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Keratocyst is known to be a benign lesion with aggressive behavior, rapid growth and a high recurrence rate. They are commonly asymptomatic, except when there is significant bone expansion with deformation and compression of the tissues surrounding the lesion. The objective of this report is to describe the surgical treatment of keratocyst in atrophic mandible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sentiment analysis (SA) is a study area focused on obtaining contextual polarity from the text. Currently, deep learning has obtained outstanding results in this task. However, much annotated data are necessary to train these algorithms, and obtaining this data is expensive and difficult. In the context of low-resource scenarios, this problem is even more significant because there are little available data. Transfer learning (TL) can be used to minimize this problem because it is possible to develop some architectures using fewer data. Language models are a way of applying TL in natural language processing (NLP), and they have achieved competitive results. Nevertheless, some models need many hours of training using many computational resources, and in some contexts, people and organizations do not have the resources to do this. In this paper, we explore the models BERT (Pretraining of Deep Bidirectional Transformers for Language Understanding), MultiFiT (Efficient Multilingual Language Model Fine-tuning), ALBERT (A Lite BERT for Self-supervised Learning of Language Representations), and RoBERTa (A Robustly Optimized BERT Pretraining Approach). In all of our experiments, these models obtain better results than CNN (convolutional neural network) and LSTM (Long Short Term Memory) models. To MultiFiT and RoBERTa models, we propose a pretrained language model (PTLM) using Twitter data. Using this approach, we obtained competitive results compared with the models trained in formal language datasets. The main goal is to show the impacts of TL and language models comparing results with other techniques and showing the computational costs of using these approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial communities colonising outdoor sculptures form intricate and dynamic ecosystems, which can accelerate the deterioration processes of the artworks and pose challenges to their conservation. In this study, the bacterial and fungal communities colonising the surfaces of five contemporary outdoor sculptures were characterised by high-throughput sequencing. The sculptures, made of marble, granite, Ançã limestone and mortar, are in urban parks and squares in the district of Porto, Portugal. The analysis of the microbial populations revealed great taxonomic diversity and species richness, including in well-preserved sculptures showing few visible traces of contamination. Proteobacteria, namely the genera Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas, were the core taxa common to all the sculptures, while Massilia and Aureobasidium were dominant only in granite. An abundance of pigment-producing microorganisms, such as Deinococcus, Methylobacterium, Rhodotorula and Sporobolomyces, was also found in granite. These are relevant taxonomic groups that can negatively impact stone and mortar artworks. The study was complemented with colourimetric analyses and bioluminescence assays to measure the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content of samples collected from specific contaminated areas of the sculptures. The characterisation of the microbiomes of sculptures can provide further knowledge on the deterioration risks of this type of artwork in the region and help outline future targeted conservation strategies. Key points: • Rich and abundant microbiomes expose sculptures' vulnerability to deterioration. • Well-preserved sculptures are at risk of deterioration by pigment-producing taxa. • ATP and colourimetry quickly identified the most relevant contaminated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow cytometry was evaluated for the first time for the microbiological characterisation of samples collected from the surfaces of stone and mortar sculptures. The study was carried out on outdoor sculptures located in the district of Porto (Portugal), from which samples were collected using swabs and poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (poly(HEMA)) cryogels as non-invasive sampling methods. The use of poly(HEMA) cryogels was tested as an alternative to swabbing due to the difficulties often encountered in sampling stone surfaces and retrieving microorganisms from swab fibres. The quantification of the microorganisms collected by the two sampling methods and the determination of their cell viability were performed using a combination of the fluorochromes thiazole orange (TO) and propidium iodide (PI). Both methods were effective to collect samples for analysis by flow cytometry, which proved to be a technique of interest and potential use for biodeterioration studies of cultural heritage (CH). Data visualisation of viable and non-viable microbial cells was clearer with cryogels, although higher concentrations of total microorganisms were achieved with swabs. Our results show that swab sampling is a more adequate method, although poly(HEMA) cryogels can be an option to consider for specific microbial viability analyses for biodeterioration evaluation of stone artworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Multicomponent training (MT) combines aerobic, strength, postural, and balance exercises and may be a promising intervention strategy for dementia. This meta-analysis study aims to systematize evidence concerning the effectiveness of MT in physical fitness, cognition, and functionality on activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults with dementia and to identify moderation patterns regarding training variables. Research Design and Methods 4 databases were systematically searched to locate potential trials through March 2019. A total of 2,312 records were identified and a final set of 17 manuscripts reviewed; of these, 6 satisfied all eligibility criteria. Results Samples sizes ranged from 27 to 170 participants; MT programs lasted between 4 weeks and 12 months, took place from a daily basis to twice a week, and sessions ranged from 30 to 60 min. The TESTEX scale was used to analyze the methodological quality, and the funnel plots to assess the risk of bias. This meta-analysis revealed that MT interventions benefit older adults with dementia regarding ADL performance (effect size = 0.313 [0.16–0.46]; p <.01), but the evidence was not sufficiently robust to determine the effectiveness of MT on cognitive function and physical fitness, particularly, on agility. Discussion and Implications MT may be an important nonpharmacological strategy to enhance ADL functionality on older adults with dementia. Findings suggest that long-term interventions are more prevalent than high-frequency and longer duration exercise sessions. Further evidence is needed for acknowledging its benefits in specific cognitive abilities and physical fitness. This meta-analysis is registered in PROSPERO (no. CRD42020141545). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bee-mediated pollination greatly increases the size and weight of tomato fruits. Therefore, distinguishing between the local set of bees–those that are efficient pollinators–is essential to improve the economic returns for farmers. To achieve this, it is important to know the identity of the visiting bees. Nevertheless, the traditional taxonomic identification of bees is not an easy task, requiring the participation of experts and the use of specialized equipment. Due to these limitations, the development and implementation of new technologies for the automatic recognition of bees become relevant. Hence, we aim to verify the capacity of Machine Learning (ML) algorithms in recognizing the taxonomic identity of visiting bees to tomato flowers based on the characteristics of their buzzing sounds. We compared the performance of the ML algorithms combined with the Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) and with classifications based solely on the from fundamental frequency, leading to a direct comparison between the two approaches. In fact, some classifiers powered by the MFCC–especially the SVM–achieved better performance compared to the randomized and sound frequency-based trials. Moreover, the buzzing sounds produced during sonication were more relevant for the taxonomic recognition of bee species than analysis based on flight sounds alone. On the other hand, the ML classifiers performed better in recognizing bees genera based on flight sounds. Despite that, the maximum accuracy obtained here (73.39% by SVM) is still low compared to ML standards. Further studies analyzing larger recording samples, and applying unsupervised learning systems may yield better classification performance. Therefore, ML techniques could be used to automate the taxonomic recognition of flower-visiting bees of the cultivated tomato and other buzz-pollinated crops. This would be an interesting option for farmers and other professionals who have no experience in bee taxonomy but are interested in improving crop yields by increasing pollination. Author summary: Bees are the most important pollinators of cultivated tomatoes. We also know that the distinct species of bees have different performances as pollinators, and these performances are directly related to the size and weight of the fruits. Moreover, the characteristics of the buzzing sounds tend to vary between the bee species. However, the buzzing sounds are complex and can widely vary over time, making the analysis of this data difficult using the usual statistical methods in Ecology. In the face of this problem, we proposed to automatically recognize pollinating bees of tomato flowers based on their buzzing sounds using Machine Learning (ML) tools. In fact, we found that the ML algorithms are capable of recognizing bees just based on their buzzing sounds. This could lead to automating the recognition of flower-visiting bees of the cultivated tomato, which would be a nice option for farmers and other professionals who have no experience in bee taxonomy but are interested in improving crop yields. On the other hand, this encourages the farmer to adopt sustainable agricultural practices for the conservation of native tomato pollinators. To achieve this goal, the next step is to develop applications compatible with smartphones capable of recognizing bees by their buzzing sounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outdoor stone sculptures are prone to accelerated deterioration caused by the proliferation of microorganisms in the stone. The physical, chemical and mechanical action of microorganisms on stone heritage causes aesthetic and structural changes that devalue the artworks over time. Developing more sustainable and ecological alternatives for their preventive conservation is necessary to reduce the negative environmental and human health impacts of currently used toxic biocides. Chitosan-based coatings cross-linked with citric acid and sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) were developed for application to stone sculptures, as antimicrobial protection to inhibit the growth of degrading microorganisms. After polymerisation of the formulations, the resulting films were only partially soluble while remaining permeable to water vapour. These characteristics offer the possibility to reverse the conservation treatments, or to re-treat in regular periods, as part of programmed conservation strategies. Bacteria and fungi commonly found in stone microbiomes that contribute to biodeterioration processes were inhibited, particularly the pigment-producing yeast Rhodotorula spp., which causes discolouration of stone surfaces. The most interesting coating was successfully tested on granite, limestone and marble samples, and its presence on the stones' surfaces was confirmed by FTIR and SEM analyses. The chitosan-based coating caused no visible colour changes to the stones and reduced the wettability of granite and limestone, thus representing a potential antimicrobial protective layer for stone cultural heritage. • Chitosan-TPP coatings developed for antimicrobial protection of stone sculptures. • The growth of bacteria and fungi commonly found in stone microbiomes was inhibited. • The coating with the lowest TPP content was successfully tested on stone samples. • Coated stones showed no visible colour changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colony plate counting still remains the "gold standard" procedure for the identification of viable Listeria monocytogenes cells and to address microbiological quality assurance of foodstuff. However, this classical method requires an analysis time superior to the current demands in food industry. Hence, new time-enhanced methods based on improved cultural techniques, nucleic acid detection and immunological assays have raised as new validated alternatives. Nevertheless, those rapid methods still require specific and expensive equipment and imply a considerable workload. In the last years, electrochemical biosensors and bioassays have been intensively investigated, emerging as excellent alternatives to surpass the disadvantages of the conventional and standard rapid methods. They provide the desired fast, sensitive and selective response, towards a portable, cost-effective and user-friendly performance. Therefore, in this work, a comprehensive review about the foundations, current achievements and limitations described over the past fifteen years for electrochemical biosensing of Listeria monocytogenes in food products is presented. The latest innovations rely on the use of low-cost electrochemical transducers, integration of novel (nano)materials and incorporation of new bioreceptors in the sensing strategy. Single-cell detection and intelligent packaging are also growing trends. Regardless of the remaining challenges, that still need to be overcome, electrochemical biosensing seems to have a role as one of the promising strategies to lead the future of foodborne pathogen analysis. Image 1 • The established analytical methods for Listeria monocytogenes detection presents important limitations. • The development of highly sensitive and time-enhanced alternative strategies is of utmost importance. • Electrochemical biosensing techniques are gaining attention as promising approaches for Listeria monocytogenes analysis. • The recent and future advances in electrochemical biosensing to address foodborne pathogens detection have been reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper and paperboard industry generate solid waste that demands correct treatment or disposal. The objective of this work was to characterize the solid waste of two paperboard industries