Changes in splenic tissue and immune response profile of Schistosoma mansoni infected mice submitted to chronic ethanol intake.

In Schistosoma mansoni infection, the spleen is one of the organs affected, causing its enlargement (splenomegaly). Intake of ethanol through alcoholic beverages can cause spleen atrophy and interfere with immune activity. To gain knowledge of this association on the spleen and on the immune response profile, male mice were used as an experimental model. These animals were divided into four groups: C. control; EC. uninfected/ethanol gavage; I. infected; and IE. infected/ethanol gavage. Groups I and IE were infected with about 100 cercariae (BH strain) of S. mansoni and in the fifth week of infection, gavage 200 µL/day/animal of 18 % ethanol was started for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the gavage (9th week of infection) all animals were euthanized. The spleen was removed and longitudinally divided in two parts. After histological processing, the sections were stained with H&E and Gomori's Reticulin for histopathological and stereological analyses, white pulp morphometry and quantification of megakaryocytes. The other fragment was macerated (in laminar flow) and the cell suspension, after adjusting the concentration (2 × 106), was plated to obtain cytokines produced by spleen cells that were measured by flow cytometry (Citometric Bead Array). Histopathological and quantitative analyzes in the spleen of the IE group showed an increase in the number of trabeculae and megakaryocytes, a decrease in reticular fibers, as well as important organizational changes in the white pulp and red pulp. Due to the decrease in the levels of cytokines measured and the result of the calculation of the ratio between the IFN-y and IL-10 cytokines (p = 0.0079) of the infected groups, we suggest that ethanol decreased the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory response generated by the infection (group IE, the production of cytokines was significantly decreased (p < 0.01). These changes demonstrate that ethanol ingestion interferes with some parameters of experimental S. mansoni infection, such as changes in splenic tissue and in the pattern of cytokine production.

Theoretical and experimental approach of fuel gas and carbon black production from coal tar pitch by thermal plasma process.

The processing of coal tar pitch (CTP) to produce clean fuel gas and carbon black (CB) is studied in a plasma reactor equipped with a direct-current plasma torch. The composition of the gas produced and energy costs were estimated theoretically for the CTP pyrolysis and gasification processes by two oxidants, namely oxygen and water vapor. We have found that the main gaseous compounds obtained in the pyrolysis and gasification processes are hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide (CO), and very often carbon dioxide (CO2). For the pyrolysis case, the mean value of the synthesis gas concentration reaches a major value of 98 vol.% (H2 - 81 vol.%, CO - 17. vol.%). However, only 23% of the initial CTP is transformed into gas phase at 1100 K and its content increases up to 37.4% at a temperature of 3000 K. For oxygen gasification, the syngas quantity is little less compared to the pyrolysis case and attains 96.6 vol.% (H2 - 26.5 vol.%, CO - 70.1 vol.%) for T > 1100 K. An intermediate syngas content for the water steam gasification is 97.8 vol.% (with H2 - 55.8 vol.% and CO - 42.0 vol.%). The CB produced was composed of well-defined spherical particles of 30-nm size. Furthermore, it is composed of carbon (98.2%), and followed by oxygen (1.8%) with a surface area of 97 m2 g-1. The thermal plasma system shows high efficiency in conversion of CTP into high-value-added products.

Assessing consumer expectations about pizza: A study on celiac and non-celiac individuals using the word association technique.

The word association (WA) technique was used to investigate the perception of two groups of consumers (72 celiac and 78 non-celiac individuals; 150 in total) to pizza dough (thick or thin) and the raw material used at the manufacture (cassava flour or rice flour). Different perceptions of the four stimuli were detected by Chi-square test (X2=314.393, p<0.0001) for both groups. Seven categories were used for both groups: food/composition, health, doubt/uncertainty, novelty, negative feelings, positive feelings, and sensory aspects. The stimulus 'pizza dough made with cassava flour' was associated with the category "food/composition" and the stimuli 'pizza made with rice flour', 'pizza made with cassava flour' and 'thin dough' were associated with "positive feelings". The stimulus 'thick dough' was related only to the category "negative feelings". WA indicated that gluten-free pizza should have thin dough and us cassava flour or rice flour as the raw material.

Rosmarinus officinalis L. increases Caenorhabditis elegans stress resistance and longevity in a DAF-16, HSF-1 and SKN-1-dependent manner.

