SERS mapping in langmuir-blodgett films and single-molecule detection

Plasmon-enhanced spectroscopic techniques have expanded single-molecule detection (SMD) and are revolutionizing areas such as bio-imaging and single-cell manipulation. Surface-enhanced (resonance) Raman scattering (SERS or SERRS) combines high sensitivity with molecularfingerprint information at the single-molecule level. Spectra originating from single-molecule SERS experiments are rare events, which occur only if a single molecule is located in a hot-spot zone. In this spot, the molecule is selectively exposed to a significant enhancement associated with a high, local electromagnetic field in the plasmonic substrate. Here, we report an SMD study with an electrostatic approach in which a Langmuir film of a phospholipid with anionic polar head groups (PO 4 -) was doped with cationic methylene blue (MB), creating a homogeneous, two-dimensional distribution of dyes in the monolayer. The number of dyes in the probed area of the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film coating the Ag nanostructures established a regime in which single-molecule events were observed, with the identification based on direct matching of the observed spectrum at each point of the mapping with a reference spectrum for the MB molecule. In addition, advanced fitting techniques were tested with the data obtained from micro-Raman mapping, thus achieving real-time processing to extract the MB single-molecule spectra. © 2013 Society for Applied Spectroscopy.

Role of adhesion molecules and proliferation hyperplasic, pre neoplastic and neoplastic lesions in canine prostate

E-cadherin and beta-catenin are component of adherens junctions in epithelial cells. Loss of these proteins have been associated with progression of prostatic diseases. We performed immunohistochemistry for E-cadherin, beta-catenin and Ki-67 on canine prostatic lesions. We analyzed the expression of these antibodies in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, n = 22), in pre neoplastic lesions Prostatic Intra-epithelial Neoplasia (PIN), n = 3 and Prostatic Inflammatory Atrophy (PIA), n = 7 and prostate carcinoma (PC, n = 10). In this study, a membranous expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin and nuclear expression of Ki-67 antigen were demonstrated. The proliferative index was statistically different between carcinomas and BPH and carcinomas and pre-neoplastic lesions. Like in men, the reduction of E-cadherin and increase of Ki-67 expression in neoplastic lesions in dog prostate may be related to the carcinogenic process in this gland. © 2013 Asian Network for Scientific Information.

Triiodothyronine Increases mRNA and Protein Leptin Levels in Short Time in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes by PI3K Pathway Activation

The present study aimed to examine the effects of thyroid hormone (TH), more precisely triiodothyronine (T3), on the modulation of leptin mRNA expression and the involvement of the phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway in adipocytes, 3T3-L1, cell culture. We examined the involvement of this pathway in mediating TH effects by treating 3T3-L1 adipocytes with physiological (P=10nM) or supraphysiological (SI=100 nM) T3 dose during one hour (short time), in the absence or the presence of PI3K inhibitor (LY294002). The absence of any treatment was considered the control group (C). RT-qPCR was used for mRNA expression analyzes. For data analyzes ANOVA complemented with Tukey's test was used at 5% significance. T3 increased leptin mRNA expression in P (2.26 ± 0.36, p< 0.001), SI (1.99 ±0.22, p< 0.01) compared to C group (1± 0.18). This increase was completely abrogated by LY294002 in P (1.31±0.05, p< 0.001) and SI (1.33±0.31, p< 0.05). Western blotting confirmed these results at protein level, indicating the PI3K pathway dependency. To examine whether leptin is directly induced by T3, we used the translation inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX). In P, the presence of CHX maintained the levels mRNA leptin, but was completely abrogated in SI (1.14±0.09, p> 0.001). These results demonstrate that the activation of the PI3K signaling pathway has a role in TH-mediated direct and indirect leptin gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. © 2013 Oliveira et al.