located in Santa Catarina and to assess its ecotoxicity. The characterization involved the determination of moisture, ashes, and cellulose content. Ecotoxicity tests included avoidance behavior tests with earthworms (Eisenia andrei), reproduction tests with collembolans (Folsomia candida), and a test of germination and growth of roots of lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Results of the ecotoxicity tests were assessed using ANOVA followed by tests of Tukey and Dunnett and Fisher exact test (p<0.05). Wastes 1 and 2 presented moisture of 87.23 and 60.80%, ashes 11.18 and 55.12%, and cellulose 59.34 and 66.78%, respectively. Avoidance and reproduction tests did not indicate ecotoxicity for earthworms and collembolans when compared to the soil from pinus plantation. Concerning lettuce root growth, Waste 1 showed toxicity for the concentrations of 100, 75, and 50% of its elutriate. The results indicated that the wastes have chemical, physical, and ecotoxicological characteristics that may be restrictive for their application on agricultural soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to compare health indicators, including the concept of health (CH), level of physical activity (LPA) and anthropometric data, of high school students of private, state and federal schools in the city of Leopoldina -- MG, Brazil. The sample consisted of 388 students, being 205 boys (age: 16.6 ± 1.0 years, BMI: 23.6 ± 3.4 kg/m²) and 183 girls (age: 16.4 ± 1.0 years; BMI: 23.6 ± 2.8 kg/m²). The health understanding infographic and the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) were used to verify CH and LPA, respectively. Anthropometric data were also collected, including body mass, height, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). The majority of students (66.7%) presented BMI within the normal range (boys: 23.6 ± 3.4 kg/m²; girls: 23.6 ± 2.8 kg/m²), and 33.3% was overweight. It was verified that more than half (54.6%) of the students were considered insufficiently active/sedentary, and the majority (56.2%) presented CH classified as preventive. In state and private schools, it was found that the higher the LPA, the lower the WC. It was concluded that the prevalence of sedentary lifestyle in the three educational networks surveyed is still high. It is suggested, therefore, the promotion of strategies of intervention through the school and socio-political-economic measures, aiming at raising the LPA and improving students' understanding of health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Polymeric ion selective electrodes are highly sensitive to changes in zero current ion flow and this offers a route to signal amplification in label-free potentiometric immunosensors. In this work, a label-free potentiometric immunosensor toward Salmonella typhimurium (ST) assembled in a home-made pipette-tip electrode is described. The signal-output amplification was implemented on a gold nanoparticle polymer inclusion membrane (AuNPs-PIM) which was used as sensing platform and for antibody immobilization. Additionally, a marker ion was used to detect the antibody-antigen binding event at the electrode surface. The immunosensor construction was performed in several steps: i) gold salt ions extraction in PVC membrane; ii) AuNPs formation using Na 2 EDTA as reduction agent; iii) antibody anti- Salmonella conjugation on AuNPs-PIM in pipette-tip electrodes. The potential shift observed in potentiometric measurements was derived simply from the blocking effect in the ionic flux caused by antigen-antibody conjugation, without no extra steps, mimetizing the ion-channel sensors. A detection limit of 6 cells mL−1 was attained. As proof-of-concept, recovery studies were performed in spiked commercial apple juice samples with success. Due to the simplicity of use, the appealing cost of equipment and sensor production and being able to provide a quick analytical response (less than 1 h for a complete assay, including sample preparation for analysis), this scheme represents a good prototype device for the detection of foodborne pathogens like ST or other immune-responsive bacteria. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • A label free sensor for Salmonella , based on surface blocking principle, is proposed. • Au nanoparticle polymer inclusion membrane is the antibody support and a sensor platform. • A detection limit of 6 cells mL−1 is attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outdoor sculptures are part of the sociocultural identity of cities, but are extremely vulnerable to deterioration due to exposure to harsh environmental conditions and climate change. Furthermore, deterioration by micro-organisms renders urgent the need to design protective coatings. This research proposes an integrated methodology for the development of innovative and sustainable nanofilms for applications in the area of art conservation, very specifically in the preventive conservation of outdoor sculptures. Gathering objective data for the characterization of the surface microbiota is important in order to design strategies that make use of bio or nanotechnology innovative coatings. Methodologies for the characterization of the microbiota present in a granite outdoor sculpture, followed by preliminary results on the application of protective antimicrobial coatings for surfaces of cultural objects are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the recent statistics, Salmonella is still an important public health issue in the whole world. Legislated reference methods, based on counting plate methods, are sensitive enough but are inadequate as an effective emergency response tool, and are far from a rapid device, simple to use out of lab. An overview of the commercially available rapid methods for Salmonella detection is provided along with a critical discussion of their limitations, benefits and potential use in a real context. The distinguished potentialities of electrochemical biosensors for the development of rapid devices are highlighted. The state-of-art and the newest technologic approaches in electrochemical biosensors for Salmonella detection are presented and a critical analysis of the literature is made in an attempt to identify the current challenges towards a complete solution for Salmonella detection in microbial food control based on electrochemical biosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outdoor sculptures are part of the sociocultural identity of cities, but are extremely vulnerable to deterioration due to exposure to harsh environmental conditions and climate change. Furthermore, deterioration by micro-organisms renders urgent the need to design protective coatings. This research proposes an integrated methodology for the development of innovative and sustainable nanofilms for applications in the area of art conservation, very specifically in the preventive conservation of outdoor sculptures. Gathering objective data for the characterization of the surface microbiota is important in order to design strategies that make use of bio or nanotechnology innovative coatings. Methodologies for the characterization of the microbiota present in a granite outdoor sculpture, followed by preliminary results on the application of protective antimicrobial coatings for surfaces of cultural objects are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with novel N-doped carbon nanotubes (CNT-N) functionalized with MnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles (MnFe 2 O 4 @CNT-N) has been prepared and applied for the electrochemical determination of caffeine (CF), acetaminophen (AC) and ascorbic acid (AA). The electrochemical behaviour of CF, AC and AA on the bare GCE, CNT-N/GCE and MnFe 2 O 4 @CNT-N/GCE were carefully investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV). Compared to bare GCE and CNT-N modified electrode, the MnFe 2 O 4 @CNT-N modified electrode can remarkably improve the electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of CF, AC and AA with an increase in the anodic peak currents of 52%, 50% and 55%, respectively. Also, the SWV anodic peaks of these molecules could be distinguished from each other at the MnFe 2 O 4 @CNT-N modified electrode with enhanced oxidation currents. The linear response ranges for the square wave voltammetric determination of CF, AC and AA were 1.0 × 10 −6 to 1.1 × 10 −3 mol dm −3 , 1.0 × 10 −6 to 1.0 × 10 −3 mol dm −3 and 2.0 × 10 −6 to 1.0 × 10 −4 mol dm −3 with detection limit ( S / N = 3) of 0.83 × 10 −6 , 0.83 × 10 −6 and 1.8 × 10 −6 mol dm −3 , respectively. The sensitivity values at the MnFe 2 O 4 @CNT-N/GCE for the individual determination of AC, AA and CF and in the presence of the other molecules showed that the quantification of AA and CF show no interferences from the other molecules; however, AA and CF interfered in the determination of AC, with the latter molecule showing the strongest interference. Nevertheless, the obtained results show that MnFe 2 O 4 @CNT-N composite material acted as an efficient electrochemical sensor towards the selected biomolecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared to encapsulate daptomycin and proposed as a delivery system of this antibiotic to the eye for the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis. Objective: The aim of this study was to develop daptomycin-loaded nanoparticles to apply directly to the eye, as a possible non-invasive and less painful alternative for the treatment of endophthalmitis, increasing the effectiveness of treatment and reducing toxicity associated with systemic administration. Materials and methods: Nanoparticles were obtained by ionotropic gelation between chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Physicochemical and morphological characteristics of nanoparticles were evaluated, as well as determination of antimicrobial efficiency of encapsulated daptomycin and stability of the nanoparticles in the presence of lysozyme and mucin. Results: Loaded nanoparticles presented mean particle sizes around 200 nm, low polydispersity index, and positive zeta potential. Morphological examination by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed their small size and round-shaped structure. Encapsulation efficiency ranged from 80 to 97%. Totalin vitrorelease of daptomycin was obtained within 4 h. Determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) showed that bacteria were still susceptible to daptomycin encapsulated into the nanoparticles. Incubation with lysozyme did not significantly affect the integrity of the nanoparticles, although mucin positively affected their mucoadhesive properties. Discussion and conclusion: The obtained nanoparticles have suitable characteristics for ocular applications, arising as a promising solution for the topical administration of daptomycin to the eye. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Social, political, economic and environmental progress and scientific development in different areas improved overall health and quality of life, therefore increasing life expectancy. In a biological perspective, aging is defined as the degeneration of organic functions and structures, with consequent decline of motor and mental capacities. In this context, regular physical exercise has been considered an important strategy to preserve functional autonomy and to prevent chronic-degenerative diseases. This article aimed at reviewing the literature on the potential benefits of physical exercise to health and quality of life in the elderly, as well as to describe exercise intervention programs for this population developed by the Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion of the Institute of Physical Education and Sports from the University of Rio de Janeiro State (LABSAU). It can be concluded that systematic exercise can bring about several benefits in both physical and mental health, improving the quality of life in the old age. Through its intervention programs and partnerships, LABSAU has been offering opportunities of engagement of the elderly in physical activity programs of different natures, thus contributing to the development of this area of interest in the state of Rio de Janeiro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes a study of the effect of resistance exercise order on variables such as exercise repetitions, peak oxygen uptake, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) in younger and women participating in strength training. Research subjects completed sets of exercises such as bench press, shoulder press, and pulley triceps extension in different orders until fatigue. The results indicated that exercise order influenced early fatigue in older women.

Abstract: The reduced effectiveness of some of the most important antibiotics owing to increasing resistance of microorganisms as well as the absence of new classes of antimicrobial agents have been concerning researchers and clinicians in recent years. Thus, the development and approval of new compounds for clinical applications is of great importance. Among these compounds, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) appear to be excellent candidates for the development of novel antimicrobial agents. Some AMPs and antimicrobial proteins have been shown to be active against relevant pathogens in ocular infections as well as in biofilm eradication from contact lenses. Thus, they are considered promising in the prevention and management of ocular diseases. This review summarises the main classes and characteristics of AMPs and antimicrobial proteins, in particular those found in ocular structures and fluids. Some AMPs with activity against ocular pathogens and their potential as therapeutic agents to treat and prevent ocular infections are emphasised. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Developmental models for skin exist in terrestrial and amphibious vertebrates but there is a lack of information in aquatic vertebrates. We have analysed skin epidermal development of a bony fish (teleost), the most successful group of extant vertebrates. A specific epidermal type I keratin cDNA ( hhKer1), which may be a bony-fish-specific adaptation associated with the divergence of skin development (scale formation) compared with other vertebrates, has been cloned and characterized. The expression of hhKer1 and collagen 1α1 in skin taken together with the presence or absence of keratin bundle-like structures have made it possible to distinguish between larval and adult epidermal cells during skin development. The use of a flatfish with a well-defined larval to juvenile transition as a model of skin development has revealed that epidermal larval basal cells differentiate directly to epidermal adult basal cells at the climax of metamorphosis. Moreover, hhKer1 expression is downregulated at the climax of metamorphosis and is inversely correlated with increasing thyroxin levels. We