MiR-155 has a protective role in the development of non-alcoholic hepatosteatosis in mice

Hepatic steatosis is a global epidemic that is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. MicroRNAs (miRs) are regulators that can functionally integrate a range of metabolic and inflammatory pathways in liver. We aimed to investigate the functional role of miR-155 in hepatic steatosis. Male C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and miR-155−/− mice were fed either normal chow or high fat diet (HFD) for 6 months then lipid levels, metabolic and inflammatory parameters were assessed in livers and serum of the mice. Mice lacking endogenous miR-155 that were fed HFD for 6 months developed increased hepatic steatosis compared to WT controls. This was associated with increased liver weight and serum VLDL/LDL cholesterol and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, as well as increased hepatic expression of genes involved in glucose regulation (Pck1, Cebpa), fatty acid uptake (Cd36) and lipid metabolism (Fasn, Fabp4, Lpl, Abcd2, Pla2g7). Using miRNA target prediction algorithms and the microarray transcriptomic profile of miR-155−/− livers, we identified and validated that Nr1h3 (LXRα) as a direct miR-155 target gene that is potentially responsible for the liver phenotype of miR-155−/− mice. Together these data indicate that miR-155 plays a pivotal role regulating lipid metabolism in liver and that its deregulation may lead to hepatic steatosis in patients with diabetes

Current and Future Prospects of Nitro-compounds as Drugs for Trypanosomiasis and Leishmaniasis

Interest in nitroheterocyclic drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases has undergone a resurgence in recent years. Here we review the current status of monocyclic and bicyclic nitroheterocyclic compounds as existing or potential new treatments for visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas' disease and human African trypanosomiasis. Both monocyclic (nifurtimox, benznidazole and fexinidazole) and bicyclic (pretomanid (PA-824) and delamanid (OPC-67683)) nitro-compounds are prodrugs, requiring enzymatic activation to exert their parasite toxicity. Current understanding of the nitroreductases involved in activation and possible mechanisms by which parasites develop resistance is discussed along with a description of the pharmacokinetic / pharmacodynamic behaviour and chemical structure-activity relationships of drugs and experimental compounds.</p

Production process aiming at the implementation of Cleaner Production in an industrial metalworking

Considering that companies are concerned with sustainable management in their production processes, it ir of importance to check the production processes in a metalworking industry, with an emphasis on the cleaner production process as a tool in business decision making. In this paper we propose the suggestion of a system of contínuos improvement using the cleaner production in the machinery departamento in a metalworking industry that produces agricultural implements in the north of Rio Grande do Sul. The participant observation method for the description of production processes with semi-structured interviews, with contente analysis as results. The use of this tool was satisfactory, since there was decrease of componentes in the production as raw material, and improvement in the productive processes. It should be noted that cleaner production generates savings in manufacturing processes, eliminating waste such as raw materials, waste, water and energy, generating financial and sustainable returns to companies

MICHEL FOUCAULT, A EDUCAÇÃO E O NEOLIBERALISMO

This papper seeks to think about the bases of a possible criticism undertaken by Michel Foucault around neoliberalism and its relationship with education. Based on a bibliographic survey that covers the works developed by Foucault from a political history of governmentality, we will try to demonstrate how neoliberalism, in Foucault's eyes, should be understood as a way of life and as a government practice responsible for the production of modes of subjectivation identified with self-entrepreneurship as the aesthetics of neoliberal existence. At first, we go through the contours of Foucault's thinking around a genealogy of the arts of government and of the processes of subjectification. The second moment is dedicated to trying to understand the effects by which neoliberalism is constituted as an ethos responsible for producing an experience of a capitalized and financialized education. Finally, our final considerations are dedicated to the elaboration of a critique around the neoliberal governmentality regime based on the contributions made by Michel Foucault.Nuestro artículo busca reflexionar sobre las bases de una posible crítica realizada por Michel Foucault en torno al neoliberalismo y su relación con la educación. A partir de un relevamiento bibliográfico que abarca los trabajos desarrollados por Foucault a partir de una historia política de la gubernamentalidad, intentaremos demostrar cómo el neoliberalismo, a los ojos de Foucault, debe entenderse como una forma de vida y como una práctica gubernamental responsable de la producción de modos. de subjetivación identificada con el autoemprendimiento como estética de la existencia neoliberal. En primer lugar, recorremos los contornos del pensamiento de Foucault en torno a una genealogía de las artes de gobierno y de los procesos de subjetivación. El segundo momento está dedicado a tratar de comprender los efectos por los cuales el neoliberalismo se constituye como un ethos responsable de producir una experiencia de educación capitalizada y financiarizada. Finalmente, nuestras consideraciones finales están dedicadas a la elaboración de una crítica en torno al régimen de gubernamentalidad neoliberal a partir de los aportes de Michel Foucault.This papper seeks to think about the bases of a possible criticism undertaken by Michel Foucault around neoliberalism and its relationship with education. Based on a bibliographic survey that covers the works developed by Foucault from a political history of governmentality, we will try to demonstrate how neoliberalism, in Foucault's eyes, should be understood as a way of life and as a government practice responsible for the production of modes of subjectivation identified with self-entrepreneurship as the aesthetics of neoliberal existence. At first, we go through the contours of Foucault's thinking around a genealogy of the arts of government and of the processes of subjectification. The second moment is dedicated to trying to understand the effects by which neoliberalism is constituted as an ethos responsible for producing an experience of a capitalized and financialized education. Finally, our final considerations are dedicated to the elaboration of a critique around the neoliberal governmentality regime based on the contributions made by Michel Foucault

