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Elastic liposomes are capable to improve drug transport through the skin by acting as penetration enhancers due to the high fluidity and elasticity of the liposome membranes. Therefore, elastic liposomes were prepared and characterized to facilitate the transdermal transport of bioactive molecules. Liposomes consisted of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) as the structural component, with different surfactants derived from lauric acid as elastic components: C12E5 (polyoxyethylene-5-lauryl ether), PEG4L (polyethyleneglycol-4-lauryl ester), PEG4DL (polyethylene glycol-4-dilauryl ester), PEG8L (polyethylene glycol-8-lauryl ester) and PEG8DL (polyethylene glycol-8-dilauryl ester). The elastic liposomes were characterized in terms of their phospholipid content, mean diameter, size distribution, elasticity and stability during storage, as well as their ability to incorporate surfactant and permeate through 50 nm pore size membranes. The results showed that the phospholipid phase transition temperature, the fluidity of the lipid bilayer resulting from incorporation of the surfactant and the preservation of particle integrity were factors determining the performance of the elastic liposomes in permeating through nanoporous membranes. The best results were obtained using DMPC combined with the surfactants PEG8L or PEG8DL. The findings demonstrate the potential of using elastic liposomes for transdermal administration of drugs.

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This study aimed to investigate the predictability of a phenotype when using a dynamic model of cattle growth. Genotypic and phenotypic information on Nellore (Bos indicus) cattle were used in a genome-wide association analysis designed to contrast the biological interpretation of core parameters [conversion efficiency of metabolizable energy to net energy for gain (kg) and adjusted final shrunk body weight (AFSBW)] to their associated genomic regions and nearby quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to develop prediction equations for kg and AFSBW, which enter the model for simulative prediction purposes. QTLs and genes, one related to mature body weight and another to growth efficiency, are consistent with the model equations. Significantly associated SNPs were used to compute parameters, which yielded reasonable model outcomes when compared with regular parameter computations. Our results provide evidence of the biological validity of using such parameters as component traits of higher phenotypes and the possibility of using genomic data for genotype-to-parameter mapping.

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Feed intake, feed efficiency, and weight gain are important economic traits of beef cattle in feedlots. In the present study, we investigated the physiological processes underlying such traits from the point of view of systems genetics. Firstly, using data from 1334 Nellore (Bos indicus) cattle and 943,577 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), a genome-wide association analysis was performed for dry matter intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and residual feed intake with a Bayesian Lasso procedure. Genes within 50-kb SNPs, most relevant for explaining the genomic variance, were annotated and the biological processes underlying the traits were inferred from Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. Our results indicated several putative genomic regions associated with the target phenotypes and showed that almost all genomic variances were in the SNPs located in the intergenic and intronic regions. We further identified five main metabolic pathways related to ion transport, body composition, and feed intake control, which influenced the four phenotypes simultaneously. The systems genetics approach used in this study revealed novel pathways related to feed efficiency traits in beef cattle.

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We evaluated the impact of cytoplasmic lineage effects (Lc) for growth traits on genetic evaluation, including the genetic covariance between direct and maternal effects (σam). Pedigree data from 496,190 Nellore animals and observations on birth weight (BW, N = 243,391), weaning weight (WW, N = 431,681), and post-weaning weight gain adjusted to 345 days (PWG, N = 172,131) were analyzed. Four univariate models were used to obtain estimates of (co)variance components using the restricted maximum likelihood method in the BLUPF90 program. Model 1 included Lc and σam. Model 2 included Lc and σam was set to zero. Model 3 did not include Lc. Model 4 did not include Lc and σam was set to zero. These models considered the effects of the Lc as random. Phenotypic variance obtained through cytoplasmic lineage effects was determined for all traits, ranging from 0.07 to 0.15, 0.15 to 0.03, and 0.05 to 0.03% for BW, WW, and PWG, respectively, for models 1 and 2. Correlations between direct and maternal genetic components were positive for WW and negative for BW and PWG. No differences were observed for genetic parameter estimates or animal ranking with the inclusion of σam. For BW, the likelihood ratio suggested that model 1 best fits the data, while model 4 was the most appropriate for WW and PWG. Thus, these models are recommended for genetic evaluations. Despite the low magnitude of cytoplasmic lineages, this effect could predict breeding value and improve the selection of animals for BW in this Nellore population.

