The Role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) in Insulin Resistance and Diabetes

In obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes, there are proteins and hormones that may lead to the discovery of promising biomarkers and treatments for these metabolic disorders. For example, these molecules may impair the insulin signaling pathway or provide protection against IR. Thus, identifying proteins that are upregulated in IR states is relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of the associated disorders. It is becoming clear that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is an important component of the pathophysiology of IR, with increased levels in most common IR conditions, including obesity. HGF has a role in the metabolic flux of glucose in different insulin sensitive cell types; plays a key role in β-cell homeostasis; and is capable of modulating the inflammatory response. In this review, we discuss how, and to what extent HGF contributes to IR and diabetes pathophysiology, as well as its role in cancer which is more prevalent in obesity and diabetes. Based on the current literature and knowledge, it is clear that HGF plays a central role in these metabolic disorders. Thus, HGF levels could be employed as a biomarker for disease status/progression, and HGF/c-Met signaling pathway modulators could effectively regulate IR and treat diabetes

Improvement of a clayey soil with alkali activated low-calcium fly ash for transport infrastructures applications

The improvement of geotechnical properties is often achieved by the addition of traditional binders, such as cement or lime. However, the use of such binders implies a considerable financial and environmental cost that needs to be mitigated. An unconventional solution, similar to cement in terms of performance but more environmentally friendly, consists in the use of binders made from alkaline activated industrial residues. The technique consists on the activation of raw materials (such as fly ash or blast furnace slag) rich in Si, Al, or even Ca, with high pH alkaline solutions. The present work was developed aiming the possible stabilisation, using different fly ash contents, of a clayey soil with sand. The activator solution was composed of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. The extended experimental campaign included unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California Bearing Ratio (CBR), pulse velocity tests and triaxial tests to assess the geomechanical improvement induced by the new binder. As a mean of comparison, the experimental campaign included also the stabilisation of the same soil with either cement or lime. The obtained data indicates that the use of alkaline activation as a soil stabilisation technique provides competitive geomechanical results, when compared with those obtained with traditional binders.(undefined

Supplement levels and functional oils to replace virginiamycin for young bulls during early dry season on grasslands and finishing phase in feedlot systems

Aim of study: To assess the effects of replacing virginiamycin (VM) by functional oils (FO) from castor beans and cashew nut on beef cattle system during the early dry season (Experiment I) and during the finishing phase were evaluated the historical effect, keeping the treatments and methods intact (Experiment II).Area of study: These experiments were conducted at the Forage Crops and Grasslands section of São Paulo State University, “Julio de Mesquita Filho” (Unesp–Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil).Material and methods: Two supplementation levels combined with two additives (four treatments in total) were evaluated: LSVM, low supplementation (0.3% body weight [BW]) with VM; LSFO, low supplementation (0.3% BW) with FO, HSVM, high supplementation (0.6% BW) with VM, and HSFO, high supplementation (0.6% BW) with FO. In both experiments, the experimental design was completely randomized with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (supplementation levels × additives).Main results: In Exp. I, the additive effect of VM provided greater average daily gain (ADG, p=0.02), higher supplementation level resulted in higher ADG (p=0.04) and the greatest crude protein apparent digestibility (p=0.002). However, no effects were observed between supplementation levels, additives, and interactions (p≥0.11) on voluntary intake and ruminal parameters. In Exp. II, LSVM treatment resulted in lower dry matter intake (p=0.04). Animals maintained on LSFO during the early dry season exhibited lower carcass yield (p=0.004).Research highlights: FO can be used to replace VM in beef cattle diet during the finishing phase in the feedlot without altering animal performance

Avaliação da usabilidade de produtos eletroeletrônicos com o auxílio da prototipagem rápida por impressão 3D e da realidade aumentada

Durante o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos, vários aspectos são avaliados, como função, estética, fabricação, entre outros. Na prática do design, os produtos geralmente são concebidos com a ajuda de desenhos ou representações informatizadas, seguido de protótipos físicos construídos para avaliar alguns dos aspectos mencionados anteriormente. No entanto, a confecção destes protótipos geralmente demora muito tempo para ser confeccionados e geram custos elevados. A Realidade Aumentada surge como potencial para auxilio dos designers na avaliação dos vários aspectos envolvidos no projeto, reduzindo os custos e tempo de projeto, mantendo, ou até mesmo, melhorando a qualidade da avaliação. Este artigo apresenta os procedimentos metodológicos que estão sendo empregados em uma pesquisa, realizada do Departamento de Design da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, que tem como objetivo avaliar o potencial da utilização conjunta da tecnologia de RA e da prototipagem rápida por impressão 3D (FDM – Fused Deposition Modeling) para avaliação de aspectos de usabilidade de produtos eletrônicos de consumo, relatando os procedimentos utilizados para o projeto e confecção de um modelo em escala real do projetor Epson x14+, da interface para o manejo da tecnologia de realidade aumentada e do arranjo eletrônico que transfere a informação da interface ao computador