Improving overall health and quality of life, preventing diseases and increasing life expectancy are key concerns in the field of public health. The search for antioxidants that can inhibit oxidative damage in cells has received a lot of attention. Rosmarinus officinalis L. represents an exceptionally rich source of bioactive compounds with pharmacological properties. In the present study, we explored the effects of the ethanolic extract of R. officinalis (eeRo) on stress resistance and longevity using the non-parasitic nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model. We report for the first time that eeRo increased resistance against oxidative and thermal stress and extended C. elegans longevity in an insulin/IGF signaling pathway-dependent manner. These data emphasize the eeRo beneficial effects on C. elegans under stress.

Quantum random number generation enhanced by weak-coherent states interference.

We propose and demonstrate a technique for quantum random number generation based on the random population of the output spatial modes of a beam splitter when both inputs are simultaneously fed with indistinguishable weak coherent states. We simulate and experimentally validate the probability of generation of random bits as a function of the average photon number per input, and compare it to the traditional approach of a single weak coherent state transmitted through a beam-splitter, showing an improvement of up to 32%. The ensuing interference phenomenon reduces the probability of coincident counts between the detectors associated with bits 0 and 1, thus increasing the probability of occurrence of a valid output. A long bit string is assessed by a standard randomness test suite with good confidence. Our proposal can be easily implemented and opens attractive performance gains without a significant trade-off.

Few-photon heterodyne spectroscopy.

We perform a high-resolution Fourier transform spectroscopy of optical sources in the few-photon regime based on the phenomenon of two-photon interference in a beam splitter. From the heterodyne interferogram, between test and reference sources, it is possible to obtain the spectrum of the test source relative to that of the reference. The method proves to be a useful asset for spectral characterization of faint optical sources below the range covered by classical heterodyne beating techniques.

Investigation of bend loss in single mode fibers with ultra-high-resolution photon-counting optical time domain reflectometer.

An intensity peak associated with fiber bending could be detected thanks to the use of an ultra-high-resolution photon-counting optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) setup. The peak intensity is shown to be dependent on the curvature radius and angular distance of the bend. To account for such peaks, we propose a model based on modal mismatching and coupling inside the bend region and show that the model is highly consistent with the acquired data. Combining the information of the bend peak and bend loss, and taking advantage of the high dependence of the peak value with the local modal field parameter, the technique could be employed as an optical fiber local-parameter characterization method.

Restorative materials containing antimicrobial agents: is there evidence for their antimicrobial and anticaries effects? A systematic review.

The aim of this systematic literature review was to investigate whether the incorporation of antimicrobial agents into dental restorative materials truly exerts an antimicrobial effect against common cariogenic bacteria (primary outcome), and whether the inclusion of antimicrobial agents is able to prevent caries around restorations (secondary outcome). MEDLINE, via PubMed, was searched for papers published between 1980 and 30 November 2014. A total of 1126 articles were retrieved. After inclusion/exclusion assessment, 147 full text articles were read and included in the review, comprising 130 in vitro, 1 in situ, and 4 in vivo studies, as well as 12 literature reviews. In about 78% of in vitro studies, and in all identified in situ and in vivo studies, a positive antimicrobial effect had been found. However, the anticaries effect had not been tested in any of the selected studies. It was concluded that there is indeed evidence that restorative dental materials containing antimicrobial agents exert an antimicrobial effect, both in laboratory and in clinical studies. However, no evidence has been found regarding the role of these agents in preventing or controlling dental caries, or in preventing caries around restorations.

Rosmarinus officinalis L. increases Caenorhabditis elegans stress resistance and longevity in a DAF-16, HSF-1 and SKN-1-dependent manner

Improving overall health and quality of life, preventing diseases and increasing life expectancy are key concerns in the field of public health. The search for antioxidants that can inhibit oxidative damage in cells has received a lot of attention. Rosmarinus officinalis L. represents an exceptionally rich source of bioactive compounds with pharmacological properties. In the present study, we explored the effects of the ethanolic extract of R. officinalis (eeRo) on stress resistance and longevity using the non-parasitic nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model. We report for the first time that eeRo increased resistance against oxidative and thermal stress and extended C. elegans longevity in an insulin/IGF signaling pathway-dependent manner. These data emphasize the eeRo beneficial effects on C. elegans under stress.