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Humic acids (HAs) are macromolecules of undefined compositions that vary with origin, the process by which they are obtained and functional groups present in their structure, such as quinones, phenols, and carboxylic acids. In addition to agriculture, there is an increased interest in HAs due to their important pharmacological effects. However, HAs are not readily soluble in water at physiological pH, which may limit their bioavailability. Although primary aggregation forms non-uniform pseudo-micelles, the presence of ionisable groups in the HA molecule makes pH an environmental stimulus for controlled aggregation and precipitation. The aim of this work was to induce HA deprotonation and protonation, without compromising their colloidal dispersion, by means of pH changes as a strategy to produce nanoparticles. Deprotonation and protonation were achieved by treating HAs with sodium hydroxide and acetic acid, respectively, at various concentrations. Non pH-treated HAs at the same concentrations were used as control. The evolution of the treatments was monitored by pH changes in bulk solutions as a function of time. At equilibrium, the conformation of the colloidal structures was characterised by the predominant mean diameter, polydispersity index and absorbance of the solutions. The zeta potential was also measured in protonation assays. Moreover, the fungicidal activity of the nanoparticles was evaluated on the mycelial growth of three fungal genera. The results showed the pH decrease or increment as a function of the balance between hydroxyl and carboxyl groups and of the diffusion rate inside the structures. Deprotonation followed by protonation produced nanosized (100-200nm), electrostatically stable (-30mV) and pH-responsive particles with a polydispersity index <0.5. The protonated nanoparticles significantly inhibited (P≤0.05) the mycelial growth of Candida albicans in vitro, when compared with control, and the fungicidal activity was dose-dependent. No activity was observed for the deprotonated HAs nanoparticles. These results show that deprotonation followed by protonation is an easy and useful strategy for the controlled production of HA nanoparticles, which exhibit a tendency to elicit fungicidal effects, with potential to develop new classes of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

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Weight gain is a key performance trait for beef cat-tle; however, attention should be given to the production costs for better profitability. Therefore, a feed efficiency trait based on per-formance can be an interesting approach to improve performance without increasing food costs. To identify candidate genes and ge-nomic regions associated with residual body weight gain (RWG), we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 720 Nellore cattle using the GRAMMAR-Gamma association test. We identified 30 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), especially on chromosomes 2, 8, 12, and 17. Several genes and quantitative train loci (QTLs) present in the regions identified were appointed; we highlight DMRT2 (doublesex and mab-3 related tran-scription factor 2), IFFO2 (intermediate filament family orphan 2), LNX2 (ligand of numb-protein X 2), MTIF3 (mitochondrial transla-tional initiation factor 3), and TRNAG-CCC (transfer RNA glycine anticodon CCC). The metabolic pathways that can explain part of the phenotypic variation in RWG are related to oxidative stress and muscle control.

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The aim of this study was to identify candidate genes and genomic regions associated with ultrasound-derived measurements of the rib-eye area (REA), backfat thickness (BFT) and rumpfat thickness (RFT) in Nellore cattle. Data from 640 Nellore steers and young bulls with genotypes for 290 863 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used for genomewide association mapping. Significant SNP associations were explored to find possible candidate genes related to physiological processes. Several of the significant markers detected were mapped onto functional candidate genes including ARFGAP3, CLSTN2 and DPYD for REA; OSBPL3 and SUDS3 for BFT; and RARRES1 and VEPH1 for RFT. The physiological pathway related to lipid metabolism (CLSTN2, OSBPL3, RARRES1 and VEPH1) was identified. The significant markers within previously reported QTLs reinforce the importance of the genomic regions, and the other loci offer candidate genes that have not been related to carcass traits in previous investigations.

