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The uterine tube extracellular matrix is a key component that regulates tubal tissue physiology, and it has a region-specific structural distribution, which is directly associated to its functions. Considering this, the application of biological matrices in culture systems is an interesting strategy to develop biomimetic tubal microenvironments and enhance their complexity. However, there are no established protocols to produce tubal biological matrices that consider the organ morphophysiology for such applications. Therefore, this study aimed to establish region-specific protocols to obtain decellularized scaffolds derived from porcine infundibulum, ampulla, and isthmus to provide suitable sources of biomaterials for tissue-engineering approaches. Porcine uterine tubes were decellularized in solutions of 0.1% SDS and 0.5% Triton X-100. The decellularization efficiency was evaluated by DAPI staining and DNA quantification. We analyzed the ECM composition and structure by optical and scanning electronic microscopy, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. DNA and DAPI assays validated the decellularization, presenting a significative reduction in cellular content. Structural and spectroscopy analyses revealed that the produced scaffolds remained well structured and with the ECM composition preserved. YS and HEK293 cells were used to attest cytocompatibility, allowing high cell viability rates and successful interaction with the scaffolds. These results suggest that such matrices are applicable for future biotechnological approaches in the reproductive field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition or knockout in experimental apical periodontitis (AP) induced in mice. Methods: The experimental AP was induced by pulpal exposure. To evaluate NLRP3-specific inhibitor medication (MCC950), WT mice received intraperitoneal injections, while the control received PBS (n = 10). In addition, to evaluate NLRP3 knockout, 35 wild-type (WT) and 35 NLRP3−/− mice were divided into a control group (without pulpal exposure, n = 5) and three experimental groups: after 2, 14 and 42 days after pulpal exposure (n = 10). Microscopic and molecular analyzes were carried out using a significance level of 5%. Results: Exposure to MCC950 did not affect the periapical lesion size after 14 days (P = 0.584). However, exposed mice had a lower expression of IL-1β, IL-18 and caspase-1 (P = 0.010, 0.016 and 0.002, respectively). Moreover, NLRP3−/− mice showed a smaller periapical lesion after 14 and 42 days (P = 0.023 and 0.031, respectively), as well as a lower expression of IL-1β after 42 days (P < 0.001), of IL-18 and caspase-1 after 14 (P < 0.001 and 0.035, respectively) and 42 days (P = 0.002 and 0.002, respectively). NLRP3−/− mice also showed a lower mRNA for Il-1β, Il-18 and Casp1 after 2 (P = 0.002, 0.036 and 0.001, respectively) and 14 days (P = 0.002, 0.002 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition or knockout can attenuate the inflammatory events that result in the periapical lesion (AP) formation after pulpal exposure in mice. Clinical relevance: The NLRP3 inflammasome may be a therapeutic target for AP, and new approaches may verify the impact of its inhibition (through intracanal medications or filling materials) on the bone repair process and treatment success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is well established that fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome is characterized by chronic diffuse musculoskeletal hyperalgesia, very little is known about the effect of this pathology on muscle tissue plasticity. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize the putative alterations in skeletal muscle mass in female rats subjected to a FM model by inducing chronic diffuse hyperalgesia (CDH) through double injections of acidic saline (pH 4.0) into the left gastrocnemius muscle at 5‐day intervals. To determine protein turnover, the total proteolysis, proteolytic system activities and protein synthesis were evaluated in oxidative soleus muscles of pH 7.2 (control) and pH 4.0 groups at 7 days after CDH induction. All animals underwent behavioural analyses of mechanical hyperalgesia, strength and motor performance. Our results demonstrated that, in addition to hyperalgesia, rats injected with acidic saline exhibited skeletal muscle loss, as evidenced by a decrease in the soleus fibre cross‐sectional area. This muscle loss was associated with increased proteasomal proteolysis and expression of the atrophy‐related gene (muscle RING‐finger protein‐1), as well as reduced protein synthesis and decreased protein kinase B/S6 pathway activity. Although the plasma corticosterone concentration did not differ between the control and pH 4.0 groups, the removal of the adrenal glands attenuated hyperalgesia, but it did not prevent the increase in muscle protein loss in acidic saline‐injected animals. The data suggests that the stress‐related hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis is involved in the development of hyperalgesia, but is not responsible for muscle atrophy observed in the FM model induced by intramuscular administration of acidic saline. Although the mechanisms involved in the attenuation of hyperalgesia in rats injected with acidic saline and subjected to adrenalectomy still need to be elucidated, the results found in this study suggest that glucocorticoids may not represent an effective therapeutic approach to alleviate FM symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of political polarization within western societies has been portrayed by events such as the United States Capitol riot or the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. In this context, we argue that computational social science (CSS) methods offer a scalable and language-independent fashion to measure political polarization, enabling the processing of big data. In this vein, this article offers the first scoping review of the application of CSS methods to analyzing political polarization through text as data. We propose a categorization framework and reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of the different models used in the literature. Additionally, we underline the importance of filling research gaps, such as considering the temporal characteristic of political polarization, using a mathematical approach to analyze the use cases, and avoiding location and platform bias. We also provide recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategic narratives are employed by political actors as tools to pursue their goals, constructing a shared meaning of the past, present, and future in order to shape behaviour. Building on discourse analysis of the magazine Dabiq and from in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted between 2018 and 2019 with IS civilian employees and civilians living in IS-controlled territory, we analyse how IS organised its strategic narrative of governance and statebuilding around three main themes considered as central in the statebuilding literature – the provision of security, the provision of basic services, and social cohesion – and how such a strategic narrative was received by citizens living in IS-controlled