Utilizando R para manipular dados de projeção climática.

O Laboratório de Modelagem Agroambiental (LMA) da Embrapa Informática Agropecuária utiliza dados de projeção climática para realização de simulações de cenários agrícolas futuros. Grande parte desses dados é disponibilizada no formato NetCDF. A NetCDF é uma biblioteca livre, que possui funções de manipulação de dados armazenados em matrizes que contêm dimensões, variáveis e metadados. É utilizada em linguagens como C, C++, Fortran, Java, R entre outras. Essa combinação entre linguagem, biblioteca e arquivo possibilita criação, acesso e compartilhamento de dados científicos. Os arquivos NetCDF possuem informações descritivas sobre os dados que contêm (os chamados metadados). Podem armazenar diferentes tipos de variáveis numéricas e caracteres. Além disso, o formato é eficiente, permitindo ao usuário acessar um pequeno subconjunto de uma grande base de dados, visualizar simultaneamente o mesmo arquivo por mais de um leitor e anexar dados a um arquivo NetCDF, sem ter que copiar sua base de dados ou redefinir sua estrutura. Antes de serem utilizados, esses dados passam por diversos processamentos, tais como recorte temporal e espacial, reamostragem de grade e extração de dados. O objetivo deste trabalho é demonstrar como tais processamentos podem ser realizados utilizando o R

Calpain 3 and CaMKIIβ signaling are required to induce HSP70 necessary for adaptive muscle growth after atrophy.

Mutations in CAPN3 cause autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2A. Calpain 3 (CAPN3) is a calcium dependent protease residing in the myofibrillar, cytosolic and triad fractions of skeletal muscle. At the triad, it colocalizes with calcium calmodulin kinase IIβ (CaMKIIβ). CAPN3 knock out mice (C3KO) show reduced triad integrity and blunted CaMKIIβ signaling, which correlates with impaired transcriptional activation of myofibrillar and oxidative metabolism genes in response to running exercise. These data suggest a role for CAPN3 and CaMKIIβ in gene regulation that takes place during adaptation to endurance exercise. To assess whether CAPN3- CaMKIIβ signaling influences skeletal muscle remodeling in other contexts, we subjected C3KO and wild type mice to hindlimb unloading and reloading and assessed CaMKIIβ signaling and gene expression by RNA-sequencing. After induced atrophy followed by 4 days of reloading, both CaMKIIβ activation and expression of inflammatory and cellular stress genes were increased. C3KO muscles failed to activate CaMKIIβ signaling, did not activate the same pattern of gene expression and demonstrated impaired growth at 4 days of reloading. Moreover, C3KO muscles failed to activate inducible HSP70, which was previously shown to be indispensible for the inflammatory response needed to promote muscle recovery. Likewise, C3KO showed diminished immune cell infiltration and decreased expression of pro-myogenic genes. These data support a role for CaMKIIβ signaling in induction of HSP70 and promotion of the inflammatory response during muscle growth and remodeling that occurs after atrophy, suggesting that CaMKIIβ regulates remodeling in multiple contexts: endurance exercise and growth after atrophy

Transcriptional profiling of single fiber cells in a transgenic paradigm of an inherited childhood cataract reveals absence of molecular heterogeneity.

Our recent single-cell transcriptomic analysis has demonstrated that heterogeneous transcriptional activity attends molecular transition from the nascent to terminally differentiated fiber cells in the developing mouse lens. To understand the role of transcriptional heterogeneity in terminal differentiation and the functional phenotype (transparency) of this tissue, here we present a single-cell analysis of the developing lens, in a transgenic paradigm of an inherited pathology, known as the lamellar cataract. Cataracts hinder transmission of light into the eye. Lamellar cataract is the most prevalent bilateral childhood cataract. In this disease of early infancy, initially, the opacities remain confined to a few fiber cells, thus presenting an opportunity to investigate early molecular events that lead to cataractogenesis. We used a previously established paradigm that faithfully recapitulates this disease in transgenic mice. About 500 single fiber cells, manually isolated from a 2-day-old transgenic lens were interrogated individually for the expression of all known 17 crystallins and 78 other relevant genes using a Biomark HD (Fluidigm). We find that fiber cells from spatially and developmentally discrete regions of the transgenic (cataract) lens show remarkable absence of the heterogeneity of gene expression. Importantly, the molecular variability of cortical fiber cells, the hallmark of the WT lens, is absent in the transgenic cataract, suggesting absence of specific cell-type(s). Interestingly, we find a repetitive pattern of gene activity in progressive states of differentiation in the transgenic lens. This molecular dysfunction portends pathology much before the physical manifestations of the disease

Avaliação de banco de dados raster para o projeto Natdata.

