Search

FucoPol, a fucose-rich polyanionic polysaccharide, was used for the first time for the preparation of hydrogel membranes (HMs) using Fe3+ as a crosslinking agent. This study evaluated the impact of Fe3+ and FucoPol concentrations on the HMs’ strength. The results show that, above 1.5 g/L, Fe3+ concentration had a limited influence on the HMs’ strength, and varying the FucoPol concentration had a more significant effect. Three different FucoPol concentrations (1.0, 1.75 and 2.5 wt.%) were combined with Fe3+ (1.5 g/L), resulting in HMs with a water content above 97 wt.% and an Fe3+ content up to 0.16 wt.%. HMs with lower FucoPol content exhibited a denser porous microstructure as the polymer concentration increased. Moreover, the low polymer content HM presented the highest swelling ratio (22.3 ± 1.8 g/g) and a lower hardness value (32.4 ± 5.8 kPa). However, improved mechanical properties (221.9 ± 10.2 kPa) along with a decrease in the swelling ratio (11.9 ± 1.6 g/g) were obtained for HMs with a higher polymer content. Furthermore, all HMs were non-cytotoxic and revealed anti-inflammatory activity. The incorporation of FucoPol as a structuring agent and bioactive ingredient in the development of HMs opens up new possibilities for its use in tissue engineering, drug delivery and wound care management.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIT), sprint interval training (SIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), weight (kg), body fat mass (%), plasma glucose (fasting) and lipid levels in reproductive-age women. Method: The search was conducted in Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Virtual Health Library and Scielo. The meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager software for random-effects models. The results were presented as standardized mean differences and 95%CI, which were calculated to determine the effect size of HIT/SIT and MICT interventions. Results: Eleven articles meet the inclusion criteria. The analyses demonstrated that all exercise modes improved body composition and metabolic profile, but nevertheless, MICT was significantly better at improving CRF (mL·min−1·kg−1) compared with HIT (2.45 mL·min−1·kg−1 (95% CI: 1.15 to 3.75 mL·min−1·kg−1); p < 0.05; I2 = 0%) and with SIT (0.98 mL·min−1·kg−1 (95% CI: −0.98 to 2.93 mL·min−1·kg−1); p = 0.33; I2 = 53%). Conclusion: Both HIT and SIT have the potential to be used as a training modality in reproductive-age women, with similar effects to MICT on body composition/metabolic markers but inferior effects on CRF, suggesting that HIT/SIT may be considered a “time-efficient component″ of weight management programs. However, the variability in the secondary outcome measures, coupled with the small sample sizes in studies, limits this finding.

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) regulates cognitive flexibility and emotional behavior. Neurons that release serotonin project to the mPFC, and serotonergic drugs influence emotion and cognition. Yet, the specific roles of endogenous serotonin release in the mPFC on neurophysiology and behavior are unknown. We show that axonal serotonin release in the mPFC directly inhibits the major mPFC output neurons. In serotonergic neurons projecting from the dorsal raphe to the mPFC, we find endogenous activity signatures pre-reward retrieval and at reward retrieval during a cognitive flexibility task.In vivooptogenetic activation of this pathway during pre-reward retrieval selectively improved extradimensional rule shift performance while inhibition impaired it, demonstrating sufficiency and necessity for mPFC serotonin release in cognitive flexibility. Locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior were not affected by either optogenetic manipulation. Collectively, our data reveal a powerful and specific modulatory role of endogenous serotonin release from dorsal raphe-to-mPFC projecting neurons in cognitive flexibility.

