Phytoestrogen-ind uced glucose uptake and cellular proliferation in L6 myotubesadipocyte function

Aims: Oestrogens are known to act on a number of tissues throughout the body via classical oestrogen receptors, alpha (ER-a) and beta (ER-beta). Previous research has shown that oestrogens can regulate skeletal muscle glucose uptake cellular proliferation. Thus, oestrogens and related molecules provide an interesting focus for research into possible therapies for the treatment of metabolic disorders and sarcopenia. Enterodiol and enterolactone are plant derived mammalian enterolignans which share a struc- tural similarity to the human oestrogen oestradiol. Methods: In the present study we incubated the differentiated rat skeletal muscle cell line L6 concentration ranges of both com- pounds in the presence/absence of oestrogen receptor antagonists and measured glucose uptake using the non-metabolised glucose analogue 2-NBDG. Cellular proliferation was also measured using a modified MTS assay. Results: Enterolactone was seen to cause a significant increase in cellular proliferation after 48h (a maximal 25% at 0.1nmol/l), in an ER-a dependent mechanism. Incubation with 10nmol/l and 100nmol/l enterodiol caused significant increases in 2-NBDG (5000% compared with control, p < 0.001) and 2h glucose depletion from media (15% increase compared with control, p < 0.05), also in an ER-a dependent way. These results suggest these dietary derived oestrogen-like molecules might be of potential use in targeting metabolic disorders or sarcopenia. Conclusion: We can report here that the phytoestrogen derived molecules enterodiol and enterolactone interact with ER-a in the myotubes to regulate glucose uptake and cellular proliferation respectively.

Hydrogen(electron-deuteron) studies of the deuteron at high squared momentum transfer

A high resolution study of the quasielastic 2 H(e, e'p)n reaction was performed in Hall A at the Thomas Jefferson Accelerator Facility in Newport News, Virginia. The measurements were performed at a central momentum transfer of : q: ∼ 2400 MeV/c, and at a central energy transfer of ω ∼ 1500 MeV, a four momentum transfer Q2 = 3.5 (GeV/c)2, covering missing momenta from 0 to 0.5 GeV/c. The majority of the measurements were performed at Φ = 180° and a small set of measurements were done at Φ = 0°. The Hall A High Resolution Spectrometers (HRS) were used to detect coincident electrons and protons, respectively. Absolute 2H(e, e'p) n cross sections were obtained as a function of the recoiling neutron scattering angle with respect to [special characters omitted]. The experimental results were compared to a Plane Wave Impulse Approximation (PWIA) model and to a calculation that includes Final State Interaction (FSI) effects. Experimental 2H(e, e'p)n cross sections were determined with an estimated systematic uncertainty of 7%. The general features of the measured cross sections are reproduced by Glauber based calculations that take the motion of the bound nucleons into account (GEA). Final State Interactions (FSI) contributions were found to depend strongly on the angle of the recoiling neutron with respect to the momentum transfer and on the missing momentum. We found a systematic deviation of the theoretical prediction of about 30%. At small &thetas; nq (&thetas;nq < 60°) the theory overpredicts the cross section while at large &thetas; nq (&thetas;nq > 80°) the theory underestimates the cross sections. We observed an enhancement of the cross section, due to FSI, of about 240%, as compared to PWIA, for a missing momentum of 0.4 GeV/c at an angle of 75°. For missing momentum of 0.5 GeV/c the enhancement of the cross section due to the same FSI effects, was about 270%. This is in agreement with GEA. Standard Glauber calculations predict this large contribution to occur at an angle of 90°. Our results show that GEA better describes the 2H(e, e'p)n reaction.