The crossroads of tradition and modern technology: integrative approaches to studying carnivores in low density ecosystems

The study of large carnivores in semi-arid ecosystems presents inherent challenges due to their low densities, extensive home ranges, and elusive nature. We explore the potential for the synthesis of traditional knowledge (i.e. art of tracking) and modern technology to address challenges in conservation and wildlife research in these challenging environments. Our research focuses on the African lion (Panthera leo) in the Central Kalahari region of Botswana as a model system to demonstrate the potential of this integrative approach. Combining GPS tracking and traditional San trackers’ expertise, we present two case studies: (1) the individual identification of lions via a combination of tracking and footprint analysis and (2) the monitoring of territorial behavior through a combination of GPS technology (i.e. GPS collars and handheld GPS devices) and non-invasive tracking. These approaches enhance our understanding of carnivore ecology as well as support conservation efforts by offering a non-invasive, cost-effective, and highly accurate means of monitoring populations. Our findings underscore the value of merging traditional tracking skills with contemporary analytical and technological developments to offer new insights into the ecology of carnivores in challenging environments. This approach not only improves data collection accuracy and efficiency but also fosters a deeper understanding of wildlife, ensuring the conservation and sustainable management of these species. Our work advocates for the inclusion of indigenous knowledge in conservation science, highlighting its relevance and applicability across various disciplines, thereby broadening the methodologies used to study wildlife, monitor populations, and inform conservation strategies

Photosystem II inhibitors herbicides in pre-emergence control for crabgrass species

Muitas espécies do gênero Digitaria são denominadas de capim-colchão e ocorrem nas principais culturas agrícolas, com destaque para a cana-de-açúcar, a qual utiliza principalmente herbicidas inibidores do fotossistema II para o manejo de plantas daninhas. Devido à complexidade do sistema de cultivo e aos problemas atribuídos à substituição de espécies de plantas daninhas suscetíveis por espécies tolerantes de populações de capim-colchão, o trabalho teve como objetivo verificar o controle de espécies de capim-colchão utilizando herbicidas inibidores do fotossistema II (FSII), aplicados em pré-emergência. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação em esquema fatorial 3x7, com quatro repetições e em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com o primeiro fator compostos pelas três espécies de capim-colchão (D. ciliaris, D. horizontalis e D. nuda) e, o segundo, dos herbicidas utilizados (ametryn, hexazinone, amicarbazone, diuron + hexazinone, diuron e tebuthiuron), além da testemunha sem aplicação. A eficácia dos tratamentos foi verificada por meio de avaliação visual de controle aos 15 e 30 dias após a aplicação (DAA), análise do fluxo de elétrons do FSII e biomassa seca total da parte aérea das plantas. Para a D. nuda foi observada baixo controle com diuron e tebuthiuron. Os herbicidas ametryn, hexazinone, amicarbazone e a mistura de diuron + hexazinone foram eficazes no controle com níveis superiores a 95%, sendo alternativas no controle de plantas de capim-colchão.Many species of the genus Digitaria are known as crabgrass and occurs in the main agricultural crops, especially in sugarcane production, which uses mostly photosystem II inhibitor herbicides for weed management. Due to the complexity of the cultivation system and the problems attributed to the substitution of susceptible species weeds by tolerant species of crabgrass populations, the objective of this work was to verify the control of crabgrass species using photosystem II inhibitor herbicides (PSII) in pre-emergence. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse in a completely randomized in factorial scheme 3x7, with four replications, with the first factor composed of three crabgrass species (D. ciliaris, D. horizontalis and D. nuda) and the second factor composed of following herbicides (ametryn; hexazinone; amicarbazone; diuron + hexazinone; diuron and tebuthiuron), further of the treatment without application. . The efficacy of the treatments was verified through of control by visual evaluation at 15 and 30 days after application (DAA), PSII electron transport rate analysis and total dry biomass of aerial part of the plants. For D. nuda it was observed low control with the herbicides diuron and tebuthiuron. The herbicides ametryn, hexazinone, amicarbazone and diuron + hexazinone mixture were effective in the control with levels higher than 95%, being good alternatives in the crabgrass control