suggest that, whereas early mechanisms of skin development between aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates are conserved, later mechanisms diverge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the development of an electrochemical immunosensor for rapid, specific and decentralized detection of the invasion-associated protein p60 secreted by Listeria monocytogenes , a life-threatening foodborne pathogen. A disposable screen-printed electrode was used as transducer surface and monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that specifically recognize Listeria monocytogenes p60 protein and Listeria spp. p60 proteins, respectively, were used as the sandwich immuno-pair. The reaction was detected with the aid of an additional secondary antibody conjugated with the enzyme reporter (alkaline phosphatase) and using 3-indoxyl phosphate/silver ions as the mixture substrate. The analytical signal was acquired through the voltammetric stripping of the enzymatically deposited silver, which was directly correlated to p60 concentration in the sample. In optimized conditions, a limit of detection and quantification of 1.5 ng mL−1 and 5.1 ng mL−1 were achieved, respectively, in a useful time (<3 h). As proof-of-concept, the proposed immunosensor was successfully applied to spiked milk samples, demonstrating to be a suitable device for further use in real sample detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food products. Image 1 • Listeria monocytogenes is a life-threatening foodborne pathogen. • Invasion-associated protein p60 is a virulence factor secreted by Listeria spp.. • A disposable electrochemical immunosensor for Listeria monocytogenes p60 determination was developed. • The immunosensor achieved a limit of detection of 1.5 ng mL−1 in a useful time (<3 h). • The immunosensing approach accurately detected Listeria monocytogenes p60 in spiked milk samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports a new paper-based sensing platform and its application in a label-free potentiometric immunosensor for Salmonella typhimurium detection based on the blocking surface principle. A paper-based strip electrode was integrated with a filter paper pad which acted as a reservoir of the internal solution. The design offers a convenient platform for antibody immobilization and sampling, proving also that is a simple and affordable methodology to control an ionic flux through a polymer membrane. Two different immunosensing interfaces were assembled on the developed paper-strip electrode. The simplest interface relied on direct conjugation of the antibody to the polymer membrane and the second one resorted to an intermediate layer of a polyamidoamine dendrimer, with an ethylenediamine core from the fourth generation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to assess the successive interface modification steps and the resulting analytical performance of both immunosensors was compared. For such, the potential shift derived from the blocking effect of the ionic flux caused by antigen-antibody conjugation was correlated with the logarithm of the Salmonella typhimurium concentration in the sample. In optimized conditions, a limit of detection of 5 cells mL−1 was achieved. As a proof-of-concept, the proposed method was applied to apple juice samples, demonstrating to be a suitable prototype to be used in real scenarios in useful time (<1 h assay). • A paper strip ion selective electrode was integrated with a filter paper pad which acted as an inner solution reservoir. • A simple and affordable methodology to control an ionic flow through an ion selective polymer membrane was developed. • An immunosensor for Salmonella typhimurium was assembled and a limit of detection of 5 cells mL−1 was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flatfish metamorphosis is a unique post-embryonic developmental event in which thyroid hormones (THs) drive the development of symmetric pelagic larva into asymmetric benthic juveniles. One of the eyes migrates to join the other eye on the opposite side of the head. Developmental mechanisms at the basis of the acquisition of flatfish anatomical asymmetry remain an open question. Here we demonstrate that an TH responsive asymmetric centre, determined by deiodinase 2 expression, ventrally juxtaposed to the migrating eye in sole (Solea senegalensis) correlates with asymmetric cranial ossification that in turn drives eye migration. Besides skin pigmentation that is asymmetric between dorsal and ventral sides, only the most anterior head region delimited by the eyes becomes asymmetric whereas the remainder of the head and organs therein stay symmetric. Sub-ocular ossification is common to all flatfish analysed to date, so we propose that this newly discovered mechanism is universal and is associated with eye migration in all flatfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of different strategies to immobilize lipase from Geotrichum candidum (GCLI) produced through submerged fermentation was evaluated in order to obtain a biocatalyst with a high stability and activity. Crude and purified GCLI were immobilized by different protocols such as interfacial activation, ionic adsorption and multipoint covalent attachment. The biocatalyst prepared using purified GCLI immobilized on MANAE-agarose exhibited the highest hydrolytic activity (45.40 ± 0.19 IU/g of support) among all the supports used, therefore it was selected for kinetic and thermodynamic studies and the influence of the pH and the protein loading was investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity of 4.51 ± 0.21 mg/g of support was observed at pH 7.0 and 25 °C with a hydrolytic activity of 81.10 ± 2.11 IU/g. GCLI immobilization on MANAE-agarose also reduced the apparent activation energy by 50% compared to the soluble enzyme and increased the amount of product formed in hydrolysis reactions, which was verified by calculating the apparent kinetic parameters V max (46.30 IU/mL) and K m (261.77 mmol/L). All thermodynamic apparent parameters determined from thermal stability assays showed that immobilized GCLI allowed a great increase in thermostability. Also, the prepared biocatalyst was able to hydrolyze methyl phenylacetate better than methyl mandelate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With this 24-months stability, we believe that the gut, circulating (blood), and oral microbiomes of LKD may have limited impact to assess long-term risks of cardiovascular and kidney disease in LKD. Changes in the post-transplantation gut microbiome have been described in kidney transplant recipients (KTR), namely a decrease in overall microbial diversity and an increase in Enterobacteriaceae.[[1]] In addition, gut microbiome may influence tacrolimus dosage, and, in a bidirectional relation, the immunosuppressive therapy and the infection and rejection episodes may alter gut microbiome.[3] In the last decade, several alerts have been raised on the long-term risks of living kidney donors (LKD) regarding kidney and cardiovascular disease.[4] While considering these warnings, additional tools should be explored to help to assess these risks in LKD. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Investigate whether a single bout of mixed circuit training (MCT) can elicit changes in arterial stiffness in patients with chronic stroke. Second, to assess the between-day reproducibility of post-MCT arterial stiffness measurements. Methods: Seven participants (58 ± 12 years) performed a non-exercise control session (CTL) and two bouts of MCT on separate days in a randomized counterbalanced order. The MCT involved 3 sets of 15 repetition maximum for 10 exercises, with each set separated by 45-s of walking. Brachial-radial pulse wave velocity (br-PWV), radial artery compliance (AC) and reflection index (RI1,2) were assessed 10 min before and 60 min after CTL and MCT. Ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) was calculated from 24-h recovery ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Results: Compared to CTL, after 60 min of recovery from the 1st and 2nd bouts of MCT, lower values were observed for br-PWV (mean diff = − 3.9 and − 3.7 m/s, respectively, P < 0.01; ICC2,1 = 0.75) and RI1,2 (mean diff = − 16.1 and − 16.0%, respectively, P < 0.05; ICC2,1 = 0.83) concomitant with higher AC (mean diff = 1.2 and 1.0 × 10–6 cm5/dyna, respectively, P < 0.01; ICC2,1 = 0.40). The 24-h AASI was reduced after bouts of MCT vs. CTL (1st and 2nd bouts of MCT vs. CTL: mean diff = − 0.32 and − 0.29 units, respectively, P < 0.001; ICC2,1 = 0.64). Conclusion: A single bout of MCT reduces arterial stiffness during laboratory (60 min) and ambulatory (24 h) recovery phases in patients with chronic stroke with moderate-to-high reproducibility. Trial registration: Ensaiosclinicos.gov.br identifier RBR-5dn5zd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular calcification (VC) is a frequent condition in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a well-established risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Gut dysbiosis may contribute to CVD and inflammation in CKD patients. Nonetheless, the role of gut and blood microbiomes in CKD-associated VC remains unknown. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to explore the link between gut and blood microbiomes and VC in CKD patients on peritoneal dialysis (CKD-PD). Our results showed relative changes in specific taxa between CKD-PD patients with and without VC, namely Coprobacter, Coprococcus 3, Lactobacillus, and Eubacterium eligens group in the gut, and Cutibacterium, Pajaroellobacter, Devosia, Hyphomicrobium, and Pelomonas in the blood. An association between VC and all-cause mortality risk in CKD-PD patients was also observed, and patients with higher mortality risk corroborate the changes of Eubacterium eligens in the gut and Devosia genus in the blood. Although we did not find differences in uremic toxins, intestinal translocation markers, and inflammatory parameters among CKD-PD patients with and without VC, soluble CD14 (sCD14), a nonspecific marker of monocyte activation, positively correlated with VC severity. Therefore, gut Eubacterium eligens group, blood Devosia, and circulating sCD14 should be further explored as biomarkers for VC, CVD, and mortality risk in CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proper functioning of judicial and legislative institutions requires the efficient retrieval of legal documents from extensive datasets. Legal Information Retrieval focuses on investigating how to efficiently handle these datasets, enabling the retrieval of pertinent information from them. Relevance Feedback, an important aspect of Information Retrieval systems, utilizes the relevance information provided by the user to enhance document retrieval for a specific request. However, there is a lack of available corpora containing this information, particularly for the legislative scenario. Thus, this paper presents Ulysses-RFCorpus, a Relevance Feedback corpus for legislative information retrieval, built in the real-case scenario of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. To the best of our knowledge, this corpus is the first publicly available of its kind for the Brazilian Portuguese language. It is also the only corpus that contains feedback information for legislative documents, as the other corpora found in the literature primarily focus on judicial texts. We also used the corpus to evaluate the performance of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies’ Information Retrieval system. Thereby, we highlighted the model’s strong performance and emphasized the dataset’s significance in the field of Legal Information Retrieval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elderly population in Brazil is on the rise. As a consequence, there is an equal growth in the number of free public exercise programs directed to this group. Considering the benefits of exercising and the importance of adherence to this behavior so that the benefits can be perceived, we conducted a systematic review of the existing literature on the topic, aiming to identify the reasons that lead to adherence to free public exercise programs, as well as those that lead to abandoning the same programs. Searches were conducted on SciElo, SPORTdiscus and Pubmed databases, with search phrases in Portuguese and in English. After a triage, ten studies were analyzed regarding sample characteristics, program type, data collection method and the reasons behind the subjects' adherence and abandonment. We verified that elderly people tend to enter the projects for health-related reasons, but they remain due to other factors, such as socialization and the perception of the benefits brought on by exercising. As for abandonment, it occurs due to health problems, muscle pain due to exercising, dislike for the classes and family business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between physical mobility, body images and quality of life perception in elderly individuals taking part a systematic program of physical activities. The sample consisted of 28 elderly men and women (16 men and 12 women). The instruments for data collection were the 8 foot up-and-go (FUG) test, the My Body Image questionnaire and the WHOQOL- -Old Quality of Life questionnaire. Data were treated using descriptive and correlational statistics. Spearman’s correlation test showed a positive correlation between the age of the elderly and the FUG test score (p < 0.001). Positive and significant correlations were also detected between the perception of physical condition and WHOQOL-OLD Fac 1, Fac 2 and Fac 3 facets (p < 0.05); Fac 6 and age (p < 0.05); FUG test score and Fac 5 and Fac 6 (p < 0.05); health perception and Fac 4 (p < 0.05). There were significant and negative correlations between age and perceptions of physical condition and body skills (p < 0.05); FUG test score and perception of physical condition and body skills (p < 0.05). The study concluded that the delay in motor capacity due to aging is associated with reduced physical condition and body skills, as well as the perception of the elderly about fitness, their body mobility and chronological age may interfere in the facets of quality of life through different proportions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigated whether a single bout of concurrent exercise (Ex Rx) at Third Age Academies (TAAs) in Rio de Janeiro City meets the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines for energy cost and metabolic intensity in older adults. Nine subjects (5 males and 4 females, 63–80 years of age) visited the laboratory for clinical screening and for anthropometrical, resting, and maximal oxygen uptake assessments. Thereafter, subjects performed an Ex Rx circuit consisting of a single circuit alternating aerobic and resistance exercises with outdoor exercise equipment