territory. We argue that the study of strategic narratives of governance and statebuilding casts light on the factors leading to the success or demise of emergent statebuilding efforts, equally demonstrating how IS's project is quite conventional when compared to other mainstream statebuilding narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perform a systematic review of the literature and present the results of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) pointing out under which conditions and forms of administration menthol is really capable of improving performance in endurance exercise. Thirteen studies met the eligibility criteria. The sample size ranged from 6 to 12 athletes and the studies were evaluated between 5 and 9 on the PEDro scale. Six studies evaluated menthol mouth rinse, of which three demonstrated an increase in time to exhaustion between 6% and 9% and two demonstrated a decrease in time trial (2.7% and 3.5%). Five studies evaluated the topical application but without modification of physical performance variables. Two studies assessed the oral intake, of which in one of them there was a decrease in the time trial between 5.2% and 8.2%. Current data point to a good perspective on the determination of menthol as an ergogenic resource, provided that further studies form a body of evidence on each of the forms of administration. The available evidence suggests that physical exercise practitioners who use menthol orally seem to be able to promoter sport advantage, but these results need to be weighed due to the evidence level is considered to be of low quality due to small sample size, heterogeneous supplementation and exercise protocols and low volume of studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the constructions of gender in social media narratives regarding Shamima Begum, a British born woman who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Using the Twitter hashtag #ShamimaBegum – developed in response to Begum's expressed interest in returning to the United Kingdom to give birth to her third child – we employ critical discourse analysis to examine social media users' responses to Begum's case across a 3-week period. We portray how the vernacular narratives constructing femininity, gender, and their relation to terrorist activity are built on the expectation that the female actor should express remorse for her actions and is judged according to certain perceptions of maternalism, religion, and victimhood. We also explore the absence of considered agency in the narratives about women engaging in and disengaging from violent activities, demonstrating the weight of race, religion, and gender in shaping narratives surrounding perceived violent women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cork-based adsorbents have been gathering interest from the research community since the 1990s. A first review was published on this topic in 2012. Still, in the last decade, novel activated carbons and biochars, in multiple applications, have been produced using cork as a raw material. This review presents these novel insights into the properties of cork, in its various forms, and how they relate to adsorption capacity. Details on new preparation methodologies and respective characteristics of cork-based activated carbons and biochars are thoroughly compared, and patterns are identified. Finally, the adsorption capacity of these materials in experimental conditions is reviewed for different compounds: heavy metals, organics, and gaseous pollutants. This review provides a complete picture of the kind and quality of different cork forms, their relative economic value, and how their conversion into activated carbons and biochars can contribute to a more circular economy by producing adsorbents that aid in the reduction of multiple pollution types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses some technical aspects related to the use of absorption towers for the retention of sulfur oxides in an aqueous medium with the production of sulfuric acid, with the purpose of preventing the dispersion of those gases in the environment and contributing to reduce anthropic acid precipitation. Discusses the importance of carrying out practical activities exploring this theme for the training of students of the technical chemistry course to better understand this subject that is extremely important in the context of urban climatology for today's society. In addition, it informs the perception of the educated regarding the use of this teaching method, identifying the favoring regarding understanding and commitment to safety and environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jambu (Acmella oleracea [(L.) RK Jansen]) is a vegetable of great importance in the Amazonian region; it can be found in the daily life of the citizens of the State of Pará (Brazil), since it is part of traditional dishes such as duck in tucupi and tacacá sauce. Although jambu is widely cultivated, agronomic information about its management remains scarce. The aim of the current study was to analyze the physiological potential of jambu seeds stored in different packages and environments. The investigated packages comprised glass, Eppendorf tubes, plastic bags and paper bags conditioned in refrigerator and under natural conditions in Castanhal, Pará, for 360 days. Seed germination, first germination count, emergence seedlings, germination and emergence speed index, and seedling dry weight and length were the variables evaluated at 40-day intervals. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replicates of 50 seeds per treatment. Jambu seeds were only influenced by the environment where they were stored; the ones stored under natural conditions recorded decreasing behavior for the investigated variables until they reached zero, after 280 storage days. It was possible to conclude that the physiological potential of jambu seeds stored in refrigerator was better conserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Plasma epinephrine is decreased in priming models of fibromyalgia-like pain. • Clenbuterol attenuates hyperalgesia in an acid saline-induced fibromyalgia-like pain model. • Clenbuterol mitigates muscle atrophy in fibromyalgia priming model. Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue and muscle atrophy. Although its etiology is not known, studies have shown that FM patients exhibit altered function of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which regulates nociception and muscle plasticity. Nevertheless, the precise SNS-mediated mechanisms governing hyperalgesia and skeletal muscle atrophy in FM remain unclear. Thus, we employed two distinct FM-like pain models, involving intramuscular injections of acidic saline (pH 4.0) or carrageenan in prepubertal female rats, and evaluated the catecholamine content, adrenergic signaling and overall muscle proteolysis. Subsequently, we assessed the contribution of the SNS to the development of hyperalgesia and muscle atrophy in acidic saline-injected rats treated with clenbuterol (a selective β2-adrenergic receptor agonist) and in animals maintained under baseline conditions and subjected to epinephrine depletion through adrenodemedullation (ADM). Seven days after inducing an FM-like model with acidic saline or carrageenan, we observed widespread mechanical hyperalgesia along with loss of strength and/or muscle mass. These changes were associated with reduced catecholamine content, suggesting a common underlying mechanism. Notably, treatment with a β2-agonist alleviated hyperalgesia and prevented muscle atrophy in acidic saline-induced FM-like pain, while epinephrine depletion induced mechanical hyperalgesia and increased muscle proteolysis in animals under baseline conditions. Together, the results suggest that reduced sympathetic activity is involved in the development of pain and muscle atrophy in the murine model of FM analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From its inception in 2015, the Prevent Duty has required educators, and other members of the social sector, to exercise 'due regard' in preventing pupils from being drawn into terrorism, irrespective of the age of the child. This article explores how primary educators have understood and implemented this preventative security policy in their schools. Analysis is based on a survey of 345 primary school educators and 37 semi-structured interviews with primary school educators and Prevent Education Officers from the West Midlands. Through a lens of governmentality, we shed light on how this mandate has been broadly interpreted and exercised by educators within and outside the school gates. In so doing, we contribute to debates on the puzzling acceptance of Prevent in education, on the process whereby educators identify threats, and on the securitisation of educational spaces in a risk society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper starts from a revision of Adorno's late work, in particular his remarks on cinema, published in the 1960s. Our hypothesis is that cinema acquires relevance in Adorno's late work not only through a shift in his position regarding that medium itself, but rather due to a broader transformation in his aesthetic position, encompassing a distinct view on the procedures of modern art and the complex relations between the different artistic genres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The capacity of resistance to ß-lactam among enterobacteriales is notable, mainly into water environment. Herein, many species of this family have the ability to carrier and produce ß-lactamases enzymes, such as extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases. However, contrary to clinical settings, where the distribution of resistant bacteria is well documented, the evidence of resistant pathogens in the domestic sewage has been little explored, especially in Brazil. Thus, we aimed to investigate the occurrence of ESBL and carbapenemases between ampicillin-resistant enterobacteriales recovered from a municipal raw sewage in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: Enterobacteriales were isolated from sewage samples on MacConkey agar supplemented with ampicillin. Species identification was performed by biochemical and morphological methods and the resistance profile determined by the Kirby-Bauer test. The production of ESBL and carbapenemase was investigated in all isolates by phenotypic tests. Results and discussion: A total of 45 species of enterobacteriales resistant to ampicillin were recovered (37 Escherichia coli, four Klebsiella pneumoniae, and one Klebsiella oxytoca, Citrobacter freundii and Pantoea agglomerans). Most isolates showed a high ß-lactam susceptibility profile (14/45, 31.1 %), however E. coli with decreased susceptibility to imipenem was detected (2/37; 2.7 %). ESBL-positive isolates were mostly identified as E. coli (10/45; 22.2 %), but no isolates were positive carbapenemase. Conclusion: Domestic sewage is an important source of ß-lactams resistant determinants in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Arecaceae is distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Among the five subfamilies, Arecoideae is the most species-rich and still contains some ambiguous inter-generic relationships, such as those within subtribes Attaleinae and Bactridineae. The hypervariable regions of plastid genomes (plastomes) are interesting tools to clarify unresolved phylogenetic relationships. We sequenced and characterized the plastome of Bactris gasipaes (Bactridinae) and compared it with eight species from the three Cocoseae sub-tribes (Attaleinae, Bactridinae, and Elaeidinae) to perform comparative analysis and to identify hypervariable regions. The Bactris gasipaes plastome has 156,646 bp, with 113 unique genes. Among them, four genes have an alternative start codon (cemA, rps19, rpl2, and ndhD). Plastomes are highly conserved within tribe Cocoseae: 97.3% identity, length variation of ~2 kb, and a single ~4.5 kb inversion in Astrocaryum plastomes. The LSC/IR and IR/SSC junctions vary among the subtribes: in Bactridinae and Elaeidinae the rps19 gene is completely contained in the IR region; in the subtribe Attaleinae the rps19 gene is only partially contained in the IRs. The hypervariable regions selected according to sequence variation (SV%) and frequency of parsimony informative sites (PIS%) revealed plastome regions with great potential for molecular analysis. The ten regions with greatest SV% showed higher variation than the plastid molecular markers commonly used for phylogenetic analysis in palms. The phylogenetic trees based on the plastomes and the hypervariable regions (SV%) datasets had well-resolved relationships, with consistent topologies within tribe Cocoseae, and confirm the monophyly of the subtribes Bactridinae and Attaleinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) caused by Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) has become a growing concern due to its overwhelming ability to express resistance to antibiotics and produce biofilm.Aim: This study aimed to identify independent risk factors (RFs) associated with Ab-associated PJI and their role in the treatment outcome.Methods: This was a single-centre, retrospective cohort study of PJI patients diagnosed between January 2014 and July 2018. A PJI diagnosis was made based upon the MSIS 2018 criteria. To estimate RFs associated with Ab-associated PJI, multivariate analyses with a level of significance of p < 0.05 were performed. To evaluate treatment failure, Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test were performed.Results: Overall, 98 PJI cases were assessed, including 33 with Ab-associated PJI and 65 with PJI involving other microorganisms (non-Ab-associated PJI). Independent RFs associated with Ab-associated PJI were revision arthroplasty [odds ratio (OR) = 3.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15-7.90; p = 0.025] and nonelective arthroplasty (OR = 2.65; 95% CI = 1.01-7.01; p = 0.049). Ab-associated PJI was also more likely than non-Ab-associated PJI to be classified as a chronic late infection (OR = 5.81; 95% CI = 2.1-16.07; p = 0.001). Ab-associated PJI was not associated with treatment failure (p = 0.557).Conclusions: Late chronic infections, surgical revision and nonelective arthroplasty are well-known predictors of PJI but were also independently associated with Ab-associated PJI. Infections caused by Ab and surgical treatment with debridement, antibiotics and implant retention were not associated with PJI treatment failure.Trial Registration: Study data supporting our results were registered with the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials ( https://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-6ft5yb/ ), an open-access virtual platform for the registration of studies on humans performed in Brazil. Registration no. RBR-6ft5yb . