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Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), is one of the most devastating diseases affecting banana cultivation worldwide. Although Foc tropical race 4 (TR4) has not yet been identified in Brazilian production areas, the damage caused by races 1 and subtropical 4 is the main cause of production losses, especially affecting cultivars of the Prata subgroup. Thus, the induction of somaclonal variation is a promising strategy in biotechnology to generate genetic variability and develop resistant varieties. This study aimed to induce somaclonal variation in the Prata Catarina cultivar (AAB genome) using successive subcultures in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium enriched with the plant regulator Thiadizuron (TDZ) at two concentrations: 1 and 2 mg/L. After evaluating the symptoms, we selected 13 resistant somaclones that were not infected by the fungus. Histochemical and histological analyses of the somaclones indicated possible defense mechanisms that prevented colonization and/or infection by Foc, such as intense production of phenolic compounds and the presence of cellulose and callose in the roots. Some somaclones showed no pathogen structures in the xylem-conducting vessels, indicating possible pre-penetration resistance. Furthermore, molecular studies indicated that the genetic alterations in the somaclones may have induced resistance to Foc without compromising the agronomic characteristics of the commercial genotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania parasites exhibits a wide range of clinical manifestations. Although parasites influence disease severity, cytolytic CD8+ T cell responses mediate disease. Although these responses originate in the lymph node, we found that expression of the cytolytic effector molecule granzyme B was restricted to lesional CD8+ T cells in Leishmania-infected mice, suggesting that local cues within inflamed skin induced cytolytic function. Expression of Blimp-1 (Prdm1), a transcription factor necessary for cytolytic CD8+ T cell differentiation, was driven by hypoxia within the inflamed skin. Hypoxia was further enhanced by the recruitment of neutrophils that consumed oxygen to produce ROS and ultimately increased the hypoxic state and granzyme B expression in CD8+ T cells. Importantly, lesions from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis exhibited hypoxia transcription signatures that correlated with the presence of neutrophils. Thus, targeting hypoxia-driven signals that support local differentiation of cytolytic CD8+ T cells may improve the prognosis for patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis, as well as for other inflammatory skin diseases in which cytolytic CD8+ T cells contribute to pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a risk factor for developing visceral leishmaniasis (VL). While nutrient deficiency can impair immunity, its mechanistic impact on protective adaptive immune responses following Leishmania infection remains unknown. To determine the potential negative impacts of malnutrition on anti-parasitic responses in chronic VL, we provided mice with a polynutrient-deficient diet (deficient protein, energy, zinc, and iron) that mimics moderate human malnutrition. The polynutrient-deficient diet resulted in growth stunting and reduced mass of visceral organs and following infection with Leishmania infantum, malnourished-mice harbored more parasites in the spleen and liver. Malnourished and infected mice also had fewer T lymphocytes, with reduced T cell production of IFN-γ required for parasite clearance and enhanced production of the immunosuppressive cytokine, IL-10. To determine if IL-10 was causative in disease progression in the malnourished mice, we treated infected mice with monoclonal antibody α-IL-10R. α-IL-10R treatment reduced the parasite number in malnourished mice, restored the number of T cells producing IFN-γ, and enhanced hepatic granuloma formation. Our results indicate that malnutrition increases VL susceptibility due to defective IFN-γ-mediated immunity attributable to increased IL-10 production. Author summary: Malnutrition contributes to the development of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) following Leishmania infection. Despite the clear association, the impact of malnutrition on the adaptive immune mechanisms required for parasite control is still unclear. We found that malnutrition disrupts the ability to control parasite replication in the spleen and liver due to defective IFN-γ-mediated immunity, reduced hepatic granuloma formation, and enhanced IL-10 production. Blocking IL-10R signaling restored the protective mechanisms to control parasite replication in the malnourished mice without interfering with the undernutrition state. Thus, we demonstrate that increased IL-10 production driven by malnutrition disrupts protective immunity against Leishmania, thereby enhancing the susceptibility of VL. Understanding the association between malnutrition and VL will provide insights into therapeutic approaches to treat this aggressive disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Type 1 diabetes reduces exploration without reducing novelty-seeking motivation. • Deletion of TNFR1 attenuates the reduction in gait speed induced by type 1 diabetes. • Type 1 diabetes induces anxiety-like behavior in the first week post-streptozotocin. • Deletion of TNFR1 induces working memory impairment in normoglycemic mice. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is associated with cognitive impairments in humans. A well-established animal model of T1D is induced through the administration of streptozotocin (STZ), a glucose analog that induces pancreatic β-cell death, resulting in hyperglycemia and cognitive impairment linked to neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, a key inflammatory mediator, is elevated in the central nervous system (CNS) of diabetic animals. In this study, we utilized TNFR1 knockout mice to investigate the role of TNFR1 signaling in short-term T1D-related cognitive impairment. Our findings showed that diabetic animals did not develop cognitive damage within the first 2 weeks of T1D but exhibited reduced exploration in all behavioral tests. Our findings suggest that this reduction in exploration was attributable to motor impairment, as there was no reduction in motivated novelty-seeking behavior. Additionally, deletion of TNFR1 signaling attenuated gait speed impairment in diabetic mice, but did not affect other motor-related or exploratory behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Method Results Conclusion This research note investigates changes in American parents' financial investments in children during the COVID‐19 pandemic, as well as whether and how changes in parents' spending varied based on parental education.Parents purchase goods, experiences, and services that shape children's human capital and life chances. Socioeconomic differences in parental expenditures on children represent an important pathway for perpetuating inequality across generations. The COVID‐19 pandemic disrupted children's lives in ways that may have changed these levels of investment.The 2015–2022 Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX) is used to describe spending on five key categories of investments in children's human capital (educational spending, extracurricular activities and lessons, computers and tablets, formal childcare, informal childcare) overall and by parental education. Mediation analysis assesses the extent school closures explain these changes.Childcare and extracurricular expenditures initially decreased significantly and then gradually recovered to pre‐pandemic levels by the end of 2021. Cutbacks were primarily among more educated families. However, spending on schooling increased in 2021 and computer and tablet purchases spiked in 2020, particularly among more educated families. Mediation analysis suggests that when expenditures were most affected by the pandemic (in 2020), school closures explained 50%–70% of those changes.This note provides evidence that during the pandemic socioeconomic inequalities in child‐related spending decreased in some categories of spending (e.g., childcare and extracurriculars) and increased in others (e.g., computers and tablets). Many changes appeared short‐term, but changes in education point to possible longer‐term shifts in parents' preferences about children's educational environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desert dust is an important source of essential metals for marine primary productivity, especially in oligotrophic systems surrounded by deserts, such as the Red Sea. However, there are very few studies on the effects of dust on reef-building corals and none on the response of corals to heat stress. We therefore supplied dust to two coral species (Stylophora pistillata and Turbinaria reniformis) kept under control conditions (26 °C) or heat stress (32 °C). Since dust releases large amounts of iron (Fe) in seawater, among other metals, the direct effect of different forms of Fe enrichment on coral photosynthesis was also tested. First, our results show that the desert dust altered the coral metallome by increasing the content of metals that are important for coral physiology (e.g. lithium (up to 5-fold), manganese (up to 4-fold in S. pistillata), iron (up to 3-fold in S. pistillata), magnesium (up to 1.3-fold), molybdenum (up to 1.5-fold in S. pistillata)). Overall, metal enrichment improved the photosynthetic performance of corals, especially under thermal stress (e.g. Pgross (up to 2-fold), Pnet (up to 10-fold), chlorophyll (up to 1.5-fold), symbionts (up to 1.6-fold)). However, Fe exposure (ferric chloride or ferric citrate) did not directly improve photosynthesis, suggesting that it is the combination of metals released by the dust, the so-called "metal cocktail effect", that has a positive impact on coral photophysiology. Dust also led to a decrease in Ni uptake (up to 1.4-fold in the symbionts), likely related to the nitrogen metabolism. Finally, we found that the isotopic signature of metals such as iron, zinc and copper is a good indicator of heat stress and dust exposure in corals. In conclusion, desert dust can increase coral resistance to bleaching by supplying corals with essential metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desert dust is an important source of essential metals for marine primary productivity, especially in