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A pesquisa objetivou avaliar de que forma a distribuição espacial da pluviometria influenciou na produção agrícola do estado do Piauí nas unidades agrícolas familiares (UAF) e nas unidades agrícolas patronais (UAP), realizando um estudo comparativo do Censo Agropecuário dos anos de 2006 e 2017. Os dados utilizados foram coletados do Sistema de Recuperação Automática do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (SIDRA/IBGE). Aplicou-se a metodologia de análise fatorial para construir um índice que capta a sinergia entre as pluviometrias dos municípios piauienses com as variáveis que definem a produção agrícola. Os resultados mostraram que as chuvas, em 2006, apresentaram maiores médias do que em 2017 e que foram muito instáveis em ambos os períodos. As evidências confirmaram que a produção agrícola nos municípios do semiárido são menores do que nos municípios posicionados fora desse regime climático.

Bone fractures cause acute inflammation that, despite being important for initial repair, may delay the healing of the damaged bone. Parenteral injection of dietary protein has been shown to decrease inflammation and accelerate the repair of skin wounds and other inflammatory pathologies. Thus, our aim was to evaluate whether the intraperitoneal (i.p.) immunization with zein, an abundant protein in rodent chow, would favor bone healing. Wistar rats received i.p. immunization: saline (SG), adjuvant (AG) and zein associated with adjuvant (ZG). Then, a 2 mm of defect bone was performed on the right tibia, and on days 7, 14, 28 and 45 thereafter, analyses were performed. The results showed that the injection of zein reduced inflammation without impairing bone mineralization. Moreover, biomechanical tests demonstrated higher levels of maximum force (N) in ZG, indicating better mechanical resistance in relation to the others. The computerized tomography also indicated lower levels of medullary content in the ZG than in the SG, suggesting the absence of trabeculae in the medullary region in the ZG. These findings suggest that the injection of zein in previously tolerated animals may improve bone repair, leading to mechanically functional bone formation.

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) are natural polymers with physical-chemical properties that make them very attractive for modulating stem cell differentiation, a crucial step in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Although cellulose is cytocompatible, when materials are in nanoscale, they become more reactive, needing to evaluate its potential toxic effect to ensure safe application. This study aimed to investigate the cytocompatibility of cotton CNF and its differentiation capacity induction on stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth. First, the cotton CNF was characterized. Then, the cytocompatibility and the osteogenic differentiation induced by cotton CNF were examined. The results revealed that cotton CNFs have about 6-18 nm diameters, and the zeta potential was -10 mV. Despite gene expression alteration, the cotton CNF shows good cytocompatibility. The cotton CNF induced an increase in phosphatase alkaline activity and extracellular matrix mineralization. The results indicate that cotton CNF has good cytocompatibility and can promote cell differentiation without using chemical inducers, showing great potential as a new differentiation inductor for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

The share of livestock in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Brazilian agribusiness has considerable relevance in the country's economy. Specifically, the work tests the hypothesis of convergence and/or formation of price convergence clubs in each state, taking into account the possible technological differences existing among Brazil’s different regions. Data from 12 Brazilian states, from 2004 to 2021, is used. The methodology is the time series analysis, as featured in Phillips & Sul (2007). In club convergence, it is observed that in economies with similar initial conditions and identical structural characteristics, prices converge to the same long-term level. And, in this specific case, it was possible to identify only one convergence club, where all states follow the same pattern.

Economic viability and eco-friendliness are important characteristics that make implants available to the population in a sustainable way. In this work, we evaluate the performance of a low-cost, widely available, and eco-friendly material (talc from soapstone) relative to reduced graphene oxide as reinforcement to brittle hydroxyapatite coatings. We employ a low-cost and straightforward technique, electrodeposition, to deposit the composite coatings on the titanium substrate. Corrosion, wear, and biocompatibility tests indicate that the reduced graphene oxide can be effectively replaced by talc without reducing the mechanical, anticorrosion, and biocompatible composite coatings properties. Our results indicate that talc from soapstone is a promising material for biomedical applications.