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To answer the questions: (1) Does reducing estrogen levels influence the microbial composition of the oral cavity? (2) Does the presence of periapical lesion (PL) cause changes in the oral microbiota? (3) Since estrogen deficiency alters the oral microbiota, can this be one of the factors that contribute to the increase of the PL? Materials and methods: Thirty-six rats were divided into four groups: sham (control), ovariectomy (OVX), control with PL (Sham + PL), and OVX + PL. After 9 weeks of OVX, the lower first molars were submitted to PL induction. After 21 days, the microbiological collection of the oral cavity was performed, and the animals were euthanized. The contents were evaluated by the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization method, to verify the prevalence of 40 bacterial species (divided into 7 microbial complexes). The blocks containing the lower first molars were submitted to histotechnical processing and staining with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), for the measurement of the periapical lesion area. The results were submitted to ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests and Tukey and Dunn post-tests, with a significance level of 5%. Results: In conditions of estrogen deficiency, there was alteration of the oral microbiota. The OVX groups had a higher amount of bacteria compared to the SHAM group in most of the microbial complexes (p < 0.001). The animals in the control group (with or without lesion) did not present a statistically significant difference (p > 0.001) in any of the microbial complexes. The PLs in OVX animals were significantly higher compared to SHAM animals (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Hypoestrogenicity conditions interfere in the oral microbiota by increasing the amount of bacteria in the saliva and influencing the progression of periapical lesions. Clinical relevance: This inedited study shows that deficiency of estrogen leads to alteration of the oral microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many native species of the Brazilian flora are still little explored economically in the country. An example is Acrocomia intumescens, a palm tree that in recent studies has shown some industrial potential still unexplored. The present study evaluates the proximate composition, including minerals, and total carotenoid content of A. intumescens fruits from three different locations in Pernambuco State, north‐east Brazil, with distinct climatic characteristics. A. intumescens fruits showed that nutritional composition, mineral profile and total carotenoid content varied between fruit parts and between locations. A. intumescens pulp is rich in moisture (35.96%–40.97%), lipids (31.88%–43.22%), ashes (3.63%–4.95%) and total carotenoids (106.69–265.23 µg/g), while the kernel stands out for its high content of lipids (52.08%–56.67%) and proteins (16.49%–21.88%). The main A. intumescens minerals present in the pulp were K (max. 241 mg/100 g) and Mg (max. 153.38 mg/100 g), while P (max. 92.51 mg/100 g) predominated in the kernel. Multivariate analysis (PCA) indicates that location with higher rainfall and temperature produces fruits with higher macro‐ and micronutrient contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyridines substituted with different aromatic groups at C‐2, C‐4 and C‐6 were prepared following a Kröhnke synthetic route. Introducing ortho‐anisole at C‐2 resulted in deep blue emitters in solution, with quantum yields up to 74 %. On the other hand, when ortho‐phenol was introduced, forming a strong hydrogen bond with the pyridine nitrogen, excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer was witnessed by the dual emission of the fluorophores, which is sensitive to the dye environment. The phenyl ring at C‐4 was used to introduce electron‐donating or withdrawing groups, to fine‐tune the photophysical properties of the dyes. Crystal structures of the fluorophores, together with theoretical studies using DFT/TD‐DFT calculations, were used to rationalize the experimental photophysical properties of the two families of dyes. Unsymmetrical 2,4,6‐triarylpyridines are therefore versatile scaffolds for the preparation of deep‐blue and dual emission fluorophores, and are promising building blocks for luminescent devices and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directional data are related to vectors on the unit sphere. When these vectors are not signed, this kind of data is called axial data. The Watson distribution is one of the main models for axial data. This model is equipped by two parameters: dominant axis and concentration. Based on the Rényi divergence and the Bhattacharya and Hellinger distances, we propose three hypothesis tests to check if two samples come from populations having the same concentration parameter. Results from synthetic and real data indicate that the proposed tests can yield good performance on Watson data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article traces the personal and cultural voices expressed in the life-story interview of a former politically violent militant regarding her engagement with and disengagement from the armed struggle. Rather than looking at the macro and meso aspects related to politically motivated violence, we examine micro-narratives which express individual arguments, sociocultural discourses, and negotiations within and between them, These are voiced in the dynamics that take place within the self-system at times of key identity transitions (e.g., from being a committed militant to becoming a former militant). In this vein, we highlight how the embodied emotional chords of personal positions, the development of meta-positions, and the positioning and repositioning movements within the dialogical self, facilitate the emergence of new and more adaptive meanings in the personal meaning system of former militants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article applies a dialogical analysis to the change processes involved in moving from engagement with to disengagement from an armed militant group, as well as from radicalization to deradicalization. The findings underline the interplay between different push and pull factors at individual, organizational, and societal levels that played a role in the already mentioned processes in three periods of time—engagement with, life within, and disengagement from an armed organization. The dialogical framework conceptualizes the development trajectory as relationships between a variety of positions of the self (I-positions), which generate different personal meanings involved in processes of disengagement and deradicalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue is concerned with the development of the study of narratives of political violence and