oligotrophic systems surrounded by deserts, such as the Red Sea. However, there are very few studies on the effects of dust on reef-building corals and none on the response of corals to heat stress. We therefore supplied dust to two coral species (Stylophora pistillata and Turbinaria reniformis) kept under control conditions (26 °C) or heat stress (32 °C). Since dust releases large amounts of iron (Fe) in seawater, among other metals, the direct effect of different forms of Fe enrichment on coral photosynthesis was also tested. First, our results show that the desert dust altered the coral metallome by increasing the content of metals that are important for coral physiology (e.g. lithium (up to 5-fold), manganese (up to 4-fold in S. pistillata), iron (up to 3-fold in S. pistillata), magnesium (up to 1.3-fold), molybdenum (up to 1.5-fold in S. pistillata)). Overall, metal enrichment improved the photosynthetic performance of corals, especially under thermal stress (e.g. Pgross (up to 2-fold), Pnet (up to 10-fold), chlorophyll (up to 1.5-fold), symbionts (up to 1.6-fold)). However, Fe exposure (ferric chloride or ferric citrate) did not directly improve photosynthesis, suggesting that it is the combination of metals released by the dust, the so-called "metal cocktail effect", that has a positive impact on coral photophysiology. Dust also led to a decrease in Ni uptake (up to 1.4-fold in the symbionts), likely related to the nitrogen metabolism. Finally, we found that the isotopic signature of metals such as iron, zinc and copper is a good indicator of heat stress and dust exposure in corals. In conclusion, desert dust can increase coral resistance to bleaching by supplying corals with essential metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to propose unsupervised classification methods for size-and-shape considering two-dimensional images (planar shapes). We present new methods based on hypothesis testing and the K-means algorithm. We also propose combinations of algorithms using ensemble methods: bagging and boosting. We consider simulated data in three scenarios in order to evaluate the performance of the proposed methods. The numerical results have indicated that for the data sets, when the centroid sizes change, the performance of the algorithms improves. In addition, bagging-based algorithms outperform their basic versions. Moreover, two real-world datasets have been considered: great ape skull and mice vertebrae references. These datasets have different configurations, such as multiple reference points and variability. Bagged K-means and boosted K-means methods achieved the best performance on the datasets. Lastly, considering the synthetic and real data, the bagged K-means proved to be the best method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose (BC) is significantly influenced by the type of carbon source available in the growth medium, which in turn dictates the material's final properties. This study systematically investigates the effects of five carbon sources—raffinose (C18H32O16), sucrose (C12H22O11), glucose (C6H12O6), arabinose (C5H10O5), and glycerol (C3H8O3)—on BC production by Komagataeibacter hansenii. The varying molecular weights and structural characteristics of these carbon sources provide a framework for examining their influence on BC yield, fiber morphology, and network properties. BC production was monitored through daily measurements of optical density and pH levels in the fermentation media from day 1 to day 14, providing valuable insights into bacterial growth kinetics and cellulose synthesis rates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to elucidate fibril diameter and pore size distribution. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) provided a detailed assessment of crystallinity. Selected BC pellicles were further processed via freeze-drying to produce a foam-like material that maximally preserves the natural three-dimensional structure of BC, facilitating the incorporation and release of lidocaine hydrochloride (5%), a widely used local anesthetic. The lidocaine-loaded BC foams exhibited a sustained and controlled release profile over 14 days in simulated body fluid, highlighting the importance of the role of carbon source selection in shaping the BC network architecture and its impact on drug release profile. These results highlight the versatility and sustainability of BC as a platform for wound healing and drug delivery applications. The tunable properties of BC networks provide opportunities for optimizing therapeutic delivery and improving wound care outcomes, positioning BC as an effective material for enhanced wound management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting and characterizing continuous changes on Earth's surface has become critical for planning and development. Since 2016, Planet Labs has launched hundreds of nanosatellites, known as Doves. Despite the advantages of their high spatial and temporal resolution, these nanosatellites' images still present inconsistencies in radiometric resolution, limiting their broader usability. To address this issue, a model for radiometric normalization of PlanetScope (PS) images was developed using Multispectral Instrument/Sentinel-2 (MSI/S2) sensor images as a reference. An extensive database was compiled, including images from all available versions of the PS sensor (e.g., PS2, PSB.SD, and PS2.SD) from 2017 to 2022, along with data from various weather stations. The sampling process was carried out for each band using two methods: Conditioned Latin Hypercube Sampling (cLHS) and statistical visualization. Five machine learning algorithms were then applied, incorporating both linear and nonlinear models based on rules and decision trees: Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Model Averaged Neural Network (avNNet), Random Forest (RF), k-Nearest Neighbors (KKNN), and Support Vector Machine with Radial Basis Function (SVM-RBF). A rigorous covariate selection process was performed for model application, and the models' performance was evaluated using the following statistical indices: Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC), and Coefficient of Determination (R2). Additionally, Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn tests were applied during model selection to identify the best-performing model. The results indicated that the RF model provided the best fit across all PS sensor bands, with more accurate results in the longer wavelength bands (Band 3 and Band 4). The models achieved RMSE reflectance values of approximately 0.02 and 0.03 in these bands, with R2 and CCC ranging from 0.77 to 0.90 and 0.87 to 0.94, respectively. In summary, this study makes a significant contribution to optimizing the use of PS sensor images for various applications by offering a detailed and robust approach to radiometric normalization. These findings have important implications for the efficient monitoring of surface changes on Earth, potentially enhancing the practical and scientific use of these datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors play an important role in targeted treatment of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. However, adverse events may limit the proper course of treatment in many patients. The purpose of this study is to compare the risk of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular adverse events in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small cell lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) treated with the first-generation BTK inhibitor ibrutinib versus second-generation acalabrutinib, using real-world data from a collaborative multinational network. We used data from the network (TriNetX), which encompasses more than 100 healthcare organizations worldwide. We queried the database for patients aged ≥ 18 years with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small-cell lymphomas treated with ibrutinib or acalabrutinib in the past ten years before the analysis. We used propensity score matching to balance the cohorts. The 3-year cumulative incidences and hazard ratios for the following outcomes were calculated: atrial flutter or fibrillation, other arrhythmias, heart failure, ischemic stroke or peripheral embolism, acute coronary syndrome, bleeding, and sepsis. We compared 2,107 patients in each group. Atrial fibrillation or flutter occurred in 150 (7.1%) patients with acalabrutinib and 310 (14.7%) patients with ibrutinib during the 3-year follow-up (hazard ratio, 0.68, 95% CI 0.55–0.84). New-onset hypertension occurred in 342 (16.3%) patients in the acalabrutinib group and 584 (27.7%) patients in the ibrutinib group (hazard ratio 0.81, 95% CI 0.66–0.98). Sepsis was diagnosed in 136 (6.5%) patients in the acalabrutinib group versus 239 (11.3%) patients in the ibrutinib group (hazard ratio 0.77, 95 CI 0.60–0.98). The two groups had no significant differences concerning the other adverse events. In a large retrospective cohort using real-world data from electronic medical registers, patients with CLL or SLL treated with acalabrutinib had a better cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular safety profile than those treated with ibrutinib, with lower risks of atrial flutter or fibrillation, new-onset arterial hypertension, and sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foliar fungi on urban trees are important for tree health, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Yet, we lack insights into how urbanization influences foliar fungal communities. We created detailed maps of Stockholm region's climate and air quality and characterized foliar fungi from mature oaks (Quercus robur) across climatic, air quality and local habitat gradients. Fungal richness was higher in locations with high growing season relative humidity, and fungal community composition was structured by growing season maximum temperature, NO2 concentration and leaf litter cover. The relative abundance of mycoparasites and endophytes increased with temperature. The relative abundance of pathogens was lowest with high concentrations of NO2 and particulate matter (PM2.5), while saprotrophs increased with leaf litter cover. Our findings show that urbanization influences foliar fungi, providing insights for developing management guidelines to promote tree health, prevent disease outbreaks and maintain biodiversity within urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac rhythms are related to heart electrical activity, being the essential aspect of