Biomimetic modeling of the nitrogen-centered radical postulated to occur during the inhibition of ribonucleotide reductases by 2'-azido-2'-deoxynucleotides

Ribonucleotide reductases (RNR) are essential enzymes that catalyze the reduction of ribonucleotides to 2'-deoxyribonucleotides, which is a critical step that produces precursors for DNA replication and repair. The inactivation of RNR, logically, would discontinue producing the precursors of the DNA of viral or cancer cells, which then would consequently end the cycle of DNA replication. Among different compounds that were found to be inhibitors of RNR, 2'-azido-2'-deoxynucleotide diphosphates (N3NDPs) have been investigated in depth as potent inhibitors of RNR. Decades of investigation has suggested that the inactivation of RNR by N3NDPs is a result of the formation of a nitrogen-centered radical (N·) that is covalently attached to the nucleotide at C3' and cysteine molecule C225 [3'-C(R-S-N·-C-OH)]. Biomimetic simulation reactions for the generation of the nitrogen-centered radicals similar to the one observed during the inactivation of the RNR by azionuclotides was investigated. The study included several modes: (i) theoretical calculation that showed the feasibility of the ring closure reaction between thiyl radicals and azido group; (ii) synthesis of the model azido nucleosides with a linker attached to C3' or C5' having a thiol or vicinal dithiol functionality; (iii) generation of the thiyl radical under both physiological and radiolysis conditions whose role is important in the initiation on RNR cascades; and (iv) analysis of the nitrogen-centered radical species formed during interaction between the thiyl radical and azido group by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). Characterization of the aminyl radical species formed during one electron attachment to the azido group of 2'-azido-2'-deoxyuridine and its stereospecifically labelled 1'-, 2'-, 3'-, 4'- or 5,6-[2H 2]-analogues was also examined. This dissertation gave insight toward understanding the mechanism of the formation of the nitrogen-centered radical during the inactivation of RNRs by azidonucleotides as well as the mechanism of action of RNRs that might provide key information necessary for the development of the next generation of antiviral and anticancer drugs.

Responses of seagrass communities to fertilization along a gradient of relative availability of nitrogen and phosphorus in a carbonate environment

Patterns of relative nutrient availability in south Florida suggest spatial differences regarding the importance of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to benthic primary producers. We did a 14-month in situ fertilization experiment to test predictions of N and P limitation in the subtropical nearshore marine waters of the upper Florida Keys. Six sites were divided into two groups (nearshore, offshore) representing the endpoints of an N: P stoichiometric gradient. Twenty-four plots were established at each site with six replicates of each treatment (1N, 1P, 1N1P, control), for a total of 144 experimental plots. The responses of benthic communities to N and P enrichment varied appreciably between nearshore and offshore habitats. Offshore seagrass beds were strongly limited by nitrogen, and nearshore beds were affected by nitrogen and phosphorus. Nutrient addition at offshore sites increased the length and aboveground standing crop of the two seagrasses, Thalassia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme, and growth rates of T. testudinum. Nutrient addition at nearshore sites increased the relative abundance of macroalgae, epiphytes, and sediment microalgae. N limitation of seagrass in this carbonate system was clearly demonstrated. However, added phosphorus was retained in the system more effectively than N, suggesting that phosphorus might have important long-term effects on these benthic communities. The observed species-specific responses to nutrient enrichment underscores the need to monitor all primary producers when addressing questions of nutrient limitation and eutrophication in seagrass communities.

Water temperature reconstructions based on paired Uk'37 and Tex86 records, and paired surface and subsurface Mg/Ca records

This dataset contains the collection of available published paired Uk'37 and Tex86 records spanning multi-millennial to multi-million year time scales, as well as a collection of Mg/Ca-derived temperatures measured in parallel on surface and subsurface dwelling foraminifera, both used in the analyses of Ho and Laepple, Nature Geoscience 2016. As the signal-to-noise ratios of proxy-derived Holocene temperatures are relatively low, we selected records that contain at least the last deglaciation (oldest sample >18kyr BP).

Transportadores sólidos de oxigênio à base de níquel e cobre suportados em aluminatos para combustão do metano pela tecnologia de recirculação química

In recent years, solid carriers suitable oxygen have been developed for use in different chemical processes recirculation. The success of this technology is directly related to the chemical reactivity and the oxygen storage capacity of the carrier. Thus, research into the development of new materials that can be applied to the process becomes extremely important. Possible candidates are the carriers based on nickel and copper for presenting favorable thermodynamic properties. In this work, aluminates type MAl2O4 (M = Mg and Ca) and M0,9B0,1Al2O4 (B = Ni and Cu) that are used as supports were synthesized by combustion reactions assisted by microwave and calcined at 900°C/2h. Then, the carriers were impregnated with 10% (m/m) of nickel or copper, and subsequently calcined at 600°C/2h to obtain the solid oxygen carriers, which were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) Microscopy scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). Reactions simulating the combustion process by chemical recirculation were performed by cycles reduction/oxidation, in order to evaluate the reactivity of carriers. XRD analysis revealed diffraction peaks of the spinel type structures. In the doped substrates were verified the presence of secondary phases, suggesting that all the metal was incorporated into the spinel structure. In solid oxygen carriers, the NiO and CuO phases were observed after impregnation of active phases on different media. The results of evaluations of chemical cycles reduction/oxidation revealed that TSO's impregnated with nickel in various media were more active and are potential candidates for use in the chemical recirculation technology

Pressão de sono e perfil acadêmico de estudante de medicina do 1º período da UFRN

Academic demands, new social context, new routines and decrease of the parental control, are factors that may influence the sleep pattern of freshman students at the University. Medical students from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) have a full-time course, subjects with high-level content, and, at the first semester, classes begin at 7 a.m. This group composed by young adults who still suffering with delayed sleep phase, common in adolescence, indicating that this class schedule can be inappropriate at this age. The reduction of nocturnal sleep during school days, and the attempt to recover sleep on free days – social jet lag (JLS), suggests that in the first semester, students suffer from high sleep pressure. High sleep pressure may reflect on cognitive tasks and performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sleep pressure and the academic profile of medical students from the first semester of UFRN, characterizing this population socio-demographically and investigating possible impacts on therestactivity rhytm and academic performance. A sample of 88 students, healthy men and women awswered the following questionnaires: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Horne & Ostberg Chronotype (HO), Munich Chronotype (MCTQ) and “Health and Sleep” adapted. Actigraphy was used during 14 days to make actogramas and obtain non-parametric variables of the rest-activity rhythm and the grades of the morning schedule were used as academic performance. The JLS was used as a measure of sleep pressure. Statistics significance level was 95%. The population was sociodemographic homogeneous. Most students have healthy lifestyle, practice physical activity, use car to go to the university and take between 15 and 30 minutes for this route. Regarding CSV, most were classify as intermediate (38.6%) and evening (32%) chronotypes, needs to nap during the week, suffer daytime sleepiness and have poor sleep quality. 83% of the sample has at least 1h JLS, which led us to divide into two groups: Group <2h JLS (N = 44) and Group ≥ 2h JLS (N = 44). The groups have differences only in chronotype, showing that most evening individuals have more JLS, however, no differences were found in relation to sociodemographic aspect, rest-activity rhythm or academic performance. The homogeneity of the sample was limited to compare the groups, however, is alarming that students already present in the first half: JLG, poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness, which can be accentuated through the university years, with the emergence of night shifts and increased academic demand. Interventionsaddressingthe importance of good sleep habits and the change of the class start time are strategies aimed to improve student’s health.

Desempenho zootécnico dos camarões: Litopenaeus vannamei e Macrobrachium rosenbergii em tanques rede e aquicultura familiar na comunidade de Bebida-Velha, RN

