Blockchain technology and traceability in the wine supply chain industry

In a global context, marked by the increase in digital transformation in all sectors of society, digitalisation in the wine industry faces various challenges. One of these challenges is ensuring the wine supply chain transparency and security to the more informed consumers and technology users. This study is part of an ongoing research project. It presents a literature review whose objective is to analyse the benefits of using blockchain technology in the wine industry supply chain to tackle these challenges. This technology, combined with other technologies and supported on Internet-of-Things-based interconnected systems, can guarantee protection systems with high security. This research demonstrates how blockchain technology can add value to the wine industry’s supply chain and identifies the main challenges of implementing this technology in the Wine Industry. Also, it is presented a potential proposal to develop a traceability system for the wine industry. In terms of originality, this study aims to contribute and stimulate data-driven discussions regarding the use of technologies to support traditional industries’ supply chains and provide security for producers and consumers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genome-Wide Bovine H3K27me3 Modifications and the Regulatory Effects on Genes Expressions in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes

Gene expression of lymphocytes was found to be influenced by histone methylation in mammals and trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) normally represses genes expressions. Peripheral blood lymphocytes are the main source of somatic cells in the milk of dairy cows that vary frequently in response to the infection or injury of mammary gland and number of parities.The genome-wide status of H3K27me3 modifications on blood lymphocytes in lactating Holsteins was performed via ChIP-Seq approach. Combined with digital gene expression (DGE) technique, the regulation effects of H3K27me3 on genes expressions were analyzed.The ChIP-seq results showed that the peaks of H3K27me3 in cows lymphocytes were mainly enriched in the regions of up20K (~50%), down20K (~30%) and intron (~28%) of the genes. Only ~3% peaks were enriched in exon regions. Moreover, the highest H3K27me3 modification levels were mainly around the 2 Kb upstream of transcriptional start sites (TSS) of the genes. Using conjoint analysis with DGE data, we found that H3K27me3 marks tended to repress target genes expressions throughout whole gene regions especially acting on the promoter region. A total of 53 differential expressed genes were detected in third parity cows compared to first parity, and the 25 down-regulated genes (PSEN2 etc.) were negatively correlated with H3K27me3 levels on up2Kb to up1Kb of the genes, while the up-regulated genes were not showed in this relationship.The first blueprint of bovine H3K27me3 marks that mediates gene silencing was generated. H3K27me3 plays its repressed role mainly in the regulatory region in bovine lymphocytes. The up2Kb to up1Kb region of the down-regulated genes in third parity cows could be potential target of H3K27me3 regulation. Further studies are warranted to understand the regulation mechanisms of H3K27me3 on somatic cell count increases and milk losses in latter parities of cows

ICF, An Immunodeficiency Syndrome: DNA Methyltransferase 3B Involvement, Chromosome Anomalies, and Gene Dysregulation

The immunodeficiency, centromeric region instability, and facial anomalies syndrome (ICF) is the only disease known to result from a mutated DNA methyltransferase gene, namely, DNMT3B. Characteristic of this recessive disease are decreases in serum immunoglobulins despite the presence of B cells and, in the juxtacentromeric heterochromatin of chromosomes 1 and 16, chromatin decondensation, distinctive rearrangements, and satellite DNA hypomethylation. Although DNMT3B is involved in specific associations with histone deacetylases, HP1, other DNMTs, chromatin remodelling proteins, condensin, and other nuclear proteins, it is probably the partial loss of catalytic activity that is responsible for the disease. In microarray experiments and real-time RT-PCR assays, we observed significant differences in RNA levels from ICF vs. control lymphoblasts for pro- and anti-apoptotic genes (BCL2L10, CASP1, and PTPN13); nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, NF-κB, and TNFa signalling pathway genes (PRKCH, GUCY1A3, GUCY1B3, MAPK13; HMOX1, and MAP4K4); and transcription control genes (NR2F2 and SMARCA2). This gene dysregulation could contribute to the immunodeficiency and other symptoms of ICF and might result from the limited losses of DNA methylation although ICF-related promoter hypomethylation was not observed for six of the above examined genes. We propose that hypomethylation of satellite 2at1qh and 16qh might provoke this dysregulation gene expression by trans effects from altered sequestration of transcription factors, changes in nuclear architecture, or expression of noncoding RNAs

Construction and exploration of peteca in 5-6 year-old children: exploratory study

