Perivascular adipose tissue as a relevant fat depot for cardiovascular risk in obesity

Obesity is associated with increased risk of premature death, morbidity, and mortality from several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure. However, this is not a straightforward relationship. Although several studies have substantiated that obesity confers an independent and additive risk of all-cause and cardiovascular death, there is significant variability in these associations, with some lean individuals developing diseases and others remaining healthy despite severe obesity, the so-called metabolically healthy obese. Part of this variability has been attributed to the heterogeneity in both the distribution of body fat and the intrinsic properties of adipose tissue depots, including developmental origin, adipogenic and proliferative capacity, glucose and lipid metabolism, hormonal control, thermogenic ability, and vascularization. In obesity, these depot-specific differences translate into specific fat distribution patterns, which are closely associated with differential cardiometabolic risks. The adventitial fat layer, also known as perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), is of major importance. Similar to the visceral adipose tissue, PVAT has a pathophysiological role in CVDs. PVAT influences vascular homeostasis by releasing numerous vasoactive factors, cytokines, and adipokines, which can readily target the underlying smooth muscle cell layers, regulating the vascular tone, distribution of blood flow, as well as angiogenesis, inflammatory processes, and redox status. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge and discuss the role of PVAT within the scope of adipose tissue as a major contributing factor to obesity-associated cardiovascular risk. Relevant clinical studies documenting the relationship between PVAT dysfunction and CVD with a focus on potential mechanisms by which PVAT contributes to obesity-related CVDs are pointed out

Composição centesimal da castanha-do-brasil (Bertholletia excelsa) comercializada em Macapá e Santana (AP).

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o valor nutritivo através da composição centesimal da amêndoa da castanha-do-brasil comercializada nas quatro principais feiras dos municípios de Macapá e Santana oriundas das reservas de Iratapuru, Cajari e Maracá

A multi-scenario analysis to improve layout efficiency

Logistics costs represent a large portion of overall costs. Companies in peripheral countries need to be additionally careful in streamlining them if they want to maintain their competitivity. This research is focussed on a plant belonging to an aerospace component supplier, and its purpose is to reduce the layout costs in one of its warehouses. Data was collected using documentation, archival records, informal interviews, and direct and participant observation. From 66 initial scenarios based on layout decisions, storage assignment policies and alternative picking routes, 44 were compared as these are the ones that fit the company reality. Findings showed that travelling distance could be reduced when the allocation of items in shelves follow their picking frequency and when Class-based storage with return routing policies is used. In parallel, it does not impact in a relevant way process time and the quality of the picking.info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersio

Transcontextual model of motivation in the preaching of healthy lifestyles

El presente trabajo examinó la aplicación del Modelo Transcontextual de la Motivación en la predicción de estilos de vida saludables de atletas veteranos. Se utilizó una muestra de 682 atletas veteranos portugueses de ambos géneros, de edades comprendidas entre los 30 y los 76 años (M=43.64; DT=8.25), dónde a través de cuestionarios se ha medido: la satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas básicas, la motivación, las variables del comportamiento planeado y los estilos de vida saludables. De las conclusiones alcanzadas en este trabajo, son de destacar la relevancia de fomentar la necesidad psicológica básica de relación social, ya que ésta favorecerá la motivación intrínseca, promoviendo un mayor control del comportamiento sobre las intenciones de los practicantes, generando así mejores hábitos alimenticios, hábitos de descanso y menor consumo de tabacoThe present paper has examined the application of the Transcontextual Model of motivation in the prediction of healthy lifestyles of veteran athletes. A sample of 682 Portuguese veteran athletes of both sexes, aged between 30 and 76 years (M = 43.64; SD = 8.25), were administered the following questionnaires: satisfaction of needs basic psychological, self-determination motivation, planned behavioral variables and healthy lifestyles. From the conclusions reached in this work, it is important to emphasize the importance of fostering the basic psychological need of relatedness, since this will favor the intrinsic motivation, promoting greater control of behavior over the intentions of practitioners, thus generating more healthy eating habits, rest habits and lower tobacco consumptio

Validation of the questionnaire of the transtheoretical model of change of physical exercise

