Application of nanotechnology in the agro-food sector

Nanotechnology is an emerging field of research that has been widely applied in different scientific and engineering areas. The agro-food sector is not an exception, which considers its applicability in several areas of major interest for both consumers and producers. This review considers major concepts related to nanostructures and nano-based instruments used in the food sector, as well as their applications in agro-food products. Food safety through the use of nanosensors for pathogen detection, smart packaging, and valorisation of food products by nanoencapsulation/nanodelivery of food ingredients (e.g. flavours) are examples of important areas of nanotechnology. Consumers' apprehension regarding food stability and safety issues is also considered.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Recreation of a hair follicle regenerative microenvironment: successes and pitfalls

The hair follicle (HF) is an exquisite skin appendage endowed with cyclical regenerative capacity; however, de novo follicle formation does not naturally occur. Consequently, patients suffering from extensive skin damage or hair loss are deprived of the HF critical physiological and/or aesthetic functions, severally compromising skin function and the individual's psychosocial well-being. Translation of regenerative strategies has been prevented by the loss of trichogenic capacity that relevant cell populations undergo in culture and by the lack of suitable human-based in vitro testing platforms. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the major difficulties associated with HF regeneration and the approaches used to overcome these drawbacks. We describe key cellular requirements and discuss the importance of the HF extracellular matrix and associated signaling for HF regeneration. Finally, we summarize the strategies proposed so far to bioengineer human HF or hair-bearing skin models and disclose future trends for the field.Funding information Consolidator grant “ECM_INK”, Grant/Award Number: ERC-2016-COG-726061; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Grant/Award Numbers: PD/59/2013, PD/ BD/113800/2015, IF/00945/201

Dysregulated behaviors in bulimia nervosa – a case-control study

Background: Bulimia nervosa is often related to self-control difficulties and to self-harm behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of self-injurious behavior, suicide attempts and other behaviors’ related to impulsivity in bulimia nervosa, using two control groups (a healthy group and a general psychiatric group), and also to examine the association between sexual abuse and parasuicide behaviours in bulimia nervosa. Method: Women (N =233) aged between 13 to 38 years old were evaluated using the Risk Factors for Eating Disorders Interview Schedule (RFI; Fairburn et al., 1998). Results: Participants with bulimia nervosa reported more self-injurious behaviours, suicide attempts by drug intake, and poor control in smoking and drugs use compared with participants in both control groups. Bulimia nervosa group also presented more spending behaviors’ compared with the general psychiatric control group. No association was found between sexual abuse and parasuicide behaviors amongst bulimia nervosa participants. Conclusions: This study concluded that BN is commonly related to self-harm behaviours, and clinicians must take into account the multi-impulsive spectrum behaviours of BN in their evaluation and treatment of BN.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Analysis of entrepreneurial propensity of students from the Viseu pole of Portuguese Catholic University

Este artigo pretende mostrar a importância do ensino superior na promoção do empreendedorismo. Assim, começa-se com uma análise teórica dos conceitos de empreendedorismo e de empreendedor e dos principais motivos que conduzem ao empreendedorismo, bem como dos obstáculos que o dificultam. Salienta-se também a importância que o ensino superior tem na promoção do empreendedorismo. Faz-se, por fim, uma breve evolução histórica da educação para o empreendedorismo no ensino superior e do que tem sido feito em Portugal nesta área. Em termos metodológicos, apresentam-se os resultados de um estudo efetuado com 348 alunos do Pólo de Viseu da Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Este estudo teve como principal objetivo conhecer a propensão empreendedora dos seus alunos. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo sugerem que os alunos têm pouca tendência empreendedora, o que se poderá dever aos receios e às dificuldades em desenvolver um negócio próprio, assim como a alguns fatores que condicionam a criação e o sucesso de uma empresa. Assim, é fundamental evidenciar a importância do empreendedorismo, quer para os indivíduos, quer para a sociedade, e, por isso, é indispensável fomentar a sua promoção, sobretudo junto da comunidade escolar.This article aims to show the importance of higher education in promoting entrepreneurship. So, we start with a theoretical analysis of the concepts of entrepreneurship and entrepreneur and the main reasons that lead to entrepreneurship, such as the obstacles to it. Also highlight the importance that higher education has to promote entrepreneurship, and, finally, a brief historical development of entrepreneurship education in higher education and what has been done in this area in Portugal. In methodological terms, we present the results of a study conducted with 348 students from Viseu pole of the Portuguese Catholic University. This study aimed to know the entrepreneurial propensity of their students. The results of this study suggest that students have little entrepreneurial trend, which could be due to the fears and difficulties in developing their own business, as well as some factors that influence the creation and success of a company. Thus, it is crucial to highlight the importance of entrepreneurship, both for individuals and for society, and therefore it is essential to foster its promotion especially among the school community.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A compreensão leitora no teste toefl itp: reflexões sobre possível efeitos retroativos a parti de uso das estratégias de leitura por candidatos em Porto Velho