The study aims to evaluate the performance and identify lesions of agonistic interactions of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in different densities cages (chapter 1); compare the growth performance of shrimp M. rosenbergii and Litopenaus vannamei cages (chatper 2); in addition the study aimed at identifying the knowledge and practices of a traditional community of farmers Bebida-Velha, in the city of Pureza / RN, practicing rural family and aquaculture, as well as tracing the community socioeconomic profile and evaluate the management that these farmers use in shrimp farming Macrobrachium rosenbergii (chapter 3). To perform the experiments (chapter 1 and 2) shrimp species L. vannamei and M. rosenbergii were weighed on a digital scale and transferred to cultures in cages. The cages had 1m³, with 5mm mesh between us and were closed on top with screen to avoid predators (birds, insects). The animals remained in adaptation for fifteen days before the start of data collection (each experiment). Both experiments lasted seventy days, totaling eighty-five days cultivation. During the cultures, animals were fed pelleted feed for shrimp at 10% of their biomass with 35% crude protein, offered in feed trays twice a day during the hours (7:00 am and 14:00 pm). The remnants in the tray were removed after 2h of permanence to calculate intake. To determine the performance parameters, some samples were taken every 10 days. The results of both experiments were analyzed using the STATISTIC 7.0 (2004). In Chapter 1 experiment were applied5 treatments were applied with 5 replications each: D5 - 5 animals/m2 ; D10 - 10 animals/m2 ; D15 - 15 animals/m2 ; D20 - 20 animals/m2 ; D25 - 25 animals/m2 . To this, were distributed 25 cages randomly in two masonry nurseries. The end of the experiment the lesions were verified and quantified. The chapter 2 experiment began when the shrimp reached the same age (eighty-four days) and was used the density of 25 shrimp / m2 with 4 repetitions. For the realization of chapter 3 were applied semi-structured interviews by direct approach of Bebida Velha of settlers practicing aquaculture activity, tilapia producers and community shrimp. Data were tabulated and analyzed according to the responses obtained by the participants. Therefore, the amount of damage increased with increasing stocking density. The density of 10 freshwater shrimp/m² showed the best conditions for a better performance in cages. It can be concluded that in cages, the cultivation of species of fresh water shrimp M. rosenbergii had better zootechnical indexes than the cultivation of marine shrimp species L. 9 vannamei. It was possible to verify that the activities of which the interviewees practice guarantee a good quality of life and income for them. We find that respondents have traditional and local knowledge, and also may be interested in the cultivation of the species M. rosenbergii.

Influência do jet lag social em marcadores circadianos de atividade - repouso e cardíaco em estudantes de medicina

Studies reveal that in recent decades a decrease in sleep duration has occurred. Social commitments, such as work and school are often not aligned to the "biological time" of individuals. Added to this, there is a reduced force of zeitgeber caused by less exposure to daylight and larger exposure to evenings. This causes a chronic sleep debt that is offset in a free days. Indeed, a restriction and extent of sleep called "social Jet lag" occurs weekly. Sleep deprivation has been associated to obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular risk. It is suggested that the autonomic nervous system is a pathway that connects sleep problems to cardiovascular diseases. However, beyond the evidence demonstrated by studies using models of acute and controlled sleep deprivation, studies are needed to investigate the effects of chronic sleep deprivation as it occurs in the social jet lag. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of social jet lag in circadian rest-activity markers and heart function in medical students. It is a cross-sectional, observational study conducted in the Laboratory of Neurobiology and Biological Rhythmicity (LNRB) at the Department of Physiology UFRN. Participated in the survey medical students enrolled in the 1st semester of their course at UFRN. Instruments for data collection: Munich Chronotype Questionnaire, Morningness Eveningness Questionnaire of Horne and Östberg, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Actimeter; Heart rate monitor. Analysed were descriptive variables of sleep, nonparametric (IV60, IS60, L5 and M10) and cardiac indexes of time domain, frequency (LF, HF LF / HF) and nonlinear (SD1, SD2, SD1 / SD2). Descriptive, comparative and correlative statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software version 20. 41 students participated in the study, 48.8% (20) females and 51.2% (21) males, 19.63 ± 2.07 years. The social jet lag had an average of 02: 39h ± 00:55h, 82.9% (34) with social jet lag ≥ 1h and there was a negative correlation with the Munich chronotype score indicating greater sleep deprivation in subjects prone to eveningness. Poor sleep quality was detected in 90.2% (37) (X2 = 26.56, p <0.001) and 56.1% (23) excessive daytime sleepiness (X2 = 0.61, p = 0.435). Significant differences were observed in the values of LFnu, HFnu and LF / HF between the groups of social jet lag <2h and ≥ 2h and correlation of the social jet lag with LFnu (rs = 0.354, p = 0.023), HFnu (rs = - 0.354 , p = 0.023) and LF / HF (r = 0.355, p = 0.023). There was also a negative association between IV60 and indexes in the time domain and non-linear. It is suggested that chronic sleep deprivation may be associated with increased sympathetic activation promoting greater cardiovascular risk.