Si-based thin film coating on Y-TZP: Influence of deposition parameters on adhesion of resin cement

This study evaluated the influence of deposition parameters for Si-based thin films using magnetron sputtering for coating zirconia and subsequent adhesion of resin cement. Zirconia ceramic blocks were randomly divided into 8 groups and specimens were either ground finished and polished or conditioned using air-abrasion with alumina particles coated with silica. In the remaining groups, the polished specimens were coated with Si-based film coating with argon/oxygen magnetron discharge at 8:1 or 20:1 flux. In one group, Si-based film coating was performed on air-abraded surfaces. After application of bonding agent, resin cement was bonded. Profilometry, goniometry, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy analysis were performed on the conditioned zirconia surfaces. Adhesion of resin cement to zirconia was tested using shear bond test and debonded surfaces were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Si-based film coating applied on air-abraded rough zirconia surfaces increased the adhesion of the resin cement (22.78 ± 5.2 MPa) compared to those of other methods (0-14.62 MPa) (p = 0.05). Mixed type of failures were more frequent in Si film coated groups on either polished or air-abraded groups. Si-based thin films increased wettability compared to the control group but did not change the roughness, considering the parameters evaluated. Deposition parameters of Si-based thin film and after application of air-abrasion influenced the initial adhesion of resin cement to zirconia. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Expressão da e-caderina e do fator de crescimento do endotélio vascular no carcinoma de células escamosas e no tumor de células basais de cães

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ação de diferentes doses de triiodotironina (T3) sobre a expressão gênica dos receptores de hormônios tireoidianos e leptina em cultura celular de adipócitos, 3T3-L1

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Perfil fenotípico e de expressão de proteínas de Cryptococcus neoformans após tratamento com substâncias obtidas da planta Pterogyne nitens

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Atividade terapêutica do spinosad contra larvas de Cochliomyia hominivorax (L1, L2 e L3) em bovinos infestados natural e artificialmente

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo da vibração de corpo inteiro em pilotos de helicoptera esquilo AS-350 L1

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ancoragem de complexos de rutênio com ligantes siliados em sílica mesoporosa obtida via pirólise de spray

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo in vitro da interação de titânio irradiado por feixe de laser Yb:YAG com e sem recobrimento de apatitas, empregando-se cultura de células estaminais humanas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Reading strategies - from L1 to L2.

This paper intends to present a selection of the most useful reading strategies for the typical ESP students in Brazilian universities, showing whether the readers use them in their native language or not, the way the teacher should develop these strategies in the classroom, the problems involved in their use and the reasons for using them.

Cell adhesion and growth on surfaces modified by plasma and ion implantation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comparison of Physicochemical Surface Conditioning Methods for Adhesion of bis-GMA Resin Cement to Particulate Filler Composite and Surface Characterization

This study compared the effect of physicochemical surface conditioning methods on the adhesion of bis-GMA-based resin cement to particulate filler composite (PFC) used for indirect dental restorations. PFC blocks (N (block)=54, n (block)=9 per group) were polymerized and randomly subjected to one of the following surface conditioning methods: a) No conditioning (Control-C), b) Hydrofluoric acid (HF)etching for 60s (AE60), c) HF for 90s (AE90), d) HF for 120s (AE120), e) HF for 180s (AE180), and f) air-abrasion with 30 mu m silica-coated alumina particles (AB). The conditioned surfaces were silanized with an MPS silane, and an adhesive resin was applied. Resin composite blocks were bonded to PFC using resin cement and photo-polymerized. PFC-cement-resin composite blocks were cut under coolant water to obtain bar specimens (1mmx0.8mm). Microtensile bond strength test (mu TBS)was performed in a universal testing machine (1mm/min). After debonding, failure modes were classified using stereomicroscopy. Surface characterization was performed on a set of separate specimen surfaces using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Dispersive Spectroscopy (XDS), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier Transform-Raman Spectroscopy (FT-RS). Mean mu TBS (MPa) of C (35.6 +/- 4.9) was significantly lower than those of other groups (40.2 +/- 5.6-47.4 +/- 6.1) (p<0.05). The highest mu TBS was obtained in Group AB (47.4 +/- 6.1). Prolonged duration of HF etching increased the results (AE180: 41.9 +/- 7), but was not significantly different than that of AB (p>0.05). Failure types were predominantly cohesive in PFC (34 out of 54) followed by cohesive failure in the cement (16 out of 54). Degree of conversion (DC) of the PFC was 63 +/- 10%. SEM analysis showed increased irregularities on PFC surfaces with the increased etching time. Chemical surface analyses with XPS and FT-RS indicated 11-70% silane on the PFC surfaces that contributed to improved bond strength compared to Group C that presented 5% silane, which seemed to be a threshold. Group AB displayed 83% SiO2 and 17% silane on the surfaces.

Osteoblast Adhesion Dynamics: A Possible Role for ROS and LMW-PTP

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)