PRIMUS/Informed Cities: Making research work for local sustainability

The final report of a three year European Commission FP7 project

Dual Role of Interleukin-6 in Regulating Insulin Sensitivity in Murine Skeletal Muscle

OBJECTIVE—Cytokines are elevated in various insulin-resistant states, including type 2 diabetes and obesity, although the contribution of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the induction of these diseases is controversial

Cultura Empresarial e Reestruturação Produtiva na Indústria Brasileira: O Caso da Lupo S/A

Founded in 1921, the company currently known as Lupo S/A is one of the most ancient textile and clothing industries in Brazil. In this article we aim to describe the general lines of the trajectory of this family company, currently producing socks, nightwear and sports articles. The focus of this paper is on the analysis of some strategies used by the company along its formation and development process, and, particularly, the way these strategies made possible the productive restructuring associated to the overcoming of the strong crisis which began in the end of the 80's and early 90's, contributing to its recent consolidation in the clothing industry. The leading hypothesis of the study is that pioneering connected to a strong organizational culture that has been formed and constructed since its foundation and that was reestablished in a more recent management were the factors which were responsible for the advances able to generate an innovation environment in products as well as in processes and management. The theoretical reflection selected to subsidize the cognitive construction of the study of the company is based on the historical approach of the development of the textile industry in Brazil and in studies about the importance of the action of the entrepreneur, in the role of the organizational culture and LORENZO, H.C. & CAÍRES, A.C.R. of innovation to choose strategies in companies. The research involved the analysis of documents and data of the company, as well as interviews with directors and employees. The results show a traditional company model, but also show the presence of a very advanced entrepreneurial dynamic. Modern world – known as a fordist industrial model – could already be noticed in the company when this production pattern was not clearly defined yet in the Brazilian industry. Nowadays, the company faces the challenge of globalization and the open competition in the international market which brings the rivalry of the greatest and best globalized companies.Fundada em 1921, a empresa atualmente denominada Lupo S/A é das mais antigas das indústrias do setor têxtil e confecções da Brasil. Neste artigo se busca traçar as linhas gerais da trajetória da empresa familiar, hoje voltada para a produção de meias, lingeries e artigos esportivos. O foco do artigo está na análise de algumas estratégias utilizadas pela empresa ao longo de seu processo de formação e desenvolvimento e, em particular, a forma como essas estratégias possibilitaram a reestruturação produtiva associada à superação de forte crise iniciada no final dos anos 80 e começo dos 90, possibilitando sua consolidação recente na indústria de confecções. A hipótese norteadora do estudo é de que a forte cultura organizacional que se foi formando e se consolidando desde sua fundação, restabelecida na gestão mais recente, foi o fator responsável pelos avanços capazes de gerar um ambiente de inovação tanto em produtos quanto em processos e gestão. A reflexão teórica selecionada para subsidiar a construção cognitiva do estudo da empresa está apoiada na abordagem histórica sobre o desenvolvimento da indústria têxtil no Brasil e em estudos sobre importância da ação do empreendedor, no papel da cultura organizacional e da inovação para a escolha das estratégias em empresas. A pesquisa realizada envolveu a análise de documentos e dados da empresa, além de entrevistas com diretores e funcionários. Os resultados mostram um modelo tradicional da empresa, mas também a presença de uma dinâmica empresarial muito avançada. O mundo moderno – conhecido como modelo industrial fordista – já podia ser percebido na empresa quando este padrão de produção ainda não estava claramente definido na indústria brasileira. Atualmente, a empresa enfrenta o desafio da globalização e da competição aberta no mercado internacional, que traz a concorrência das maiores e melhores empresas globalizadas

Numb Expression Contributes to the Maintenance of an Undifferentiated State in Human Epidermis.