the cardiovascular physiology. Usually, these rhythms are represented by electrocardiograms (ECGs) that are useful to detect cardiac pathologies. Essentially, the heart activity starts in the sinoatrial node (SA) node, the natural pacemaker, propagating to the atrioventricular node (AV), and finally reaching the His-Purkinje complex (HP). This paper investigates the control of cardiac rhythms in order to induce normal rhythms from pathological responses. A mathematical model that presents close agreement with experimental measurements is employed to represent the heart functioning. The adopted model comprises a network of three nonlinear oscillators that represent each one of the cardiac nodes, connected by delayed couplings. The pathological behavior is induced by an external stimulus in the SA node. An adaptive controller is proposed acting in the SA node considering an strategy based on the signal obtained by the natural pacemaker and its regularization. The incorporation of adaptive compensation in a Lyapunov-based control scheme allows the compensation for the unknown dynamics. The controller ability to deal with interpatient variability is evaluated by assuming that the heart model is not available to the controller design, being used only in the simulator to assess the control performance. Results show that the adaptive term can reduce the control effort by around 3% while reducing the tracking error by 20%, when compared to the conventional feedback approach. Additionally, the controller can avoid abnormal rhythms, turning the ECG closer to the expected normal behavior and preventing critical cardiac responses. Therefore, this work demonstrates that an adaptive controller can be used to regulate the ECG signal without prior information about the system and disregarding inter- and intrapatient variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the association between the Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity (dTAC) and the Total Antioxidant Capacity of food groups (fgTAC) with the sleep time of Brazilian graduates participating in the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME Study). This cross-sectional study analyzed 6,387 graduates (2,052 men, 4,335 women, 35.3 ± 9.3 years old) from the CUME Study. Data was collected online, and dTAC was obtained by the Ferric Reduction Antioxidant Power (FRAP) method. Daily sleep time was classified as short sleep, normal sleep, and long sleep (≤6, 7–8, and ≥9 h, respectively). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate the Odds Ratio (OR) and its 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) between short sleep and long sleep with quartiles of dTAC and the fgTAC. Lower odds of short sleep was observed for the third quartile of dTAC and for fourth quartile of fgTAC of fruits, beans, and lentils, and for the third quartile of fgTAC of vegetables and oils and fats. Higher odds of short sleep for the fourth quartile of fgTAC of teas and coffees. For long sleep, inverse associations were observed for the fourth quartile of fgTAC of oilseeds and the third quartile of fgTAC of teas and coffees. Higher odds of long sleep were observed for the third quartile of artificial juices and sodas. We cannot independently assert an association between higher dTAC and sleep time. In turn, the associations between sleep time and fgTAC show the importance of the food matrix that antioxidants are inserted, requiring longitudinal studies to observe the direction of associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac rhythms are related to heart electrical activity, being the essential aspect of the cardiovascular physiology. Usually, these rhythms are represented by electrocardiograms (ECGs) that are useful to detect cardiac pathologies. Essentially, the heart activity starts in the sinoatrial node (SA) node, the natural pacemaker, propagating to the atrioventricular node (AV), and finally reaching the His-Purkinje complex (HP). This paper investigates the control of cardiac rhythms in order to induce normal rhythms from pathological responses. A mathematical model that presents close agreement with experimental measurements is employed to represent the heart functioning. The adopted model comprises a network of three nonlinear oscillators that represent each one of the cardiac nodes, connected by delayed couplings. The pathological behavior is induced by an external stimulus in the SA node. An adaptive controller is proposed acting in the SA node considering an strategy based on the signal obtained by the natural pacemaker and its regularization. The incorporation of adaptive compensation in a Lyapunov-based control scheme allows the compensation for the unknown dynamics. The controller ability to deal with interpatient variability is evaluated by assuming that the heart model is not available to the controller design, being used only in the simulator to assess the control performance. Results show that the adaptive term can reduce the control effort by around 3% while reducing the tracking error by 20%, when compared to the conventional feedback approach. Additionally, the controller can avoid abnormal rhythms, turning the ECG closer to the expected normal behavior and preventing critical cardiac responses. Therefore, this work demonstrates that an adaptive controller can be used to regulate the ECG signal without prior information about the system and disregarding inter- and intrapatient variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preeclampsia is implicated in 14% of maternal deaths worldwide, mostly due to complications such as intracranial hemorrhage and cerebral edema. Cerebral edema increases intracranial pressure, which can be predicted by ultrasonographic measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD). Greater diameters have been reported in women with preeclampsia and eclampsia; however, data are lacking on the possible association with maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes. This study aimed to determine whether there is an association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and the ONSD, and between this measurement and maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes. Methods: This was a cohort study involving 183 women in the third trimester of pregnancy or within 24 h following childbirth, distributed as follows: control group (n = 30), gestational hypertension (n = 14), chronic hypertension (n = 12), preeclampsia without severe features (n = 12), preeclampsia with severe features (n = 62), superimposed preeclampsia (n = 23) and eclampsia (n = 30). The participants underwent ocular ultrasonography, and data on maternal and neonatal outcomes were collected from the medical records. To compare the groups, analysis of variance was used for the normally distributed numerical variables and the Kruskal–Wallis test was used for variables with non-normal distribution. Two-tailed p-values ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Overall comparison between the seven groups showed no statistically significant difference in the mean ONSD (p = 0.056). Nevertheless, diameters were significantly greater in the eclampsia group compared to the control group (p = 0.003). Greater diameters were associated with maternal admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) (p < 0.01) and maternal near miss (p = 0.01). There was no association between ONSD and admission to the neonatal ICU (p = 0.1), neonatal near miss (p = 0.34) or neonatal death (p = 0.26). Conclusions: No association was found between ONSD and the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the overall analysis; however, ONSD was greater in women with eclampsia compared to controls. Greater diameters were associated with maternal admission to the ICU and maternal near miss. These findings suggest a potential use for bedside ultrasound as an additional tool for stratifying risk in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective and design: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ethanol exposure on epigenetic markers in bone marrow (BM) and their impact on inflammatory response during Aspergillus fumigatus infection. Results: Chronic ethanol exposure decreased H3K27me3 enrichment in the Il6 promoter region while increased H3K4me3 enrichment in Tnf. Chimeric mice were generated by transplanting BM from mice exposed to ethanol or water. Infection of ethanol-chimeric mice culminated in higher clinical scores, although there was no effect on mortality. However, previous chronic exposure to ethanol affects persistently the inflammatory response in lung tissue, demonstrated by increased lung damage, neutrophil accumulation and IL-6, TNF and CXCL2 production in ethanol-chimeric mice, resulting in a decreased neutrophil infiltration into the alveolar space. Neutrophil killing and phagocytosis were also significantly lower. Moreover, BM derived macrophages (BMDM) from ethanol-chimeric mice stimulated with A. fumigatus conidia exhibited higher levels of TNF, CXCL2 and IL-6 release and a higher killing activity. The Il6 promoter of BMDM from ethanol-chimeric mice exhibited a reduction in H3K27me3 enrichment, a finding also observed in BM donors exposed to ethanol. Conclusions: These evidences demonstrate that prior chronic alcohol exposure of bone-marrow modify immune effector cells functions impairing the inflammatory response during A. fumigatus infection. These findings highlight the persistent impact of chronic ethanol exposure on infectious disease outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive tree anthracnose is caused by infection with Colletotrichum fungi, which in Portugal are mostly C. nymphaeae, C. godetiae, and C. gloeosporioides s.s. Severe economic losses are caused by this disease that would benefit from a greener and more efficient alternative to the present agrochemical methods. Yeasts are serious candidates for pre-harvest/in field biocontrol of fungal infections. This work identified the yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus as a strong antagonizer of the three fungi and studied in vitro this ability and its associated mechanisms. Antagonism was shown to not depend on the secretion of volatile compounds (VOCs), or siderophores or any other agar-diffusible compound, including hydrolytic enzymes. Rather, it occurred mostly in a cell-to-cell contact dependent manner. This was devised through detailed microscopic assessment of yeast-fungus cocultures. This showed that W. anomalus antagonism of the three