O objetivo do estudo é investigar os desafios vivenciados na docência do ensino superior pelos professores bacharéis em Ciências Econômicas, em início de carreira, compreendendo as percepções dos professores iniciantes quanto às necessidades formativas para a superação dos desafios da docência no ensino superior, por fim, a criação do Índice dos Desafios dos Docentes de Economia em Início de Carreira – IDEIC. Para tanto, utilizou-se como abordagem metodológica a pesquisa quanti-qualitativa. A amostra é do tipo não probabilística, por conveniência, e contou com 12 professores, distribuídos em três estados nordestinos, a saber: Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte e Ceará. Os resultados evidenciam que os desafios enfrentados se caracterizam em distintos aspectos, visto que vão desde a carência da formação inicial, formação pedagógica e apoio institucional. A conclusão mais direta do estudo é que os docentes apresentam, principalmente, lacunas na Formação Pedagógica e Formação Inicial, o que contribuiu para o elevado valor dos IDEIC (0,86).

Two new series of hitherto unknown dipeptides, containing an electrophilic nitrile or a non-electrophilic 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety were synthesized and evaluated in vitro as Cathepsin K (Cat K) inhibitors. From 14 compounds obtained, the oxadiazole derivatives 10a, 10b, 10e, and 10g acted as enzymatic competitive inhibitors with Ki values between 2.13 and 7.33 µM. Molecular docking calculations were carried out and demonstrated that all inhibitors performed hydrogen bonds with residues from the enzyme active site, such as Asn18. The best inhibitors (10a, 10b, 10g) could also perform these bonds with Cys25, and 10a showed the most stabilizing interaction energy (−134.36 kcal mol−1) with the active cavity. For the first time, derivatives based in 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazole scaffolds were evaluated, and the results suggested that this core displays a remarkable potential as a building block for Cat K inhibitors.

Primarily, the adipose tissue is known for its function storing excess energy as fat. This tissue is also an endocrine organ and communicates with several tissues, such as muscle, liver and brain. In addition, the adipose tissue is an accessible source of adult stem cells. Autologous adipose tissue transplant used for plastic surgery purposes take advantage of this feature. These pluripotent cells are also targets for gene therapy and autologous transplant in regenerative medicine. A recent study using state-of-art technology explores the plasticity within mature adipocyte into stroma of the mammary gland. Strikingly, adipocyte-derived preadipocytes de-differentiate and re-differentiate repeatedly, during pregnancy to accommodate the new imposed body metabolic demand. The emerging knowledge from this study is essential to understand the cellular processes occurring into the mammary gland during pregnancy, lactation, and involution. This idea opens new perspectives to study the involvement of the adipose tissue in systemic regulatory processes during these transitional states and has implication on conditions as cancer and inflammation-related diseases.

O presente estudo tem como objetivo mensurar o nível de pobreza multidimensional dos estados nordestinos no período de 2009 a 2015. Como estratégia empírica adota-se a criação do Índice de Pobreza Multidimensional da Região Nordeste – IPMNE dos estados nordestinos. Para tanto, utiliza a metodologia construída por Bourguignon e Chakravarty (2019), adaptada por Silva et al (2016). Para a construção do IPMNE são utilizados os micro-dados da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílio (PNAD) dos respectivos anos. Os resultados das seis dimensões evidenciam uma redução da proporção da pobreza multidimensional da população nordestina. No entanto, três merecem uma atenção maior: (i) Educação; (ii) Comunicação e Informação e (iii) Trabalho e Demografia. No tocante as análises isoladas das regiões metropolitana, urbana e rural, verificou-se que a pobreza foi mais intensa na área rural. Portanto, o presente estudo pode ser utilizado para auxiliar futuras políticas públicas de redistribuição de renda da Região Nordeste.

Este artigo possui o escopo de apresentar consideracoes sobre os limites morais da manipulacao genetica em uma abordagem desde os ideais platonicos aos mais modernos pensamentos do jurista-filosofo norte-americano Michael J. Sandel, e isso, diante das mais novas tecnicas e descobertas da biomedicina e da engenharia genetica, e sobretudo no prisma do direito e da bioetica.