Urinary creatinine as a nutritional and urinary volume marker in sheep fed with tropical or temperate forages / Uso da creatinina urinária como marcador nutricional e de volume urinário em ovinos alimentados com forragem tropical ou temperada

To test the accuracy of creatinine as a marker for estimating urinary volume and its use as a nutritional index, the possible interference of forage intake and forage quality over creatinine excretion was evaluated. For this, sheep were fed different levels of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum(L) Leeke) or Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam). The experiment consisted of a compilation of digestibility trials (n=6) with pearl millet or Italian ryegrass in completely randomized designs with four replications and four forage levels: 1.5, 2.0, 2.5% (kg dry matter (DM)/ 100 kg of live weight (LW)). The trials were repeated at different periods to evaluate how stable the average metabolic excretion of creatinine is. In each trial, total urine collection was performed individually during a period of 24 hours for five consecutive days and subsequently analyzed by colorimetry for creatinine and purine derivatives. The creatinine excretion was not affected (P>0.05) by forage offer or forage type, but there were period effects (P=0.0001). The average creatinine excretion for both forages was 0.21mmol/kg PV0,75. Linear regressions between the purine derivatives:creatinine index with total excretion of purine derivatives were detected for pearl millet (P<0.0001, R2= 0.64) and Italian ryegrass (P=0.02, R2=0.20). These results demonstrate that creatinine excretion is independent of the type and availability of forage and can be a marker for urinary volume prediction and nutritional measures under grazing systems.

Para testar a precisão da creatinina como marcador para estimativas de volume urinário e índice nutricional, foram avaliadas a possível influência do consumo e a qualidade da forragem sobre esse marcador. Para isso, ovinos foram alimentados com diferentes níveis de milheto (Pennisetum americanum (L) Leeke) ou azevém (Lolium multiflorum Lam). O experimento consistiu de uma compilação de ensaios de digestibilidade (n=6) com milheto ou azevém, em um desenho experimental de blocos completamente ao acaso, com quatro repetições e quatro níveis de forragem: 1,5; 2,0; 2,5% (kg de matéria seca (MS)/ 100kg de peso vivo (PV)). Os ensaios foram repetidos em diferentes períodos, com ambas as forragens, se para avaliar a estabilidade da excreção média de creatinina metabólica. Em cada ensaio, foi coletado o volume total de urina individualmente, durante períodos de 24 horas, por cinco dias consecutivos. Posteriormente, esses ensaios foram analisados por colorimetria para creatinina e derivados de purina. A excreção de creatinina não foi afetada (P>0,05) pelo consumo de forragem ou pelo tipo de forragem, mas foi influenciada pelo período (P=0,0001). A excreção média de creatinina para ambas as forragens foi 0,21mmol/kg PV0,75. Regressões lineares entre os índices derivados de purina:creatinina com a excreção total de derivados de purina foram detectadas para milheto (P<0,0001; R2=0,64) e azevém (P=0,02; R2=0,20). Os resultados demonstraram que a excreção de creatinina é independente do tipo e do consumo de forragem e pode ser usada como marcador preditivo do volume urinário e do status nutricional em sistemas de pastejo.

Imaging the molecular channel in acetaldehyde photodissociation: roaming and transition state mechanisms.

The roaming dynamics in the photodissociation of acetaldehyde is studied through the first absorption band, in the wavelength interval ranging from 230 nm to 325 nm. Using a combination of the velocity-map imaging technique and rotational resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy of the CO fragment, the branching ratio between the canonical transition state and roaming dissociation mechanisms is obtained at each of the photolysis wavelengths studied. Upon one photon absorption, the molecule is excited to the first singlet excited S(1) state, which, depending on the excitation wavelength, either converts back to highly vibrationally excited ground S(0) state or undergoes intersystem crossing to the first excited triplet T(1) state, from where the molecule can dissociate over two main channels: the radical (CH(3) + HCO) and the molecular (CO + CH(4)) channels. Three dynamical regions are characterized: in the red edge of the absorption band, at excitation energies below the T(1) barrier, the ratio of the roaming dissociation channel increases, largely surpassing the transition state contribution. As the excitation wavelength is increased, the roaming propensity decreases reaching a minimum at wavelengths ∼308 nm. Towards the blue edge, at 230 nm, an upper limit of ∼50% has been estimated for the contribution of the roaming channel. The experimental results are interpreted in terms of the interaction between the different potential energy surfaces involved by means of ab initio stationary points and intrinsic reaction coordinate paths calculations.

A slice imaging and multisurface wave packet study of the photodissociation of CH3I at 304 nm.

The role of the conical intersection between the (1)Q(1) and (3)Q(0) excited states in the photodissociation of CH(3)I at 304 nm is investigated drawing a comparison between the adiabatic--through direct absorption to the (3)Q(1) state--and non-adiabatic--via the (1)Q(1)→(3)Q(0) conical intersection--production of I atoms in the ground (2)P(3/2) state. The versatility of the slice imaging technique in combination with resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) detection of I((2)P(3/2)) atoms allow distinct measurements of the competing processes. The I((2)P(3/2)) atom kinetic energy distributions (KEDs) obtained in both cases reflect inverted vibrational progressions of the ν(2) umbrella mode of the CH(3) co-product. The experimental results show a satisfactory agreement with multisurface wave packet calculations using a reduced dimensionality (pseudotriatomic) model carried out on the available ab initio potential energy surfaces.