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The aim of this work was to study oxygen transfer as a function of the initial moisture content in solid-state cultivation under controlled moisture conditions. The use of controlled moisture conditions prevents drastic changes in the medium during cultivation, allowing the use of a pseudo-steady-state model to estimate the overall oxygen mass transfer coefficient (K L a) in the biofilm around the solid particles. Drechslera (Helminthosporium) monoceras, an aerobic mold that produces allergenic proteins, was cultured on wheat bran in a packed bed column bioreactor. The bed height (30 mm) and air flow rate (0.4 L/min) were selected to implement moisture control. The results show that there is an optimal moisture content (35 %) at which a lower biofilm thickness and packing of the bed improves K L a. However, a higher biomass growth was obtained at 45 % moisture. The different patterns of biomass growth demonstrate the importance of the balance between aerial and film growth in solid-state cultivation. These results contribute to the understanding of oxygen transfer in solid fermentation, optimization of processes, and production of allergen extracts from D. (Helminthosporium) monoceras biomass.

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The genome-wide association study (GWAS) results are presented for average daily gain (ADG) in Nellore cattle. Phenotype of 720 male Bos indicus animals with information of ADG in feedlots and 354,147 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained from a database added by information from Illumina Bovine HD (777,962 SNPs) and Illumina BovineSNP50 (54,609) by imputation were used. After quality control and imputation, 290,620 SNPs remained in the association analysis, using R package Genome-wide Rapid Association using Mixed Model and Regression method GRAMMAR-Gamma. A genomic region with six significant SNPs, at Bonferroni-corrected significance, was found on chromosome 3. The most significant SNP (rs42518459, BTA3: 85849977, p = 9.49 × 10(-8)) explained 5.62% of the phenotypic variance and had the allele substitution effect of -0.269 kg/day. Important genes such as PDE4B, LEPR, CYP2J2 and FGGY are located near this region, which is overlapped by 12 quantitative trait locus (QTLs) described for several production traits. Other regions with markers with suggestive effects were identified in BTA6 and BTA10. This study showed regions with major effects on ADG in Bos indicus in feedlots. This information may be useful to increase the efficiency of selecting this trait and to understand the physiological processes involved in its regulation.

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Empty fruit bunch (EFB), an underutilized waste product of oil palm processing, was studied as a substrate for the production of humic acids (HA) by a Trichoderma reesei strain by solid-state fermentation (SSF) in Raimbault columns. HA have attracted the attention of many investigators due to their applications in agriculture, industry, the environment, and biomedicine. Commercial HA are currently chemically extracted from peat and coal, which are nonrenewable carbon sources. Biotechnological processes are important for their sustainable and controlled production, with SSF being especially promising for mimicking the natural habitat of fungi. Trichoderma sporulation and HA production are related, and the results of this study showed that SSF stimulated fast sporulation. The productivity related to HA was much higher than that of the biomass, indicating an efficient utilization of EFB. These findings, added to the low cost of EFB, make SSF an attractive process for HA production.

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We looked for possible associations of SNPs in genes related to protein turnover, with growth, feed efficiency and carcass traits in feedlot Nellore cattle. Purebred Nellore bulls and steers (N = 290; 378 ± 42 kg body weight, 23 months ± 42 days old) were evaluated for daily feed intake, body weight gain (BWG), gross feed efficiency, feed conversion ratio, partial efficiency of growth, residual feed intake (RFI), ultrasound backfat, rump fat, and ribeye area. Genotypes were obtained for SNPs in the growth hormone receptor (GHR-1 and GHR-2); calpain (CAPN4751); calpastatin (UoGCAST); ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 2I (UBE2I-1 and UBE2I-2); R3H domain containing 1 (R3HDM1-1, -2, -3, and -4), ring finger protein 19 (RNF19); proteasome 26S subunit, non-ATPase, 13 (PSMD13); ribosomal protein, large, P2 (RPLP2); and isoleucine-tRNA synthetase 2, mitochondrial (IARS2) genes. Allelic substitution, additive and dominant effects were tested and molecular breeding values were computed. CAPN4751, GHR-1 and -2, IARS2, R3HDM1-4, and UoGCAST were found to be normally segregating polymorphisms. Additive and dominance effects were observed on BWG, feed efficiency and carcass traits, although dominant effects predominated. Significant allelic substitution effects were observed for CAPN4751, GHR-1 and -2, and UoGCAST on BWG, gross feed efficiency, RFI, and carcass traits, under single- or multiple-marker analyses. Correlations between molecular breeding values and phenotypes were low, excepted for RFI, based on allelic substitution estimates obtained by stepwise linear regression. We conclude that SNPs in genes related to protein turnover are related to economically important traits in Nellore cattle.