using body mass as the load (total of 9 exercises, 1–2 sets of 15 repetitions). Expired gases were collected via a metabolic cart during exercise bouts. The mean observed energy cost value of 169.1 kcal was slightly greater than the minimum value of 150 kcal reported in the ACSM guidelines (p = 0.018). Like energy cost, all the intensity markers adopted to analyze the physiological strain induced by the Ex Rx circuit significantly exceeded their reference values for moderate intensity (reference values: 3.2 METs (mean observed value = 4.6 METs, p = 0.002); 40% of oxygen uptake reserve (mean observed value = 51.5%, p = 0.040); 40% of heart rate reserve (mean observed value = 64.1%, p < 0.001)), according to the ACSM guidelines. In conclusion, a single bout of Ex Rx circuit performed at TAAs in Rio de Janeiro City was able to induce a physiological strain (i.e., energy cost and intensity) compatible with ACSM recommendations for eliciting health benefits among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in life expectancy, it is important to acknowledge the impact of health promotion programs on the elderly. The aimed of this study was to evaluate the influence of the Rio de Janeiro Ar Livre physical program on the functional autonomy of octogenarian elderly women's. To this end, elderly women's from 19 Rio de Janeiro Ar Livre program gyms were selected for the experimental group (EG) (n=23; 82.57±3.78 years), and for the Control Group (CG) (n=17; 82.88±2.23 years) from the attending cohabitation houses of the City of Rio de Janeiro. To access the functional autonomy was used Rikli and Jones (1999) protocol in two times separated by (28 weeks). It was observed in the EG a significant (p=0.010) increase in Upper limbs' strength test (13.00±3.41 to 15.09±3.60 times, pre and post innervation, respectively) and a significant (p=0.002) increase in 2 minutes Step test in the CG (36.59±15.00 to 47.24±10.96 times, pre and post, respectively). However, any significant differences between groups were observed in all variables analysed. Based in the present data we can conclude that the training program was only effective in the promotions of the functional strength of the upper limbs and to maintain the functional autonomy of octogenarian elderly women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of microplastics in the aquatic ecosystem represents a major issue for the environment and human health. The capacity of organic pollutants to adsorb onto microplastic particles raises additional concerns, as it creates a new route for toxic compounds to enter the food web. Current knowledge on the impact of pristine and/or contaminated microplastics on aquatic organisms remains insufficient, and we provide here new insights by evaluating their biological effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish larvae were raised in ZEB316 stand-alone housing systems and chronically exposed throughout their development to polyethylene particles of 20–27 μm, pristine (MP) or spiked with benzo[α]pyrene (MP-BaP), supplemented at 1% w/w in the fish diet. While they had no effect at 30 days post-fertilization (dpf), MP and MP-BaP affected growth parameters at 90 and 360 dpf. Relative fecundity, egg morphology, and yolk area were also impaired in zebrafish fed MP-BaP. Zebrafish exposed to experimental diets exhibited an increased incidence of skeletal deformities at 30 dpf as well as an impaired development of caudal fin/scales, and a decreased bone quality at 90 dpf. An intergenerational bone formation impairment was also observed in the offspring of parents exposed to MP or MP-BaP through a reduction of the opercular bone in 6 dpf larvae. Beside a clear effect on bone development, histological analysis of the gut revealed a reduced number of goblet cells in zebrafish fed MP-BaP diet, a sign of intestinal inflammation. Finally, exposure of larvae to MP-BaP up-regulated the expression of genes associated with the BaP response pathway, while negatively impacting the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress. Altogether, these data suggest that long-term exposure to pristine/contaminated microplastics not only jeopardizes fish growth, reproduction performance, and skeletal health, but also causes intergenerational effects. [Display omitted] • Dietary exposure to polyethylene microparticles negatively affects zebrafish growth and bone development. • BaP contaminated microplastics impair zebrafish reproductive performance. • Parental exposure to microplastics affect bone mineralization in offspring larvae. • Genes involved in BaP metabolism are differentially expressed upon exposure to contaminated microplastics. • Genes involved in oxidative stress response are differentially expressed upon exposure to contaminated microplastics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the effects of water aerobics on bone mineral density (BMD) and quality of life (QoL) in postmenopausal women undergoing pharmacological treatment. Methods: Included in the study were 84 women volunteers who were separated into two groups: water aerobics (43 women, age 55.4 ± 6.4 years) and a control group (41 women, age 54.3 ± 4.5 years). Dual X-ray absorptiometry and the 'Osteoporosis Assessment Questionnaire' were used for evaluation. Water aerobics training was scheduled for 12 months. Analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used. Results: No significant intergroup differences were found in the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and femoral neck. However, favorable differences in the trochanter (0.018% difference, p = 0.01) and in QoL (3.4% difference, p = 0.01) were found in the water aerobics group. Conclusion: The results suggest that water aerobics may be beneficial for QoL and BMD in the trochanter in postmenopausal women. However, more recommendation criteria need to be established for BMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Stanniocalcin (STC), first isolated from the corpuscles of Stannius (CS) of teleost fishes and a systemic regulator of mineral metabolism, is present in all vertebrates as two isoforms, STC1 and STC2, encoded by separate genes. Here we show that the genome of Tetraodon nigroviridis, and other teleosts, possess duplicate genes for each STC isoform, designated stc1-a and -b, and stc2-a and -b. Stc1-a was cloned from CS, stc2-a from muscle and the two novel cDNAs, stc1-b and stc2-b, from brain. However, stc2-b was isolated as a conjoined (read-through) transcript with bod1 (bi-orientation defective 1, or FAM44B), and two additional alternative conjoined transcripts were also isolated. The predicted STC products shared the typical vertebrate 10 conserved cysteine residues and N-linked glycosylation motifs, in addition to specific features. Gene structure was generally conserved with four exons and three introns with the exception of stc1-a which gained an extra intron in exon three, originating one extra exon. Gene order and synteny is also maintained across vertebrates and the cpeb4 gene identified in the homologue region of the chordate Ciona was linked to vertebrate stc2 but not stc1. Immunohistochemistry in different species revealed that STC1-A was found only in CS and in a few cells in kidney. STC1-B had a restricted expression and was more prominent in the gills. STC2-A was detected in a variety of tissues, including pituitary, with most abundant immunoreaction in kidney cells and gill rakers and the CS was