Photodissociation of pyrrole-ammonia clusters by velocity map imaging: mechanism for the H-atom transfer reaction.

The photodissociation dynamics of pyrrole-ammonia clusters (PyH·(NH(3))(n), n = 2-6) has been studied using a combination of velocity map imaging and non-resonant detection of the NH(4)(NH(3))(n-1) products. The excited state hydrogen-atom transfer mechanism (ESHT) is evidenced through delayed ionization and presents a threshold around 236.6 nm, in agreement with previous reports. A high resolution determination of the kinetic energy distributions (KEDs) of the products reveals slow (∼0.15 eV) and structured distributions for all the ammonia cluster masses studied. The low values of the measured kinetic energy rule out the existence of a long-lived intermediate state, as it has been proposed previously. Instead, a direct N-H bond rupture, in the fashion of the photodissociation of bare pyrrole, is proposed. This assumption is supported by a careful analysis of the structure of the measured KEDs in terms of a discrete vibrational activity of the pyrrolyl co-fragment.

Imaging the radical channel in acetaldehyde photodissociation: competing mechanisms at energies close to the triplet exit barrier.

The photodissociation of acetaldehyde in the radical channel has been studied at wavelengths between 315 and 325 nm using the velocity-map imaging technique. Upon one-photon absorption at 315 nm, the molecule is excited to the first singlet excited state S(1), which, in turn, undergoes intersystem crossing to the first excited triplet state T(1). On the triplet surface, the molecule dissociates into CH(3) and HCO radicals with large kinetic energy release (KER), in accordance with the well characterized exit barrier on T(1). However, at longer wavelengths (>320 nm), which correspond to excitation energies just below the triplet barrier, a sudden change in KER is observed. At these photolysis wavelengths, there is not enough energy to surpass the exit barrier on the triplet state, which leaves the possibility of unimolecular dissociation on S(0) after internal conversion from S(1). We have characterized the fragments' KER at these wavelengths, as well as determined the energy partitioning for the radical fragments. A new accurate estimate of the barrier height on T(1) is presented.

A femtosecond velocity map imaging study on B-band predissociation in CH3I. I. The band origin.

A femtosecond pump-probe experiment, coupled with velocity map ion imaging, is reported on the second absorption band (B-band) of CH(3)I. The measurements provide a detailed picture of real-time B-band predissociation in the band origin at 201.2 nm. Several new data are reported. (i) A value of 1.5+/-0.1 ps has been obtained for the lifetime of the excited state, consistent within errors with the only other direct measurement of this quantity [A. P. Baronavski and J. C. Owrutsky, J. Chem. Phys. 108, 3445 (1998)]. (ii) It has been possible to measure the angular character of the transition directly through the observation of fragments appearing early with respect to both predissociation lifetime and molecular rotation. (iii) Vibrational activity in CH(3) has been found, both in the umbrella (nu(2)) and the symmetric stretch (nu(1)) modes, with estimates of relative populations. All these findings constitute a challenge and a test for much-wanted high level ab initio and dynamics calculations in this energy region.

The photodissociation of CH(3)I in the red edge of the A-band: Comparison between slice imaging experiments and multisurface wave packet calculations.

The photodissociation of methyl iodide at different wavelengths in the red edge of the A-band (286-333 nm) has been studied using a combination of slice imaging and resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization detection of the methyl fragment in the vibrational ground state (nu=0). The kinetic energy distributions (KED) of the produced CH(3)(nu=0) fragments show a vibrational structure, both in the I((2)P(3/2)) and I( *)((2)P(1/2)) channels, due to the contribution to the overall process of initial vibrational excitation in the nu(3)(C-I) mode of the parent CH(3)I. The structures observed in the KEDs shift toward upper vibrational excited levels of CH(3)I when the photolysis wavelength is increased. The I((2)P(3/2))/I( *)((2)P(1/2)) branching ratios, photofragment anisotropies, and the contribution of vibrational excitation of the parent CH(3)I are explained in terms of the contribution of the three excited surfaces involved in the photodissociation process, (3)Q(0), (1)Q(1), and (3)Q(1), as well as the probability of nonadiabatic curve crossing (1)Q(1)<--(3)Q(0). The experimental results are compared with multisurface wave packet calculations carried out using the available ab initio potential energy surfaces, transition moments, and nonadiabatic couplings, employing a reduced dimensionality (pseudotriatomic) model. A general qualitative good agreement has been found between theory and experiment, the most important discrepancies being in the I((2)P(3/2))/[I((2)P(3/2))+I( *)((2)P(1/2))] branching ratios. Inaccuracies of the available potential energy surfaces are the main reason for the discrepancies.