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The novelty of this study was to produce humic acids by submerged fermentation of empty fruit bunch (EFB) with Trichoderma viride and to investigate the effects of the cellulosic substrates and the organic sources of nitrogen on the biotechnological production of these acids. The results obtained indicate the potential application of EFB, a waste of oil palm processing, for humic acids production. Because EFB contains cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, fermentations were also performed using these polymers as carbon sources, separately or in combination. After 120 h of fermentation, significant production of humic acids was observed only in cultures containing either EFB or a mixture of the three polymers. Use of either potato peptone or yeast extract as a nitrogen source yielded nearly identical patterns of fungal growth and production of humic acids. The data obtained from microscopic imaging of T. viride growth and sporulation in EFB, coupled with the determined rates of production of humic acids indicated that the production of these acids is related to T. viride sporulation.

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Avaliou-se o consumo alimentar residual (CAR) e a conversão alimentar (CA) de 20 cordeiros, com o objetivo de estimar as correlações entre essas variáveis com medidas de desempenho e com características in vivo da carcaça. Os animais tiveram o consumo de MS (CMS) mensurado por 65 dias e foram pesados a cada 13 dias para obtenção do ganho médio diário (GMD). Foram considerados o peso vivo inicial (PVI), o peso vivo final (PVF), o peso metabólico (PM), o GMD, a taxa de crescimento relativo (TCR), a taxa de Kleiber (TK), a CA, o CMS e o CMS em percentual do PV (CMSPV). As avaliações de carcaça foram realizadas por ultrassom. O CAR se mostrou correlacionado com o CMS (+0,81), o CMSPV (+0,90) e a CA (+0,63). Correlações significativas foram encontradas entre CA e GMD; CA e TCR; CA e TK; e CA e PVI (-0,63, -0,74, -0,75 e +0,51, respectivamente). O CAR e a CA não se mostraram correlacionados com características de carcaça, e, da mesma forma, não houve diferença entre as classes de CAR para essas variáveis. Confirmou-se o potencial do CAR como medida de eficiência alimentar para cordeiros em confinamento, sem existência de relações com o ganho de peso e o tamanho corporal e sem alterações na composição da carcaça.

The residual feed intake (RFI) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 20 lambs was evaluated in order to estimate the correlations between these traits and performance measures and with in vivo carcass characteristics. The animals had their dry matter intake (DMI) measured over 65 days and they were weighed every 13 days to determine the average daily weight gain (ADG). Initial body weight (IBW), final body weight (FBW), metabolic weight (MW), ADG, relative growth rate (RGR), Kleiber ratio (KR), FCR, DMI and DMI in BW percentual (BWDMI) were considered. The carcass evaluation was performed by ultrasound. The RFI was correlated with the DMI (+0.81), BWDMI (+0.90) and with FCR (+0.63). Significant correlations were found between FCR and ADG; FCR and RGR; and FCR and KR; and FCR and IBW (-0.63, -0.74, -0.75 and +0.51 respectively). The RFI and the FCR were not correlated with carcass traits and similarly there was no difference between the RFI-classes for these variables. It was proved the RFI has potential as a measure of feed efficiency for housed lambs, without the existence of relations with weight gain and body size of animals and without changes in carcass composition.

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Basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas are non-melanoma skin cancers reported to be among the most common malignancies, being responsible for high human morbidity. Conventional chemotherapy applied to these conditions shows non-specific targeting, thus severe adverse side effects are also commonly reported. New therapeutic strategies based on nanoparticulates technology have emerged as alternatives for site specific chemotherapy. Among the different types of nanoparticulates, lipid nanoemulsions and nanoparticles have several advantages for topical delivery of poorly soluble chemotherapeutics. These particles show sustained drug release and protection of loaded drugs from chemical degradation. This technology is promising to enhance the intracellular concentration of drugs and consequently reduce the cytotoxicity of skin chemotherapy.

