Coffee inventory through orbital imagery

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Extração seletiva da fração húmica característica das terras pretas de índios.

As Terras Pretas de Índios (TPI), encontradas na Amazônia, são solos extremamente férteis e ricos em carbono, e essa fertilidade se mantém no tempo a despeito do seu uso (resiliência). Essas características se devem principalmente às propriedades da matéria orgânica desses solos, de caráter pirogênico. Tendo isso em vista, esses solos nos fornecem um excelente modelo de agricultura sustentável e que seqüestra carbono. Embora o empenho na reprodução das TPI seja grande, não existe um método analítico que possa aferir seu êxito. Estudos utilizando a espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de 13C e Resolução Multivariada de Curvas (MCR) mostram que os ácidos húmicos (AH) das TPI podem ser satisfatoriamente modelados como uma mistura binária, sendo o espectro estimado de um dos componentes similar àquele de AH obtidos de solos tropicais ordinários. Por outro lado, o outro componente é caracterizado por estruturas aromáticas policondensadas e funcionalizadas com grupos carboxílicos ligados diretamente aos C aromáticos, sendo essa a responsável pela principal diferença encontrada entre as TPI e os solos adjacente, explicando sua elevada fertilidade e sustentabilidade. Os espectros dos AH das TPI obtidos a partir da extração com soluções aquosas de NaOH ajustadas a pH 7 e 10,6 apresentaram uma grande similaridade com aquele obtido com MCR para o componente rico em estruturas policondensadas e funcionalizadas, o que vem não somente confirmar a precisão e exatidão do modelo matemático, como também sugerir a utilização dessa extração como um método rápido para aferição das propostas de se reproduzir esses solos especiais

Valsartan Improves β-Cell Function and Insulin Sensitivity in Subjects With Impaired Glucose Metabolism: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE Recently, the Nateglinide and Valsartan in Impaired Glucose Tolerance Outcomes Research Trial demonstrated that treatment with the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan for 5 years resulted in a relative reduction of 14% in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in subjects with impaired glucose metabolism (IGM). We investigated whether improvements in beta-cell function and/or insulin sensitivity underlie these preventive effects of the ARB valsartan in the onset of type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this randomized controlled, double-blind, two-center study, the effects of 26 weeks of valsartan (320 mg daily; n = 40) or placebo (n = 39) on beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity were assessed in subjects with impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance, using a combined hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic and hyperglycemic clamp with subsequent arginine stimulation and a 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Treatment effects were analyzed using ANCOVA, adjusting for center, glucometabolic status, and sex. RESULTS Valsartan increased first-phase (P = 0.028) and second-phase (P = 0.002) glucose-stimulated insulin secretion compared with placebo, whereas the enhanced arginine-stimulated insulin secretion was comparable between groups (P = 0.25). In addition, valsartan increased the OGTT-derived insulinogenic index (representing first-phase insulin secretion after an oral glucose load; P = 0.027). Clamp-derived insulin sensitivity was significantly increased with valsartan compared with placebo (P = 0.049). Valsartan treatment significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with placebo (P < 0.001). BMI remained unchanged in both treatment groups (P = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS Twenty-six weeks of valsartan treatment increased glucose-stimulated insulin release and insulin sensitivity in normotensive subjects with IGM. These findings may partly explain the beneficial effects of valsartan in the reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes

Task-related oxygen uptake and symptoms during activities of daily life in CHF patients and healthy subjects

Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) have a significantly lower peak aerobic capacity compared to healthy subjects, and, may therefore experience more inconvenience during the performance of domestic activities of daily life (ADLs). To date, the extent to which task-related oxygen uptake, heart rate, ventilation and symptoms during the performance of ADLs in CHF patients is different than in healthy subjects remains uncertain. General demographics, pulmonary function, body composition and peak aerobic capacity were assessed in 23 CHF outpatients and 20 healthy peers. In addition, the metabolic requirement of five simple self-paced domestic ADLs was assessed using a mobile oxycon. Task-related oxygen uptake (ml/min) was similar or lower in CHF patients compared to healthy subjects. In contrast, patients with CHF performing ADLs consumed oxygen at a higher proportion of their peak aerobic capacity than healthy subjects (p < 0.05). For example, getting dressed resulted in a mean task-related oxygen uptake of 49% of peak aerobic capacity, while sweeping the floor resulted in a mean task-related oxygen uptake of 52% of peak aerobic capacity, accompanied by significantly higher Borg symptom scores for dyspnea and fatigue (p < 0.05). Patients with CHF experience use a higher proportion of their peak aerobic capacity, peak ventilation and peak heart rate during the performance of simple self-paced domestic ADL than their healthy peers. These findings represent a necessary step in improving our understanding of improving what troubles patients the most—not being able to do the things that they could when they were healthy

Fyn Mediates Leptin Actions in the Thymus of Rodents

BACKGROUND:Several effects of leptin in the immune system rely on its capacity to modulate cytokine expression and apoptosis in the thymus. Surprisingly, some of these effects are dependent on signal transduction through the IRS1/PI3-kinase, but not on the activation of JAK2. Since all the well known effects of leptin in different cell types and tissues seem to be dependent on JAK2 activation, we hypothesized that, at least for the control of thymic function, another, unknown kinase could mediate the transduction of the leptin signal from the ObR towards the IRS1/PI3-kinase signaling cascade. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Here, by employing immunoblot, real-time PCR and flow citometry we show that the tyrosine kinase, Fyn, is constitutively associated with the ObR in thymic cells. Following a leptin stimulus, Fyn undergoes an activating tyrosine phosphorylation and a transient association with IRS1. All these effects are independent of JAK2 activation and, upon Fyn inhibition, the signal transduction towards IRS1/PI3-kinase is abolished. In addition, the inhibition of Fyn significantly modifies the effects of leptin on thymic cytokine expression. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE:Therefore, in the thymus, Fyn acts as a tyrosine kinase that transduces the leptin signal independently of JAK2 activation, and mediates some of the immunomodulatory effects of leptin in this tissue

Bioactive CMC-Based films enriched with green coffee oil and itsresidues.

SIAN. 17 e 18 de junho de 2019. Oral. R002