AimsTo evaluate clinical and electrocardiographic outcomes of patients with COVID-19, comparing those using chloroquine compounds (chloroquine) to individuals without specific treatment.MethodsOutpatients with suspected COVID-19 in Brazil who had at least one tele-electrocardiography (ECG) recorded in a telehealth system were enrolled in two arms (Group 1: chloroquine and Group 2: without specific treatment) and one registry (Group 3: other treatments). Outcomes were assessed through follow-up calls (phone contact, days 3 and 14) and linkage to national mortality and hospitalization databases. The primary outcome was composed of: hospitalization, intensive care admission, mechanical ventilation, and all-cause death, and the ECG outcome was the occurrence of major abnormalities by the Minnesota code. Significant variables in univariable logistic regression were included in 4 models: 1-unadjusted; 2-adjusted for age and sex; 3-model 2 + cardiovascular risk factors and 4-model 3 + COVID-19 symptoms.ResultsIn 303 days, 712 (10.2%) patients were allocated in group 1, 3,623 (52.1%) in group 2 and 2,622 (37.7%) in group 3; 1,969 had successful phone follow-up (G1: 260, G2: 871, and G3: 838). A late follow-up ECG was obtained for 917 (27.2%) patients [group 1: 81 (11.4%), group 2: 512 (14.1%), group 3: 334 (12.7%)]. In adjusted models, chloroquine was independently associated with greater chance of the composite clinical outcome: phone contact (model 4): OR = 3.24 (95% CI 2.31–4.54), p < 0.001. Chloroquine was also independently associated with higher mortality, assessed by phone + administrative data (model 3): OR = 1.67 (95% CI 1.20–2.28). However, chloroquine did not associate with the occurrence of major ECG abnormalities [model 3; OR = 0.80 (95% CI 0.63–1.02, p = 0.07)]. Abstracts with partial results of this work was accepted in the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, November 2022, in Chicago, IL, USA.ConclusionChloroquine was associated with a higher risk of poor outcomes in patients suspected to have COVID-19 when compared to those who received standard care. Follow-up ECGs were obtained in only 13.2% of patients and did not show any significant differences in major abnormalities amongst the three groups. In the absence of early ECG changes, other side effects, late arrhythmias or deferral of care may be hypothesized to explain the worse outcomes.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multidimensional psychiatric disorder that is estimated to affect around 350 million people worldwide. Generating valid and effective animal models of depression is critical and has been challenging for neuroscience researchers. For preclinical studies, models based on stress exposure, such as unpredictable chronic mild stress (uCMS), are amongst the most reliable and used, despite presenting concerns related to the standardization of protocols and time consumption for operators. To overcome these issues, we developed an automated system to expose rodents to a standard uCMS protocol. Here, we compared manual (uCMS) and automated (auCMS) stress-exposure protocols. The data shows that the impact of the uCMS exposure by both methods was similar in terms of behavioral (cognition, mood, and anxiety) and physiological (cell proliferation and endocrine variations) measurements. Given the advantages of time and standardization, this automated method represents a step forward in this field of preclinical research., This research was funded by Bn’ML—Behavioral and Molecular Lab and by the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN). L.P. and F.V. were funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (2020.02855.CEECIND to L.P.; SFRH/BD/131545/2017 to F.V.). This work was funded by the Nature Research Award for Driving Global Impact—2019 Brain Sciences (to L.P.). J.F.O. received funding from FCT (projects PTDC/MED-NEU/31417/2017) and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016818; grants from Bial Foundation (037/18) and ”la Caixa” Foundation (LCF/PR/HR21/52410024) to J.F.O. A.J.R. was funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement No 101003187), by “la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434), under the agreement LCF/PR/HR20/52400020, by FCT under the scope of the project PTDC/MED-NEU/4804/2020 (ENDOPIO). This work was also co-funded by the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS); funded by ICVS Scientific Microscopy Platform, member of the national infrastructure PPBI—Portuguese Platform of Bioimaging (PPBI-POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022122); and funded by National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)—project UIDB/50026/2020 and UIDP/50026/2020.

RationalePatients with constitutive activation of DNA sensing pathway through stimulator of interferon genes (STING), such as those with STING-Associated Vasculopathy with onset in Infancy (SAVI), frequently have complications related to pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, the role of STING-signaling in adult PH patients is heretofore undescribed.ObjectiveTo investigate the role of STING in PH development.Methods and ResultsPH was induced in global STING deficient or cell-specific STING deficient mice using either bleomycin or chronic hypoxia exposure. PH development was evaluated with right ventricular systolic pressure, Fulton index, histological and flow cytometric measurements. STING expression in patient lungs were examined using both immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Herein, we describe how STING overactivation in a SAVI mouse model results in a baseline elevation in pulmonary pressures, while global STING deficiency protects mice from PH development. Furthermore, STING-associated PH appears to be independent of type I Interferon (IFN) signaling. We further demonstrate a cellular dichotomous role of STING in PH development with STING expression by smooth muscle cells contributing to PH, and its activation on myeloid cells being pivotal in severe disease prevention. Finally, we demonstrate a STING-PD-L1 axis as necessary for disease progression, suggesting future potential therapeutic applications.ConclusionsOverall, these data provide concrete evidence of STING involvement in PH, establishing biologic plausibility for STING-related therapies in PH treatment.Graphical abstract

This work assessed the film-forming capacity of exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by six Alteromonas strains recently isolated from different marine environments in French Polynesia atolls. The films were transparent and resulted in small colour alterations when applied over a coloured surface (ΔEab below 12.6 in the five different colours tested). Moreover, scanning electron microscopy showed that the EPS films were dense and compact, with a smooth surface. High water vapour permeabilities were observed (2.7–6.1 × 10−11 mol m−1 s−1 Pa−1), which are characteristic of hydrophilic polysaccharide films. The films were also characterised in terms of barrier properties to oxygen and carbon dioxide. Interestingly, different behaviours in terms of their mechanical properties under tensile tests were observed: three of the EPS films were ductile with high elongation at break (ε) (35.6–47.0%), low tensile strength at break (Ꞇ) (4.55–11.7 MPa) and low Young’s modulus (εm) (10–93 MPa), whereas the other three were stiffer and more resistant with a higher Ꞇ (16.6–23.6 MPa), lower ε (2.80–5.58%), and higher εm (597–1100 MPa). These properties demonstrate the potential of Alteromonas sp. EPS films to be applied in different areas such as biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, or food packaging.

