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The mechanisms committed in the activation and response of vascular and inflammatory immune cells play a major role in tissue remodeling in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as atherosclerosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Cardiovascular remodeling entails interrelated cellular processes (proliferation, survival/apoptosis, inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis/degradation, redox homeostasis, etc.) coordinately regulated by a reduced number of transcription factors. Nuclear receptors of the subfamily 4 group A (NR4A) have recently emerged as key master genes in multiple cellular processes and vital functions of different organs, and have been involved in a variety of high-incidence human pathologies including atherosclerosis and other CVDs. This paper reviews the major findings involving NR4A3 (Neuron-derived Orphan Receptor 1, NOR-1) in the cardiovascular remodeling operating in these diseases.

Blue phases of liquid crystals represent unique ordered states of matter in which arrays of defects are organized into striking patterns. Most studies of blue phases to date have focused on bulk properties. In this work, we present a systematic study of blue phases confined into spherical droplets. It is found that, in addition to the so-called blue phases I and II, several new morphologies arise under confinement, with a complexity that increases with the chirality of the medium and with a nature that can be altered by surface anchoring. Through a combination of simulations and experiments, it is also found that one can control the wavelength at which blue-phase droplets absorb light by manipulating either their size or the strength of the anchoring, thereby providing a liquid–state analog of nanoparticles, where dimensions are used to control absorbance or emission. The results presented in this work also suggest that there are conditions where confinement increases the range of stability of blue phases, thereby providing intriguing prospects for applications

Liquid-crystal blue phases (BPs) are highly ordered at two levels. Molecules exhibit orientational order at nanometer length scales, while chirality leads to ordered arrays of double-twisted cylinders over micrometer scales. Past studies of polycrystalline BPs were challenged by the existence of grain boundaries between randomly oriented crystalline nanodomains. Here, the nucleation of BPs is controlled with precision by relying on chemically nanopatterned surfaces, leading to macroscopic single-crystal BP specimens where the dynamics of mesocrystal formation can be directly observed. Theory and experiments show that transitions between two BPs having a different network structure proceed through local reorganization of the crystalline array, without diffusion of the double-twisted cylinders. In solid crystals, martensitic transformations between crystal structures involve the concerted motion of a few atoms, without diffusion. The transformation between BPs, where crystal features arise in the submicron regime, is found to be martensitic in nature when one considers the collective behavior of the double-twist cylinders. Single-crystal BPs are shown to offer fertile grounds for the study of directed crystal nucleation and the controlled growth of soft matter.

This paper aims to analyze the external and internal drivers of young consumers’ intention to participate in the sharing economy in tourism. From previous findings, a causal model (PLS) is designed to generate an integrated, practical, and novel structural model that significantly predicts the intention to participate. The model, consisting of nine dimensions, includes consumers’ external and internal variables. Separately, these variables have all been considered relevant in the literature, though they have not been studied jointly before. The descriptive results show the excellent attitude and predisposition of young people toward the tourism sharing economy, which facilitates their participation. Through the model, the importance of all internal and external consumer variables in the formation of intention are proven; however, attitude and social norm are most notable among them. Trust is also a critical variable that serves as the link between internal and external variables. The study provides managers of sharing economy platforms with knowledge to encourage young consumers’ participation in a communication and market orientation context. The generational approach (Generation Z) used also allows the conclusions and implications to be transferred to other regions and sectors.

In this paper, the potential of the World Economic Forum (WEF) model to analyze tourism competitiveness is studied. The study aims to analyze the WEF model’s validity, reliability and dimensionality. It attempts to determine the WEF model’s potential for studying tourism destinations’ competitiveness in an integrated context. Finally, using the WEF model, Portugal’s competitiveness is analyzed in an integrated and benchmarking context. The methodology used in this study is the Rasch mathematical model, a methodology that has been effectively demonstrated in social sciences. Competitiveness data from the latest available WEF Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report (TTCR-2019) has been used. The results show that the WEF model is statistically valid and reliable for studying competitiveness in tourism. Likewise, the WEF model’s high potential for the joint study of competitiveness and individual countries in an integrated and benchmarking context is confirmed. The study facilitates the development of policies to improve tourism competitiveness.

British pre-industrial economic growth has traditionally been analysed from the Malthusian point of view and other more optimistic approaches, but in many cases, ignoring environmental factors. This article explores the inclusion of the climate in this general debate, focusing on one of the colder periods of the last 500 years, known as the Maunder Minimum. The provisional results suggest that climate change and the resulting adaptations may have influenced the start of the English Agricultural Revolution, the Energy Transition and the European Divergence. However, from an econometric point of view these results are not fully conclusive, making it necessary to continue working with better primary sources and other alternative methodologies.