Síntese e caracterização de PSFC (Pr0,5Sr0,5Fe1-xCuxO3-δ, sendo x=0,2 e x=0,4) para aplicação como catodo de células a combustível de óxido sólido

The PSFC (Pr0.5Sr0.5Fe1-xCuxO3-δ) is a new mixed oxide perovskite and has been studied and evaluated the cathode materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs), mainly due to its good compatibility with the electrolyte (CGO) and its high ionic conductivity and electronic in intermediate temperature. In this work, PSFC powders with two different compositions (Pr0,5Sr0,5Fe0,8Cu0,2O3- PSFC5582 and Pr0,5Sr0,5Fe0,6Cu0,4O3-PSFC5564) were synthesized by the citrate method using a new route. The powders obtained were characterized by thermal analysis (Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Thermogravimetry), and the material calcined at 800, 900 and 1000 °C for 5h were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), with the Rietveld refinement of the diffraction data and dilatometry. PSFC5582 composite films were obtained by screen printing of powder calcined at 1000 °C. The films were deposited on substrate ceria doped with gadolinia (CGO) and then sintered at 1050 °C for 2h. The electrochemical performance of the electrodes was evaluated by impedance spectroscopy and the interface electrode/electrolyte was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The specific resistance area (ASR) was 0.44 Ω.cm² at 800 °C, slightly lower than those reported in the literature for cathodes containing cobalt. The thermal expansion coefficients of both the PSFC compositions were obtained and varied between 13 and 15 x 10-6 °C-1 , in a temperature range of 200 to 650 °C, demonstrating the good thermal compatibility of cathodes with Ce0,9Gd0,1O1,95 electrolytes (CET = 12 x 10-6 °C).

Síntese e caracterizações estrutural e magnética das ferritas de cobalto-manganês (Co1-xMnxFe2O4 E Co1,2Fe1,8-xMnxO4)

The cobalt-manganese ferrites (Co1¡xMnxFe2O4 and Co1,2Fe1,8¡xMnxO4) has a mixed structure of spinel type and it has been regarded as one of candidates for petitive wide variety of applications in devices from ultrasonic generation and detection, sensors, transformers, as well as in medical industry. Ferrites cobalt-manganese nanostructured were produced via mechanical alloying with subsequent heat treatment and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy and magnetization. Samples of Co1¡xMnxFe2O4 and Co1,2Fe1,8¡xMnxO4 were obtained from the precursor powders Fe3O4, Co3O4 and Mn3O4 which were stoichiometrically mixed and ground by 10h and heat treated at 900°C for 2h. The diffraction confirmed the formation of the pure nanocrystalline phases to series Co1,2Fe1,8¡xMnxO4 with an average diameter of about 94nm. It was found that the lattice parameter increases with the substitution of Fe3Å by Mn3Å. The x-ray fluorescence revealed that the portions of metals in samples were close to the nominal stoichiometric compositions. The microstructural features observed in micrographs showed that the particles formed show very different morphology and particle size. The magnetic hysteresis measurements performed at low temperature showed that the saturation magnetization and remanence increased as the concentration of manganese, while the coercive field decreased. The anisotropy constant (Ke f ), was estimated from the data adjustments the law of approaching saturation. It was found that the anisotropy decreases substantially with the substitution of Fe by Mn.