Development, manufacturing and testing of small launcher structures from Portugal

During the last decades the industry has seen the number of Earth orbiting satellites rise, mostly due to the need to monitor Earth as well as to establish global communication networks. Nano, micro, and small satellites have been a prime tool for answering these needs, with large and mega constellations planned, leading to a potential launch gap. An effective and commercially appealing solution is the development of small launchers, as these can complement the current available launch opportunity offer, serving a large pool of different types of clients, with a flexible and custom service that large conventional launchers cannot adequately assure. Rocket Factory Augsburg has partnered with CEiiA for the development of several structures for the RFA One rocket. The objective has been the design of solutions that are low-cost, light, and custom-made, applying design and manufacturing concepts as well as technologies from other industries, like the aeronautical and automotive, to the aerospace one. This allows for the implementation of a New Space approach to the launcher segment, while also building a supply chain and a set of solutions that enables the industrialisation of such structures for this and future small launchers. The two main systems under development have been a versatile Kick-Stage, for payload carrying and orbit insertion, and a sturdy Payload Fairing. Even though the use of components off-the-shelf have been widely accepted in the space industry for satellites, these two systems pose different challenges as they must be: highly reliable during the most extreme conditions imposed by the launch, so that they can be considered safe to launch all types of payloads. This paper thus dives deep on the solutions developed in the last few years, presenting also lessons learned during the manufacturing and testing of these structures.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figures, Manuscript presented at the 73rd International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2022, Paris, France, 18 - 22 September 202

Synthesis and evaluation of the antifungal activity of 2-(substituted-amino)-4,5-dialkyl-thiophene-3- carbonitrile derivatives

Fifteen 2-[(substituted-benzylidene)-amino]-5-methyl-thiophene-3-carbonitrile (3a-g) and 2-[(substituted-benzylidene)-amino]-4,5-cycloalkyl-thiophene-3-carbonitrile derivatives (4a-h) were synthesized and screened for their in vitro antifungal activity against 42 clinical isolates of Candida (representing 4 different species) and 2 isolates of Criptococcus. The antifungal activities of these compounds were compared to fluconazole and amphotericin B as standard agents. All compounds presented fungicidal activity at different doses, but a few compounds showed moderate or poor antifungal activity when compared with the standard drugs. The Cryptococcus strains were more sensitive than those of the genus Candida, and compound 4d was the most active, with MFC values varying between 100-800 μg/mL. A preliminary SAR study demonstrated that the presence of a cycloalkyl ring linked to the thiophene moiety is essential for antifungal activity, and that the best antifungal candidates are cyclohexyl compounds (4d-f). The results suggest that thiophene derivatives may be interesting compounds for the further development of antifungal drugs.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

A prediction rule to stratify mortality risk of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Tuberculosis imposes high human and economic tolls, including in Europe. This study was conducted to develop a severity assessment tool for stratifying mortality risk in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients. A derivation cohort of 681 PTB cases was retrospectively reviewed to generate a model based on multiple logistic regression analysis of prognostic variables with 6-month mortality as the outcome measure. A clinical scoring system was developed and tested against a validation cohort of 103 patients. Five risk features were selected for the prediction model: hypoxemic respiratory failure (OR 4.7, 95% CI 2.8-7.9), age >= 50 years (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.7-4.8), bilateral lung involvement (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.44.4), >= 1 significant comorbidity-HIV infection, diabetes mellitus, liver failure or cirrhosis, congestive heart failure and chronic respiratory disease-(OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3-3.8), and hemoglobin = 6) mortality risk. The mortality associated with each group was 2.9%, 22.9% and 53.9%, respectively. The model performed equally well in the validation cohort. We provide a new, easy-to-use clinical scoring system to identify PTB patients with high-mortality risk in settings with good healthcare access, helping clinicians to decide which patients are in need of closer medical care during treatment.This work was supported by Fundacao Amelia de Mello/Jose de Mello Saude and Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia (SPP). This work was developed under the scope of the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). NSO is a FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia) investigator. MS is an Associate FCT Investigator. The fundershad no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Genomics and epidemiology for gastric adenocarcinomas (GE4GAC): a Brazilian initiative to study gastric cancer

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common type of cancer worldwide with high incidences in Asia, Central, and South American countries. This patchy distribution means that GC studies are neglected by large research centers from developed countries. The need for further understanding of this complex disease, including the local importance of epidemiological factors and the rich ancestral admixture found in Brazil, stimulated the implementation of the GE4GAC project. GE4GAC aims to embrace epidemiological, clinical, molecular and microbiological data from Brazilian controls and patients with malignant and pre-malignant gastric disease. In this letter, we summarize the main goals of the project, including subject and sample accrual and current findings