Colletotrichum proceeded through (i) the adhesion of yeast cells to the phytopathogen hyphae, (ii) the secretion of a viscous extracellular matrix, and (iii) the emptying of the hyphae. Yeasts ultimately putatively feed on hyphal contents, which is supported by light microscopy observation of MB and PI co-culture-stained samples. Accordingly, numerous W. anomalus cells were observed packing inside C. godetiae emptied hyphae. This behaviour can be considered microbial predation and classified as necrotrophic mycoparasitism, more explicitly in the case of C. godetiae. The results support the prospect of future application of W. anomalus as a living biofungicide/BCA in the preharvest control of olive anthracnose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is the causative agent of Mayaro fever, which is characterized mainly by acute fever and long-term severe arthralgia, common manifestations of other arbovirus infections, making the correct diagnosis a challenge. Besides, MAYV infections have been reported in South America, especially in Brazil. However, the lack of vaccines or specific antiviral drugs to control these infections makes the search for new antivirals an urgent need. Herein, we evaluated the antiviral potential of synthetic β-enaminoesters derivatives against MAYV replication and their pharmacokinetic and toxicological (ADMET) properties using in vitro and in silico strategies. For this purpose, Vero cells were infected with MAYV at an MOI of 0.1, treated with compounds (50 µM) for 24 h, and virus titers were quantified by plaque reduction assays. Compounds 2b (83.33%) and 2d (77.53%) exhibited the highest activity with inhibition rates of 83.33% and 77.53%, respectively. The most active compounds 2b (EC50 = 18.92 µM; SI > 52.85), and 2d (EC50 = 14.52 µM; SI > 68.87) exhibited higher potency and selectivity than the control drug suramin (EC50 = 38.97 µM; SI > 25.66). Then, we investigated the mechanism of action of the most active compounds. None of the compounds showed virucidal activity, neither inhibited virus adsorption, but compound 2b inhibited virus entry (62.64%). Also, compounds 2b and 2d inhibited some processes involved with the release of new virus particles. Finally, in silico results indicated good ADMET parameters of the most active compounds and reinforced their promising profile as drug candidates against MAYV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous literature has shown that generative artificial intelligence (GAI) software, including large language model (LLM) chatbots, might contribute to qualitative research studies. However, there is still a need to examine the relationships between researchers, GAI technologies, data, and findings. To address this need, our team conducted a thematic analysis of our reflexive journals from an LLM chatbot-assisted research project. We identified four roles that researchers adopted: managers closely monitored the LLM's work, teachers instructed the LLM on theories and methods, colleagues openly discussed the data with the LLM, and advocates worked with the LLM to improve user experiences. Planning for and playing with multiple roles also helped to enrich the research process. This study underscores the potential for using conversational roles as a framework to support reflexivity when working with GAI technologies on qualitative research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than 80% of patients may experience acute pain after a surgical procedure, and this is often refractory to pharmacological intervention. The identification of new targets to treat postoperative pain is necessary. There is an association of polymorphisms in the Cav2.3 gene with postoperative pain and opioid consumption. Our study aimed to identify Cav2.3 as a potential target to treat postoperative pain and to reduce opioid‐related side effects. Experimental Approach: A plantar incision model was established in adult male and female C57BL/6 mice. Cav2.3 expression was detected by qPCR and suppressed by siRNA treatment. The antinociceptive efficacy and safety of a Cav2.3 blocker—alone or together with morphine—was also assessed after surgery. Key Results: Paw incision in female and male mice caused acute nociception and increased Cav2.3 mRNA expression in the spinal cord but not in the incised tissue. Intrathecal treatment with siRNA against Cav2.3, but not with a scrambled siRNA, prevented the development of surgery‐induced nociception in both male and female mice, with female mice experiencing long‐lasting effects. High doses of i.t. SNX‐482, a Cav2.3 channel blocker, or morphine injected alone, reversed postoperative nociception but also induced side effects. A combination of lower doses of morphine and SNX‐482 mediated a long‐lasting reversal of postsurgical pain in female and male mice. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that Cav2.3 has a pronociceptive role in the induction of postoperative pain, indicating that it is a potential target for the development of therapeutic approaches for the treatment of postoperative pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present new Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI)/GRAVITY near-infrared interferometric measurements of the angular size of the innermost hot dust continuum for 14 type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs). The angular sizes are resolved on scales of ∼0.7 mas and the inferred ring radii range from 0.028 to 1.33 pc, comparable to those reported previously and a factor of 10−20 smaller than the mid-infrared sizes in the literature. Combining our new data with previously published values, we compiled a sample of 25 AGNs with bolometric luminosity ranging from 1042 to 1047 erg s−1, with which we studied the radius-luminosity (R − L) relation for the hot dust structure. Our interferometric measurements of radius are offset by a factor of 2 from the equivalent relation derived through reverberation mapping. Using a simple model to explore the dust structure's geometry, we conclude that this offset can be explained if the 2 μm emitting surface has a concave shape. Our data show that the slope of the relation is in line with the canonical R ∝ L0.5 when using an appropriately non-linear correction for bolometric luminosity. In contrast, using optical luminosity or applying a constant bolometric correction to it results in a significant deviation in the slope, suggesting a potential luminosity dependence on the spectral energy distribution. Over four orders of magnitude in luminosity, the intrinsic scatter around the R − L relation is 0.2 dex, suggesting a tight correlation between the innermost hot dust structure size and the AGN luminosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Quantitative chest computed tomography (qCT) methods are new tools that objectively measure parenchymal abnormalities and vascular features on CT images in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). We aimed to investigate whether the qCT measures are predictors of 5-year mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: Patients diagnosed with SSc were retrospectively selected from 2011 to 2022. Patients should have had volumetric high-resolution CTs (HRCTs) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) performed at baseline and at 24 months of follow-up. The following parameters were evaluated in HRCTs using Computer-Aided Lung Informatics for Pathology Evaluation and Rating (CALIPER): ground glass opacities, reticular pattern, honeycombing, and pulmonary vascular volume. Factors associated with death were evaluated by Kaplan‒Meier survival curves and multivariate analysis models. Semiquantitative analysis of the HRCTs images was also performed. Results: Seventy-one patients were included (mean age, 54.2 years). Eleven patients (15.49%) died during the follow-up, and all patients had ILD. As shown by Kaplan‒Meier curves, survival was worse among patients with an ILD extent (ground glass opacities + reticular pattern + honeycombing) ≥ 6.32%, a reticular pattern ≥ 1.41% and a forced vital capacity (FVC) < 70% at baseline. The independent predictors of mortality by multivariate analysis were a higher reticular pattern (Exp 2.70, 95%CI 1.26–5.82) on qCT at baseline, younger age (Exp 0.906, 95%CI 0.826–0.995), and absolute FVC decline ≥ 5% at follow-up (Exp 15.01, 95%CI 1.90–118.5), but not baseline FVC. Patients with extensive disease (>20% extension) by semiquantitative analysis according to Goh's staging system had higher disease extension on qCT at baseline and follow-up. Conclusion: This study showed that the reticular pattern assessed by baseline qCT may be a useful tool in the clinical practice for assessing lung damage and predicting mortality in SSc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe populations of the loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, present four main D-loop mitochondrial haplogroups that are distributed across the Indo-Pacific, Mediterranean, and Atlantic oceans. The Southwestern Atlantic (SWA) is one of the Regional Management Units (RMUs) of loggerheads, characterized by unique haplotypes, high nest density, and distinct life history traits. Detecting new D-loop haplogroups is important, particularly endemic ones, as they can enhance our understanding of their life history within the RMUs and contribute to the resolution of mixed stock analysis. In this study, we conducted a series of phylogenetic delimitation and network analyses to identify, validate, and infer the origin of four new D-loop haplotypes detected in the loggerhead populations from the SWA. Our findings demonstrate that these new D-loop haplotypes are valid and unique to the SWA lineage, potentially aiding in the delimitation of individuals’ origins and the inference of their lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry eye disease (DED) is a very common disease in dogs, especially that of immune‐mediated origin, with Shih Tzu dogs being some of the most affected. In this study, ultrasound changes of the orbital lacrimal gland (LG) were described in healthy Shih Tzu dogs and those diagnosed with different intensities of DED. For training purposes, a macroscopic and ultrasonographic study of the orbits of brachycephalic dog cadavers (n = 6) was conducted. Subsequently, thirty‐five eyes from 23 male and female dogs aged between two and eight years, distributed into four groups according to the Schirmer tear test (STT‐1), including a control group (CG, n = 10) (STT‐1 ≥15 mm/min), early DED group (DED1, n = 8) (STT‐1 between 14 and 11 mm/min), moderate DED group (DED2, n = 7) (STT‐1 between 10 and 6 mm/min), and severe DED group (DED3, n = 10) (STT‐1 ≤5 mm/min), were used. Ultrasound evaluation of LG showed a higher occurrence of glandular tissue heterogeneity (p = 0.755) and the presence of hyperechoic areas (p = 0.027) in dogs with DED3. The variables measuring the major axis were lower in dogs with DED3 (p = 0.002). The area and perimeter were smaller in dogs with DED3 than in CG and DED1 groups (p < 0.001) and the perimeter of the LG of dogs in the DED2 group was smaller than that of CG (p < 0.001). The LG major axis (r = 0.56), area (r = 0.66), and perimeter (r = 0.66) decreased as the STT‐1 of the different groups decreased. LG ultrasound of Shih Tzu dogs is a feasible technique that allows the evaluation of characteristics of the glandular tissue. The ultrasound could identify changes in texture, echogenicity, and size in LG of Shih Tzu dogs with immune‐mediated DED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights This work proposes three Bouligand‐inspired layups to enhance low velocity impact (LVI) damage resistance and tolerance of convectional aircraft composite laminates. Two Bouligand‐like (HL and HL_S) and one hybrid design layup, merging conventional and Bouligand architecture (HYB), were produced by vacuum bag infusion. Their performance under LVI, at 13.5, 25 and 40 (J), and compression after impact (CAI) tests were evaluated and compared with a conventional aircraft multidirectional layup (LS) produced under identical conditions. Results demonstrated that, especially for the higher impact energy levels, both Bouligand‐like laminates consistently outperformed all the other configurations, exhibiting higher load bearing capacity (peak load) and energy absorption. Additionally, the rough and poorly defined interlaminar region of Bouligand‐like layups have showed to delay severe damage for higher loads and energies, dissipating all (at 13.5 J) or most of the impact energy (more than 50%) through subcritical damage mechanisms. Compared with LS laminate, Bouligand‐inspired layups postponed the onset of severe damage thresholds by up to 120% in load and 66% in energy (HL laminate) while developing smaller and more localized damages. The high number of fibers aligned in the loading direction of LS laminate led to better damage tolerance. Vacuum bag infused Bouligand‐like laminates consistently demonstrated superior performance than the conventional aircraft multidirectional layup, exhibiting higher load bearing capacity and energy absorption, particularly at higher impact energy levels; The rough and poorly defined interlaminar region observed in both Bouligand‐like layups demonstrated to play an essential role in the efficiency of damage mechanisms, dissipating all (at low impact energy levels) or more than 50% of impact energy on subcritical damages, such as translaminar matrix cracking; Compared with the conventional layup, HL Bouligand‐like laminate postponed 120% and 66% load and energy severe damage onset thresholds; The high number of fibers aligned in the loading direction of LS laminate led to better damage tolerance, despite the larger damaged areas observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Usher's syndrome type II (USH2) is a rare genetic disorder encompassing hearing loss, vision impairment, and apparent intact vestibular function. Recent research suggests a potential involvement of the otolith vestibular receptors in USH2. Aims/Objectives: Evaluate otolith dynamic function in USH2. Material and Methods: Twenty-two USH2 (median age 53.9 ± 2.99) and age-matched controls underwent a complete battery vestibular testing including air conducted cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs). Vestibular function tests were correlated with Activities Balance Scale (ABC) and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores. Results: Fourteen USH2 reported previous vertigo (vs none control). Among 88 ears, c-VEMPs were absent in 15 USH2 cases and 4 controls (p = 0.034), while o-VEMPs were absent in 22 USH2 cases and 12 controls (p = 0.129). There were significant differences between USH2 vs controls in right ear o-VEMP N1 latencies (median 11.60/10.40, p < 0.010), N1-P1 amplitudes (median 5.15/10.10, p < 0.003) and in o-VEMP N1-P1 asymmetry ratio (median 24.78/40.50, p < 0.014). USH2 showed a strong correlation between o-VEMP amplitude and DHI score (p = 0.003, ρ = 0.769). No association was found between vertigo and VEMPs subgroups. Conclusions and Significance: Our findings suggest the presence of otolith dysfunction in USH2, which is independent from subjectively reported dizziness. Incorporating vestibular testing into USH2 evaluation and monitoring could enhance characterization of this multisensory disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Janusia is a South American genus of flowering plants. Most of its 15 described species are centered in Brazil, where they are found in diverse habitats across the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes, and a few other species can be found in the Atlantic Forest region. This paper describes Janusia longibracteolata, a new species endemic to semideciduous forests in the state of Bahia, Brazil, at elevations of 900 to 1000 m. This study was based on fieldwork and a study of herbarium collections, which resulted in photos, dried preserved material, and information about the new species and its environment. The most notable morphological characters that distinguish the new species are its subulate floral bracts and bracteoles, which are the largest known in the genus. This new species is described, illustrated, and compared with the other species in Janusia. This novelty underscores the need to preserve Bahia's remaining semideciduous forests and to increase botanical exploration in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of compulsory Dengue notifications in Greater Vitória, Espírito Santo, between 2018 and 2021. This is an epidemiological, observational, descriptive, longitudinal and retrospective study that evaluated the pattern of evolution of these notifications, obtained through the Notifiable Diseases Information System. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics with tables and graphs showing absolute and relative frequencies, as well as statistical parameters for measures of central tendency, such as the mean. The evaluation showed: an 80.77% reduction in arbovirus notifications in the years of the Covid-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021); in 2021, from January to November, only 12 cases were notified. Based on the analysis carried out in this study, the underreporting of Dengue cases in Greater Vitória during the Pandemic period stands out and consequently the importance of health education for the population and health professionals regarding compulsory reporting and its relevance for the planning of Health Surveillance actions and for Public Health measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kelp forests are facing a global decline due to climate change and human-induced stressors, underlining the urgency for proactive interventions. Among the most used restoration methods, "green gravel" has emerged as a promising solution for the recovery of degraded kelp forests. While initial findings suggest its potential effectiveness, green gravel remains a novel approach that requires fine-tuned protocols and optimisation across all stages of the process. In this study, we assessed the performance of two different seeding densities for kelp growth on green gravel to optimise the use of seeding material. Our results show that, while the juveniles in the high-density treatment grew faster, they also had a higher mortality rate during green gravel production. This was a hypothesised outcome, as growing sporophytes reared under laboratory conditions allows for faster production of a large number of individuals, increasing competition for space, which may drive higher mortality rates. Comprehensive experimentation is essential to unlock the full potential of green gravel and ensure its efficiency in all process steps, to achieve successful kelp forest restoration. Well-defined and optimised protocols are indispensable for minimising production costs, simplifying logistics, and allowing future efforts to scale up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No-till (NT) alleviates adverse effects of agricultural production on environmental quality, improves soil health, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, yet this has not been demonstrated in humid subtropical Mississippi. Research objectives were to evaluate nutrient and C dynamics and soil quality via Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) following 15 years of continuous management under corn (Zea mays L.) (2008–2018) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (2019–2022) on a Dundee silt loam soil. After 15 years, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks (0- to 30-cm depth) under NT were 25% higher than conventional tillage (CT). Between 2020 and 2022, SOC stocks increased 3 Mg ha−1 under NT and decreased 2 Mg ha−1 under CT. Increased SOC retention under NT could represent an opportunity for increasing the systems’ profitability as C markets expand. Greater SOC and aggregation scores improved SMAF soil quality index (SQI) under NT (71%), compared to CT (66%), underscoring the critical role of organic matter in soil functioning in managed agrosystems. Soybean yields were not linked to SMAF SQI (p > 0.05), suggesting that crop yields are mostly affected by non-edaphic factors (e.g., climate extremes). SMAF illustrated positive impacts of NT on SOC sequestration and soil health, which may foster its adoption as a conservation practice in the Lower Mississippi River basin. As such, NT stands as a climate-smart management practice that allows for sustainable intensification in humid subtropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mammary gland secretions (MGS), electrolytes, and pH are used to detect impending parturition in mares. Questions remain about whether all mares present sodium potassium inversion at labor. This study demonstrated that all mares had sodium potassium inversion and acidic pH at the time of parturition. Milk pH is neutral in the first seven days postpartum; the clinical significance of this remains to be determined. The pH of MGS can be measured with minimal variation stored at three different temperatures, except when the pH is ~7.5, which went up to ~8 immediately after the storage; however, the clinical significance of this variation can likely be negligible. This present study is the first to address these two physiological and practical questions about the pH of MGS in periparturient mares. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine pH and electrolyte concentrations in MGS collected prepartum and at parturition, (ii) to characterize mare milk pH during the first week postpartum, and (iii) to evaluate pre-foaling MGS pH at three storage temperatures. This study outlined two hypotheses: (i) all mares exhibit acidic pH, increased calcium, magnesium, and potassium, and reduced sodium concentrations regardless of prepartum pH and electrolytes; (ii) pre-foaling MGS pH varies with storage temperature and time in an initial value-dependent manner. Twenty-three multiparous mares were monitored daily from 320 days of gestation until parturition. Pre-foaling MGS was collected, and pH was immediately measured using a hand-held pH meter. Aliquots were preserved for further electrolyte analysis. Postpartum, samples from day −7 to 0 (day of foaling) were thawed, and electrolyte concentrations (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium) were determined. For the three storage temperatures, pH was measured at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after storage, and hourly for 10 h post-collection. A range of pH 8 to 6.5 was included to avoid bias towards a specific pH value. The chosen pH groups were 8 (range 7.8–8.2), 7.5 (range 7.3–7.7), 7 (6.7–7.2), and 6.5 (6.2–6.6). Overall, storage temperature affects pH (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the majority of the mares had sodium–potassium inversion and acidic pH at foaling. Milk pH is neutral up to four days after foaling, becoming slightly alkaline afterwards, with undetermined clinical significance. The pH of MGS showed minimal variation across storage temperatures, except for pH ~7.5, which increased to ~8 post-storage. This study is the first to address these physiological and practical questions about MGS pH in periparturient mares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most fisheries are conducted without any scientific knowledge about the size and productivity of the stocks that support them. This navigation in the dark in most fisheries is a major obstacle in making them sustainable sources of nutrition for people in general and income for fishers and other economic actors along supply chains. Fisheries that have not been assessed generally are data‐intermediate and data‐poor, the latter usually having annual time series of landings as the single piece of data available. A major effort in the last two decades has been directed toward developing 'catch‐only' stock assessment methods, although some of these methods have been tested and found deficient. Here we provide a novel approach to using annual landing time series as the single source of data to qualitatively judge the condition of un‐assessed stocks using frequentist cumulative probability ogives, both in terms of stock biomass and fishing mortality. A meta‐analysis of the FishSource database allowed us to infer statistical patterns from hundreds of assessed fisheries and thousands of annual landings, biomass, and fishing mortality observations. Four stock‐management types were considered separately in the analysis: short‐lived and others (mid‐ to long‐lived) stocks, controlled or not controlled by catch limits. Obtained cumulative probability ogives provide clear evaluations of stock biomass and fishing mortality trends in all four stock‐management types, leading to actionable information on probable current status and future trends. Using these probability ogives, we developed decision trees that lead to qualitative scores on the exploitation status of un‐assessed stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to estimate (co)variance components and genetic parameters for calving ease (CE) and their genetic correlations with growth, reproductive, carcass, and feed efficiency traits in Nellore cattle. Phenotypes for CE are scored in two categories: normal calving and assisted calving. The traits considered were probability of precocious calving, age at first calving, stayability, adjusted scrotal circumference at 365 days of age, accumulated cow productivity, age at puberty of males, gestation length, birth weight, adjusted weights at 210 and 450 days of age, adult cow weight, frame score, hip height, rib eye area, subcutaneous backfat thickness, rump fat thickness, intramuscular fat percentage, residual feed intake and dry matter intake. The estimation of genetic parameters was performed using a two‐trait threshold‐linear animal model, except for CE, stayability, and probability of precocious calving, which were evaluated through a two‐trait threshold animal model. The direct (0.27) and maternal (0.19) heritability estimates for CE in heifers primiparous Nellore indicated that selecting for this trait is feasible. The selection to improve the female sexual precocity should consider CE during the selection and mating decisions to reduce calving problems. Genetic correlation estimates between CE and BW suggest that selecting low birth weight to reduce calving problems is not an appropriate strategy to improve calving ease in heifers Nellore. Therefore, adopting a multi‐trait selection model with CE and BW in the Nellore breed would reduce calving difficulties, particularly in sexually precocious heifers, without impairing the growth, reproductive, feed efficiency conversion, and carcass indicator traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clobetasol has demonstrated remarkable results in treating melasma within a short time frame; however, its use is limited because of the risk of local side effects. To date, there is no controlled trial on sequential clobetasol/hydroquinone for melasma. This study aimed to investigate the tolerability and efficacy of 0.05% clobetasol followed by 4% hydroquinone (CLOB‐HQ) in comparison to the isolated use of 4% hydroquinone (HQ). Methods: A double‐blinded, randomized clinical trial involving 50 women with facial melasma was performed. They were directed to apply 0.05% clobetasol every night for 14 days, followed by 4% hydroquinone for 46 days (CLOB‐HQ group), or the use of hydroquinone for 60 days (HQ group). Evaluations were carried out at inclusion, and after 14 and 60 days of treatment, measuring modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI), Melasma Quality of Life scale (MELASQoL), and colorimetry. The Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) was assessed by a blinded evaluator. Results: There was no difference in the main outcomes at D14 and D60 (P > 0.1). For CLOB‐HQ, the mean (CI 95%) reduction in mMASI was 13.2% (5.1–21.3%) and 43.1% (32.2–54.0%) at D14 and D60, and for HQ, they were 10.6% (5.9–27.5%) and 44.8% (33.2–52.3%). The MELASQoL, colorimetric luminosity, and GAIS showed a progressive improvement for both groups despite no difference between them. No severe side effects were identified. No cases of telangiectasias, atrophy, or perioral dermatitis were associated with the use of CLOB. Conclusion: The sequential CLOB‐HQ regimen was safe and well tolerated, even though its efficacy was not different from HQ after 14 or 60 days of treatment. Based on these findings, the use of clobetasol 14 days before hydroquinone is not advisable for the treatment of melasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use computer simulations to investigate the effects of the tip diameter of an electrostatic force microscope (EFM) operating at a constant force on the extraction of the growth exponent β during film growing in a one-dimensional substrate. Laplace's equation is solved in the EFM simulation using the finite element method to determine the electrostatic force between the tip and the film interface. Importantly, for EFM tips with sufficiently large apex diameters, the topographies calculated with EFM and those computed with the transformed mean height profile (TMHP) method, where the interface is divided into bins of the same tip diameter size and the average height within each bin is used to transform the original interface, are almost identical. This was shown in the context of lattice models of the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang (KPZ) and Villain–Lai–Das–Sarma (VLDS) classes. The global roughness of the film surface, W , scales with the diameter of the EFM tip, ε , as W / a = (ε / a) α g [ Ψ ] , where a is the lattice parameter, α is the KPZ/VLDS roughness exponent, and g is a universal scaling function of the argument Ψ ≡ t / (ε / a) z , where t and z are the reduced time of deposition and the KPZ/VLDS dynamic exponent, respectively. These results provide a limit for ε from which a KPZ/VLDS growth exponent can be reliably determined with EFM at a constant force. When the EFM tip diameter is larger than the surface correlation length, a misleading effective growth exponent consistent with uncorrelated growth is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytolytic CD8+ T cells mediate immunopathology in cutaneous leishmaniasis without controlling parasites. Here, we identify factors involved in CD8+ T cell migration to the lesion that could be targeted to ameliorate disease severity. CCR5 was the most highly expressed chemokine receptor in patient lesions, and the high expression of CCL3 and CCL4, CCR5 ligands, was associated with delayed healing of lesions. To test the requirement for CCR5, Leishmania-infected Rag1-/- mice were reconstituted with CCR5-/- CD8+ T cells. We found that these mice developed smaller lesions accompanied by a reduction in CD8+ T cell numbers compared to controls. We confirmed these findings by showing that the inhibition of CCR5 with maraviroc, a selective inhibitor of CCR5, reduced lesion development without affecting the parasite burden. Together, these results reveal that CD8+ T cells migrate to leishmanial lesions in a CCR5-dependent manner and that blocking CCR5 prevents CD8+ T cell-mediated pathology. Author summary: Cutaneous leishmaniasis remains a serious disease in many parts of the world, and the current treatment is often ineffective. The increased pathology observed in some patients results from pathologic CD8+ T cells, which promote the lysis of infected cells, leading to tissue destruction without controlling the parasites. Our