The liver is the second largest organ in the human body and is responsible for several functions that directly contribute to homeostasis. Hepatocytes are the main parenchymal liver cells that regulate multiple biochemical and metabolic functions and the synthesis of substances important to the body. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a group of stem cells derived from the mesoderm, which can be obtained from various tissues. Under certain conditions, MSCs can differentiate into several cell types, including hepatocytes. Post-transcriptional regulations of liver development signalling and hepatocyte differentiation have been demonstrated. At the post-transcriptional level, microRNAs have emerged as precursors for determining cell fate during differentiation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. They can determine the stem cell fate by repressing the translation of target mRNAs. In this review, we outline signalling pathways involved in stem cell differentiation to hepatocytes and its interplay with liver development. Hepatic differentiation models in two-dimensional and three-dimensional cultures used to analyse signalling mechanisms will be described. We also highlight the possible miRNAs involved in this process and the transdifferentiation signalling mechanisms present in hepatocytes.

Mechanical resistant bioactive materials are of high interest for biomedical applications. In this work, we address the improvement in mechanical properties of HA coatings by the addition of a cheap and widely available secondary phase material, the talc from soapstone. The composites hydroxyapatite/talc (HA/talc) were successfully obtained by pulsed electrodeposition and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, corrosion and wear resistance and biocompatibility tests. We found that the addition of talc greatly improves the mechanical properties of coatings (i. e., wear track and friction coefficient in wear tests were significantly diminished) without diminishing corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. Alamar Blue® tests, alkaline phosphatase activity, and collagen production indicate that the biocomposites are biocompatible and talc itself induce bone maturation.

Disease recurrence after therapy, due to the persistence of resistant leukemic cells, represents a fundamental problem in the treatment of leukemia. Elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of leukemic cells, before and after treatment, is therefore critical to identify curative modalities. It has become increasingly clear that cell-autonomous mechanisms are not solely responsible for leukemia maintenance. Here, we report a role for Pml in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in supporting leukemic cells of both CML and AML. Mechanistically, we show that Pml regulates pro-inflammatory cytokines within MSCs, and that this function is critical in sustaining CML-KLS and AML ckit+ leukemic cells non-cell autonomously., Persistence of resistant leukemic cells after therapy is the main cause of relapse. Here, the authors show that mesenchymal stem cells-derived PML is involved in the maintenance of leukemia cells through Cxcl1 and IL6 and that PML inhibition enhances sensitivity to chemotherapy.

Healing is a vital response important for the re-establishment of the skin integrity following injury. Delayed or aberrant dermal wound healing leads to morbidity in patients. The development of therapies to improve dermal healing would be useful. Currently, the design of efficient treatments is stalled by the lack of detailed knowledge about the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in wound healing. Recently, using state-of-the-art technologies, it was revealed that macrophages signal via GPNMB to mesenchymal stem cells, accelerating skin healing. Strikingly, transplantation of macrophages expressing GPNMB improves skin healing in GPNMB-mutant mice. Additionally, topical treatment with recombinant GPNMB restored mesenchymal stem cells recruitment and accelerated wound closure in the diabetic skin. From a drug development perspective, this GPNMB is a new candidate for skin healing.

Levando em consideração que o homem é o único animal capaz de modificar seu corpo através do pensamento, a Terapia Cognitivo Comportamental (TCC) vem se configurando como um importante aliado no combate à obesidade, proporcionando uma reestruturação cognitiva capaz de modificar não apenas um corpo obeso, mas modificar todo um estilo de vida. A terapia cognitivo-comportamental (TCC) tem sido amplamente usada no tratamento da obesidade em associação com outras intervenções, como o acompanhamento nutricional e a prática de atividade física. A TCC é uma terapia de duração breve e com sessões estruturadas nas quais o paciente é solicitado a colaborar ativamente na identificação e na mudança de seus comportamentos e sentimentos que contribuem para a obesidade. O objetivo do presente trabalho é verificar a eficácia do apoio psicoterápico com base na Terapia Cognitivo Comportamental na redução de peso de pacientes obesos.Palavras-chave: Cognitivo; Comportamental; Obesidade.