The epidermis is a stratified epithelium with a stem cell subpopulation in the basal layer that constantly replicates and periodically detaches from the base, undergoing a differentiation process that involves various developmental signals and regulatory pathways. During the last 10 years, a number of studies tried to elucidate the intricate scenario that maintains the epithelial shield during the entire life span. In our study, we investigated the role of Numb in the skin compartment and, in particular, its involvement in stem cell maintenance. Numb expression in the skin compartment was assessed by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry analysis. We evaluated Numb expression in primary epithelial cells at various differentiative stages. Moreover, we overexpressed Numb in the isolated population enriched for undifferentiated progenitors to establish its involvement in in vitro differentiation. We demonstrated that Numb in high-proliferating epithelial undifferentiated progenitors contributes to the maintenance of an undifferentiated state. This regulation involves the E3 ligases Itch binding. Moreover, the analysis of a cohort of cutaneous carcinomas showed that Numb is highly expressed in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), where we observed a direct correlation between the expression of Numb and Ki-67. Our data indicate for the first time that Numb is involved in the maintenance of the undifferentiated proliferating stem cell pool in the epithelial basal layer and its expression could become a new marker in skin cancer

Usefulness of Ultrasound Imaging in Detecting Psoriatic Arthritis of Fingers and Toes in Patients with Psoriasis

Background. Given that clinical evaluation may underestimate the joint damage and that early treatment can slow down psoriatic arthritis (PsA) progression, screening psoriasis patients with imaging tools that can depict early PsA changes would entail clear benefits. Objective. To compare the ability of X-ray and ultrasound (US) examination in detecting morphological abnormalities consistent with early PsA in patients with psoriasis, using rheumatological evaluation as the gold standard for diagnosis. Methods. Patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and no previous PsA diagnosis attending our outpatient dermatology clinic and reporting finger/toe joint and/or tendon pain underwent X-ray and US evaluation; they were subsequently referred to a rheumatologist for clinical examination and review of imaging findings. Results. Abnormal US and/or X-ray findings involving at least one finger and/or toe (joints and/or tendons) were seen in 36/52 patients: 11 had one or more X-ray abnormalities, including erosion, joint space narrowing, new bone formation, periarticular soft tissue swelling, and periarticular osteoporosis; 36 had suspicious changes on US. Conclusion. US proved valuable in detecting joint and/or tendon abnormalities in the fingers and toes of patients with suspicious changes. The dermatologist should consider US to obtain an accurate assessment of suspicious findings

Prevalencia de desnutrición en sujetos mayores de 65 años en la Comunidad de Madrid: Estudio DREAM + 65

Introduction: Disease-related malnutrition (DRM) is a frequent community healthcare problem that predominantly affects adults over 65 years of age and increases morbidity and mortality rates, while also decreasing quality of life. Objective: To study the prevalence of DRM in adults over 65 in different community healthcare centres belonging to the Regional Social Welfare Service of the Community of Madrid. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 33 community healthcare centres in Madrid (6 primary healthcare centres (PC), 9 care centres for the elderly (CE), 9 hospitals (H) and 9 nursing homes (NH)) selected by means of multistage sampling. The variables studied were age, sex, level of dependence according to the Red Cross disability scale, reason for admission and underlying disease, habitat (urban-periurban-rural) and geographical distribution (north-centre-south). The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-screening) was employed as a nutritional screening tool in all the centres. In the case of patients with positive screening (at risk-malnutrition), the MNA-assessment was carried out. Statistical analysis was conducted with the SPSS 21.0 package and included descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test and univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis (LR). Statistical significance was considered to be p < 0.05. Results: A total of 1,103 subjects were recruited (275 PC, 278 CE, 281 H, 269 NH), mean age 79.5 ± 8.4 years (41.2% were males and 58.8% females). The subjects from H and NH had a higher degree of disability (p < 0.001). The overall prevalence of DRM was 10%, 23.3% being at risk of malnutrition, with differences among the 4 types of community healthcare centres (p < 0.001). The univariate LR analysis showed significant differences in the prevalence of malnutrition according to age, sex, degree of dependence, type of community healthcare centre, habitat and geographical zone. Nevertheless, in the multivariate analysis, only the degree of dependence, the type of centre and habitat were statistically significant. Conclusions: The prevalence of DRM in adults over 65 years of age in the Community of Madrid amounts to 10%, with another 23.3% at risk of malnutrition. The variables that were independently related with malnutrition in the multivariate analysis were only the patients’ level of dependence and the type and setting of the community healthcare centreIntroducción: la desnutrición relacionada con la enfermedad (DRE) es un problema sociosanitario frecuente que afecta preferentemente a los mayores de 65 años, que aumenta la morbimortalidad y disminuye la calidad de vida. Objetivo: estudiar la prevalencia de DRE en mayores de 65 años en diferentes centros sociosanitarios del Servicio Regional de Bienestar Social de la Comunidad de Madrid. Métodos: estudio transversal en 33 centros sociosanitarios de Madrid (6 centros de atención primaria [AP], 9 centros de mayores [CM], 9 hospitales [H] y 9 residencias [R]) seleccionados mediante muestreo polietápico. Las variables estudiadas fueron edad, sexo, nivel de dependencia según la escala de incapacidad de la Cruz Roja, motivo de ingreso y enfermedad de base, hábitat (urbano-periurbano-rural) y distribución geográfica (norte-centro-sur). Como herramienta de cribado nutricional se utilizó el Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-cribaje) en todos los centros. En los pacientes con cribado positivo (en riesgo-desnutrición) se realizó el MNA-evaluación. El estudio estadístico se realizó con el paquete SSS 21.0 e incluyó estadística descriptiva, test de Chi-cuadrado y prueba exacta de Fisher, ANOVA de un factor, Kruskal-Wallis y análisis de regresión logística (RL) binaria univariante y multivariante. Se consideró significación estadística p < 0,05. Resultados: se reclutaron 1.103 sujetos (275 AP, 278 CM, 281 H, 269 R), edad media de 79,5 ± 8,4 años (41,2% varones, 58,8% mujeres). Los sujetos procedentes de H y R tuvieron un mayor grado de incapacidad (p < 0,001). La prevalencia global de DRE fue del 10%, encontrándose un 23,3% en riesgo de desnutrición, con diferencias entre los cuatro tipos de centros sociosanitarios (p < 0,001). El análisis univariante de RL mostró diferencias significativas en la prevalencia de desnutrición según la edad, sexo, grado de dependencia, tipo de centro sociosanitario, hábitat y zona geográfica. Sin embargo, en el análisis multivariante solo el grado de dependencia, el tipo de centro y el hábitat tuvieron significación estadística. Conclusiones: la prevalencia de DRE en mayores de 65 años en la Comunidad de Madrid es del 10%, encontrándose además un 23,3% en riesgo de desnutrición. Las únicas variables que se relacionaron de forma independiente con la desnutrición en el análisis multivariante fueron el nivel de dependencia de los pacientes y el tipo y hábitat de centro sociosanitari