objective is to develop host-directed therapies that could augment disease resolution. Here, we identify factors involved in CD8+ T cell migration to cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions to reveal additional targets that could be used as host-directed therapies in patients. We found that CD8+ T cells migrate to leishmanial lesions in a CCR5-dependent manner, and by blocking CD8+ T cell migration with maraviroc, an FDA-approved selective inhibitor of CCR5, we decreased disease severity. Thus, we suggest that inhibiting CCR5 by maraviroc may be a useful approach to lessen disease in cutaneous leishmaniasis and other diseases where CD8+ T cell mediates pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based nanostructures have unparalleled electronic properties. At the same time, using an allotrope of carbon as the contacts can yield better device control and reproducibility. In this work, we simulate a single-electron transistor composed of a segment of a graphene nanoribbon coupled to carbon nanotubes electrodes. Using the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism we atomistically describe the electronic transport properties of the system including electron–electron interactions. Using this methodology we are able to recover experimentally observed phenomena, such as the Coulomb blockade, as well as the corresponding Coulomb diamonds. Furthermore, we separate the different contributions to transport and show that incoherent effects due to the interaction play a crucial role in the transport properties depending on the region of the stability diagram being considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sialic acids at the cell surface of dendritic cells (DCs) play an important immunomodulatory role, and their manipulation enhances DC maturation, leading to heightened T cell activation. Particularly, at the molecular level, the increased stability of surface MHC-I molecules in monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) underpins an improved DC: T cell interaction. In this study, we focused on the impact of sialic acid remodelling by treatment with Clostridium perfringens sialidase on MoDCs' phenotypic and functional characteristics. Our investigation juxtaposes this novel approach with the conventional cytokine-based maturation regimen commonly employed in clinical settings. Notably, C. perfringens sialidase remarkably increased MHC-I levels compared to other sialidases having different specificities, supporting the idea that higher MHC-I is due to the cleavage of specific sialoglycans on cell surface proteins. Sialidase treatment induced rapid elevated surface expression of MHC-I, MHC-II and CD40 within an hour, a response not fully replicated by 48 h cytokine cocktail treatment. These increases were also observable 48 h post sialidase treatment. While CD86 and PD-L1 showed significant increases after 48 h of cytokine maturation, 48 h post sialidase treatment showed a higher increase in CD86 and shorter increase in PD-L1. CCR-7 expression was significantly increased 48 h after sialidase treatment but not significantly affected by cytokine maturation. Both treatments promoted higher secretion of the IL-12 cytokine. However, the cytokine cocktail induced a more pronounced IL-12 production. SNA lectin staining analysis demonstrated that the sialic acid profile is significantly altered by sialidase treatment, but not by the cytokine cocktail, which causes only slight sialic acid upregulation. Notably, the lipid-presenting molecules CD1a, CD1b and CD1c remained unaffected by sialidase treatment in MoDCs, a finding also further supported by experiments performed on C1R cells. Inhibition of endogenous sialidases Neu1 and Neu3 during MoDC differentiation did not affect surface MHC-I expression and cytokine secretion. Yet, sialidase activity in MoDCs was minimal, suggesting that sialidase inhibition does not significantly alter MHC-I-related functions. Our study highlights the unique maturation profile induced by sialic acid manipulation in MoDCs. These findings provide insights into the potential of sialic acid manipulation as a rapid immunomodulatory strategy, offering promising avenues for targeted interventions in inflammatory contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pineapple plants needs to be nutritionally balanced to reach maximum productivity potential. Therefore, the most current parameters must be used, centered on plant nutritional status diagnosis methodologies developed through leaf chemical analysis, which consider the relationships between nutrients and take advantage of data from productivity monitoring and foliar diagnosis of crops. This study aimed to establish nutrient norms and sufficiency ranges for pineapple in the Triângulo Mineiro, MG, Brazil, using the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS). To achieve the proposed objectives, productivity data and chemical analysis of leaf tissue from 88 commercial farming plots of 'Pérola' pineapple, sampled between the 2018 and 2019 harvests, in the Triângulo Mineiro were used. The DRIS method was used to establish the norms and sufficiency ranges of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. The average nutritional balance index (NBIm) did not correlate with productivity. However, the content of P, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn highly correlated with their respective nutritional indices. The sufficiency ranges and the adequacy levels of nutrients differed from the values established for pineapple in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the PREM Earth model, more than a thousand models of the internal structure of Venus have been built, differing in the radius and density of the core, the density of the mantle, the viscosity distribution and rheology. The core radius varies from 2800 to 3600 km, and the density in the mantle and core varies within a few percent of the PREM model values. When calculating tidal Love numbers, Andrade rheology is used to take into account the inelasticity of the mantle. Specifically the values of the Andrade rheological model parameters that best describe the tidal deformation of the Earth are used. This significantly reduces the error when calculating Love numbers. It has been shown that Venus can have an internal solid core only if the composition of the planet is very different from that of Earth. Comparison of the observed values of the moment of inertia and tidal Love number k2 with model values allowed us to conclude that the radius of the core of Venus is with a high probability in the range of 3288 ± 167 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chandler wobble of Venus has been analyzed on the basis of the Earth-like models of the planet. The method for calculating the Chandler wobble period of Venus was tested on the example of the Earth. To take into account the inelasticity of the interior of a planet, the Andrade rheology was used; and the values of the rheologic model parameters, which can explain the observed period of the Chandler wobble of the Earth, were determined. Projections on the Chandler wobble period of Venus were obtained. For the most plausible models of the internal structure of Venus, in which the core radius is assumed to be within an interval of 3288 ± 167 km, the Chandler wobble period is 30–48 thousand years. A large error in the results is mainly caused by a wide range of probable values for the constant of precession of Venus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excitons play a key role in the linear optical response of two-dimensional (2D) materials. However, their role in the nonlinear response to intense, nonresonant, low-frequency light is often overlooked as strong fields are expected to tear the electron-hole pair apart. Using high-harmonic generation as a spectroscopic tool, we theoretically study their formation and role in the nonlinear optical response. We show that the excitonic contribution is prominent and that excitons remain stable even when the driving laser field surpasses the strength of the Coulomb field binding the electron-hole pair. We demonstrate a parallel between the behavior of strongly laser-driven excitons in 2D solids and strongly driven Rydberg states in atoms, including the mechanisms of their formation and stability. Last, we show how the excitonic contribution can be singled out by encapsulating the 2D material in a dielectric, tuning the excitonic energy and its contribution to the high-harmonic spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyse hospital case fatality and mortality related to Chagas disease (CD) in Brazil, 2000–2019. Method: This is a mixed ecological study with spatial and temporal trends, based on national population data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health - hospital admissions (HA) and death certificates (DC). Records with CD as a primary or secondary cause of death in HA and/or as an underlying or associated cause of death in DC were evaluated. Temporal trends were analysed by Joinpoint regression and the spatial distribution of age- and gender-adjusted rates, spatial moving averages, and standardized morbidity ratios. Results: There were a total of 4,376 HA due to CD resulting in death in Brazil, with a hospital case fatality rate of 0.11/100,000 inhabitants. The Southeast region had the highest rate (63.9%, n = 2,796; 0.17/100,000 inhabitants). The general trend for this indicator in Brazil is upwards (average annual percentage change [AAPC] 7.