This work assessed the film-forming capacity of exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by six

Rheology modifiers are essential additives in numerous products in a variety of industries. Due to environmental awareness, consumer-oriented industries are interested in novel natural rheological agents that can replace synthetic chemicals. In this study, the chemical composition and rheological properties of a novel exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Alteromonas macleodii Mo 169 were investigated. It was mainly composed of uronic acids (50 mol%) and total carbohydrates were 17 % sulfated. The EPS viscosity increased with concentration, and a non-Newtonian shear thinning behavior was found for concentrations above 0.1 wt%. The elastic and viscous moduli indicated a weak gel-like structure above 0.4 wt%. It maintained its shear thinning behavior and viscoelastic properties in the presence of NaCl and CaCl

This study reports the performance of the polysaccharide FucoPol as an enhancer of cryoprotective formulations. FucoPol at a concentration of 0.25% (w/v) was added to several normothermic Dulbecco-derived solutions and hypothermic Euro- Collins, Custodiol-HTK, and Unisol-CV media, substituting some constituents in the latter class to develop FucoPol-based formulations that were tested for their ability to cryopreserve Vero cells. Supplementation yielded post-thaw cell recovery enhancements of at least 70% and averaged at 82%. The FucoPol-supplemented formulations Dulbecco(+)+FP and Unisol-CVS3 achieved cell viabilities capable of competing with the commercial cryogenic formula CryoStor CS5. Particularly in Unisol-CVS3, mannitol, glucose, gluconate, and dextran were all substituted by 0.25% FucoPol, and still, a similar viability was achieved. Multiparametric correlation clustering showed that FucoPol cryoprotection synergizes best with K+, Ca2+, and Cl− in its microenvironment. Component substitution analysis demonstrated that FucoPol acts consistently as a cryoprotectant, an impermeant, and a colloidal stabilizer, providing a combined alternative to glucose, mannitol, gluconate, and dextran, thus highlighting its potential in the development of high-performing cryoprotective formulas info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Teacher-provided opportunities to respond are a powerful strategy for improving behavior and academic outcomes of students with disabilities. However, online instruction makes opportunities to respond more challenging to implement. For the purposes of this article, online teaching refers to synchronous instruction taking place via video conferencing software (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Canvas Conferences, Blackboard Collaborate). This article presents strategies teachers can use to elicit individual responses from students through oral responses, response cards, and action responses.

Students with learning disabilities (LD) often face significant difficulties in reading. Research has found a variety of different evidence-based practices to support the reading development of students with LD in areas such as word work, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. However, these practices are most often intended for use in traditional settings and not necessarily virtual settings. This article translates traditionally in-person instruction for students with LD to an online synchronous format through a sample lesson plan sequence for students in third through fifth grades and provides resources for teachers to support their implementation of online instruction for upper elementary students with LD.

the Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS) grant LA/P/0059/2020. LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy - i4HB. National Institutes of Health R01-GM129325 and the Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s) The cellulosome is an elaborate multi-enzyme structure secreted by many anaerobic microorganisms for the efficient degradation of lignocellulosic substrates. It is composed of multiple catalytic and non-catalytic components that are assembled through high-affinity protein-protein interactions between the enzyme-borne dockerin (Doc) modules and the repeated cohesin (Coh) modules present in primary scaffoldins. In some cellulosomes, primary scaffoldins can interact with adaptor and cell-anchoring scaffoldins to create structures of increasing complexity. The cellulosomal system of the ruminal bacterium, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, is one of the most intricate described to date. An unprecedent number of different Doc specificities results in an elaborate architecture, assembled exclusively through single-binding-mode type-III Coh-Doc interactions. However, a set of type-III Docs exhibits certain features associated with the classic dual-binding mode Coh-Doc interaction. Here, the structure of the adaptor scaffoldin-borne ScaH Doc in complex with the Coh from anchoring scaffoldin ScaE is described. This complex, unlike previously described type-III interactions in R. flavefaciens, was found to interact in a dual-binding mode. The key residues determining Coh recognition were also identified. This information was used to perform structure-informed protein engineering to change the electrostatic profile of the binding surface and to improve the affinity between the two modules. The results show that the nature of the residues in the ligand-binding surface plays a major role in Coh recognition and that Coh-Doc affinity can be manipulated through rational design, a key feature for the creation of designer cellulosomes or other affinity-based technologies using tailored Coh-Doc interactions. publishersversion published

Objectives To investigate the association between selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with cervical insufficiency and its relationship with obstetric history. Methods Twenty-eight women with cervical insufficiency (case group) and 29 non-pregnant women (control group) were included. The SNPs sequenced included rs2586490 in collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1), rs1882435 in collagen type IV alpha 3 chain (COL4A3), rs2277698 in metallopeptidase inhibitor 2 (TIMP2), and rs1800468 in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1). Results We found a higher frequency of the normal allele in the control group (65.5%) and the homozygous mutated genotype in the case group (64.3%) for rs2586490 in COL1A1 (p=0.023). An unplanned finding in the cervical insufficiency group was a higher gestational age of delivery (median≥38 weeks) in the mutated allele than in the wild-type genotype (median of 28.2 weeks) for rs2857396, which is also in the COL1A1 gene (p=0.011). Conclusions The findings of the present study corroborate the hypothesis that cervical insufficiency has a genetic component and probably involves genes encoding proteins in the extracellular matrix, in addition to inflammatory processes.

Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca DSM 19603 was cultivated on apple pulp, a glucose- and fructose-rich waste generated during juice production, to produce medium-chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates. A cell dry mass of 8.74 ± 0.20 g/L, with a polymer content of 49.25 ± 4.08% were attained. The produced biopolymer was composed of 42.7 ± 0.1 mol% 3-hydroxydecanoate, 17.9 ± 1.0 mol% 3-hydroxyoctanoate, 14.5 ± 1.1 mol% 3-hydroxybutyrate, 11.1 ± 0.6 mol% 3-hydroxytetradecanoate, 10.1 ± 0.5 mol% 3-hydroxydodecanoate and 3.7 ± 0.2 mol% 3-hydroxyhexanoate. It presented low glass transition and melting temperatures (−40.9 ± 0.7 °C and 42.0 ± 0.1 °C, respectively), and a degradation temperature of 300.0 ± 0.1 °C, coupled to a low crystallinity index (12.7 ± 2.7%), a molecular weight (Mw) of 1.34 × 105 ± 0.18 × 105 Da and a polydispersity index of 2.70 ± 0.03. The biopolymer's films were dense and had a smooth surface, as demonstrated by Scanning Electron Microscopy. They presented a tension at break of 5.21 ± 1.09 MPa, together with an elongation of 400.5 ± 55.8% and an associated Young modulus of 4.86 ± 1.49 MPa, under tensile tests. These attractive filming properties of this biopolymer could potentially be valorised in several areas such as the fine chemicals industry, biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, or food packaging.

Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) are studied as potential phytoremediation agents of priority pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). However, elucidation of the biochemical mechanisms ...

In this paper, a Stable Generalized/eXtended Finite Element Method (SGFEM) is combined with mesh adaptivity for the robust and computationally efficient simulation of mixed-mode brittle fracture propagation. Both h-refinement around the fracture front and p-enrichment of the analysis domain are used to control discretization errors. A Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) model based on Griffith’s criterion is adopted. LEFM scaling relations are used at each fracture propagation step to back calculate SIFs that meet Griffith’s criterion. As a result, no iterations are necessary to find loading scaling parameters or fracture size that meets Griffith’s criterion. The method is validated against several experimental data sets for mode I and mode I+II fracture propagation problems. Very good agreement between SGFEM and experimental results is observed. These include fracture path, Crack Opening Displacement (COD), and load and fracture length versus COD curves. The computational efficiency of the method is also assessed.

Although many delivery systems have been proposed to improve drug permeation through the skin, all of them suffer from several limitations. This drives a continuous search for innovative systems that can provide safe and effective transdermal drug delivery solutions. In line with this, microneedle (MN) arrays, a hybrid combination of hypodermic injections and transdermal patches, have been proposed. MNs consist of microscale needles that can pierce the skin by a simple, minimally invasive, and painless route, enabling the transport of drugs and macromolecules into the human body. This study reports, for the first time, the use of a biobased, biodegradable, and biocompatible polymer, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate

This paper presents a methodology for the analysis of three-dimensional static fractures in fiber-reinforced materials. Fibers are discretely modeled using a modification of the embedded reinforcement method with bond Slip (mERS) that allows its combination with a generalized finite element method (GFEM) for three-dimensional fractures. Since the GFEM mesh does not need to fit fracture surfaces or fibers, the GFEM–mERS can handle fibers bridging across crack faces at arbitrary angles. The method is verified against three-dimensional FEM solutions using conformal discretizations for crack surfaces and fiber boundaries. The comparison of the method against experimental data and convergence studies of the h- and p-version of the method is also presented.

High fidelity multiphysics simulations are ubiquitous in science and engineering but still face many challenges to run efficiently in today's supercomputers. This work reports advanced technologies...

In recent years, due to global warming, we have witnessed an increase in the occurrence of extreme forest fire events, with corresponding rise in human fatalities and damage costs. In 2017, in Portugal alone, more than 100 people lost their lives due to forest fires. This tragedy also hit other regions such as California, Greece or Australia. These losses tend to increase, and human means are becoming scarce to fight such a threat. Novel solutions must be developed to protect people, goods and infrastructures against the fire. Over the years, multiple solutions have been conceived, using fire-resistant fabrics such as glass fibres. The fire shelter, which today is one vital part of the emergency protection equipment of firefighters, is one example of this. It uses a glass fibre fabric with an outside aluminium layer to reflect incident radiant heat. Similar solutions are employed in the protection of houses and vehicles. Despite being effective, even such products are known to degrade when exposed to extreme temperatures for extended periods of time. Furthermore, when the outside exposed layer increases its temperature above a certain level, the inside surface temperature may also surpass the required safety levels. This work focuses on the testing of active barriers for protection against forest fires, which combine said fire-resistant fiberglass fabrics with a water sprinkler system for the cooling of the fire exposed surface. Several lab experiments were made in order to assess the performance of the system as a function of the fabric type and characteristics, as well as the water-cooling method. Two fire barrier prototypes were tested in a full-scale field experiment. The experimental results are analysed, and, in the end, the best solution found and its use in systems for active wildfire protection is discussed.

Tomato pomace is rich in carotenoids (mainly lycopene), which are related to important bioactive properties. In general, carotenoids are known to react easily under environmental conditions, which may create a barrier in producing stable functional components for food. This work intended to evaluate the storage stability and in vitro release of lycopene from encapsulated tomato pomace extract, and its bioaccessibility when encapsulates were incorporated in yogurt. Microencapsulation assays were carried out with tomato pomace extract as the core material and arabic gum or inulin (10 and 20 wt%) as wall materials by spray drying (160 and 200 °C). The storage stability results indicate that lycopene degradation was highly influenced by the presence of oxygen and light, even when encapsulated. In vitro release studies revealed that 63% of encapsulated lycopene was released from the arabic gum particles in simulated gastric fluid, whereas for the inulin particles, the release was only around 13%. The feed composition with 20% inulin showed the best protective ability and the one that enabled releasing the bioactives preferentially in the intestine. The bioaccessibility of the microencapsulated lycopene added to yogurt increased during simulated gastrointestinal digestion as compared to the microencapsulated lycopene alone. We anticipate a high potential for the inulin microparticles containing lycopene to be used in functional food formulations.