Background The angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) plays a central role in the renin-angiotensin system, acting by converting the hormone angiotensin-I to the active peptide angiotensin-II (Ang-II). More recently, ACE was shown to act as a receptor for Ang-II, and its expression level was demonstrated to be higher in melanoma cells compared to their normal counterparts. However, the function that ACE plays as an Ang-II receptor in melanoma cells has not been defined yet. Aim Therefore, our aim was to examine the role of ACE in tumor cell proliferation and migration. Results We found that upon binding to ACE, Ang-II internalizes with a faster onset compared to the binding of Ang-II to its classical AT1 receptor. We also found that the complex Ang-II/ACE translocates to the nucleus, through a clathrin-mediated process, triggering a transient nuclear Ca2+ signal. In silico studies revealed a possible interaction site between ACE and phospholipase C (PLC), and experimental results in CHO cells, demonstrated that the β3 isoform of PLC is the one involved in the Ca2+ signals induced by Ang-II/ACE interaction. Further studies in melanoma cells (TM-5) showed that Ang-II induced cell proliferation through ACE activation, an event that could be inhibited either by ACE inhibitor (Lisinopril) or by the silencing of ACE. In addition, we found that stimulation of ACE by Ang-II caused the melanoma cells to migrate, at least in part due to decreased vinculin expression, a focal adhesion structural protein. Conclusion ACE activation regulates melanoma cell proliferation and migration.

Adhesive interactions play a critical role in cell biology, influencing vital processes from proliferation to cell death. Integrins regulate cell-ECM (extracellular matrix) adhesion and must associate with phosphorylating proteins such as ILK (integrin-linked kinase). Dysregulation of ILK expression is associated with anchorage-independent growth, cell survival and inhibition of apoptosis. Glucocorticoids influence differentiation and adhesion of osteoblasts and can affect bone protein synthesis. The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of DEX (dexamethasone) on the biology of osteoblasts, together with its influence on the expression of ILK and β1 integrin. For this, primary cultures of human osteoblasts were exposed to DEX at 10-9 M (physiological dose) and 10-6 M (pharmacological dose) for 24 and 48 h. Cell viability, apoptosis and cell adhesion were analysed, as well as protein expression of β1 integrin and ILK. It was observed that cell viability and adhesion were reduced in the cultures evaluated. In comparison with the control cultures, there was slightly less apoptosis in the cultures exposed to the physiological dose and considerably more apoptosis in those exposed to the pharmacological dose. In all treated cultures, protein expression of ILK was slightly higher than in the control cultures, whereas that of β1 integrin was significantly lower. Both proteins under study were co-localized at the cell periphery in all cultures. Our results suggest that DEX causes osteoblast anoikis, probably due to decreased β1 integrin expression, which might have had a direct influence upon ILK, reducing its activation and preventing it from playing its characteristic anti-apoptotic role.

Angiotensin (Ang) I–converting enzyme (ACE) is involved in the control of blood pressure by catalyzing the conversion of Ang I into the vasoconstrictor Ang II and degrading the vasodilator peptide bradykinin. Human ACE also functions as a signal transduction molecule, and the binding of ACE substrates or its inhibitors initiates a series of events. In this study, we examined whether Ang II could bind to ACE generating calcium signaling. Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with an ACE expression vector reveal that Ang II is able to bind with high affinity to ACE in the absence of the Ang II type 1 and type 2 receptors and to activate intracellular signaling pathways, such as inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and calcium. These effects could be blocked by the ACE inhibitor, lisinopril. Calcium mobilization was specific for Ang II, because other ACE substrates or products, namely Ang 1-7, bradykinin, bradykinin 1-5, and N -acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline, did not trigger this signaling pathway. Moreover, in Tm5, a mouse melanoma cell line endogenously expressing ACE but not Ang II type 1 or type 2 receptors, Ang II increased intracellular calcium and reactive oxygen species. In conclusion, we describe for the first time that Ang II can interact with ACE and evoke calcium and other signaling molecules in cells expressing only ACE. These findings uncover a new mechanism of Ang II action and have implications for the understanding of the renin-Ang system.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is commonly used in the treatment of fractures and nonunion-promoting acceleration of healing fractures. In this report, we investigated the implication of the P2 receptors in osteoblast proliferation induced with LIPUS treatment. We observed that ADP, ATP, UTP, and UDP promote osteoblast increase and an increase of intracellular Ca(2+), through activation of P2Y receptors. Osteoblasts' expression of the P2Y(1), P2Y(2), P2Y(4), P2Y(6), P2Y(11), P2Y(12), and P2Y(13) receptors was confirmed. In addition, the participation of the P2Y(1) receptor in osteoblast increase and the ADP-dependent increase of Ca(2+) concentration were shown. Furthermore, release of ATP/purines was induced by LIPUS treatment. Finally, LIPUS-dependent osteoblast increase was abolished in the presence of the Ca(2+) chelator (BAPTA), the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor antagonist (2-APB), and the selective P2Y(1) receptor antagonist (MRS2179). In conclusion, LIPUS treatment induces osteoblastogenesis via the release of purines, such as ATP, activating P2Y receptors, mainly the P2Y(1) receptor.