terrorism. While the concept of narrative has become increasingly popular among scholars in the field over the past two decades, this has not been accompanied by an active and critical engagement with its full ontological, epistemological, and methodological implications. This issue proposes to view the extant work through a basic framework of three modes of narrative—as lens, as data, and as tool—in order to take stock of the progress that has been made to date and to facilitate the identification of remaining research gaps. Building on this framework, the six contributions in this issue demonstrate how the study of narratives of political violence and terrorism may be advanced. This is done, in particular, through a focus on narrative's value for understanding social and political change, as well as an emphasis on developing interdisciplinary and methodologically innovative approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CBD presents anticonvulsant behavioral effects in animal models of epilepsy. • CBD induces neuroprotection in animal models of epileptic seizures. • Multiple mechanisms of action are associated to CBD anticonvulsant effects. • Animal models support CBD therapeutic use for epilepsies treatment. • Detailed behavioral analysis are crucial for a better basic-clinical translation. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by the presence of seizures and neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Despite the number of antiepileptic drugs, one-third of patients did not have their seizures under control, leading to pharmacoresistance epilepsy. Cannabis sativa has been used since ancient times in Medicine for the treatment of many diseases, including convulsive seizures. In this context, Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid present in Cannabis , has been a promising compound for treating epilepsies due to its anticonvulsant properties in animal models and humans, especially in pharmacoresistant patients. In this review, we summarize evidence of the CBD anticonvulsant activities present in a great diversity of animal models. Special attention was given to behavioral CBD effects and its translation to human epilepsies. CBD anticonvulsant effects are associated with a great variety of mechanisms of action such as endocannabinoid and calcium signaling. CBD has shown effectiveness in the clinical scenario for epilepsies, but its effects on epilepsy-related comorbidities are scarce even in basic research. More detailed and complex behavioral evaluation about CBD effects on seizures and epilepsy-related comorbidities are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomedicine is considered a promising alternative to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment. Particularly, the use of nanoparticles (NPs) has enabled the encapsulation of highly toxic anticancer drugs, facilitated ultimate targeting, and allowed tailoring of drug delivery. However, when in biological fluids, these NPs are coated by proteins which hide the targeting moieties and suppress the engineered biological outcome. Herein, how the Ki‐1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) can preserve its targetability through grafting on the surface of zwitterionic‐functionalized nanoparticles, is unveiled. Zwitterions, known for their stealth ability, are used to minimize unspecific NPs protein adsorption and consequently maintain mAb functionality. In this work, Ki‐1 mAb is used as it recognizes TNFRSF8 (CD30+) transmembrane protein overexpressed on CD30+ lymphoma cells such as L540 cells. While nonfunctionalized NPs show negligible toxic effects toward L540 cells, the Ki‐1‐functionalized structure demonstrates cytotoxicity, since they undergo cellular uptake, suggesting a receptor‐mediated internalization. This dual‐functionalization strategy provides a promising multifunctional nanoplatform toward future personalized medicine applications, minimizing unspecific protein adsorption on NPs and ensuring selective cancer cell targeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a leading practice of Homo sapiens' environmental experience for hundreds of millennia, hunting continues to evoke key research inquiries in the fields of archaeology, human ecology, and conservation biology. Broadly speaking, hunting has been mainly a subject of qualitative-symbolic and quantitative-materialistic schemata of analyze, among anthropologists and biologists, respectively. However, the phenomenological dimension of the hunting experience, in the course of individuals' everyday life, received little academic attention until this century. This study analyzes the daily praxis of hunting among quilombolas (descendants from runaway African slaves) in Southeast Brazil, making use of an ethnographic approach of phenomenological orientation, which dialogue with central ethnobiological issues. The authors also report the local ecological knowledge about mammals hunted in the area, and its relationship to the scientific literature on this subject. Methods: Between 2016 and 2019, the authors made use of participant observation and informal interviews among eight key local participants, in three quilombola communities in the Ribeira Valley (São Paulo, Brazil). Fragments of authors' field notes and parts of interviewers' speeches make up the core results obtained. Results: Articulating local knowledge to scientific literature, this study yielded a hybrid and comprehensive narrative about natural history of the mammals in the area. The authors also accessed elementary aspects of research participants' experience in hunting, such as strategies, tactics, motivations, and feelings. They reveal a set of human behavior dispositions that seems to emerge only in the context of the action, modulating the praxis of hunting on the course of individuals' everyday life. Conclusion: Ethnography, ethnobiology, and natural sciences backgrounds were systematically articulated in this research. This made possible to get a contextualized and multifaceted understanding of hunting praxis in the Ribeira Valley, an important socioenvironmental context of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The role of an ethnographic approach applied to ethnoecological and biological conservation issues is especially considered here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antiangiogenic therapy for prostate cancer with Nintedanib, a potent inhibitor of important growth factor receptors, has been proven to delay tumor progression and arrest tumor growth; thus, the aim herein is to evaluate Nintedanib effects on tumor cells, besides angiogenesis and apoptosis processes, metalloproteinases and hypoxia factor in an animal model. Nintedanib promoted growth inhibition and cell death in a dose-dependent manner, showing no tumor selectivity. Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) were treated with Nintedanib (10 mg/kg/day) in different stages of tumor development and the ventral prostate was examined for protein levels by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting and apoptosis evaluation. In vitro antiproliferative activity of Nintedanib was also assessed in nine human tumor cell lines. Early Nintedanib treatment has shown decreased levels of FGF-2, VEGFR-1, MMP-9 and HIF-1α and a significantly increased apoptosis of epithelial cells. Furthermore, late Nintedanib treatment decreased FGF-2, VEGFR-1 and FGFR-3 levels. Importantly, even after treatment discontinuation, treated animals displayed a significant decrease in VEGFR-1 as well as MMP-9. Although Nintedanib treatment in late stages of tumor growth has shown some good results, it is noteworthy that the drug presents the best tissue response when administered in the early stages of disease development. Nintedanib treatment has shown to be a promising approach for prostate cancer therapy, especially in the early stages of the disease, interfering in different carcinogenesis progression pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to analyze whether bullying is frequently practiced among adolescent girls, those who practice it and the consequences. Method: exploratory and cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. The research population was girls aged between 10 and 19 years, regularly enrolled in a public school in Recife- Pernambuco. Data were collected in February and March 2019, being obtained through interviews with objective questions related to the theme. Results: it was attended by 60 girls (average age 14 years). Most (68.4%) answered that they felt victimized by bullying; 49.9% are victims, according to the frequency of exposure to aggressions and 76.6% were bullied by boys; 26.6% showed bad consequences derived from this act. Verbal form was the most cited (31.6%). Conclusion: there is a high prevalence of adolescent victims of bullying. It emphasizes the importance of the family and school community in breaking social paradigms in order to decrease the occurrence of bullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing models of deradicalisation, countering violent extremism (CVE), and counter-terrorism (CT) have lacked a clear theory of change, as well as robust empirical methodologies. This paper proposes an empirically-based systematic and transparent methodology – the Innovative Moments Coding System (IMCS) – which is empirically sensitive, ethically defensible, and can be of use in the context of research to inform practitioner contexts. Through a case study of former violent militants, we explore the adaptation and usage of this instrument to identify and track self-narrative change in the processes of engagement and disengagement, as well as radicalisation and deradicalisation in the context of violent extremism and terrorism. We illustrate how this methodology has the potential to bring benefits to the work of researchers involved in producing guidelines for disengagement, deradicalisation or risk-reduction interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of oral rehabilitation with dental implants has been showing significant progress in recent years. Osseointegrated implants can be surgically installed at various time phases after tooth extraction. The choice of time frame depends on structural, aesthetic and functional bone factors. The reason for choosing this procedure is due to the reduction of treatment time and cost. Objective of this study was to report a clinical case in which the first upper left premolar was extracted due to extensive coronary destruction, followed by immediate placement of dental implant in aesthetic area. The technique of immediate implant placement represents a potentially viable and quite advantageous option for the patient, provided that they are well indicated, planned, and carefully performed. It has success rates similar to those of conventional implants. In addition, it allows the preservation of the alveolar anatomy, maintains the height of the bony ridges, guides the angulation of implant installation and reduces the number of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorescent dye was decorated with water‐soluble pyridinium groups in order to be applied in the detection of cyclodextrins or DNA. The dye displays an enhancement of its emission intensity when the internal rotations are restricted due to the formation of an inclusion complex with cyclodextrins or upon interaction with DNA. In vivo, the fluorescent probe can stain protein aggregates with a selectivity comparable to the widely used Proteostat®. Let′s light up the world: A water‐soluble fluorescent probe was prepared that displays an enhancement of its emission intensity upon stiffening of its backbone and successfully detects γ‐cyclodextrins and DNA in vitro. In cells, it selectively stains protein aggregates when those are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Former clandestine militants' voices and stories have been recurrently silenced in the Portuguese "battle over memory", because their activities were linked to events, such as the Revolution of 25 April 1974, which have themselves been politically and socially depreciated in mainstream political narratives. Only recently did the traditional political narratives start to be questioned and debated by Portuguese scholars. Such political narratives took root in the country in the decades that followed the April Revolution, with various scholars and politicians denying the fascist categorisation of Estado Novo and adopting an authoritarian, non-totalitarian and non-fascist perspective, while recurrently depicting the Revolution as highly negative (namely as the source of the economic troubles of the country). Thus, for a long time, Portuguese conservatives opted to avoid debates on the 48 years of the Estado Novo's regime which, among other things, maintained a very repressive and violent political police force, a camp of forced labour in Cape Vert known as Tarrafal, and a Colonial War on three African fronts. This article examines the existent academic publications which counter such oblivion of memory regarding armed struggle in Portugal. It also explores the reasons behind, on the one hand, the whitewashing of Estado Novo and the historical revisionism typical of the 1970s and 1980s, and, on the other hand, the "rebellion of memory" which emerged in the 1990s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrroles are widely found in natural products and play an important role in biological processes. Certain pyrrole derivatives are fluorescent and may be used as molecular probes or biomarkers in the diagnosis of diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. Herein is reported the synthesis of five new pyrrole derivatives bearing phenyl rings on positions 1, 2, and 4, with electron-donating groups at the periphery. The introduction of more or stronger electron-donating groups red-shifts and increases the efficiency of the fluorescence emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalocyanines bearing four or eight sulfonamide units were synthesized and their efficiency in the photodynamic inactivation of Gram-negative ( Escherichia coli ) and Gram-positive ( Staphylococcus aureus ) bacteria was evaluated. Conjugates with simpler sulfonamide units ( N , N -diethylbenzenesulfonamide, N -isopropylbenzenesulfonamide and N -(4-methoxyphenyl)benzenesulfonamide) caused stronger inactivation than those with heterocyclic groups ( N -(thiazol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide) or long alkyl