:5, s. 1682-1689
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Two modern, fundamentally different methods were used for a detailed investigation of enantioselective drug-protein interactions, a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based Biacore 2000 biosensor assay and the previously validated HPLC perturbation method (HPLC-PM). This is the first time SPR has been used for this purpose. The fundamental features of the two methods were investigated, and the consequences for operation and data evaluation were addressed. With HPLC-PM, chiral data could be obtained directly from the racemic mixture, whereas a separate analysis of each pure enantiomer was required to obtain chiral data with SPR. It was shown that if chirality is not attributed in the SPR analysis, misleading average racemic binding constants will be obtained. Both drug and protein consumption were considerably higher with HPLC-PM. HPLC-PM was found to be best suited for measurements of weak affinity interactions, whereas the SPR method was best for strong interactions. With both methods, the presence of DMSO in the samples severely affected the interactions, introducing errors. The binding of the -blockers alprenolol and propranolol to Cel7a cellulase was used as a model system. These methods gave results that agreed quite well qualitatively, but considerable quantitative deviations were sometimes obtained.
|
|
| 7. |
- Bairagi, Samiran, et al.
(författare)
-
Formation of quaternary Zn(AlxGa1−x)2O4 epilayers driven by thermally induced interdiffusion between spinel ZnGa2O4 epilayer and Al2O3 substrate
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Materials Today Advances. - : Elsevier. - 2590-0498. ; 20
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Zinc aluminogallate, Zn(AlxGa1−x)2O4 (ZAGO), a single-phase spinel structure, offers considerable potential for high-performance electronic devices due to its expansive compositional miscibility range between aluminum (Al) and gallium (Ga). Direct growth of high-quality ZAGO epilayers however remains problematic due to the high volatility of zinc (Zn). This work highlights a novel synthesis process for high-quality epitaxial quaternary ZAGO thin films on sapphire substrates, achieved through thermal annealing of a ZnGa2O4 (ZGO) epilayer on sapphire in an ambient air setting. In-situ annealing x-ray diffraction measurements show that the incorporation of Al in the ZGO epilayer commenced at 850 °C. The Al content (x) in ZAGO epilayer gradually increased up to around 0.45 as the annealing temperature was raised to 1100 °C, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. X-ray rocking curve measurement revealed a small full width at half maximum value of 0.72 °, indicating the crystal quality preservation of the ZAGO epilayer with a high Al content. However, an epitaxial intermediate �–(AlxGa1−x)2O3 layer (� - AGO) was formed between the ZAGO and sapphire substrate. This is believed to be a consequence of the interdiffusion of Al and Ga between the ZGO thin film and sapphire substrate. Using density functional theory, the substitution cost of Ga in sapphire was determined to be about 0.5 eV lower than substitution cost of Al in ZGO. Motivated by this energetically favorable substitution, a formation mechanism of the ZAGO and AGO layers was proposed. Spectroscopic ellipsometry studies revealed an increase in total thickness of the film from 105.07 nm (ZGO) to 147.97 nm (ZAGO/AGO) after annealing to 1100 °C, which were corroborated using TEM. Furthermore, an observed increase in the direct (indirect) optical bandgap from 5.06 eV (4.7 eV) to 5.72 eV (5.45 eV) with an increasing Al content in the ZAGO layer further underpins the formation of a quaternary ZAGO alloy with a tunable composition.
|
|
| 8. |
- Bastos, Jorge Tiago, et al.
(författare)
-
Road safety performance in Brazil : towards a composite indicator
- 2016
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The monitoring of the road safety level in Brazil and particularly in its member states traditionally focuses on the available traffic fatality rates. However, this approach does not offer practical suggestions on how to improve road safety. In this context, the usage of Road Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) is a growing and promising tendency. This research deals with the construction of a set of SPIs intended to serve as good indicators of the operational conditions of the road traffic system in each of the 27 Brazilian states. The set of 28 selected SPIs represents three domains (road user, environment and vehicle) and consists of further subdivisions. The hierarchical structure of the 28 indicators manifests the traditional distinction between the road user (RU), the environment (E) and the vehicle (V) domain of SPIs. In the first domain (1st to 10th indicator), road user behavior decomposes into alcohol (A), cell-phone (CP), protective systems (PS) and speeding (S). Protective systems decompose into seatbelt (SB) and helmet (H). In the second domain, environmental SPIs decompose into road (R) and health system (HS). Road (11th to 20ht indicator), decomposes into central division (CD), signing (SG) and roadside (RS). Signing decomposes into road markings (RM) and vertical signs (VS). Road markings decompose into central (C) and lateral (L). Health system (21st to 23rd indicator) decomposes into health professionals (HP) and health expenditure (HE). In the third domain, vehicle related SPIs (24th to 27th indicator), decompose into fleet composition (FC) and age of the fleet (AF). This paper aims to describe this innovative SPI research in Brazil, using data envelopment analysis to aggregate the SPIs into a composite indicator, as well as to show the potential for supporting future improvements on the theme.
|
|
| 9. |
- Basu, Alex, et al.
(författare)
-
Hemocompatibility of Ca2+-Crosslinked Nanocellulose Hydrogels : Toward Efficient Management of Hemostasis
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Macromolecular Bioscience. - : Wiley. - 1616-5187 .- 1616-5195. ; 17:11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present work investigates Ca2+-crosslinked nanofibrillated cellulose hydrogels as potential hemostatic wound dressings by studying core interactions between the materials and a central component of wounds and wound healing—the blood. Hydrogels of wood-derived anionic nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and NFC hydrogels that incorporate kaolin or collagen are studied in an in vitro whole blood model and with platelet-free plasma assays. The evaluation of thrombin and factor XIIa formation, platelet reduction, and the release of activated complement system proteins, shows that the NFC hydrogel efficiently triggered blood coagulation, with a rapid onset of clot formation, while displaying basal complement system activation. By using the NFC hydrogel as a carrier of kaolin, the onset of hemostasis is further boosted, while the NFC hydrogel containing collagen exhibits blood activating properties comparable to the anionic NFC hydrogel. The herein studied NFC hydrogels demonstrate great potential for being part of advanced wound healing dressings that can be tuned to target certain wounds (e.g., strongly hemorrhaging ones) or specific phases of the wound healing process for optimal wound management.
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