Imaging transient species in the femtosecond A-band photodissociation of CH3I.

A nonresonant femtosecond laser pulse centered at 802 nm is used to probe the real time photodissociation dynamics of CH(3)I in the A-band at 267 nm. Using multiphoton ionization with this probe laser pulse and velocity map ion imaging of CH(3)(+), we have followed the time evolution of the translational energy and spatial anisotropy of the CH(3) fragment, which in turn has permitted to image the C-I bond breaking from the initial Franck-Condon region up to the final products along the reaction coordinate. Given the temporal width of our pump and probe laser pulses (approximately 80 fs), a mechanism is proposed by which transient species are probed by simultaneous absorption of pump and probe laser pulses through intermediate Rydberg and ionic states of CH(3)I while the pump and probe pulses overlap in time. This study shows how the combination of femtosecond multiphoton ionization and ion imaging techniques provides an ideal tool to resolve in time the different stages of the bond breaking event in a polyatomic molecule.

Haematological changes in Nile tilapia experimentally infected with Enterococcus sp.

This study evaluated the haematological changes in Nile tilapia experimentally infected with 1 x 10(3) and 1 x 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of Enterococcus sp. in the swim bladder. The experiment consisted of four treatments in triplicates: non-injected fish (NI); fish injected with 1 mL of sterile saline solution 0.65% (SAL); fish injected with 1 x 10(3) and 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus diluted in 1 mL sterile saline. Twenty-four hours after injection, the fish were anesthetized and the blood collected. The haematological tests included red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, hematocrit, number of total thrombocytes, and differential counting of WBC. Fish injected with 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus showed a higher number of thrombocytes than the other treatments. White blood cell and lymphocyte numbers increased significantly in fish injected with 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus when compared to non-injected control. There was significant increase in the number of neutrophils in saline injected fish and reduced number of monocytes after injections with 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus. Hematocrit increased in fish injected with 1 x 10(3) and 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus.

Haematological changes in Nile tilapia experimentally infected with Enterococcus sp[period] / Alterações hematológicas em tilápia do Nilo infectada experimentalmente com Enterococcus sp[ponto final]

This study evaluated the haematological changes in Nile tilapia experimentally infected with 1 x 10³ and 1 x 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of Enterococcus sp. in the swim bladder. The experiment consisted of four treatments in triplicates: non-injected fish (NI); fish injected with 1 mL of sterile saline solution 0.65 percent (SAL); fish injected with 1 x 10³ and 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus diluted in 1 mL sterile saline. Twenty-four hours after injection, the fish were anesthetized and the blood collected. The haematological tests included red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, hematocrit, number of total thrombocytes, and differential counting of WBC. Fish injected with 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus showed a higher number of thrombocytes than the other treatments. White blood cell and lymphocyte numbers increased significantly in fish injected with 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus when compared to non-injected control. There was significant increase in the number of neutrophils in saline injected fish and reduced number of monocytes after injections with 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus. Hematocrit increased in fish injected with 1 x 10³ and 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus.

Este estudo avaliou alterações hematológicas em tilápia do Nilo infectada experimentalmente com 1 x 10³ e 1 x 10(6) unidades formadoras de colônia (CFU)/mL de Enterococcus sp. na bexiga natatória. O experimento consistiu de quatro tratamentos com três repetições cada: peixes não injetados (NI); peixes injetados com 1 mL de solução salina a 0,65 por cento esterilizada (SAL); peixes injetados com 1 x 10³ e 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL de Enterococcus diluída em 1 mL de solução salina esterilizada. Vinte e quatro horas após as injeções, os peixes foram anestesiados com benzocaína e o sangue coletado. Os testes hematológicos incluíram as contagens totais de eritrócitos (RBC), de leucócitos (WBC) e de trombócitos, o percentual do hematócrito e a contagem diferencial de leucócitos. Peixes injetados com 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL de Enterococcus mostraram maior número de trombócitos no sangue do que os dos outros tratamentos. O número de leucócitos totais e o número de linfócitos foram significativamente mais altos após injeção de 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL de Enterococcus, quando comparados ao controle não injetado. Houve aumento no número de neutrófilos nos injetados com salina e redução no número de monócitos nos injetados com 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL de Enterococcus. O hematócrito aumentou nos animais injetados com 1 x 10³ e 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL de Enterococcus.