P2 receptors activated by ATP are expressed in the skeletal system. However, the role of P2 receptors in osteoblast differentiation remains unclear. Methods: Participation of P2 receptors in differentiation was investigated in the preosteoblast MC3T3-M1 cell line. Preosteoblasts were stimulated for 7 or 14 days in the presence of osteogenic medium containing ATP and its analogs, and then alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, gene expression analyses, and protein expression were assessed. Results: We observed that ATP and its analogs promoted increased ALP activity after 7 days of treatment. In contrast, these agonists promoted reductions in ALP activity after 14 days. Some antagonists, such as PPADS (P2 antagonist), MRS2179 (P2Y1 antagonist), MRS2578 (P2Y6 antagonist), and AZ11645373 (P2X7 antagonist) reduced the increases in ALP activity after 7 days. However, only AZ11645373 inhibited the reduction in ALP activity after 14 days. The expression of the P2Y2, P2Y6, P2X4, and P2X7 receptors was observed. Furthermore, treatment with ATP modulated the expression of P2 receptors, increasing P2X4 expression and reducing P2Y6 and P2X7 expression. Similar results were observed after 14 days. In addition, ATP treatment for 7 days increased the expression of transcription factors associated with osteoblast differentiation, such as Runx2, SP7, and Dix5, whereas SP7 and Dix5 expression was reduced at 14 days. These results suggest that P2 receptor activation modulates the differentiation of osteoblasts and is dependent upon the stage of differentiation. These results also suggest that several P2 receptors are involved in this process.

O termo competencia e relativamente novo no mundo organizacional e teve o seu surgimento associado as mudancas crescentes no mercado que se tornou cada vez mais competitivo. Diante dessa nova realidade as empresas comecaram a repensar todo o seu sistema de gestao. Foi nesse periodo que o conhecimento comecou a ser valorizado dentro das empresas, fazendo-as selecionar e reter funcionarios cada vez mais capacitados. Assim, a gestao por competencia nasce com a proposta de alinhar as competencias humanas as organizacionais, nas quais se busca o alcance dos objetivos estrategicos e, consequentemente, melhores resultados. Nesse contexto, o artigo se propoe a apresentar uma previsao de resultados esperados de melhoria com a utilizacao do modelo de gestao por competencia no Tribunal de Contas da Uniao - TCU. Para tal, alem de uma revisao de literatura acerca do termo competencia, foi realizada uma entrevista com os responsaveis pelo projeto. Ao final, foi possivel verificar que o projeto comecou a ser implementado em determinadas areas, demonstrando resultados positivos, porem ainda pequenos. Entretanto, as expectativas dos resultados ao termino da implementacao do processo sao as melhoras possiveis. Em suma, espera-se que o modelo consiga integrar os processos de gestao de pessoas, para que o TCU possa alcancar de maneira mais positiva os resultados organizacionais e os seus objetivos estrategicos.

We have demonstrated that the Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme (ACE) acts as a membrane receptor for Angiotensin II (AngII). Upon binding to ACE with high affinity, AngII activates a signaling cascade that generates inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3), culminating in intracellular Ca2+ increase. The goal of this work was to investigate cellular function that AngII plays through ACE activation. For that, we used CHO-ACE, CHO-AT1 and melanoma cell line (Tm-5), as well as, confocal microscopy, immunofluorescence, western blotting, small interfering RNA (siRNA) and BrDU assay. We found that AngII binds to ACE and this complex is internalized through clathrin, to trigger preferential nucleoplasmic Ca2+ increase. Since nuclear Ca2+ is known to regulate cell growth, we then investigated whether the proliferative response induced by AngII is mediated by ACE activation. We verified that silencing either ACE or clathrin reduced cell proliferation stimulated by AngII by 33% or 71% respectively, compared to control (p