chains ( N -dodecylbenzenesulfonamide) in both bacteria. Furthermore, the encapsulation of the phthalocyanine–sulfonamide conjugates within polyvinylpyrrolidone micelles, used as drug delivery vehicles, in general showed to enhance the inactivation efficiency. The results show that encapsulated phthalocyanine–sulfonamide conjugates are a promising class of photosensitizers to be used in photodynamic antimicrobial therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Prostate cancer (PCa) progression mechanism has been linked to epithelial proliferation, tumor invasion ability, and growth factors. Nintedanib (BIBF 1120) has been reported as being FGF and VEGF pathway inhibitors, exhibiting antitumor activity. Thus, the objective herein was to characterize the early Nintedanib treatment effects on the structure and molecules involved in the basal membrane, the extracellular matrix (ECM) maintenance, in addition to the angiogenesis and mitogenic processes at different grades of prostatic tumor development in TRAMP mice. Therefore, 45 male TRAMP mice were divided into control groups: 8‐week‐old mice (TC8), 12‐week‐old mice (TC12), and 16‐week‐old mice (TC16); and treated groups with 10 mg/kg/day Nintedanib dose for 4 weeks. The treated groups were euthanized at 12 (TN12) and 16 (TN16) weeks of age. Samples from the dorsolateral lobe were collected and processed for light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and microvessel density analysis. The results showed that early Nintedanib treatment led to an increase of healthy epithelium frequency and a reduction of LGPIN and a maximum vascularization density in the TN12 group. Also, treatment led to a well‐differentiated adenocarcinoma decrease and an α and β dystroglycan and also laminin 1 increase in the TN16 group. IGFR1 decreased in the TN16 group. To conclude, early Nintedanib treatment led to a reduction in cancer severity, interfering in both ECM compounds and angiogenesis process to then contribute to a balance, not only in the prostatic epithelium and stroma, but also in the epithelial‐stromal interaction during PCa progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of colonization and infection by Candida spp. in mucosal and prosthetics of patients attended at an odontology clinic in university. Morphological and biochemical methods were used to identify Candida spp species, such as, CHROMagar Candida, Cornmeal Agar microculture, and auxonogram. The prevalence of colonization by Candida spp. in prosthetics users was 70.6%. Candida's samples were isolated from 68 patients, which 69.31% were identified as C. albicans and 30.69% as Candida non-albicans. The oral's cavity evaluation of colonization prevalence was made according to the method of prosthetics hygene and showed less prevalence in patients that used brushing and soak in hypochlorite in association. The prevalence of Candida albicans was higher than Candida non-albicans in prosthestics's users and the proper hygene of the prosthetics reduced the prevalence of colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several neuropeptidergic systems act as modulators of cognitive performances. Among them, nociceptin, an opioid-like peptide also known as orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), has recently gained attention. Stimulation of its receptor, the N/OFQ opioid receptor (NOP), which is expressed in brain regions involved in emotion, memory and stress response, has inhibitory effects on the acquisition and/or consolidation of spatial and emotional memory in rodents. Recently, N/OFQ was also proposed to be linked to the pathogenesis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in humans. However, until now the effect of the activation of the N/OFQ-NOP system on already consolidated memory, such as during retrieval and reconsolidation phases, has never been explored. In the present study, we investigated the consequences of systemic injection of NOP agonists or i.c.v. injection of the N/OFQ peptide on the retrieval and the reconsolidation of contextual fear memory in mice. We demonstrate that the activation of the N/OFQ system impairs the reconsolidation of context-dependent but not cue-dependent aversive memories. We also show that this amnestic effect is associated with decreased c-Fos expression in the hippocampus and amygdala. Our data thus provide the first evidence that the NOP receptor could be targeted during the reconsolidation process to weaken maladaptive memories. The N/OFQ-NOP system might constitute in the future an interesting pharmacological target for interfering with so-called “pathological memories”, in particular those involving maladaptive contextual memories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropsychological studies suggest that cocaine / crack cocaine dependents tend to present cognitive alterations, mainly in the mnemonic, attentional and executive functions, relating the use of crack to damages in these functions. Such damages can impact in several areas of the user's life, especially in the adherence to the treatment and, consequently, in its rehabilitation. In order to better understand the impact of crack use on executive functions, the present article presents a systematic review of the literature on the neuropsychological evaluation of executive functions in crack users, since the use of this drug has been associated with losses in Functions (FE). A survey of articles indexed in the Lilacs, Medline, PsycInfo, Pubmed, Scielo and Web of Science databases from 2004 to 2017 was performed using the descriptors in Portuguese "crack" AND "executive function" OR "functions Executive "AND" neuropsic * "; And in English, "crack" AND "executive function" OR "executive functions" AND "neuropsyc *". In total, 14 articles were accepted that met the criteria and were presented and discussed. The findings showed that there is a variability among the tests used, with the most commonly selected being the Trail Making Test, the Stroop Test, Digits, the Wisconsin Card Classification Test and the Iowa Gambling Task. The majority of studies reviewed suggest an association between crack use and executive dysfunction. The understanding of the executive functioning of crack users is socially relevant, having an important impact in the elaboration of treatment and rehabilitation programs. The present review study points out the need for new empirical research that has groups of comparison with a larger number of participants, making the findings more representative and reliable of the researched population, thus broadening the understanding of the relationship between executive functioning and dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Areas cultivated with sugarcane, where continuous vinasse application is used, tend to have serious physical, biological and mainly chemical problems due to the excess nutritional load that is transmitted by this byproduct. In order to evaluate the chemical quality of the soil after phytoremediation, an experiment was carried out in protected cultivation in the area of Experimental Farm Eduardo Meneghel Rando, of campus Luiz Meneghel of the State University of Northern Paraná, in the city of Bandeirantes, Paraná State, Brazil, and evaluated by the factorial