negative. Expression of stc1-a in CS of Tetraodon was 15-fold (p <0.05) up-regulated 2h after transfer from 2.9mM Ca2+ to 10mM Ca2+ water and down-regulated after 12 hours to 11-fold lower than 2.9mM Ca2+ fish (p <0.05). With the exception of stc1-a in CS, low expression levels and high individual variation were generally found for the expression of stc transcripts in kidney and gills, with no statistically significant changes in response to the hypercalcemic shock. In conclusion, both stc1 and stc2 genes are represented by paralogues in teleosts genomes and the analysis performed suggests that only stc1-a in the CS is involved in extracellular calcium regulation. The widespread distribution of stcs in fish tissues supports pleiotropic roles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: A growing number of cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been isolated from plants and particularly from seeds. It has become increasingly clear that these peptides, which include lipid transfer proteins (LTPs), play an important role in the protection of plants against microbial infection. Methods: Peptides from Coffea canephora seeds were extracted in Tris–HCl buffer (pH 8.0), and chromatographic purification of LTP was performed by DEAE and reverse-phase HPLC. The purified peptide was submitted to amino acid sequence, antimicrobial activity and mammalian α-amylase inhibitory analyses. Results: The purified peptide of 9kDa had homology to LTPs isolated from different plants. Bidimensional electrophoresis of the 9kDa band showed the presence of two isoforms with pIs of 8.0 and 8.5. Cc-LTP1 exhibited strong antifungal activity, against Candida albicans, and also promoted morphological changes including the formation of pseudohyphae on Candida tropicalis, as revealed by electron micrograph. Our results show that Cc-LTP1 interfered in a dose-dependent manner with glucose-stimulated, H+-ATPase-dependent acidification of yeast medium and that the peptide permeabilized yeast plasma membranes to the dye SYTOX green, as verified by fluorescence microscopy. Interestingly, we also showed for the first time that the well characterized LTP1 family, represented here by Cc-LTP1, was also able to inhibit mammalian α-amylase activity in vitro. Conclusions and general significance: In this work we purified, characterized and evaluated the in vitro effect on yeast of a new peptide from coffee, named Cc-LPT1, which we also showed, for the first time, the ability to inhibit mammalian α-amylase activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Undoubtedly, biotechnology has a tremendous impact on our daily lives. As a result of this and in parallel to the advancement of knowledge in this field of applied research, consumer awareness of the potential benefits and risks of this technology has steadily increased, leading to a thorough investigation of the public perception of biotechnology in the past years. Indeed, it has become clear that it is in the general interest of science and especially of applied research to inform the public of its advances. A promising next step is to strengthen biotechnology communication in scholastic institutions. In this paper, we investigate the perception of biotechnology in a specific target group, namely high-school students in the 16–20-year-old age range. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey on a total of 1410 students in six European countries to investigate students’ perception, concern, scientific knowledge, and awareness. Our data revealed some unexpected patterns of acceptance and concern about biotechnology. Knowledge analysis indicated that pupils lack specific knowledge about biotechnological applications and their interest in biotechnology appeared to be linked to knowledge. Analysis of specific questions about teaching practices at schools suggests that a better targeted choice in media as vehicles for information together with selected speakers could be instrumental in increasing students’ interest in science and more specifically in biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cartilage acidic protein 1 (CRTAC1) gene expression is used as a marker for chondrocyte differentiation in stem cell-based tissue engineering. It is also transcribed outside the skeleton where at least two different transcripts are expressed in lung and brain. In the pituitary gland of the teleost fish sea bream Sparus auratus, we have found a transcript with a high degree of sequence identity to CRTAC1 family members but lacking the EGF-like calcium-binding domain encoding sequence of CRTAC1 and designated it as CRTAC2. Database searches revealed many previously unidentified members of the CRTAC1 and CRTAC2 in phylogenetically distant organisms, such as cyanobacteria, bryophyta, lancelets, and diverse representatives of vertebrates. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the genes encoding CRTAC1 and CRTAC2 proteins coexist in teleost fish genomes. Structural prediction analysis identified the N-terminal region of the CRTAC1/CRTAC2 family members as a potential seven-bladed β-propeller structure, closely related to those of integrin α chains and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D1 protein families. This relationship is confirmed by phylogenetic analysis with the N-terminal domain of sea bream CRTAC2 as the most divergent sequence. Because teleost fishes are the only phylogenetic group where both CRTAC1 and CRTAC2 genes are present, they occupy a pivotal position in studies of the mechanisms governing the specific expression patterns of each gene/protein subfamily. This will be essential to elucidate their respective biological roles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Calcium regulation in sturgeon is of special interest because they are a representative of the ancient fishes possessing mainly cartilaginous skeletons and a supposedly low calcium demand. The present study aimed to characterize the effect of a chronic absence of dietary calcium and the effect of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrPA) (1-34) (7) on calcium balance in juvenile sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii). At rest, sturgeon juveniles are in net positive calcium balance, since whole body calcium uptake is significantly higher than efflux and calcium accumulates in the body. To study the importance of dietary calcium, the sturgeon were kept on a calcium-free diet for 8 wk. This manipulation impaired growth as measured by failure to gain weight or increase in length and indicates that dietary calcium is important for growth in sturgeon. An increased whole body calcium uptake partially compensated dietary calcium deficiency and was associated with increased gill chloride cell number in lamellae and filaments in parallel with increased gill Na+K+-ATPase activity. In addition, a single injection of piscine PTHrP(1-34) significantly increased whole body calcium uptake and decreased whole body calcium efflux. Administration of PTHrP significantly increased circulating plasma calcium 4-24 h postinjection. The increase in net calcium transport and increased plasma levels of calcium is consistent with the actions of a hypercalcemic factor. It would appear that the sturgeon rely on calcium for growth and tightly regulate calcium transport. The action in calcium balance is consistent with PTHrP acting as a hypercalcemic factor in sturgeon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]