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Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were produced by chemical vapor deposition using yttria-stabilized zirconia/nickel (YSZ/Ni) catalysts. The catalysts were obtained by a liquid mixture technique that resulted in fine dispersed nanoparticles of NiO supported in the YSZ matrix. High quality MWNT having smooth walls, few defects, and low amounts of by-products such as amorphous carbon were obtained, even from catalysts with large Ni concentrations (>50 wt. %). By adjusting the experimental parameters, such as flux of the carbon precursor (ethylene) and Ni concentration, both the MWNT morphology and the process yield could be controlled. The resulting YSZ/Ni/MWNT composites can be interesting due to their mixed ionic-electronic transport properties, which could be useful in electrochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fernanda MP Tonelli,1 Anderson K Santos,1 Katia N Gomes,2 Eudes Lorençon,2 Silvia Guatimosim,3 Luiz O Ladeira,2 Rodrigo R Resende11Cell Signaling and Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; 2Nanomaterials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; 3Intracellular Cardiomiocyte Signaling Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilAbstract: In recent years, significant progress has been made in organ transplantation, surgical reconstruction, and the use of artificial prostheses to treat the loss or failure of an organ or bone tissue. In recent years, considerable attention has been given to carbon nanotubes and collagen composite materials and their applications in the field of tissue engineering due to their minimal foreign-body reactions, an intrinsic antibacterial nature, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and the ability to be molded into various geometries and forms such as porous structures, suitable for cell ingrowth, proliferation, and differentiation. Recently, grafted collagen and some other natural and synthetic polymers with carbon nanotubes have been incorporated to increase the mechanical strength of these composites. Carbon nanotube composites are thus emerging as potential materials for artificial bone and bone regeneration in tissue engineering.Keywords: carbon nanotubes, tissue engineering, extracellular matrix proteins, collagen, hyaluronic acid, stem cells

The transient optical response of gold nanorods is investigated beyond the perturbative regime. Ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy and semiclassical modeling of hot electrons reveal a universal mechanism presiding over the saturation of nonlinear plasmonic effects.

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A associação de agentes venosos à anestesia geral inalatória proporciona melhor qualidade de analgesia e hipnose. A dexmedetomidina é um agonista específico alfa2-adrenérgico com estas características e reconhecida por proporcionar estabilidade hemodinâmica. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito da infusão contínua de dexmedetomidina na fração expirada de sevoflurano (FEsevo) em anestesia geral, monitorizada pela análise bispectral do EEG (BIS). MÉTODO: Estudou-se, de modo prospectivo, 24 pacientes adultos, de ambos os sexos, estado físico ASA I e II, submetidos à cirurgias eletivas sob anestesia geral, monitorizados com ECG, PANI, SpO2, P ET CO2, FEsevo e BIS. Procedeu-se a indução venosa com alfentanil (30 µg.kg-1), tiopental (5 mg.kg-1) e vecurônio (0,1 mg.kg-1) e intubação traqueal. Iniciaram-se a administração de sevoflurano (manutenção do BIS entre 40 e 60), a ventilação controlada com volume corrente de 10 ml.kg-1 e a manutenção da P ET CO2 entre 35 e 45 mmHg. Na fase de manutenção da anestesia, após 60 minutos da indução anestésica (M60), foi iniciada a infusão contínua de dexmedetomidina em 2 fases: infusão inicial (1 µg.kg-1) em 20 minutos; e, infusão de manutenção (0,5 µg.kg-1.h-1). A concentração de sevoflurano foi ajustada para manter o valor de BIS entre 40 e 60. As variáveis de PA, FC, FEsevo, SpO2, P ET CO2 e BIS foram avaliadas nos momentos pré-indução (M-15), M15, M45, M75, M105 e M120. RESULTADOS: A associação da dexmedetomidina à anestesia geral com sevoflurano proporcionou redução significativa (p < 0,05) da FEsevo de M45 (1,604 ± 0,485) a M105 (1,073 ± 0,457) e de M45 (1,604 ± 0,485) a M120 (1,159 ± 0,475). As variáveis hemodinâmicas analisadas apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes com p < 0,05, mas sem repercussões clínicas. CONCLUSÕES: A associação de dexmedetomidina em infusão contínua (0,5 µg.kg-1.h-1) à anestesia geral inalatória com sevoflurano, proporcionou redução da fração expiratória de sevoflurano, com estabilidade hemodinâmica.

Chemical safety assessment still heavily relies on animal testing, presenting ethical dilemmas and limited human predictive value. New approach methodologies (NAMs), including in vitro and in silico techniques, offer alternative solutions. In silico toxicology has made progress in predicting chemical effects but frequently lacks biological mechanistic foundations. Recent developments focus on mechanistic understanding of adverse effects inflicted by chemicals, as embedded in (quantitative) adverse outcome pathways (AOPs). However, there is a demand for more detailed mechanistic insights at the gene and cell levels, encompassing both pathology and physiology. Drawing inspiration from the Disease Maps Project, this paper introduces Physiological Maps (PMs) as comprehensive graphical representations of biochemical processes related to specific organ functions. PMs are standardized using Systems Biology Graphical Notation and controlled vocabularies and annotations. Curation guidelines have been developed to ensure reproducibility and usability. This paper presents the methodology used to build PMs, emphasizing the essential collaboration between domain experts and curators. PMs offer user-friendly, standardized visualization for data analysis and educational purposes. Enabling a better understanding of (patho)physiology, they also complement and support the development of AOPs by providing detailed mechanistic information at the gene and cell level. Furthermore, PMs contribute to developing in vitro test batteries and to building (dynamic) in silico models aiming to predict the toxicity of chemicals. Collaborative efforts between the toxicology and systems biology communities are crucial for creating standardized and comprehensive PMs, supporting and accelerating the development of human-relevant NAMs for next-generation risk assessment.