International audience; The lipid composition of cellular membranes and the balance between the different lipid components can be impacted by aging, certain pathologies, specific diets and other factors. This is the case in a subgroup of individuals with psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, where cell membranes of patients have been shown to be deprived in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), not only in brain areas where the target receptors are expressed but also in peripheral tissues. This PUFA deprivation thus represents a biomarker of such disorders that might impact not only the interaction of antipsychotic medications with these membranes but also the activation and signaling of the targeted receptors embedded in the lipid membrane. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how PUFAs levels alterations modulate the different physical properties of membranes. In this paper, several biophysical approaches were combined (Laurdan fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, molecular modeling) to characterize membrane properties such as fluidity, elasticity and thickness in PUFA-enriched cell membranes and lipid model systems reflecting the PUFA imbalance observed in some diseases. The impact of both the number of unsaturations and their position along the chain on the above properties was investigated. Briefly, data revealed that PUFA presence in membranes increases membrane fluidity, elasticity and flexibility and decreases its thickness and order parameter. Both the level of unsaturation and their position affect these membrane properties.

O envelhecimento é um processo natural, marcado por mudanças biopsicossociais relacionadas à passagem do tempo. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a percepção de idosos sobre macronutrientes e alimentos saudáveis na área rural do município de Solânea-PB. A metodologia empregada foi quantitativa e qualitativa e os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada contendo questões a respeito do conhecimento sobre os macronutrientes e o conceito de alimento saudável. Com relação à idade, 55% tinham entre 60 e 69 anos. Quanto à escolaridade, prevaleceu o Ensino Fundamental incompleto (60%). A respeito da profissão, 100% dos idosos citaram ser agricultores. Relativo ao conceito de alimento saudável, a grande maioria dos idosos elencaram alguns alimentos produzidos por eles, como feijão, milho, verduras e frutas. Com relação ao conceito de carboidratos, 100% dos idosos entrevistados afirmaram não saber ou nunca terem escutado o termo. Já quando questionados sobre o termo açúcar, todos afirmaram saber o que é, destacando-se a resposta: “O açúcar que se coloca no café”. Para o conceito de lipídio, nenhum dos idosos entrevistados tinham conhecimento ou souberam definir esse termo, não fazendo associação com seu homônimo, gordura, onde 100% afirmaram saber o que é, associando a mesma a “gordura de boi”. Quando perguntamos a respeito do termo proteína, 70% dos idosos entrevistados não tinham nenhum conhecimento sobre ele. Para os idosos pesquisados, alimento saudável é aquele produzido no campo por si mesmos, porém, cada vez mais informações rígidas e arcaicas vêm crescendo nessa população.

The efficiency of natural olive pomace extracts for enhancing the quality of fresh-cut apples was compared with commercial ascorbic acid and two different packaging films (biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) and oriented polypropylene (OPP)) were tested. The composition of atmosphere inside the packages, the physicochemical parameters (firmness, weight loss and color), the microbial load, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of fresh-cut apples were evaluated throughout 12 days of storage at 4 °C. After 12 days of refrigerated storage, a significant decrease in O2 was promoted in PLA films, and the weight loss of the whole packaging was higher in PLA films (5.4%) than in OPP films (0.2%). Natural olive pomace extracts reduced the load of mesophilic bacteria (3.4 ± 0.1 log CFU/g and 2.4 ± 0.1 log CFU/g for OPP and PLA films, respectively) and filamentous fungi (3.3 ± 0.1 log CFU/g and 2.44 ± 0.05 log CFU/g for OPP and PLA films, respectively) growth in fresh-cut apples after five days of storage at 4 °C, and no detection of coliforms was verified throughout the 12 days of storage. In general, the olive pomace extract preserved or improved the total phenolic index and antioxidant potential of the fruit, without significant changes in their firmness. Moreover, this extract seemed to be more effective when combined with the biodegradable PLA film packaging. This work can contribute to the availability of effective natural food additives, the sustainability of the olive oil industries and the reduction of environmental impact. It can also be useful in meeting the food industries requirements to develop new functional food products.

Increasing evidence supports a relationship between lipid metabolism and mental health. In particular, the biostatus of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) correlates with some symptoms of psychiatric disorders, as well as the efficacy of pharmacological treatments. Recent findings highlight a direct association between brain PUFA levels and dopamine transmission, a major neuromodulatory system implicated in the etiology of psychiatric symptoms. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are still unknown. Here we demonstrate that membrane enrichment in the n-3 PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), potentiates ligand binding to the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R), suggesting that DHA acts as an allosteric modulator of this receptor. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm that DHA has a high preference for interaction with the D2R and show that membrane unsaturation selectively enhances the conformational dynamics of the receptor around its second intracellular loop. We find that membrane unsaturation spares G protein activity but potentiates the recruitment of β-arrestin in cells. Furthermore, in vivo n-3 PUFA deficiency blunts the behavioral effects of two D2R ligands, quinpirole and aripiprazole. These results highlight the importance of membrane unsaturation for D2R activity and provide a putative mechanism for the ability of PUFAs to enhance antipsychotic efficacy.

