Solution of a truss topology bilevel programming problem by means of an inexact restoration method

We formulate a truss topology optimization problem as a bilevel programming problem and solve it by means of a line search type inexact restoration algorithm. We discuss details of the implementation and show results of numerical experiments.We formulate a truss topology optimization problem as a bilevel programming problem and solve it by means of a line search type inexact restoration algorithm. We discuss details of the implementation and show results of numerical experiments.301109125CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPERJ - FUNDAÇÃO CARLOS CHAGAS FILHO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIROFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOE-26/171.164/2003-APQ106/53768-

Epitope-targeted peptide inhibitors of Myc-Max Dimerization

Myc is a popular transcription factor that is found in about 30% of human cancers. Along with being present in many cancers, it is also a potent oncogenic driver. Myc dimerizes with Max in order to promote transcription of genes that are associated with cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival. In cancers that are Myc-driven, the Myc concentrations are higher than in healthy cells. Developing drugs in which impede Myc-Max dimerization has been difficult because there are many interactions that occur over large interfaces. This project hypothesizes that using molecular peptide ligands that adsorb to Myc at the Myc-Max dimer interface will disrupt the intermolecular interactions between Myc-Max. Molecular screening is used to identify cyclic peptide ligands that will have a high binding affinity to epitopes on Myc. By using the peptide ligands, they can be tested to measure their affinity to the Mac protein, the location of the binding on Myc, and its ability to inhibit the formation of the dimer by Myc-Max. By having this data, it then can be used to engineer peptides that are potent inhibitors of Myc-Max dimerization

Sleep in the human aging process and circadian sleep rhythm disruptions

The aging process is often related to sleeping difficulties, often due to changes in circadian rhythms. The circadian timing system is centered in the suprachiasmatic nucleus - the master biological clock - which synchronizes the rhythm of oscillators throughout the body, including the sleep-wake cycle. This affects the time, duration and quality of sleep according to the development and aging process, under external and internal influences. This review addresses the human circadian timing system, including endogenous and exogenous influences on circadian rhythms, their age-related particularities, as well as the repercussions of circadian misalignment in neurodegenerative diseases. Circadian rhythms naturally weaken with aging, but there are particularities according to age. Throughout life, sleep and circadian rhythm disorders are strongly bidirectionally related to the pathophysiology of some psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer\u27s and Parkinson\u27s diseases. This knowledge could potentially create valuable opportunities to improve the health of the world\u27s population that is under circadian misalignment and aging

Social and cultural contexts change but intelligence persists as incisive to explain children’s academic achievement

The intelligence is a well established predictor of school achievement. Although school failure/success can be explained by cognitive variables, socio-familial variables can also have an impact. Since these variables haven’t been so systematically investigated together, the present study aims to consider both variables to understand their causal roles in academic achievement. With a sample of 376 Portuguese children aged 6 to 10 years, a path analysis was carried out based on a prior analysis to search for causal relationships between intelligence and socio-familial variables to explain children’s academic achievement. The results point to intelligence as a major influence on school performance, combined with socio-familial variables (directly: community, type of school, mother's education and school year; and indirectly: socioeconomic status and father’s education level). Practical implications were discussed concerning the relevance of the investigated variables in explaining academic achievement of children.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, IP (FCT) and the POCH/FSE under Grant SFRH/BD/85110/2012 to Ana Filipa Alves

Modulation of fatty acid profile in nannochloropsis oculata adaptation to temperature stress

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In situ CLA and CLNA production: a potential strategy to elaborate food products enriched in bioactive fatty acids

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The transition towards sustainable diets should encourage pulse consumption in children’s diets: insights for policies in food systems

Pulses play a central role in food system sustainability and can be the starting point toward sustainable diets. For a sustainable future, the promotion of pulses’ consumption should begin early on, during infancy. This work’s objective is to review and compile food policies that can support pulses promotion in children’s diets and provide an overview of the role of pulses in sustainable diets. A search was performed in Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) sites and Medline database of technical reports and papers from the last 10 years (2011-2021) using the following terms: “Legume”, “pulse”, “sustainability”, “environment”, “food system”, “nutrition”, “children”, and “policies”. Subsequently, actions that could support children’s pulse consumption were selected and organized into the UNICEF´s Innocenti Framework on Food Systems for Children and Adolescents. Finally, the identified actions were discussed according to the Framework’s determinants (food supply chains, external food environments, personal food environment, and behaviors of caregivers and children). Considering the impact and feasibility of the compiled actions, reformulation of infant products with pulses and activities in school food environments seem to be priority measures because they are relatively simple to operate and have a high impact potential.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Stability of a lyophilized milk enriched with microbial CLA/CLNA

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Pulses’ benefits in children’s diets: a narrative review

Pulses are affordable, environmentally friendly, nutritious foods with a long shelf-life. In particular, they are excellent sources of protein, fiber, minerals, vitamins, and phenolic compounds and can prevent and control chronic diseases. Due to their high nutritional density, consumption of pulses may be significant for children’s development. However, pulses also provide non-nutritional components that have beneficial health effects but that may have a few negative side effects if consumed improperly. The presence of such compounds, and the lack of a clear message about their potential benefits or drawbacks has, historically, influenced the consumption of legumes. The present study aims to provide a literature review of pulses’ benefits in children’s diets. For this purpose, we performed a search in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases of documents from the last 20 years (from 2000-2020), using the following search terms: “legume”, “pulse”, “consumption”, “benefits”, “health”, “nutrition”, “recommendations”, and “children”. Pulses help meet micro-nutrient demands in childhood and should be part of children’s diets since the stage of complementary feed. Also, regular pulses’ consumption may help to reduce childhood obesity and be an effective alternative to control glycemic response in diabetic children. The non-nutrients present in pulses do not represent a risk for Children’s growth, as they are considerably reduced during the usual processing and cooking procedures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio