Corino de Andrade disease: mechanisms and impact on reproduction

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy was first described by Corino de Andrade in 1952 in Northern Portugal. It is a fatal autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progression of neurologic symptoms, beginning early in the reproductive life. The Transthyretin gene mutation originates a mutated protein that precipitates in the connective tissue as amyloid deposits. This disease is presently named Transthyretin-related hereditary amyloidosis. We performed an extensive review on this disease based on searches in Medical databases and in paper references. In this review, we briefly summarize the epidemiology and the mechanisms involved on amyloid deposition; we detailed how to evaluate the mechanisms implicated on the development of the major signs and symptoms associated with reproductive dysfunction; and we discuss the mechanisms involved in secondary sexual dysfunction after psychological treatments. Treatment of the disease is directed towards relieving specific symptoms in association with liver transplant, and molecular and genetic therapeutics. Although the current clinical trials indicate symptoms relief, no data on the reproductive function was reported. Thus, preimplantation genetic diagnosis is presently the only available technique that eradicates the disease as it avoids the birth of new patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tolerância de ovinos ao hidróxido de sódio e/ou sódio residual contido em cama de frangos de corte.

Resumo: Foram utilizados 18 ovinos da raca Corriedale, num delineamento em blocos inteiramente casualizados, com um arranjo fatorial 2 x 3, dois tipos de cama de frangos de corte, cama de casca de arroz (CCA) e cama de palha de arroz (CPA) e tres niveis de NaOH (zero, 6% e 12%). O consumo de sodio, consumo de agua, producao urinaria e a relacao de Na: Kurinaria foram significativamente (P0,05). O pH da urina mostrou tendencia a se elevar somente a medida que foram aumentados os niveis de alcali na dieta dos animais. O pH ruminal parece nao ter sido afetado pelo consumo das dietas tratadas com NaOH. O balanco de sodio foi negativo e inversamente relacionado com o consumo deste mineral, nao havendo dados suficientes que permitam a explicacao deste fato. [Sheep tolerance to sociu hydroxide and/or residual contents in the broiler litter]. Sheep tolerance to sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treated diets was studied. Eighteen Corriedale sheep were used in a completely randomized block design, witha 2 x 3 factorial arrangement. The design included two types of brolier litter lone composed of rice huiis and the other one of rice straw) and three leveis of NaOH (zero, 6% and 12%). Water and Na intakes, urine excretion and Na: K urinary ratio, increased (P 0.05) when yield increased. The urine pH showed only a tendency of increasing when the alkaii treatment in the animal diet increased. No effect of the NaOH treatments on the ruminal pH was detected. Sodium balance was negative and inversely related to the Na intake. However, there were not enough data fora ciear explanation of this fact

Estudo da estrutura física do grão do milho por meio de marcadores RFLP e RAPD.

xSuplemento. Edição dos resumos do 43º Congresso Nacional de Genética

Development and bioactive potential of films from plant residue enriched with eucalyptus extract and oregano essential oil

Introduction: Traditional plastic food packaging is typically non-renewable and non- biodegradable, creating a need for new eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives, such as plant- based films. Plant agro-industrial wastes have been explored as sources of polymeric matrices in film development. Additionally, natural compounds from plants, like plant extracts (PEs) and essential oils (EOs) can provide these films with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. So, this work aimed to produce polymeric films with licorice-based polymers incorporated with eucalyptus extract and oregano EO. Methodology: Licorice residue was characterized using high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and used to develop films with alginate and glycerol. Films were produced with oregano EO (2%), eucalyptus extract (1%), and a combination of both (1% each). The antimicrobial activity was tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) using the viable cell method. Antioxidant activity was assessed by 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH) scavenging assays. Results: The results showed that the residue consisted mostly of insoluble fibers from approximately 74%, with lignin being the main constituent from approximately 33%. The residue was, then, used to produce films incorporated with eucalyptus extract and oregano EO as bioactive agents. The antimicrobial activity test showed that the films with licorice residue incorporated with eucalyptus extract and oregano oil was able to completely inhibit E. coli after 2 h of exposure; Besides that, the film incorporated with eucalyptus extract was able to completely inhibit S. aureus after 4 h of exposure and the film incorporated with eucalyptus extract and oregano oil inhibited this bacterium after 2 h. Regarding the antioxidant potential of the films, the film with licorice residue (no extract nor oil) was the one with the least antioxidant activity (ABST: 226,7428 Trolox equivalents (μM)/mg film; DPPH: 162,2766 Trolox equivalents (μM)/mg film). The incorporation of eucalyptus extract and oregano EO to the films significantly increased its antioxidant activity. Conclusion: Polymeric films made from licorice residues and incorporated with EOs and PEs, due to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, can constitute an alternative to conventional food packaging.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mist and Edge Computing Cyber-Physical Human-Centered Systems for Industry 5.0: A Cost-Effective IoT Thermal Imaging Safety System

