Organizational Structure and Its Influence on Decision-Making: A Bibliometric Analysis

This research aimed, through a bibliometric analysis, to generate a Bibliographic Portfolio of articles submitted for aligning organizational matters and taking public administration. National and international literature was used in order to contribute and facilitate the investigation of future research on the related theme. For the analysis, the Proknow-C methodology was used, with a publication time limit of 20 years, from 1999 to 2019, using Scopus, Web of Science and Spell as databases. A research resulted in the construction of a portfolio containing 4 research articles that shown alignment with the topic. Two articles aimed to build models to optimize management decision making in the complex environment of applicable technologies and resources, while the other articles analyze the decision making process, one article related to structured ethical decision and the other to public participation in decision making in four different countries. The content of the Bibliographic Portfolio allows a direction for future research, allowing the development of theoretical bases on the articles that stood out in the research

DAZ gene copies: evidence of Y chromosome evolution

The DAZ gene, a contributing factor in infertility, lies on the human Y chromosome's AZFc region, whose deletion is a common cause of spermatogenic failure. Y chromosome binary polymorphisms on the non-recombining Y (NRY) region, believed to be a single occurrence on an evolutionary scale, were typed in a sample of fertile and infertile men with known DAZ backgrounds. The Y single-nucleotide polymorphisms (Y-SNPs) with low mutation rates are currently well characterized and permit the construction of a unique phylogeny of haplogroups. DAZ haplotypes were defined using single-nucleotide variant (SNV)/sequence tagged-site (STS) markers to distinguish between the four copies of the gene. The variation of 10 Y chromosome short tandem repeat (STRs) was used to determine the coalescence age of DAZ haplotypes in a comparable time frame similar to that of SNP haplogroups. An association between DAZ haplotypes and Y chromosome haplogroups was found, and our data show that the DAZ gene is not under selective constraints and its evolution depends only on the mutation rate. The same variants were common to fertile and infertile men, although partial DAZ deletions occurred only in infertile men, suggesting that those should only be used as a tool for infertility diagnosis when analysed in combination with haplogroup determinations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Leptin modulates human Sertoli cells acetate production and glycolytic profile: a novel mechanism of obesity-induced male infertility?

AbstractHuman feeding behavior and lifestyle are gradually being altered, favoring the development of metabolic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes and obesity. Leptin is produced by the adipose tissue acting as a satiety signal. Its levels have been positively correlated with fat mass and hyperleptinemia has been proposed to negatively affect male reproductive function. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms by which this hormone affects male fertility remain unknown. Herein, we hypothesize that leptin acts on human Sertoli cells (hSCs), the “nurse cells” of spermatogenesis, altering their metabolism. To test our hypothesis, hSCs were cultured without or with leptin (5, 25 and 50ng/mL). Leptin receptor was identified by qPCR and Western blot. Protein levels of glucose transporters (GLUT1, GLUT2 and GLUT3), phosphofructokinase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) were determined by Western Blot. LDH activity was assessed and metabolite production/consumption determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance. Oxidative damage was evaluated by assessing lipid peroxidation, protein carbonilation and nitration. Our data shows that leptin receptor is expressed in hSCs. The concentration of leptin found in lean, healthy patients, upregulated GLUT2 protein levels and concentrations of leptin found in lean and obese patients increased LDH activity. Of note, all leptin concentrations decreased hSCs acetate production illustrating a novel mechanism for this hormone action. Moreover, our data shows that leptin does not induce or protect hSCs from oxidative damage. We report that this hormone modulates the nutritional support of spermatogenesis, illustrating a novel mechanism that may be linked to obesity-induced male infertility

Pathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in Two Natural Conservation Centers of Wildlife in Portugal: Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization

This article belongs to the Section Food Microbiology.Human–wildlife coexistence may increase the potential risk of direct transmission of emergent or re-emergent zoonotic pathogens to humans. Intending to assess the occurrence of three important foodborne pathogens in wild animals of two wildlife conservation centers in Portugal, we investigated 132 fecal samples for the presence of Escherichia coli (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and non-STEC), Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. A genotypic search for genes having virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was performed by means of PCR and Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) and phenotypic (serotyping and AMR profiles) characterization. Overall, 62 samples tested positive for at least one of these species: 27.3% for STEC, 11.4% for non-STEC, 3.0% for Salmonella spp. and 6.8% for Campylobacter spp. AMR was detected in four E. coli isolates and the only Campylobacter coli isolated in this study. WGS analysis revealed that 57.7% (30/52) of pathogenic E. coli integrated genetic clusters of highly closely related isolates (often involving different animal species), supporting the circulation and transmission of different pathogenic E. coli strains in the studied areas. These results support the idea that the health of humans, animals and ecosystems are interconnected, reinforcing the importance of a One Health approach to better monitor and control public health threats.This work was supported by funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 773830: One Health European Joint Pro- gramme, as part of the DiSCoVeR project (Discovering the sources of Salmonella, Campylobacter, VTEC and Antimicrobial Resistance). S.R., R.C. and V.M. were beneficiaries of fellowships from the same Programme on behalf of ADONIS (S.R.), FedAMR (R.C.) and BeOne (V.M) projects.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Major regulatory mechanisms involved in sperm motility

The genetic bases and molecular mechanisms involved in the assembly and function of the flagellum components as well as in the regulation of the flagellar movement are not fully understood, especially in humans. There are several causes for sperm immotility, of which some can be avoided and corrected, whereas other are related to genetic defects and deserve full investigation to give a diagnosis to patients. This review was performed after an extensive literature search on the online databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Here, we review the involvement of regulatory pathways responsible for sperm motility, indicating possible causes for sperm immotility. These included the calcium pathway, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway, the importance of kinases and phosphatases, the function of reactive oxygen species, and how the regulation of cell volume and osmolarity are also fundamental components. We then discuss main gene defects associated with specific morphological abnormalities. Finally, we slightly discuss some preventive and treatments approaches to avoid development of conditions that are associated with unspecified sperm immotility. We believe that in the near future, with the development of more powerful techniques, the genetic causes of sperm immotility and the regulatory mechanisms of sperm motility will be better understand, thus enabling to perform a full diagnosis and uncover new therapies

A educação em fronteiras: a formação do educador social e o programa escola aberta

Neste texto, compartilhamos inquietações acerca da formação do discente bolsista em Projetos de Extensão, percebendo na sua formação inicial a Pedagogia/Educação Social como campo urgente e necessário ao desenvolvimento de ações socioeducativas. Como fio condutor, consideramos a natureza pedagógica e acadêmica no desenvolvimento das práticas nos Programas Escola Aberta e Conexões de Saberes. Nossa proposta é reiterar como fundamental o envolvimento dos docentes coordenadores e colaboradores de tais ações extensionistas para construir nos bolsistas a natureza do engajamento, relacionando cada área de formação com a Pedagogia Social. Para cumprir tal objetivo, nossas reflexões estão organizadas em um grande tópico – A educação e suas fronteiras –, que se desdobra nos itens: 1 Origem popular/comunidade popular; 2 Chegar ao “ser concreto”: educação formal e não formal e 3 Traçar, inventar, criar

The Role of ROS as a Double-Edged Sword in (In)Fertility: The Impact of Cancer Treatment

Tumor cells are highly resistant to oxidative stress resulting from the imbalance between high reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and insufficient antioxidant defenses. However, when intracellular levels of ROS rise beyond a certain threshold, largely above cancer cells’ capacity to reduce it, they may ultimately lead to apoptosis or necrosis. This is, in fact, one of the molecular mechanisms of anticancer drugs, as most chemotherapeutic treatments alter redox homeostasis by further elevation of intracellular ROS levels or inhibition of antioxidant pathways. In traditional chemotherapy, it is widely accepted that most therapeutic effects are due to ROS-mediated cell damage, but in targeted therapies, ROS-mediated effects are mostly unknown and data are still emerging. The increasing effectiveness of anticancer treatments has raised new challenges, especially in the field of reproduction. With cancer patients’ life expectancy increasing, many aiming to become parents will be confronted with the adverse effects of treatments. Consequently, concerns about the impact of anticancer therapies on reproductive capacity are of particular interest. In this review, we begin with a short introduction on anticancer therapies, then address ROS physiological/pathophysiological roles in both male and female reproductive systems, and finish with ROS-mediated adverse effects of anticancer treatments in reproduction