The training and retention of special education teachers is a critical need in the education field. One innovation that can be used in educator preparation programs to better prepare teachers is to establish a residency model. In this model, preservice teachers work as full-time teachers, while also completing their coursework. They receive support from university faculty and peers during this structured first year of teaching. This chapter will explore the need for residency programs, possible features and structures, short and long-term benefits, and potential challenges. In addition, this chapter explores ways to incorporate high-leverage practices into residency coursework.

Several biochemical and biophysical methods are available to determine ligand binding affinities between a biological target and its ligands, most of which require purification, labelling or surface immobilisation. These measurements, however, remain challenging in regards to membrane proteins, as purification processes require their extraction from their native lipid environment, which may in turn impact receptor conformation and functionality. In this study, we have developed a novel experimental procedure using microscale thermophoresis (MST) directly from cell membrane fragments, to determine different ligand binding affinities to a membrane protein, the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R). In order to achieve this, two main challenges had to be overcome: determining the concentration of dopamine D2R in the crude sample; finding ways to minimize or account for non-specific binding of the ligand to cell fragments. Using MST, we were able to determine the D2R concentration in cell membrane fragments to approximately 36.8 ± 2.6 pmol/mg. Next, the doses-responses curves allowed for the determination of KD, to approximately 5.3 ± 1.7 nM, which is very close to the reported value. Important details of the experimental procedure have been detailed in this paper to allow the application of this novel method to various membrane proteins.

The heterogenous and dynamic constitution of the membrane fine-tunes signal transduction. In particular, the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) tails of phospholipids influence the biophysical properties of the membrane, production of second messengers, or membrane partitioning. Few evidence mostly originating from studies of rhodopsin suggest that PUFAs directly modulate the conformational dynamic of transmembrane proteins. However, whether such properties translate to other G protein-coupled receptors remains unclear. We focused on the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R), a main target of antipsychotics. Membrane enrichment in n-3, but not n-6, PUFAs potentiates ligand binding. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the D2R preferentially interacts with n-3 over n-6 PUFAs. Furthermore, even though this mildly affects signalling in heterologous systems, in vivo n-3 PUFA deficiency blunts the effects of D2R ligands. These results suggest that n-3 PUFAs act as allosteric modulators of the D2R and provide a putative mechanism for their potentiating effect on antipsychotic efficacy.

Over the last years, foods are being tailored in their compositional profiles and structural properties to promote or enhance human health and well-being over and above simple nutrition. In this context, there is a need for a detailed understanding of the physical, biochemical and sensorial properties of the food categories involved since any modification targeting improved healthiness needs to guarantee their maintenance within acceptable levels to maintain consumer satisfaction. The reduction of sugar content in food to reduce both energy density of food and glycemic response is currently a key focus of the food manufacturing industry that poses several challenges. In this chapter, an overall perspective of sugar and its technological/functional role as well as the negative health implications associated to its excessive consumption is presented upholding the need for reformulation strategies to reduce free sugar intake. In this framework, the different solutions developed over the last years will be discussed including sugar structure modification and encapsulation to enhance sweet perception, food grade alternatives to sugar or in-situ enzymatic sugar conversion into non-digestible saccharides with enhanced (prebiotic) functionality. Examples of commercial products and market challenges will also be detailed.

A definição do momento ideal de colheita é um dos principais aspectos a serem considerados para a obtenção de sementes de alta qualidade fisiológica, a qual pode ser influenciada pelo tempo de armazenamento. Assim, objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de capim-buffel colhidas em diferentes épocas e submetidas ao armazenamento. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 x 6, constituído de dois períodos de armazenamento (6 e 12 meses) e seis épocas de colheita (20, 25, 30, 35, 40 e 45 dias após a emissão das inflorescências), com quatro repetições. Após 12 meses de armazenamento, as sementes colhidas aos 20 dias após emissão das inflorescências apresentavam germinação de 30%, e atingiu a máxima porcentagem (51,7%) aos 31 dias, sendo que a partir dessa época houve reduções nos valores, encerrando com 27,6% de germinação na colheita realizada aos 45 dias após emissão das inflorescências. Nas colheitas realizadas aos 40 e 45 dias após a emissão das inflorescências, o armazenamento por 12 meses apresentou redução no vigor. Sementes com máxima qualidade fisiológica (germinação e vigor) são obtidas de colheitas realizadas entre 30 e 35 dias após a emissão das inflorescências. O armazenamento das sementes durante 12 meses permite a antecipação da colheita para 30 dias após a emissão das inflorescências, sem prejuízos à sua qualidade fisiológica.