While many companies worldwide are still striving to adjust to Industry 4.0 principles, the transition to Industry 5.0 is already underway. Under such a paradigm, Cyber-Physical Human-centered Systems (CPHSs) have emerged to leverage operator capabilities in order to meet the goals of complex manufacturing systems towards human-centricity, resilience and sustainability. This article first describes the essential concepts for the development of Industry 5.0 CPHSs and then analyzes the latest CPHSs, identifying their main design requirements and key implementation components. Moreover, the major challenges for the development of such CPHSs are outlined. Next, to illustrate the previously described concepts, a real-world Industry 5.0 CPHS is presented. Such a CPHS enables increased operator safety and operation tracking in manufacturing processes that rely on collaborative robots and heavy machinery. Specifically, the proposed use case consists of a workshop where a smarter use of resources is required, and human proximity detection determines when machinery should be working or not in order to avoid incidents or accidents involving such machinery. The proposed CPHS makes use of a hybrid edge computing architecture with smart mist computing nodes that processes thermal images and reacts to prevent industrial safety issues. The performed experiments show that, in the selected real-world scenario, the developed CPHS algorithms are able to detect human presence with low-power devices (with a Raspberry Pi 3B) in a fast and accurate way (in less than 10 ms with a 97.04% accuracy), thus being an effective solution that can be integrated into many Industry 5.0 applications. Finally, this article provides specific guidelines that will help future developers and managers to overcome the challenges that will arise when deploying the next generation of CPHSs for smart and sustainable manufacturing.Comment: 32 page

Relationship between dietary vitamin D and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in Portuguese adolescents

Objective: To understand the relationship between vitamin D intake and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in a sample of Portuguese adolescents. Design: Cross-sectional evaluation carried out in the 2003/2004 school year. Vitamin D intake was assessed by an FFQ and 25(OH)D was measured in a fasting blood sample. Setting: Public and private schools in Porto, Portugal. Subjects: Adolescents aged 13 years (n 521) enrolled at school (EPITeen cohort). Results: Both mean (sd) intake and serum 25(OH)D level were far below the recommended, 4·47 (2·49) µg/d and 16·5 (5·7) ng/ml, respectively. A significant difference in serum level was found according to season, with lower values in winter than summer (14·8 (4·6) v. 17·3 (5·9) ng/ml, P<0·001). Vitamin D intake was weakly correlated with serum 25(OH)D (r=0·056, P=0·203). Conclusions: Dietary vitamin D and serum 25(OH)D levels were positively but weakly correlated and the error was higher among those with higher serum 25(OH)D concentration. Our results support the need for strategies that promote increase of the most important food sources of vitamin D to reduce the high prevalence of low vitamin D status

A circular economy approach to leather by products valorization towards a zero-waste process

Introduction: The tanning industry has a significant waste production and is a major contributor to environmental pollution; The adoption of circular economy principles will help repurposing by-products with a focus on reutilizing leather remnants; With this approach, the objective is to minimize environmental damage and effectively manage waste; This will contribute to sustainability with a reduction of overall waste and will align with UN sustainability goal 12 (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns) through the re-use of by products. Objectives: Exploration of different enzymes and conditions to enhance leather industry hydrolysis process to achieve a more sustainable and circular approach; Creation of versatile functional coatings within the leather industry; Utilization of commercial enzyme (Protabate P) and alternative enzymes (Bromelain and Alcalase) to validate its use; Valorization of protein-rich leather by-products. Conclusion: Protabate P 10% 24 h had higher hydrolysis degree (49.66%) and higher total protein (55103.43 μg protein/mL) than all the other enzymes. Regarding antioxidant activity, Alcalase 10% 24 h showed higher values (39.32 μM Trolox equivalents/mL). Apart from total protein, Bromelain 10% 24 h showed the lowest values for hydrolysis degree and antioxidant activity. Between time 0 and pre-final, molecules with MW <0.2 kDa consistently have a higher area. Conducting an enzyme inactivation (2 h/90 ºC) might result in molecule aggregation, leading to an increase in molecules with MW exceeding 50 kDa. Re-using leather byproducts can help the tanning industry to reduce the waste and achieve the UN sustainability goal nr 12. This study outlines the potential of re-using leather by-products to create versatile functional coatings through a circular and more sustainable process.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

SE-HPLC as a tool to guide the production of novel peptide fractions for textile application

Introduction: Textile industry needs more bio centered solutions - the industry needs to adopt circular economy principles to repurpose its by-products; There is a need to re-utilize leather by-products and to develop biobased products1,2; SE-HPLC aids in the selection and production of peptide-rich solutions, these solutions are intended for use as functional coatings in textiles. This methodology helps optimize the formulation of coatings for desired functional properties. Objectives: Utilize SE-HPLC to gather fundamental data on the hydrolysis of protein-rich byproducts. Select and produce peptide-rich solutions suitable for functional textiles coatings. Evaluate different enzymes and hydrolysis conditions using SE-HPLC. Repurpose protein-rich leather by-products effectively using SE-HPLC guided strategies. Conclusions: Alcalase 10% 6 hours had higher hydrolysis degree (70.12%) than all the other enzymes percentage/time of hydrolysis Between time 0 and pre-final, molecules MW lower than 0.2 kDa consistently have a higher area. Conducting an enzyme inactivation (2 hours/90ºC) might result in molecule aggregation, leading to an increase in molecules with MW exceeding 50 kDa. Utilizing this technique facilitates the identification of the optimal time/enzyme concentration ratio. It enables industries to repurpose waste effectively while developing new bio-based products through hydrolysis. Specifically, it aids in the production of functional coatings, offering a sustainable solution for waste utilization and product innovation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio