Half a century of amyloids: past, present and future

Amyloid diseases are global epidemics with profound health, social and economic implications and yet remain without a cure. This dire situation calls for research into the origin and pathological manifestations of amyloidosis to stimulate continued development of new therapeutics. In basic science and engineering, the cross-ß architecture has been a constant thread underlying the structural characteristics of pathological and functional amyloids, and realizing that amyloid structures can be both pathological and functional in nature has fuelled innovations in artificial amyloids, whose use today ranges from water purification to 3D printing. At the conclusion of a half century since Eanes and Glenner's seminal study of amyloids in humans, this review commemorates the occasion by documenting the major milestones in amyloid research to date, from the perspectives of structural biology, biophysics, medicine, microbiology, engineering and nanotechnology. We also discuss new challenges and opportunities to drive this interdisciplinary field moving forward. This journal i

The use of real time locating systems to eliminate waste in the construction process in formal and legal aspects

Aspekt formalnoprawny stosowania systemów ustalania lokalizacji w czasie rzeczywistym do eliminacji marnotrawstwa w procesie budowlanym. W artykule przedstawiono ideę systemów typu RTLS pod kątem wykorzystania ich do eliminacji marnotrawstwa w procesie budowlanym. Opisywane systemy z punktu widzenia strumienia wartości są pomocne w wykrywaniu czynności nietworzących wartości dodanej. Autorzy przedstawili temat w aspekcie formalnoprawnym związanym z monitorowaniem i ze śledzeniem pracowników podczas pracy. Zwrócono uwagę na niezbędne dokumenty, pozwolenia, zgłoszenia i zgody pracowników, które zgodnie z obowiązującym w Polsce prawem należy posiadać, aby móc wykorzystywać tego typu systemy do zbierania i przetwarzania danych o lokalizacji pracowników w trakcie wykonywania prac.The use of real time locating systems to eliminate waste in the construction process in formal and legal aspects. The paper presents the idea RTLS systems for use in the elimination of waste in the construction process. Systems are described in terms of value flows as useful tools in detecting non-adding value steps. The authors presented the topic in terms of formal and legal issues related to the monitoring and tracking of workers in the construction processes. Necessary documents, permits, notification and consent of employees are highlighted, which according to Polish law must be in order to use such systems to collect and process data about the location of staff during execution of works

Modernization of Curriculum in Construction Management Based on EU Funds

The need for modernization of curricula is growing with the development of new technologies to support teaching, changes in business strategy of universities in Poland and European Union, and development of the society. In response to these changes, at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Poznan University of Technology, new English-language specialty master studies - Construction Technology Management was launched in March 2014. Studies are based on the cooperation between the student, the industry and the university, allowing students to get to know the specifics of the construction industry. In addition, Poznan University of Technology is involved in an MBAIC project MBA in construction aimed at common study for postgraduates. The synergy achieved through the implementation of these two projects enables the possibility to educate construction managers capable of communication in English, possessing knowledge regarding innovation in the construction industry, who are well prepared to enter the labour market and have the possibility of subsequent improvement of managerial competences

Wpływ typu karmy na długookresową kinetykę konsumpcji u kotów domowych (Felis catus) utrzymywanych w kolonii

Impact of food type on long term consumption kinetics in group-housed domestic cats (Felis catus). The aim of the current research was to assess the impact of the type of dry food on the long term acceptance in cats, expressed as consumption curves. A group of 14 adult neutered domestic cats were subsequently offered three types of products: economy, medium and premium. The consumption of food has been carefully monitored each day of the experiment, which enabled the drawing of the precise consumption curve. The average daily consumption showed differences between feeding periods (98.33%, 61.17% and 55.04% for premium, medium and economy diet type, respectively). In all groups the monotony effect has been observed, but the relative stability of the consumption has been observed only in cats fed with the premium type of food. The attractiveness of the economy type of food was distinctively low, resulting in a regularly waved consumption curve. It can be concluded, that the prolonged offering of a particular type of complete dry pet food within the limits of metabolizable energy requirements may potentially lead to adverse consequences for cats. The food consumption level that supplies the minimal daily energy amount can likely result in imbalanced macronutrient intake.Wpływ typu karmy na długookresową kinetykę konsumpcji u kotów (Felis catus) utrzymywanych w kolonii. Celem doświadczenia było określenie wpływu typu podawanej suchej karmy pełnoporcjowej na długookresowe wskaźniki akceptacji określane dla utrzymywanych grupowo kotów. Grupa 14 dorosłych, kastrowanych kotów otrzymywała kolejno karmę typu medium, economy i premium w okresach trwających 31 dni. Spożycie było ściśle kontrolowane każdego dnia trwania eksperymentu, co pozwoliło na wykreślenie dokładnych krzywych. Zaobserwowano istotne różnice wartości średniego współczynnika konsumpcji pomiędzy poszczególnymi okresami żywienia(98.33%, 61.17% i 55.04% odpowiednio dla karmy typu premium, medium i economy). We wszystkich okresach zaobserwowano efekt "monotonii" jednak relatywnie stabilne wskaźniki akceptacji zanotowano jedynie w okresie podawania karmy typu premium. Atrakcyjność karmy typu economy była wyraźnie niższa w porównaniu do pozostałych. Zaobserwowano znaczące fluktuacje przebiegu krzywej konsumpcji tego produktu. Można stwierdzić, że długotrwałe podawanie kotom jednego typu karmy, w ilości zapewniającej pokrycie dziennego zapotrzebowania na energię metaboliczną potencjalnie może mieć niepożądane konsekwencje. Regularne pobieranie taniej karmy pełnoporcjowej w ilości zapewniającej pokrycie jedynie minimalnego zapotrzebowania energetycznego może spowodować zaburzenie właściwego bilansu podaży podstawowych składników odżywczych

Alterations of aorta intima and media transcriptome in swine fed high-fat diet over 1-year follow-up period and of the switch to normal diet

Background and aim: We previously showed that 12-month high-fat diet (HFD) in pigs led to fattening and increased artery intima-media-thickness, which were partly reversed after 3-month return to control diet (CD). The aim of this study was to decipher underlying mechanism of action by using transcriptomic analyses of intima and media of aorta.Methods and results: Thirty-two pigs were divided into three groups: CD for 12 months; HFD for 12 months; switch diet group (regression diet; RD): HFD for 9 months followed by CD for 3 months. After 12 months, RNA was isolated from aorta intima and media for nutrigenomic analyses. HFD significantly affected gene expression in intima, while RD gene expression profile was distinct from the CD group. This suggests that switch to CD is not sufficient to correct gene expression alterations induced by HFD but counteracted expression of a group of genes. HFD also affected gene expression in media and as for intima, the expression profile of media of pigs on RD differed from that of these on CD.Conclusions: This study revealed nutrigenomic modifications induced by long-term HFD consumption on arterial intima and media. The return to CD was not sufficient to counteract the genomic effect of HFD

Transcriptomic Alterations of the Aortic Intima and Media in Long-term High-fat Diet Fed Pigs and Its Reversal

Topical Area: Nutrient-Gene InteractionsObjectives : We have previously shown that 12 months (mo.) high-fat diet (HFD) in pigs led to pathophysiological alterations, incl. fattening and increased femoral artery intima-media-thickness, which were partly reversed after 3 mo. return to control diet (Zabek et al., PLoS One 2017). The aim of this study was to decipher underlying mechanism of action of these dietary interventions on the arteries by nutrigenomics analyses of intima and media of aorta.Methods : 32 female pigs were divided into 3 groups: Control diet (CD) for 12 mo.; HFD for 12 mo.; 3) Reversal diet group (RD): HFD for 9 mo. followed by CD for 3 mo. After 12 mo. animals were killed and abdominal aorta collected. RNA was isolated from aorta intima and media for whole genome microarray analyses followed by bioinformatics analyses.Results :HFD compared to CD group significantly affected gene expression profile in intima with genes belonging to the chemotaxis, inflammation or endothelial permeability. RD induced gene expression profile was distinct from the CD group. This suggests that 3 mo. of reversal to CD is not sufficient to correct gene expression changes induced by HFD. Comparison of RD profile with that of HFD group revealed a group of genes with opposite expression, e.g. genes regulating inflammation, toll-like cell signaling pathway or cytoskeleton organization involved in the regulation of cell permeability. This suggests that return to the RD only partly restored gene expression alterations due to the HFD. Significant changes in expression of genes in media following HFD were also observed, such as genes involved in cytoskeleton organization and migration MAPK signaling. As for intima, the expression profile of media of pigs on RD was different on that of these on CD diet. Compared to HFD, a group of genes involved in PI3K or MAPK pathways presented opposite expression suggesting that RD can partly correct the changes in genomic effect induced by HFD.Conclusions : This study revealed genomic modifications induced by long-term HFD consumption on arterial intima and media. The return to normal diet for 3 mo. was not sufficient to counteract the genomic effect of long-term HFD consumption.Funding Sources : WROVASC Integrated Cardiovascular Centre, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund

Effect of High-Fat Diet and its Reversal on the Thoracic Duct Lymph Composition in Pigs

National audienceHigh-fat, carbohydrate and low fiber diet is linked to increased CV risk as demonstrated in both experimental animals and epidemiological studies. Reversal to the healthy diet is known to decrease CV risk. Lymph transports both lipids absorbed in intestine and cholesterol from tissues (reverse cholesterol transport). Lipid composition of both post-nodal and pre-nodal lymph is affected by several pathophysiological conditions. Thus, the aim of the presents study was to evaluate how long-term changes in dietary fat intake in pigs alter the lymph lipid and lipoproteins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two female pigs were divided into three experimental groups: Group 1 - control: regular diet (RD - low fat – 3%) for 12 months; Group 2 – increased fat diet ad libitum (HFD) for 12 months (first 6 months moderate-fat (7.5%) diet and following 6 months high-fat diet (16% fat); Group 3: Reversal diet (HRD): HFD for 9 months followed by RD for 3 months. Pigs were examined every 3 months for: body weight, blood pressure, lipidemia, arterial stiffness and elasticity, intima-media complex (IMC) measured by ultrasound. After 12 months on the respective diets, all animals were killed after 24 hours fasting and thoracic duct lymph was collected. Samples from eight animals from each group were used for lymph lipid and lipoprotein distribution analysis by density gradient ultracentrifugation. RESULTS: Lipid lymph analysis revealed higher total cholesterol concentration in HFD fed animals than in these on the control diet. Lymph lipoprotein distribution showed that HFD caused an increase in chylomicron and HDL cholesterol levels, but did not affected VLDL and LDL cholesterol. The return from the HFD to the RD partly restored lymph cholesterol levels to values found in the control (RD) group. In conclusion, our findings support that the level of dietary fat affects lymphatic reverse cholesterol transport