Boas práticas de fabricação e a melhora da qualidade na agricultura familiar: estudo de caso com pequenos produtores de cachaça

As Boas Práticas de Fabricação (BPF) estabelecem princípios gerais em todas as etapas da produção de alimentos e bebidas, sendo necessária para a manutenção da qualidade da produção, para a redução de perdas de processo, para conferir maior competitividade no mercado de bebidas e para garantir a qualidade, identidade e padronização do produto. Este trabalho avaliou a influencia da implantação de BPF na qualidade sensorial e físico-química de cachaças produzidas no Estado de São Paulo através de interação Universidade-empresa. Conclui-se que a interação Universidade-empresa implicou em melhorias no processo produtivo que foram refletidas na qualidade sensorial e físico-química da bebida

Parameter space exploration within dynamic simulations of signaling networks

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Effects of Cation Vacancy Distribution in Doped LaMnO3+d Perovskites

In this paper we report studies on the correlation between the presence and distribution of cation vacancies in doped manganites (La,M)MnO3+delta (where M = Na, Ca) and their magnetic properties. Results indicate that cation vacancies are distributed differently for the different crystal structures and dopant ion type. In particular it is shown that knowledge of the total vacancies concentration alone is not enough to fully characterize the physical properties of manganites and that their distribution between the A and B sites of the perovskite structure plays a crucial role which should be taken into account in future studies.Comment: 27 pages, 5 figure. To appear in J. Solid State Che

Measurement of Glutathionylated Haemoglobin by MALDI-ToF Mass Spectrometry as a Biomarker of Oxidative Stress in Heavy Smokers and in Occupational Obese Subjects

Glutathionyl-haemoglobin (Hb-SSG) is a minor form of haemoglobin characterized by the presence of a disulfide bond between the &#946;-93 cysteine residue and the thiol group of glutathione. Hb-SSG is naturally present in the erythrocytes at levels comparable to those of glycated haemoglobin and can be measured by MALDI mass spectrometry on very small samples of erythrocytes from peripheral blood. Since Hb-SSG has been recognized as a sensitive biomarker of oxidative stress in several degenerative diseases (diabetes, hyperlipidemia, kidney disease) and in healthy workers exposed to glutathione-depleting toxic agents such as butadiene, we have measured for the first time the levels of Hb-SSG in two groups: healthy heavy cigarette smokers and overweight-obese