Dissertação de Mestrado submetida ao Programa de Mestrado Acadêmico em Letras da Universidade Federal de Rondônia – UNIR como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do título de Mestre em Letras. Orientadora Dra. Lusinilda Carla P. MartinsEsta dissertação enfoca os possíveis efeitos retroativos trazidos aos candidatos ao teste TOEFL ITP, a partir do desempenho na leitura dos textos apresentados na seção ―compreensão de leitura‖ do teste. Para tanto, investigamos os testes de proficiência em LI mais aplicados no Brasil e dentre eles selecionamos o TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) versão ITP como corpus desta pesquisa. Partimos da hipótese de que o nível de desempenho com a habilidade de leitura implica efeitos retroativos – positivos ou negativos na vida do candidato ao teste TOEFL ITP. A fundamentação teórica sobre Avaliação de leitura em língua inglesa e efeito retroativo, buscou-se em Matilde Scaramucci (2004; 2009); Leitura em Língua Inglesa, em Totis (1991); Avaliação em Segunda Língua, em Coombe (et. al.). Foram utilizados como instrumentos de coleta de dados um texto aplicado e analisado, escolhido aleatoriamente na amostra de textos do teste TOEFL ITP, disponível na internet pela ETS. Compõem também os dados analisados, as respostas a questionários aplicados a estudantes de diversos cursos da Universidade Federal de Rondônia, bem como, entrevistas realizadas com os mesmos, a fim de obtermos respostas mais fechadas acerca da problemática levantada. Os resultados mostraram que o conhecimento e aplicação das estratégias de leitura, podem contribuir com um bom desempenho do candidato na seção de leitura do teste. Identificou-se ainda que os candidatos que não tiveram um bom rendimento mostraram-se determinados a aprimorar o desenvolvimento da habilidade de leitura, buscando conhecimento das estratégias que pudessem ser aplicadas em uma próxima oportunidade de realização de um teste de proficiência. Dessa forma, esperamos contribuir para o aprimoramento em compreensão de texto em LI, não só dos candidatos ao teste em questão, mas também dos estudantes e professores de língua inglesa da Universidade Federal de Rondônia

Metabolic rewiring in mutant Kras lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, reflecting an unfortunate combination of very high prevalence and low survival rates, as most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment efficacy is limited. Lung cancer comprises several disease groups with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for ~ 85% of cases and lung adenocarcinoma being its most frequent histological subtype. Mutations in Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (KRAS) affect ~ 30% of lung adenocarcinomas but unlike other commonly altered proteins (EGFR and ALK, affected in ~ 14% and 7% of cases respectively), mutant KRAS remains untargetable. Therapeutic strategies that rely instead on the inhibition of mutant KRAS functional output or the targeting of mutant KRAS cellular dependencies (i.e. synthetic lethality) are an appealing alternative approach. Recent studies focused on the metabolic properties of mutant KRAS lung tumours have uncovered unique metabolic features that can potentially be exploited therapeutically. We review these findings here with a particular focus on in vivo, physiologic, mutant KRAS activity

Cancer-associated fibroblasts induce antigen-specific deletion of CD8 + T Cells to protect tumour cells.

Tumours have developed strategies to interfere with most steps required for anti-tumour immune responses. Although many populations contribute to anti-tumour responses, tumour-infiltrating cytotoxic T cells dominate, hence, many suppressive strategies act to inhibit these. Tumour-associated T cells are frequently restricted to stromal zones rather than tumour islands, raising the possibility that the tumour microenvironment, where crosstalk between malignant and "normal" stromal cells exists, may be critical for T cell suppression. We provide evidence of direct interactions between stroma and T cells driving suppression, showing that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) sample, process and cross-present antigen, killing CD8+ T cells in an antigen-specific, antigen-dependent manner via PD-L2 and FASL. Inhibitory ligand expression is observed in CAFs from human tumours, and neutralisation of PD-L2 or FASL reactivates T cell cytotoxic capacity in vitro and in vivo. Thus, CAFs support T cell suppression within the tumour microenvironment by a mechanism dependent on immune checkpoint activation

Gambling and sexual behaviors in African-American adolescents

Objectives: Late adolescence represents a developmental risk period when many youth become involved in multiple forms of high-risk behaviors with adverse consequences. This study assessed the degree to which two such behaviors, adolescent sexual behaviors and gambling, were associated in a community-based sample with a large African-American presence. Study design: Data are derived from a cohort study. This study focuses on 427 African-American participants with complete information on gambling and sexual behaviors by age 18 (72% of original cohort). Gambling involvement and related problems were based on responses to the South Oaks Gambling Screen — Revised for Adolescents. Several questions assessed sexual behaviors, including age of initiation. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for demographics, intervention status, impulsivity, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and alcohol and illegal drug use. Results: Almost half of the sample (49%, n = 211) had gambled at least once before age 18. More gamblers than non-gamblers had initiated sexual intercourse by age 18 (aOR: 2.29 [1.16, 4.52]). Among those who had initiated sexual activity, more gamblers than non-gamblers with high impulsivity levels at age 13 (vs. low impulsivity levels) had become pregnant or had impregnated someone. Among those who had initiated sexual activity by age 18, more male gamblers had impregnated someone by age 18 as compared to female gamblers becoming pregnant. Conclusions: Gambling and sexual behaviors often co-occur among adolescents. Such findings prompt the need for the inclusion of gambling, an often overlooked risky behavior, in behavioral prevention/intervention programs targeting adolescents