Development of a system for supporting industrial management

Mass customization is the most current production paradigm in organizations that depend heavily on the demands of their customers and with the ambition to stand out from the high competition in the market. However, given the increasing diversity of products that this type of production implies, implementing it in a company involves challenges, mainly in the Product Data Management (PDM). Thus, information technology and systems, more specifically Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), are other determining factors for the success of organizations, allowing them to be more efficient through the integration of information. In response to a better functioning in the production planning and control (PPC), with the increasing expansion, the company Be Stitch directed the production of textile articles for the home market, and decided to innovate investing in an information system, allowing to adapt the way in which it operates and generates the required PPC information. With the phases of analysis, selection and survey of requirements carried out for the initial phase, the present project appeared as a follow-up to develop a software-Silex-being presented and specified the main functionalities needed, implemented and tested. After being developed and implemented in the company, this software has shown an improvement in the flow of information and is very beneficial in cases where the information is not centered in a certain point, as is the case of Be Stitch, which has streamlined and improved the communication between them.This work has been supported by FCT –Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019

PARP inhibition ameliorates nephropathy in an animal model of type 2 diabetes: focus on oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzyme contributes to nephropathy, a serious diabetic complication which may lead to end-stage renal disease. The study aims to investigate the effect of PARP over-activation on kidney functions in a type 2 diabetic rat model. The study also tests the therapeutic use of PARP inhibitors in diabetic nephropathy. Type 2 diabetes was induced in adult male rats by highfructose/high-fat diet and low streptozotocin dose. Then, the PARP inhibitor 4-aminobenzamide (4-AB) was administered daily for 10 weeks. At the end, urine samples were collected to measure urine creatinine, albumin, and total proteins. PARP activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and nitrite content were measured in kidney tissue homogenate. Glucose, fructosamine, insulin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured in serum. Furthermore, histological studies, collagen deposition, and immunofluorescence of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) were carried out. PARP enzyme activity was significantly higher in the diabetic group and was significantly reduced by 4-AB administration. Diabetic animals had clear nephropathy indicated by proteinuria and increased albumin excretion rate (AER) which were significantly decreased by PARP inhibition. In addition, PARP inhibition increased creatinine clearance in diabetic animals and reduced renal TGF-β1 and glomerular fibrosis. Moreover, PARP inhibition alleviated the elevated serum TNF-α level, renal NFκB, nitrite, and the decrease in SOD activity in diabetic animals. However, PARP inhibition did not significantly affect neither hyperglycemia nor insulin sensitivity. PARP enzyme inhibition alleviates diabetic nephropathy through decreasing inflammation, oxidative stress, and renal fibrosi

Modelling the supply chain perception gaps

This study applies the research of perception gap analysis to supply chain integration and develops a generic model, the 3-Level Gaps Model, with the goal of contributing to harmonization and integration in the supply chain. The model suggests that significant perception gaps may exist among supply chain members with regards to the importance of different performance criteria. The concept of the model is conceived through an empirical and inductive approach, combining the research discipline of supply chain relationship and perception gap analysis. First hand data has been collected through a survey across a key buyer in the motor insurance industry and its eight suppliers. Rigorous statistical analysis testified the research hypotheses, which in turn verified the validity and relevance of the developed 3-Level Gaps Model. The research reveals the significant existence of supply chain perception gaps at all three levels as defined, which could be the root-causes to underperformed supply chain