A disponibilidade hídrica constitui um dos principais fatores que influencia o processo germinativo, afetando o estabelecimento da cultura. Assim, alternativas capazes de atenuar tais efeitos se tornam de grande relevância. Objetivou-se com o presente estudo avaliar o efeito de doses de ácido ascórbico sobre o potencial fisiológico de sementes de capim-marandu submetidas à diferentes condições hídricas. O experimento foi conduzido em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3x5, composto de três potenciais osmóticos (0; -0,2 e -0,4 MPa) pelos quais as sementes foram expostas após o condicionamento com cinco doses exógenas de ácido ascórbico (0, 20, 40, 60 e 80 mM), com quatro repetições por tratamento. Para a avaliação do potencial fisiológico, as sementes foram submetidas às análises de germinação e índice de velocidade de germinação. Diante dos resultados obtidos, o potencial fisiológico das sementes foi afetado negativamente pelo estresse hídrico induzido por polietileno glicol 6000, verificando-se efeitos deletérios nos potenciais osmóticos -0,2 e -0,4 MPa. Contudo, o condicionamento com ácido ascórbico nas doses entre 40 e 50 mM promoveu melhorias no desempenho germinativo das sementes e aliviou os efeitos danosos promovidos pela baixa disponibilidade de água sob o potencial -0,2 MPa, estimulando a tolerância ao estresse hídrico.

Aventa-se a hipótese de que a substituição da mistura mineral por cloreto de sódio nos suplementos de baixo consumo não influencie o desempenho dos animais e a rentabilidade do sistema de produção. Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho, a rentabilidade e as características de carcaça de bovinos em terminação, alimentados com suplementos contendo cloreto de sódio ou mistura mineral na composição. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado e os animais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em seis tratamentos, que consistiram no oferecimento de distintos suplementos: SC = pasto + cloreto de sódio; MM = pasto + mistura mineral; USC = pasto + ureia associada ao cloreto de sódio; UMM = pasto + ureia associada à mistura mineral; SMSC = pasto + suplemento múltiplo contendo cloreto de sódio; SMMM = pasto + suplemento múltiplo contendo mistura mineral. Suplementos múltiplos contendo mistura mineral na formulação proporcionam maior ganho em peso total e ganho médio em peso corporal, comparativamente aos tratamentos suplementos múltiplos contendo sal comum, ureia associada à mistura mineral e sal comum. O desempenho ponderal dos animais alimentados com os diferentes tipos de suplementos não resulta em rentabilidade dos tratamentos utilizados, com valores de índice benefício-custo próximos e negativos. No período pós-suplementação (período chuvoso), observa-se manifestação do crescimento compensatório apenas dos animais do tratamento USC em relação aos animais dos tratamentos UMM e SMSC. Os distintos suplementos utilizados no período seco do ano não implicam em efeito residual sobre as características de carcaça dos bovinos, abatidos após o período chuvoso subsequente à suplementação na seca.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T10:15:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-12-01 The unsaturated hydraulic properties provide important theoretical and practical information about fluid flow in soils and rocks for a range of soil, environmental and engineering applications. In this study we used the evaporation (HYPROP) and chilled-mirror dew point (WP4C) methods to estimate the water retention and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity curves of an Indiana Limestone carbonate rock sample. The obtained data were analyzed in terms of unimodal and bimodal VG (van Genuchten, 1980) and PDI (Peters et al., 2015) type functions. Bimodal functions were found to produce excellent descriptions for the unsaturated hydraulic data we measured, slightly better than the standard unimodal formulations. For our particular test using an Indiana Limestone rock sample, we did not find much improvement when accounting for film and corner flow using the PDI formulation, relative to the VG model. As far as we know, this is the first time the HYPROP methodology was applied to a rock sample. LRAP Department of Civil Engineering Federal University of Rio de Janeiro UFRJ Department of Earth Sciences Utrecht University School of Civil Engineering Sun Yat-sen University Embrapa Soils Department of Physics Federal University of Rio de Janeiro UFRJ Center for Environmental Studies CEA São Paulo State University UNESP Center for Environmental Studies CEA São Paulo State University UNESP

Despite the fact that iongels are very attractive materials for gas separation membranes, they often show mechanical stability issues mainly due to the high ionic liquid (IL) content (≥60 wt%) needed to achieve high gas separation performances. This work investigates a strategy to improve the mechanical properties of iongel membranes, which consists in the incorporation of montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay, from 0.2 to 7.5 wt%, into a cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) network containing 60 wt% of the IL 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C2mim][TFSI]). The iongels were prepared by a simple one-pot method using ultraviolet (UV) initiated polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and characterized by several techniques to assess their physico-chemical properties. The thermal stability of the iongels was influenced by the addition of higher MMT contents (>5 wt%). It was possible to improve both puncture strength and elongation at break with MMT contents up to 1 wt%. Furthermore, the highest ideal gas selectivities were achieved for iongels containing 0.5 wt% MMT, while the highest CO2 permeability was observed at 7.5 wt% MMT content, due to an increase in diffusivity. Remarkably, this strategy allowed for the preparation and gas permeation of self-standing iongel containing 80 wt% IL, which had not been possible up until now.

Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar uma análise bibliométrica da produção científica dos autores vinculados à EMBRAPA considerando os artigos publicados em periódicos indexados na Web of Science no período de 1974 a 2021. Nesse período foram publicados 27.089 artigos em colaboração com coautores de 140 países diferentes, sendo a principal colaboração com coautores dos Estados Unidos.

TET enzymes (TET1-3) are dioxygenases that oxidize 5-methylcytosine (5mC) into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and are involved in the DNA demethylation process. In line with the observed 5hmC abundance in the brain, Tet genes are highly transcribed, with Tet3 being the predominant member. We have previously shown that Tet3 conditional deletion in the brain of male mice was associated with anxiety-like behavior and impairment in hippocampal-dependent spatial orientation. In the current study, we addressed the role of Tet3 in female mice and its impact on behavior, using in vivo conditional and inducible deletion from post-mitotic neurons. Our results indicate that conditional and inducible deletion of Tet3 in female mice increases anxiety-like behavior and impairs both spatial orientation and short-term memory. At the molecular level, we identified upregulation of immediate-early genes, particularly Npas4, in both the dorsal and ventral hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex. This study shows that deletion of Tet3 in female mice differentially affects behavioral dimensions as opposed to Tet3 deletion in males, highlighting the importance of studying both sexes in behavioral studies. Moreover, it contributes to expand the knowledge on the role of epigenetic regulators in brain function and behavioral outcome.

Plasmon waveguide resonance (PWR) is a variant of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) that was invented about two decades ago at the University of Arizona. In addition to the characterization of the kinetics and affinity of molecular interactions, PWR possesses several advantages relative to SPR, namely, the ability to monitor both mass and structural changes. PWR allows anisotropy information to be obtained and is ideal for the investigation of molecular interactions occurring in anisotropic-oriented thin films. In this review, we will revisit main PWR applications, aiming at characterizing molecular interactions occurring (1) at lipid membranes deposited in the sensor and (2) in chemically modified sensors. Among the most widely used applications is the investigation of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) ligand activation and the study of the lipid environment’s impact on this process. Pioneering PWR studies on GPCRs were carried out thanks to the strong and effective collaboration between two laboratories in the University of Arizona leaded by Dr. Gordon Tollin and Dr. Victor J. Hruby. This review provides an overview of the main applications of PWR and provides a historical perspective on the development of instruments since the first prototype and continuous technological improvements to ongoing and future developments, aiming at broadening the information obtained and expanding the application portfolio.

This study aims to question the assumptions of prospect theory using a sample of students enrolled in a master’s course on accounting and finance at a Portuguese polytechnic institution. Such theory has stood out among others developed in the field of Behavioural Finance due to the debate and investigation it has generated. To achieve this aim, we applied a questionnaire four consecutive years (2012–2015). The instrument included a set of alternative response questions that seek to unveil respondents’ preferences regarding the situations they were presented with. Bibliographic and descriptive research was carried out and the results were compared with those obtained by other authors but they were not always consistent. Thus, the isolation effect was confirmed; the reflection effect was almost always confirmed; and the certainty effect was not always confirmed. Regarding attitude toward risk, the assumptions of risk aversion, and importance given to changes in wealth (at the expense of wealth states), our results are in line with those obtained by said authors. Hence, this study contributes to support prospect theory with its results and the confirmation of the isolation effect.

History A 65-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 1-week history of constipation, which was associated with increasing abdominal distention and not passing flatus. Four weeks prior to the current admission he had been diagnosed with metastatic primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix. One week ago, he had been hospitalized with small-bowel obstruction, for which he required laparotomy and loop ileostomy. His medical history included basal cell carcinoma, rheumatoid arthritis, and Barrett esophagus. Physical examination revealed a distended abdomen with tenderness at palpation within the right upper quadrant and lower abdomen and reduced bowel sounds at auscultation. Initial plain-film radiography of the abdomen at admission revealed dilated gas-filled small-bowel loops, suggestive of obstruction. His small-bowel obstruction was managed conservatively on this occasion. Nine days after admission, the patient became unwell and reported a productive cough. He became tachycardic, tachypneic, and hypotensive. Relevant blood tests at this stage revealed a C-reactive protein level of 206 mg/L (normal range, 0-10 mg/L), a white blood cell count of 24.5 × 109/L (normal range, [4.0-11.0] × 109/L), a red blood cell count of 3.39 × 1012/L (normal range, [4.5-5.5] × 1012/L), a hemoglobin level of 93 g/L (normal range, 130-170 g/L), and a hematocrit level of 0.27 (normal range, 0.4-0.5). CT of the abdomen and pelvis with intravenous contrast material (100 mL Omnipaque 350; GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) was performed.

International audience; The transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel is a polymodal sensor of environmental irritant compounds, endogenous proalgesic agents, and cold. Upon activation, TRPA1 channels increase cellular calcium levels via direct permeation and trigger signaling pathways that hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2) in the inner membrane leaflet. Our objective was to determine the extent to which a putative PIP 2-interaction site (Y1006-Q1031) is involved in TRPA1 regulation. The interactions of two specific peptides (L992-N1008 and T1003-P1034) with model lipid membranes were characterized by biophysical approaches to obtain information about affinity, peptide secondary structure, and peptide effect in the lipid organization. The results indicate that the two peptides interact with lipid membranes only if PIP 2 is present and their affinities depend on the presence of calcium. Using whole-cell electrophysiology, we demonstrate that mutation at F1020 produced channels with faster activation kinetics and with a rightward shifted voltage-dependent activation curve by altering the allosteric constant that couples voltage sensing to pore opening. We assert that the presence of PIP 2 is essential for the interaction of the two peptide sequences with the lipid membrane. The putative phosphoinositide-interacting domain comprising the highly conserved F1020 contributes to the stabilization of the TRPA1 channel gate.