O projeto Natdata pretende sobrepor esses desafios, visando, ao final, a implantação de uma plataforma que integre os dados de recursos naturais da Embrapa, ainda muito heterogêneos e provenientes de diferentes domínios, e muitas vezes de outras instituições, garantindo a manutenção de sua semântica

The Aging Heart: Mitophagy at the Center of Rejuvenation.

Aging is associated with structural and functional changes in the heart and is a major risk factor in developing cardiovascular disease. Many recent studies have focused on increasing our understanding of the basis of aging at the cellular and molecular levels in various tissues, including the heart. It is known that there is an age-related decline in cellular quality control pathways such as autophagy and mitophagy, which leads to accumulation of potentially harmful cellular components in cardiac myocytes. There is evidence that diminished autophagy and mitophagy accelerate the aging process, while enhancement preserves cardiac homeostasis and extends life span. Here, we review the current knowledge of autophagy and mitophagy in aging and discuss how age-associated alterations in these processes contribute to cardiac aging and age-related cardiovascular diseases

Heat shock transcription factor 1 preserves cardiac angiogenesis and adaptation during pressure overload

To examine how heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) protects against maladaptive hypertrophy during pressure overload, we subjected HSF1 transgenic (TG), knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice to a constriction of transverse aorta (TAC), and found that cardiac hypertrophy, functions and angiogenesis were well preserved in TG mice but were decreased in KO mice compared to WT ones at 4 weeks, which was related to HIF-1 and p53 expression. Inhibition of angiogenesis suppressed cardiac adaptation in TG mice while overexpression of angiogenesis factors improved maladaptive hypertrophy in KO mice. In vitro formation of vasculatures by microvascular endothelial cells was higher in TG mice but lower in KO mice than in WT ones. A siRNA of p53 but not a HIF-1 gene significantly reversed maladaptive hypertrophy in KO mice whereas a siRNA of HIF-1 but not a p53 gene induced maladaptive hypertrophy in TG mice. Heart microRNA analysis showed that miR-378 and miR-379 were differently changed among the three mice after TAC, and miR-378 or siRNA of miR-379 could maintain cardiac adaptation in WT mice. These results indicate that HSF1 preserves cardiac adaptation during pressure overload through p53-HIF-1-associated angiogenesis, which is controlled by miR-378 and miR-379

Investigation of experimental research on the low velocity impact damage behavior of ncf composite plates – COMPLAS XII

In this study an experimental investigation is performed on the impact response of non-crimp fabric composite plates at room temperature. Chopped strand mat combi is used as reinforcing material and two kinds of matrix; epoxy and polyester, are also used as resin material in the composite plates. All specimens used in experiments are manufactured by vacuum assisted resin infusion method at Atard Defence and Aerospace Advanced Technology Application Research and Development Inc. An instrumented drop weight impact testing machine Instron-Dynatup 9250 HV is used for impact testing. Impact tests are performed under various impact energies ranging from initiation of damage to final perforation. Damage processes of the samples are analyzed from cross-examining load– deflection curves, energy profiling method and damaged specimens

High-Temperature Transport Properties of Yb4−xSmxSb3

Polycrystalline L4Sb3 (L = La, Ce, Sm, and Yb) and Yb4−x Sm x Sb3, which crystallizes in the anti-Th3P4 structure type (I-43d no. 220), were synthesized via high-temperature reaction. Structural and chemical characterization were performed by x-ray diffraction and electronic microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray analysis. Pucks were densified by spark plasma sintering. Transport property measurements showed that these compounds are n-type with low Seebeck coefficients, except for Yb4Sb3, which shows semimetallic behavior with hole conduction above 523 K. By partially substituting Yb by a trivalent rare earth we successfully improved the thermoelectric figure of merit of Yb4Sb3 up to 0.7 at 1273 K

Huntington's disease is a multi-system disorder.

Huntingtons disease (HD) is one of the most common non-curable rare diseases and is characterized by choreic movements, psychiatric symptoms, and slowly progressive dementia. HD is inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder with complete penetrance. Although brain pathology has become a hallmark of HD, there is a critical mass of new studies suggesting peripheral tissue pathology as an important factor in disease progression. In particular, recently published studies about skeletal muscle malfunction and HD-related cardiomyopathy in HD mouse models strongly suggest their important roles, leading to upcoming preclinical and clinical trials. One might conclude that therapeutic approaches in HD should not be restricted only to the brain pathology but instead major efforts should also be made to understand the cross-talk between diseased tissues like the CNS-Heart or CNS-skeletal muscle axes