A peteca é um brinquedo indígena brasileiro. Fomos analisar junto de 14 crianças (71,36±3,95 meses; meninas=5) se conseguiriam construir a sua, usá-la para brincar e refletir sobre a sua origem e funcionalidade. Observou-se bimanualidade e ambidestrismo na sua construção. Sem diferença entre géneros e idades, 9 necessitaram de ajuda para fazer o nó simples, tendo este momento ocupado 34,56±16,48% do tempo de execução da peteca (384,57±121,82 segundos, com associação inversa com idade rho=-,730, p=,003). Ao longo de todos os 5 ensaios, todas conseguiram fazer pelo menos 1 autorrebatimento (1,64±,64), e em 58% dos ensaios a pares realizaram pelo menos 1 rebatimento recíproco (,87±,45). As crianças revelaram perceção de diversidade geográfica e cultural, embora genericamente confusa, e nenhuma sabia o nome deste brinquedo indígena brasileiro. O seu potencial icónico também foi evidente (e.g., relacionar penas da peteca a aves e com voar). A peteca pode propiciar interdisciplinaridade compósita, do tipo pluridisciplinar, em contexto das salas de 5 anos do pré-escolar.The peteca is a Brazilian indigenous toy. We analyzed with 14 children (71.36±3.95 months; girls=5) if they could build their own, use it to play and reflect on its origin and functionality. Bimanuality and ambidexterity were observed in its construction. With no difference between genders and ages, 9 needed help to make the simple knot, with this moment occupying 34.56±16.48% of the execution time of the peteca (384.57±121.82 seconds, with inverse association with age rho=-.730, p=.003). Throughout all 5 trials, all managed to make at least 1 self-rebound (1.64±.64), and in 58% of the pair trials they performed at least 1 reciprocal rebound (.87±.45). The children revealed a perception of geographic and cultural diversity, although generally confused, and none knew the name of this Brazilian indigenous toy. Its potential iconicity was also evident (e.g., relating peteca’s feathers to birds and to flying). The peteca can provide composite interdisciplinarity, of the pluridisciplinary type, in the context of 5-year-old preschool classroomsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Use of some markers (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, Neopterin, Hidroxyproline and 67 Ga) in the study of sublcinical alveolitis in asbestos' exposure

Em publicações anteriores tivemos oportunidade de demonstrar que indivíduos submetidos à inalação profissional de fibras de asbesto podem desenvolver uma alveolite subclínica dependente da concentração parenquimatosa deste material, expressa através do número de corpos asbestósicos/ml de expectoração e/ou de líquido de lavagem broncoalveolar (LLBA). Agora, numa amostra mais alargarda (15 indivíduos não fumadores, com uma média de idades de 57,87±7,62 anos e um tempo médio de exposição de 25,87±7,11 anos), tentamos estudar esta alveolite através da utilizaçao de alguns marcadores (doseamentos da enzima conversora da angiotensina e da neopterina, tanto no sangue como no LLBA; doseamento da hidroxiprolina na urina de 24 horas; fixação pulmonar do 67Ga). Os resultados obtidos, os quais foram analisados em função do número de corpos asbestósicos/ml de expectoração e/ou de LLBA (>1 Grupo I; 0.001), acompanhava os valores detectados no LLBA 7,66±2,53/1,86±2,18). A neopterina, genericamente elevada (8,58±5.0nmol/l), tanto no sangue como no LLBA, apresentava valores séricos particularmente altos no Grupo II (6,29±3.09nmol/l), enquanto que no LLBA eles eram praticamente sobreponíveis (2,47±0,23/2,23±1,56nmol/l). Quanto à hidroxiprolina, os respectivos níveis na urina de 24 horas nunca ultrapassaram os limites máximos da normalidade, não existindo entre os dois grupos diferenças estatisticamente significativas (13,9±6,69/11,61±4,32mg/24h/m2). A fixação pulmonar do 67Ga era normal em 63% dos casos e só em quatro indivíduos (dois de cada grupo) se mostrou alterada: um caso compatível com o grau II e três com o grau III. Face a estes resultados, e após a sua discussão, os autores concluem que os indivíduos com uma concentração parenquimatosa em fibras de asbesto que se expressa por um número de corpos asbestósicos >1/ml de expectoração e/ou de LLBA, podem desenvolver uma alveolite linfocitária com elevação das células CD4 e da relação CD4/CD8 em contraste com o sangue periférico onde o número e a relação destas células permanecem normais. As variações detectadas nos níveis séricos e alveolares da enzima conversora da angiotensina sérica e da neopterina, acompanhadas de valores normais da eliminação urinária da hidroxiprolina e do escasso número de indivíduos que fixaram o 67Ga apontam para a ausência de fibrose parenquimatosa nestas situações ou para a sua existência em quantidades muito diminutas, sem tradução clínica ou radiológica, permitindo enquadrar as perturbações celulares observadas a nível do pulmão profundo destes operários no âmbito das alveolites subclínicas