El objetivo de este estudio fue traducir y validar al español el Cuestionario del Modelo Transteórico del Cambio de Ejercicio Físico de Prochaska y DiClemente (1983). Se utilizó una muestra de 812 personas, entre los 14 y los 88 años (29,5±21,7). Se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio, análisis de consistencia interna y validez predictiva. Los resultados del Cuestionario del Modelo Transteórico del Cambio de Ejercicio Físico presentaron valores adecuados (χ2/g.l = 4,3, CFI = 0,92, IFI = 0,92, TLI = 0,90, RMSEA = 0,06, SRMR = 0,05). La consistencia interna mostró valores encima de .70. Se halló una predicción positiva y significativa de los estadios más activos del Modelo Transteórico sobre la intención de ser físicamente activo. Este estudio ha permitido proporcionar un cuestionario válido y fiable para evaluar el estadio en el que se encuentran las personas con respecto a la práctica de ejercicio físico, en el ámbito españolThe aim of this study was to translate and validate in Spanish the Questionnaire of the Transtheoretical Model of Change of Physical Exercise, of Prochaska and DiClemente (1983), and also to make adaptations and modifications as needed. The sample was composed of 812 people, aged between 14 and 88 years (29.5+21.7). Confirmative factorial analysis, analysis of internal consistency and of predictive validity were carried out. After the confirmative factorial analysis, the Questionnaire of the Theoretical Model of Change of Physical Exercise showed acceptable results (x2/g.1=4,3, CFI=0,92, IFI= 0.92, TLI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.06, SRMR = 0,05). Similarly, internal consistency obtained from the respective dimensions showed values above .70. A positive and significant prediction of the most active stages of the Transtheoretical Model (action and maintenance) was found on the ‘intention to be physically active’. This study has enabled the provision of a valid and reliable questionnair

Incidental potable water reuse in a Catalonian basin: living downstream

A preliminary assessment of incidental potable water reuse (IPR) in the Llobregat River basin has been conducted by estimating the dilution factor of treated effluent discharges upstream of six river flow measurement sections. IPR in the Llobregat River basin is an everyday occurrence, because of the systematic discharge of treated effluents upstream of river sections used as drinking water sources. Average river flows at the Sant Joan Despí measurement section increased from 400,000 m3/d (2007) to 864,000 m3/d (2008) and to 931,000 m3/d (2013), while treated effluent discharges upstream of that section ranged from 109,000 m3/d to 114,000 m3/d in those years. The highest degree of IPR occurs downstream of the Abrera and Sant Joan Despí flow measurement sections, from where about half of the drinking water supplied to the Barcelona Metropolitan Area is abstracted. Based on average annual flows, the likelihood that drinking water produced from that river stretch contained treated effluent varied from 25% (2007) to 13% (2008) and to 12% (2013). Water agencies and drinking water production utilities have strived for decades to ensure that drinking water production satisfies applicable quality requirements and provides the required public health protection.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Learning and policy search in stochastic dynamical systems with Bayesian neural networks

We present an algorithm for policy search in stochastic dynamical systems using model-based reinforcement learning. The system dynamics are described with Bayesian neural networks (BNNs) that include stochastic input variables. These input variables allow us to capture complex statistical patterns in the transition dynamics (e.g. multi-modality and heteroskedasticity), which are usually missed by alternative modeling approaches. After learning the dynamics, our BNNs are then fed into an algorithm that performs random roll-outs and uses stochastic optimization for policy learning. We train our BNNs by minimizing a-divergences with a = 0.5, which usually produces better results than other techniques such as variational Bayes. We illustrate the performance of our method by solving a challenging problem where model-based approaches usually fail and by obtaining promising results in real-world scenarios including the control of a gas turbine and an industrial benchmark

Produtos e subprodutos da castanha-do-brasil no Estado do Amapá.

A castanha-do-brasil é uma espécie nativa da Amazônia, com ampla distribuição, sendo uma das mais nobres e valiosas da floresta, devido ao seu aproveitamento tanto em termos madereiros como também de seus frutos. Participando na dieta alimentar em várias regiões do Amazonas. O presente documento foi elaborado visando apresentar informações à população, principalmente em termos de composição das vitaminas, minerais e seus óleos essenciais, não apenas em termos quantitativos, mas também em termos qualitativos, que é o enfoque mais moderno nos principais estudos mundiais.bitstream/item/71202/1/AP-2001-produtos-subprodutos-castanha-do-brasil.pd

Avaliação das características químicas do vinho de açaí comercializado em Macapá e Santana (AP).

A bebida proveniente do fruto do açaizeiro, conhecido como vinho, representa item básico na alimentação da população amapaense, estimando-se um consumo médio diário de 27 mil a 34 mil L/dia somente na capital Macapá. Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar alguns componentes químicos do vinho de açaí, comercializado em quatro pontos distintos dos principais municípios consumidores, de Macapá e Santana (AP), e originados de diferentes locais de coleta dos frutos, com intervalos de tempo entre coleta e processamento distintos. As amostras foram transportadas ao Laboratório de Alimentos da Embrapa Amapá, em recipientes estéreis, onde realizaram-se as avaliações do teor de umidade, sendo a matéria seca determinada por diferença; pH, extrato etéreo (Iipídeos) e da proteína bruta. As amostras de vinho de açaí adquiridas enquadraram-se nos padrões físico-químicos disponíveis na literatura, apresentando-se como alimento altamente calórico com média de 7,1% de lipídeos, mas não podendo ser considerada uma fonte proteica única, pois apresentou teor de 2,1% de proteína bruta, devendo ser ingerida com alimentação complementar