Estudo da influência da adição de níquel em alumina pela rota da metalurgia do pó

Ceramic materials alumina basis have been widely used in structural components, mainly because owning properties such as high hardness, chemical inertness and good wear resistance, however, the low toughness is a factor that compromises its use in many other applications, featuring the addition of nickel as a possible solution to this problem, in this context, this work aims to study the addition of nickel alumina using the route of powder metallurgy processing of the material. The percentage of nickel were added 2, 4 and 6 wt%; and each composition to high energy milling in a planetary mill was performed for 2, 4, 9 and 16h. Subsequently, the samples were compacted at 300 MPa and sintered in a vacuum oven at 1400⁰C for 2h. The samples were characterized as the physical and mechanical properties, observing, in general, an improvement in sinterability of the material with increasing grinding time and nickel content, and mixing with a decrease of porosity and increase of hardness, density values above 80% of theoretical were obtained. The milling time of 4 hours and addition of 2% nickel, particularly if achieved higher hardness (HV 1068.7 +/- 32.6) and density of about 99% theoretical density.

Estudo da influência da adição de níquel em alumina pela rota da metalurgia do pó

Ceramic materials alumina basis have been widely used in structural components, mainly because owning properties such as high hardness, chemical inertness and good wear resistance, however, the low toughness is a factor that compromises its use in many other applications, featuring the addition of nickel as a possible solution to this problem, in this context, this work aims to study the addition of nickel alumina using the route of powder metallurgy processing of the material. The percentage of nickel were added 2, 4 and 6 wt%; and each composition to high energy milling in a planetary mill was performed for 2, 4, 9 and 16h. Subsequently, the samples were compacted at 300 MPa and sintered in a vacuum oven at 1400⁰C for 2h. The samples were characterized as the physical and mechanical properties, observing, in general, an improvement in sinterability of the material with increasing grinding time and nickel content, and mixing with a decrease of porosity and increase of hardness, density values above 80% of theoretical were obtained. The milling time of 4 hours and addition of 2% nickel, particularly if achieved higher hardness (HV 1068.7 +/- 32.6) and density of about 99% theoretical density.

Il problema cosmologico del 7Li - considerazioni nucleari ed esperimento n_TOF

La nucleosintesi primordiale descrive le reazioni che hanno formato i primi elementi leggeri (H, 2H, 3He, 4He, 7Li) e ci da una previsione sull'andamento delle loro abbondanze primordiali in funzione del rapporto barioni-fotoni η, unico parametro libero della teoria BBN. Questo parametro è stato fissato dal momento in cui la sonda WMAP è stata lanciata in orbita; essa ha svolto misure importantissime sulla radiazione cosmica di fondo, fornendoci un valore accurato della densità barionica e quindi di η. Con questo nuovo dato sono state calcolate le abbondanze degli elementi leggeri ai tempi della nucleosintesi primordiale, tuttavia quella teorizzata per il 7Li non corrispondeva affatto a quella osservata nelle stelle dell'alone galattico, ma risultava essere dalle 2 alle 4 volte maggiore. Questa discrepanza costituisce il problema cosmologico del litio. Il problema può essere affrontato in diversi campi della fisica; il nostro scopo è quello di studiarlo dal punto di vista della fisica nucleare, analizzando le reazioni nucleari legate al 7Li. Il contributo principale alla produzione di 7Li proviene dal decadimento spontaneo del 7Be, quindi bisogna valutare il rate di reazione dei processi che producono o distruggono quest'ultimo nucleo; tale rate dipende dalla sezione d'urto della reazione. Un contributo fondamentale potrebbe essere dato dalle eventuali risonanze non ancora scoperte, cioè gli stati eccitati dei prodotti di reazione che si trovano ad energie non ancora studiate, in corrispondenza delle quali la sezione d'urto subisce un drastico aumento. Le due reazioni principali da considerare sono 7Be(n,p)7Li e 7Be(n,αlfa)4He; la prima perché contribuisce al 97% della distruzione del berillio, quindi una rivalutazione della sua sezione d'urto porterebbe ad un grande cambiamento nel valore dell'abbondanza di 7Be (e quindi di 7Li), la seconda poiché, anche se contribuisce solo al 2.5% della distruzione del berillio, possiede una incertezza enorme.