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.3 to 9.9), with increases in the North, Northeast and Southeast regions. During the same period 122,275 deaths from CD were registered in DC, with a mortality rate of 3.14/100,000 inhabitants. The highest risk of CD-related death was found among men (relative risk [RR] 1.27) and Afro-Brazilians (RR 1.63). There was a downward trend in CD mortality in the country (AAPC − 0.7%, 95%CI -0.9 to -0.5), with an increase in the Northeast region (AAPC 1.1%, 95%CI 0.6 to 1.6). Municipalities with a very high Brazilian Deprivation Index tended to show an increase in mortality (AAPC 2.1%, 95%CI 1.6 to 2.7), while the others showed a decrease. Conclusion: Hospital case fatality and mortality due to CD are a relevant public health problem in Brazil. Differences related to gender, ethnicity, and social vulnerability reinforce the need for comprehensive care, and to ensure equity in access to health in the country. Municipalities, states, and regions with indicators that reveal higher morbidity and mortality need to be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to perceive how professional socialisation fostered the professional identity formation of physical education preservice teachers. For that, we intended to study the preservice teachers’ school placement and its influence on their professional identity formation. This investigation was designed using a qualitative research method, with data gathered through semi-structured interviews with six preservice teachers. Each participant was interviewed three times throughout the school year. Findings show that these individuals’ beliefs or convictions about the teaching profession were rarely influenced by the school placement and initial teacher education programme, as participants were already acquainted with the profession. The participants recognised the value of the school placement, but they emphasised that throughout this period of professional socialisation, they only learned practical teaching skills. These preservice teachers’ sense of self as professionals was based on their identification as teachers in the educational setting. We conclude that, whereas initial teacher education programme had a lasting impact on physical education preservice teachers’ performance as teachers, it had a residual influence on their professional identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a new interleaving methodology to improve composite laminates' low velocity impact (LVI) damage resistance. The approach relies on analyzing interlaminar stress in a conventional aircraft laminate to determine the appropriate interleaving strategy. A model was built to identify the larges interlaminar stress, and two interleaving strategies were defined, normal and shear stress. Four thin interleaving veils were used to validate strategies. Non‐ and interleaved laminates were submitted to LVI tests at 13.5, 25 and 40 (J) of energy. Despite interleaved laminates revealed an increase in thickness and resin volume fraction compared to the reference, they were limited to 10% and 7.6% on shear stress interleaved layups. Interleaved laminates also demonstrated an improved external and internal LVI damage resistance, especially when shear stress interleaving strategy was adopted, preventing external damage and mitigating internal damage up to 59%. No correlation between the veil's type and impact damage demonstrates the importance of interleaving strategies over the veil's characteristics. Highlights: Simplified quasi‐static elastic Abaqus model identified the largest in‐plane normal (axial and transversal) and shear interlaminar stresses;Four thin veils were used to validate interleaving strategies adopted;All laminates were produced using the same conditions to minimize process influence on experimental tests;Under low velocity impact (LVI) tests, interleaving laminates in the largest shear stress interlaminar can prevent external damage and mitigate internal damage up to 59%, comparing to the reference;No correlation between the veils and damage demonstrates the relevance of the interleaving strategy over the veil type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Primary Health Care constitutes the first level of health care, coordinating the care provided to the population by the Public Health System in Brazil. The National Curricular Guidelines play an important role in critical training aligned with the assumptions of the Public Health System and Primary Health Care. However, many propositions in the National Curricular Guidelines end up not being considered in practice. Objectives. The aim is to examine how health courses at a federal public university in northeastern Brazil incorporate Public Health System guidelines into their educational initiatives. Method. Exploratory and qualitative, characterized as a multiple case study in which each course was considered a "case." The IRAMUTEQ software was used as a data analysis tool combined with Content Analysis (thematic analysis) with a view to identifying core meanings/themes in the analyzed materials and, based on the presence or frequency of meanings, identifying the object under analysis, which, in this project, is Primary Health Care, and the way in which this object presents itself. Results. The course with the highest percentage of activities dedicated to Primary Health Care was Public Health, while the one with the least was medicine. The courses that focused most on Primary Care, Public Health System guidelines and the expanded concept of health were Public Health, Nursing and Speech Therapy. In general, attendance and content related to Primary Health Care in courses is low. Such results demonstrate a tension between the expanded concept of health and the biomedical model, with a greater focus on menus that address specialized content and secondary and tertiary care levels. Conclusions. It is necessary for new investigations to be carried out in order to deepen the analysis of curricular changes due to the preparation of professionals to work within the scope of Primary Health Care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is a crucial structure in the descending pain modulatory system, playing a key role as a relay for both the facilitation and inhibition of pain. The chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model has been widely used to study stressinduced behavioral impairments associated with depression in rodents. Several studies suggest that CSDS also causes changes related to chronic pain. In this study, we aimed to investigate the involvement of the RVM in CSDS-induced behavioral impairments, including those associated with chronic pain. We used chemogenetics to activate or inhibit the RVM during stress. The results indicated that the RVM is a vital hub influencing stress outcomes. Rostral ventromedial medulla activation during CSDS ameliorates all the stress outcomes, including social avoidance, allodynia, hyperalgesia, anhedonia, and behavioral despair. In addition, RVM inhibition in animals exposed to a subthreshold social defeat stress protocol induces a susceptible phenotype, facilitating all stress outcomes. Finally, chronic RVM inhibition--without any social stress stimulus--induces chronic pain but not depressive-like behaviors. Our findings provide insights into the comorbidity between chronic pain and depression by indicating the involvement of the RVM in establishing social stress-induced behavioral responses associated with both chronic pain and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, many patients in intensive care units (ICUs) were affected by invasive fungal infections, including aspergillosis, contributing to a high mortality rate. Diagnosing proven COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) requires clinical and radiological evaluations, along with laboratory testing of bronchoalveolar lavage samples or lung biopsies. However, these procedures and equipment are often inaccessible in developing countries or regions with limited resources, including Brazil. Consequently, alternative diagnostic methods, such as measuring Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) in tracheal aspirate (TA), have been explored for CAPA diagnosis. Nonetheless, research on the efficacy of TA‐based diagnostic tests is limited. This study aimed to assess the performance of the IMMY® Sona Aspergillus lateral flow assay (LFA) for GM detection in TA samples from 60 ICU patients with suspected CAPA at two tertiary hospitals in Campo Grande, Brazil. The ELISA method (Platelia Aspergillus AG, Bio‐Rad®) was used to detect Aspergillus GM in TA samples, serving as the microbiological criterion and reference test. Fifteen patients (12.4%) were identified as having possible CAPA. The overall accuracy of LFA was 94%, and the tests demonstrated an agreement of 93.1% (Cohen's kappa of 0.83). Based on our findings, the LFA for Aspergillus GM detection in TA samples exhibited excellent performance, proving to be a valuable diagnostic tool for potential CAPA. In a systematic review, two studies were included, and the meta‐analysis revealed pooled estimates provided a sensitivity of 86% (95% CI, 80%–91%) and specificity of 93% (95% CI, 86%–97%). The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) for identification of Aspergillus using LFA was 103.38 (95% CI, 38.03–281.03). Despite its lower sensitivity compared to our study, the LFA appears to be a promising diagnostic option for CAPA, particularly in suspected cases that have not received antifungal therapy. This enables timely antifungal treatment and could reduce mortality rates in regions where bronchoscopy is unavailable or limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global consumption of nori, a widely consumed commercial edible algal film, is predominant in Asian countries. As the demand for Asian cuisine rises in Brazil, there is a growing need to explore alternatives to importation, such as producing edible films using seaweeds from the Brazilian coast—specifically Ulva lactuca and Kappaphycus alvarezii. In this study, seaweed film formulations varied in concentrations, from 80% U. lactuca and 20% K. alvarezii to an equal proportion of 50% of each alga, heating at 90°C for 3 and 5 minutes. Results showed that the filmogenic suspensions had a pseudoplastic behavior, with viscosity decreasing as K. alvarezii concentration increased. The resistance of heated gels increased with higher K. alvarezii concentrations and prolonged heating times. Surface uniformity improved with elevated K. alvarezii concentration and extended heating time. As K. alvarezii concentration increased, films exhibited less intense coloration, heightened transparency, and increased solubility. Films with higher K. alvarezii content demonstrated greater tensile strength, albeit without an increase in elongation capacity. Sorption isotherms exhibited a characteristic Type II pattern, and modeling using the GAB model suggested stronger bonds in treatments with extended heating times. Despite the need for enhanced flexibility, the results indicate potential applications in snacks or as alternatives to nori. Notably, these films were produced solely with seaweeds and water, aligning with Nori's minimalistic approach. Treatments with a concentration of 60% U. lactuca and 40% K. alvarezii proved to be the most promising. This study lays the groundwork for future research in developing edible films derived from seaweeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]