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Avaliou-se o consumo alimentar residual (CAR) e a conversão alimentar (CA) de 20 cordeiros, com o objetivo de estimar as correlações entre essas variáveis com medidas de desempenho e com características in vivo da carcaça. Os animais tiveram o consumo de MS (CMS) mensurado por 65 dias e foram pesados a cada 13 dias para obtenção do ganho médio diário (GMD). Foram considerados o peso vivo inicial (PVI), o peso vivo final (PVF), o peso metabólico (PM), o GMD, a taxa de crescimento relativo (TCR), a taxa de Kleiber (TK), a CA, o CMS e o CMS em percentual do PV (CMSPV). As avaliações de carcaça foram realizadas por ultrassom. O CAR se mostrou correlacionado com o CMS (+0,81), o CMSPV (+0,90) e a CA (+0,63). Correlações significativas foram encontradas entre CA e GMD; CA e TCR; CA e TK; e CA e PVI (-0,63, -0,74, -0,75 e +0,51, respectivamente). O CAR e a CA não se mostraram correlacionados com características de carcaça, e, da mesma forma, não houve diferença entre as classes de CAR para essas variáveis. Confirmou-se o potencial do CAR como medida de eficiência alimentar para cordeiros em confinamento, sem existência de relações com o ganho de peso e o tamanho corporal e sem alterações na composição da carcaça.(AU)

The residual feed intake (RFI) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 20 lambs was evaluated in order to estimate the correlations between these traits and performance measures and with in vivo carcass characteristics. The animals had their dry matter intake (DMI) measured over 65 days and they were weighed every 13 days to determine the average daily weight gain (ADG). Initial body weight (IBW), final body weight (FBW), metabolic weight (MW), ADG, relative growth rate (RGR), Kleiber ratio (KR), FCR, DMI and DMI in BW percentual (BWDMI) were considered. The carcass evaluation was performed by ultrasound. The RFI was correlated with the DMI (+0.81), BWDMI (+0.90) and with FCR (+0.63). Significant correlations were found between FCR and ADG; FCR and RGR; and FCR and KR; and FCR and IBW (-0.63, -0.74, -0.75 and +0.51 respectively). The RFI and the FCR were not correlated with carcass traits and similarly there was no difference between the RFI-classes for these variables. It was proved the RFI has potential as a measure of feed efficiency for housed lambs, without the existence of relations with weight gain and body size of animals and without changes in carcass composition.(AU)

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Oatmeal, an alternative, renewable, and low-cost substrate, was used for the production of Trichoderma viride spores by submerged fermentation. The nonconventional oat medium was only supplemented with potato peptone, which is a green source of nitrogen for the microorganism. Because particles are suspended in the nonconventional oat medium, the characterization was based on viscosity, average particle diameter, size distribution, and porosity of the particles. Because of the complexity of the fungal biomass extraction, the dry weight and protein content were used as methods for quantifying the growth of T. viride. The inversion between the proportion of mycelia and spores was captured in the microscopic image analysis during the fermentation process. After 60 h, spores began to appear, accounting for most of the form present at 120 h of fermentation. The decrease in pH and the increase in glucose concentration during fermentation indicate that glucan hydrolysis occurs and that glucose is released into the medium. The potential for industrial applications of submerged fermentation with oats for biomass production of T. viride is noted in the results. This simple and easily controllable process has several advantages, including the use of low-cost substrates for the propagation of a microorganism that is widely used in scientific and commercial settings.

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Affinity diacetylene liposomes were prepared with 10,12-tricosadiynoic acid and cardiolipin as the affinity ligand for anticardiolipin antibodies at a molar ratio of 80:20. Polymerization was carried out under UV irradiation, and the color transitions were monitored by visible absorption spectroscopy. Peaks at 635 nm (blue form), 540 nm (purple form), and 480 nm (red form) were observed as a function of time. These polymerized liposomes were used in a noncompetitive immunoassay for detection of anticardiolipin antibodies. Color changes were observed when reference serum containing specific immunoglobulin G, IgG, was added to polymerized liposome dispersions. The colorimetric signal due to IgG adsorption on the liposome surface was quantified as a colorimetric response defined as the change in percentage of blue color related to the initial percentage of blue color in the solutions. The colorimetric response was 10 times higher for specific IgG compared with nonspecific ones. These results suggest the unique potentialities of affinity diacetylene polymerized liposomes in the development of biosensors for diagnosis of autoimmune diseases.

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