Curcuma is a traditional ingredient of some Eastern cuisines, and the spice is heralded for its antitumoral and antiparasitic properties. In this report, we examine the effect of the curcuminoides which include curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bis-demethoxycurcumin (BDMC), as well as curcumin degradation products on thioredoxin glutathione reductase from Taenia crassiceps cysticerci Results revealed that both DMC and BDMC were inhibitors of TGR activity in the micromolar concentration range. By contrast, the inhibitory ability of curcumin was a time-dependent process. Kinetic and spectroscopical evidence suggests that an intermediary compound of curcumin oxidation, probably spiroepoxide, is responsible. Preincubation of curcumin in the presence of NADPH, but not glutathione disulfide (GSSG), resulted in the loss of its inhibitory ability, suggesting a reductive stabilizing effect. Similarly, preincubation of curcumin with sulfhydryl compounds fully protected the enzyme from inhibition. Degradation products were tested for their inhibitory potential, and 4-vinylguaiacol was the best inhibitor (IC50 = 12.9 μM), followed by feruloylmethane (IC50 = 122 μM), vanillin (IC50 = 127 μM), and ferulic aldehyde (IC50 = 180 μM). The acid derivatives ferulic acid (IC50 = 465 μM) and vanillic acid (IC50 = 657 μM) were poor inhibitors. On the other hand, results from docking analysis revealed a common binding site on the enzyme for all the compounds, albeit interacting with different amino acid residues. Dissociation constants obtained from the docking were in accord with the inhibitory efficiency of the curcumin degradation products.

During the evolution of the Earth, the increase in the atmospheric concentration of oxygen gave rise to the development of organisms with aerobic metabolism, which utilized this molecule as the ultimate electron acceptor, whereas other organisms maintained an anaerobic metabolism. Platyhelminthes exhibit both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism depending on the availability of oxygen in their environment and/or due to differential oxygen tensions during certain stages of their life cycle. As these organisms do not have a circulatory system, gas exchange occurs by the passive diffusion through their body wall. Consequently, the flatworms developed several adaptations related to the oxygen gradient that is established between the aerobic tegument and the cellular parenchyma that is mostly anaerobic. Because of the aerobic metabolism, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is produced in abundance. Catalase usually scavenges H2O2 in mammals; however, this enzyme is absent in parasitic platyhelminths. Thus, the architecture of the antioxidant systems is different, depending primarily on the superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and peroxiredoxin enzymes represented mainly in the tegument. Here, we discuss the adaptations that parasitic flatworms have developed to be able to transit from the different metabolic conditions to those they are exposed to during their life cycle.

The quantity of different plastics generated after consumption is an impact factor affecting the environment, and the lack of recycling generates solid waste. The purpose of this work is to incorporate high-density recycled polyethylene fibers (HDPE) for possible use as concrete reinforcement. Physical and mechanical properties from recycled fibers were analyzed, such as density, absorption, and stress resistance, as well as workability, air content, porosity, concrete compression, and flexural strength properties. Samples were prepared with a low fiber content of 0.2% and 0.4%, as a substitution for sand weight, and lengths of 10 and 30 mm. To study corrosion phenomena, the specimens were exposed to a saline environment containing 3% sodium chloride for 365 days, and the electrochemical techniques including half-cell potential (HCP), electrochemical noise (EN), linear polarization resistance (LPR), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were applied. The results showed a 4.8% increase in compressive strength with a low fiber percentage and short geometries, while flexural strength increased marginally by 2.3% with small quantities of HDPE fibers. All these factors contribute to greater material durability, less permeability, and crack control. A positive effect of fibers with short dimensions on the corrosion processes of a steel bar was observed, with the fibers acting as a physical barrier against the diffusion of chloride ions.

Chiral nematic liquid crystals (CLCs), with a unique helix structure, have attracted immense recognition over the last few decades owing to the abundant presence in natural phenomena and their diverse applications. However, the optical properties of CLC are usually hindered by the abundance of the so-called fingerprint domains. Up to now, studies have worked on controlling the in-plane orientation of the lying helix through surface rubbing and external stimuli. It remains challenging to achieve a steady and uniform lying helical structure. Here, by varying the surface anchoring strength, a uniform lying helical structure with long-range order is achieved as thermodynamically stable state without any external support. Poly (6-(4-methoxy-azobenzene-4’-oxy) hexyl methacrylate) (PMMAZO)—a liquid crystalline polymer—is deposited onto the silicon substrate to fine-tune the surface anchoring. By changing the grafting density of PMMAZO, both pitch size and morphology of the lying helical structure can be controlled. As the grafting density increases, the enhanced titled deformation of helical structure suppresses the pitch size of CLC at the same cell thickness; as the cell thickness increases, the morphology transition from long-range order stripes to small fingerprint domains is facilitated.