Expression and In Silico

Bovine papillomaviruses (BPVs) are recognized as the causal agents of economical relevant diseases in cattle, associated with the development of tumors in skin and mucosa. The oncogenesis process is mainly associated with different viral oncoprotein expressions, which are involved in cell transformation. The expression and characterization of recombinant viral oncoproteins represent an attractive strategy to obtain biotechnological products as antibodies and potential vaccines, Thus, the aim of this work was to clone and express the BPV-1 and BPV-2 E6 recombinant proteins and perform in silico analysis in order to develop a strategy for the systematic study of other papillomaviruses oncoproteins. The results demonstrated that BPV-1 and BPV-2 E6 recombinant proteins were expressed and purified from bacterial system as well as its in silico analysis was performed in order to explore and predict biological characteristics of these proteins

Avaliação da intoxicação de cultivares de cana-de-açúcar e I. grandifolia ao amicarbazone

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a intoxicação de planta daninha e cultivares de cana-de-açúcar ao amicarbazone. Para isso, utilizou-se Ipomoea grandifolia como planta daninha representante e os cultivares de cana-de-açúcar PO8862, SP80 3280 e RB83 5486, caracterizados como sensível, intermediário e tolerante aos herbicidas, respectivamente. Foi verificado o consumo de água e quantificada a concentração do amicarbazone em seiva de xilema dos três cultivares de cana-de-açúcar e de I. grandifolia por meio da bomba de Schollander e da cromatografia e espectrometria de massas (LC-MS). A intoxicação das plantas foi verificada através de leituras da fluorescência, com auxílio do fluorômetro portátil, que permitiu a correlação da taxa de transporte de elétrons (ETR) com a concentração de amicarbazone absorvido pelos cultivares de cana-de-açúcar e por I. grandifolia. Verificou-se, através do experimento, que a redução dos valores da ETR pode ser utilizada para indicar o nível de intoxicação de I. grandifolia e de plantas de cana-de-açúcar ao amicarbazone. I. grandifolia destacou-se em relação à cana-de-açúcar pela maior sensibilidade ao amicarbazone. A suscetibilidade diferencial dos cultivares de cana-de-açúcar PO8862, SP80 3280 e RB83 5486 pode ser justificada, possivelmente, pela absorção diferencial do amicarbazone entre os cultivares.The objective of this work was to evaluate the intoxication of weeds and sugarcane cultivars by amicarbazone. Ipomoea grandifolia was used as weed representative and the sugarcane cultivars PO8862, SP80 3280, and RB835486, characterized as sensitive, intermediate and tolerant to herbicides, respectively. Water consumption was verified and amicarbazone concentration quantified in the xylem sap of the three sugarcane cultivars and of I. grandifolia, using the Schollander pump and chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Plant intoxication was verified by fluorescence readings with the aid of portable fluorometer, which allowed the correlation of the electron transport rate (ETR) with the concentration of amicarbazone absorbed by the sugarcane cultivars and I. grandifolia. Thus, it could be verified through experiments that the reduction of ETR values may be used to indicate the level of intoxication of I. grandifolia, and sugarcane plants by amicarbazone. I. grandifolia was more sensitive to amicarbazone than sugarcane. The differential susceptibility of the sugarcane varieties PO8862, SP80 3280, and RB83 5486 can be justified possibly by the differential absorption of amicarbazone among cultivars

EP₂ receptor antagonism reduces peripheral and central hyperalgesia in a preclinical mouse model of endometriosis

Endometriosis is an incurable gynecological disorder characterized by debilitating pain and the establishment of innervated endometriosis lesions outside the uterus. In a preclinical mouse model of endometriosis we demonstrated overexpression of the PGE2-signaling pathway (including COX-2, EP2, EP4) in endometriosis lesions, dorsal root ganglia (DRG), spinal cord, thalamus and forebrain. TRPV1, a PGE2-regulated channel in nociceptive neurons was also increased in the DRG. These findings support the concept that an amplification process occurs along the pain neuroaxis in endometriosis. We then tested TRPV1, EP2, and EP4 receptor antagonists: The EP2 antagonist was the most efficient analgesic, reducing primary hyperalgesia by 80% and secondary hyperalgesia by 40%. In this study we demonstrate reversible peripheral and central hyperalgesia in mice with induced endometriosis