AUTHORS W - X
Have a look at the UNIGOU Publications developed by students participating in the INCBAC academic programs:
The Glymphatic System and Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease: An Integrative Synthesis
Xavier Viana, Tereza Raquel
Abstract:
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by the accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and tau tangles in the brain, resulting in synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death. The glymphatic system, a recently discovered network that facilitates the removal of metabolic waste from the brain, has been suggested as a critical component in the pathogenesis of AD. This integrative review aimed to synthesize the current evidence on the relationship between the glymphatic system and neuroinflammation in AD. It is an integrative review of the literature in databases such as the National Library of Medicine located at the National Institutes of Health (PubMed), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Virtual Health Library (VHL), including studies published in the last 5 years (2019 – 2024), full texts, in English and Portuguese, peer-reviewed, aligned with the proposed theme. The exclusion criteria were articles outside the selected period or that did not address the objective of the study. The interaction between the glymphatic system and neuroinflammation is fundamental to understanding neurodegeneration in AD. Glymphatic dysfunction, associated with inflammation and the accumulation of pathological proteins, plays an essential role in the progression of the disease. The AQP4 protein is vital for inflammatory modulation and brain clearance. Factors such as the gut-brain axis and the microbiome are also important. Future advances should focus on cytokines, modulation of the glymphatic system and biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment, with the aim of improving patients’ quality of life.
Keywords:
Alzheimer, Beta-Amyloid, Neurodegeneration, Glymphatic System, Tau.
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W
Soviet Union and Religion: An Analysis of the Sovietologist Discourse
Wallauer de Leão, Tales Augusto
Abstract:
Marxist thought reached its most relevant position as a “policy tool” in a State in the Soviet Union (USSR). Inasmuch as Marx considered religion “the opium of the people”, it is not surprising that it was a sensitive topic to the Union. In this context, several Sovietologists (scholars of the Soviet Union) focused on how the Soviet Union dealt with the issue. The present research intends to open up a new venue for understanding the Cold War by analyzing how the Sovietologist discourse approached religion by conferring natural predicates to the USSR. The main hypothesis is that the Sovietologist discourse constructed the subjectivity of the USSR from conditions of possibility that characterized it as inferior, expansionist, and contradictory. Following Foucault, the archeological method was deployed in order to understand how utterances on religion took place under the conditions of possibility of the Sovietologist discourse. In practical terms, the analysis considered several papers on religion that were published in the journal “Soviet Studies”, one of the most important in the field of Sovietology. After the reading of eight articles, it was possible to infer that: 1) contradictoriness is, in fact, the basis of the discourse of Sovietologists; 2) expansiveness and inferiority are present characteristics, but not necessarily central; 3) characteristics such as combativeness to religion and the Soviet inability to deal with religious issues are pivotal in the discourse.
Keywords:
Sovietology, Sovietologist Discourse, Religion, USSR, Discourse.
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Drug Candidates for Chagas Disease: A Mini Review on Natural Products in Brazil
Wen Ya So, Fernanda
Abstract:
Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected tropical disease that affects more than 6 million people worldwide, mainly in areas of Latin America. Currently, there is no vaccine against Chagas disease and the available drugs (benznidazole and nifurtimox) are poorly effective and have been associated with several side effects. Therefore, research initiatives to identify new lead compounds for treating Chagas disease are required. Concomitant, natural products have stood out as a source of potential bioactive compounds and Brazilian research groups have been conducting studies on the identification of new molecules. In this context, this study reviews Brazilian publications on Web of Science database in terms of natural product chemical diversity, identification of potential compounds with trypanocidal effect and characterization of hit compounds identified through phenotypic-based screening. From 2012 to 2022, fifty three papers reported four hundred and forty nine active molecules to fight different strains and life stages of the parasite. Plant derived extract, marine derived extract and microorganisms were the classes of compounds, which had the required IC50 potency and SI selectivity to be a hit compound, indicating that natural products can be an important source of potential new drugs to treat Chagas disease.
Keywords:
Trypanosoma cruzi, natural product, drug development.
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Life Cycle Assessment of Thermomagnetic Motors: A Review
Wisniewski Siqueira, Nathalia
Abstract:
In view of the increasing demand for energy and the search for sustainable alternatives to traditional sources such as fossil fuels, the waste of thermal energy in industries and the potential for converting it into other types of energy are highlighted. The importance of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a tool for analyzing the sustainability of complex systems is presented, covering all stages from the extraction of raw materials to the final product. LCA case studies in thermal waste reuse systems are exemplified by research that evaluates the environmental impact of technologies such as the organic Rankine cycle and the Kalina cycle. The application of LCA to thermomagnetic motors is proposed as a gap in current research, since they also reuse low-quality thermal waste to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy, emphasizing the importance of understanding the life cycle of these devices and their environmental impact. Another important point is the relevance of LCA in analyzing innovative technologies for producing energy from waste. Finally, it is concluded that LCA is fundamental for evaluating systems that use thermal waste, such as thermomagnetic motors, and highlights its role in the search for more sustainable energy sources, helping to guide policies and practices in energy production.
Keywords:
Life cycle assessment, thermomagnetic motor, industrial waste heat.
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Government incentives and circular economy in organizations: a systematic analysis of policies and regulations
Wegrzinovski Pickssius, Maylla
Abstract:
The aim of the article is to investigate the main government incentives aimed at promoting the circular economy in organizations, highlighting its growing importance for global sustainability. The results emphasize the intrinsic link between government financial incentives and the promotion of the circular economy, emphasizing that while these incentives are important, an integrated approach involving education, collaboration among stakeholders, and technological innovation is essential to achieve a more circular and sustainable economy.
Keywords:
Circular economy, Sustainability , Government incentives.
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Agriculture and Sustainable Development: A Look at the Past, Present, and Future
Wellington Amorin da Silva, Bruce
Abstract:
The activity of agriculture, which dates to the origins of human civilization, has always been a topic of discussion due to the growing demand for food. As it requires finite resources, it can have an impact on its surroundings, making sustainability a crucial concept for the development of new methods of food production. In this regard, this paper has as objective to analyze crop diversification as a strategy for sustainable rural development. To accomplish this, it has delved into the history and evolution of agriculture, followed by the concept of sustainable rural development, with a focus on crop diversification as a strategy. As part of the results, the threats to the Anthropocene are reasons of concern and should also be addressed by agriculture since the stability of food systems is directly dependent on this activity. The study has revealed a wealth of scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of crop diversification to achieve sustainability in agriculture, which is important to subsidize public policies based on scientific evidence. More than ever, promoting the sustainability of agriculture is a necessity for humanity to survive the ongoing changes to the planet, and crop diversification is seen as an effective strategy for accomplishing this goal, inside the theoretical framework of sustainable rural development.
Keywords:
Agriculture, Sustainability, Crop Diversification, Sustainable Rural Development.