design at 0, 30, 45 and 60 days after emergence of the crops and the secondary plot of the six treatments with three replicates: T1- Crotalaria spectabilis, T2- Mucuna deeringiana, T3- Pennisetum americanum, T4- Zea mays, T5- Canavalia ensiformis and T6- Phaseolus vulgaris. The experiment was carried out in pots with a capacity of 12.6 L, filled with soil collected at two depths 0-20 and 20-40 cm, at the USIBAN-Açúcar and Álcool Bandeirantes S/A industry, in the city of Bandeirantes, and initially evaluated for their routine chemical characteristics. Through destructive analysis the soil was evaluated from 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm, for routine analysis of soil chemical parameters at 30, 45 and 60 days after emergence (DAE) of the crops. The results allowed conclude that the cultivation of millet was the treatment that best remedied potassium up to 45 DAE in soils salinized by the application of vinasse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent times, anti-cancer treatments have focused on Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) and Vascular-Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) pathway inhibitors so as to target tumor angiogenesis and cellular proliferation. One such drug is Nintedanib; the present study evaluated the effectiveness of Nintedanib treatment against in vitro proliferation of human prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines, and growth and progression of different grades of PCa lesions in pre-clinical PCa transgenic adenocarcinoma for the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. Methods: Both androgen-independent (LNCaP) and androgen-dependent (PC3) PCa cell lines were treated with a range of Nintedanib doses for 72 h, and effect on cell growth and expression of angiogenesis associated VEGF receptors was analyzed. In pre-clinical efficacy evaluation, male TRAMP mice starting at 8 and 12 weeks of age were orally-fed with vehicle control (10% Tween 20) or Nintedanib (10 mg/Kg/day in vehicle control) for 4 weeks, and sacrificed immediately after 4 weeks of drug treatment or sacrificed 6-10 weeks after stopping drug treatments. At the end of treatment schedule, mice were sacrificed and ventral lobe of prostate was excised along with essential metabolic organ liver, and subjected to histopathological and extensive molecular evaluations. Results: The total cell number decreased by 56-80% in LNCaP and 45-93% in PC3 cells after 72 h of Nintedanib treatment at 2.5-25 μM concentrations. In pre-clinical TRAMP studies, Nintedanib led to a delay in tumor progression in all treatment groups; the effect was more pronounced when treatment was given at the beginning of the glandular lesion development and continued till study end. A decreased microvessel density and VEGF immunolocalization was observed, besides decreased expression of Androgen Receptor (AR), VEGFR-1 and FGFR-3 in some of the treated groups. No changes were observed in the histological liver analysis. Conclusions: Nintedanib treatment was able to significantly decrease the growth of PCa cell lines and also delay growth and progression of PCa lesions to higher grades of malignancy (without inducing any hepatotoxic effects) in TRAMP mice. Furthermore, it was observed that Nintedanib intervention is more effective when administered during the early stages of neoplastic development, although the drug is capable of reducing cell proliferation even after treatment interruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preconditioning can induce a cascade of cellular events leading to neuroprotection against subsequent brain insults. In this study, we investigated the chronic effects of hypoxic preconditioning on spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS), neuronal death, and spatial memory performance in rats subjected to pilocarpine (Pilo)-induced status epilepticus (SE). Rats underwent a short hypoxic episode (7% O 2 + 93% N 2 ; 30 min on two consecutive days) preceding a 4-h SE (HSE group). Control groups were rats submitted to SE only (SE), rats subjected to hypoxia only (H) or normoxia-saline (C). Animals were monitored for the occurrence of SRS, and spatial memory performance was evaluated in the radial-arm maze. Hippocampal sections were analyzed for cell death and mossy fiber sprouting at 1 or 60 days after SE. Compared to SE group, HSE had increased SE latency, reduced number of rats with SRS, reduced mossy fiber sprouting at 60 days, and reduced cell death in the hilus and the CA3 region 1 and 60 days after SE. Additionally, HSE rats had better spatial memory performance than SE rats. Our findings indicated that short hypoxic preconditioning preceding SE promotes long-lasting protective effects on neuron survival and spatial memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between caries and body mass index (BMI) deviations in Brazilian schoolchildren and adolescents. Methods: A total of 237 three- to 15-year-old children, all undergoing treatment in a university pediatric dental clinic, was evaluated. Caretakers answered a questionnaire on sociodemographic, ethnicity, oral hygiene, and dietary information. The children's height was measured in centimeters, the weight in kilograms, and BMIs were calculated. A dental exam was done. All data were analyzed using Epi Info 7.1.5 and Graph Pad Prism 5.0 software with a significance level of five percent. Results: The mean BMI in the studied population was 17.78 (±3.30 SD); all scores fell within the 12.5 to 30.0 BMI range. The distribution of decayed, missing, and filled primary and permanent teeth (dmft/DMFT) was statistically similar among normal weight, underweight, overweight, and obese children (P>0.05). There was no correlation between BMI and caries experience. The univariate and multivariate analysis using modifier factors as covariables did not demonstrate an association between BMI status and caries experience (P>0.05). Conclusion: BMI deviations are not associated with caries experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin (CP) is used to treat a number of cancers, including testicular cancer. Studies indicate that CP-treatment can impair spermatogenesis in humans and rodents by germ cell DNA binding, through different modes of action. CP-paternal exposure resulted in adverse effects in F1 male offspring. In this study, F1 female offspring was assessed for reproductive development after CP-paternal exposure. Peri -pubertal male rats, treated with 1 mg/Kg/day of CP or vehicle for 3 weeks, were mated with unexposed females. F1 female offspring of CP-treated fathers showed a decrease in fetal ovary germ cells, in estrous cycle length and FSH levels, and an increase in the percentage of antral follicles in adults. Based on our previous results and the findings of the present work we concluded that CP-paternal exposure leads to adverse effects on rat male and female reproductive development, raising concern, in humans, for children born to men exposed to CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a serious disease characterized by low mood, anhedonia, loss of interest in daily activities, appetite and sleep disturbances, reduced concentration, and psychomotor agitation. There is a growing interest in NMDA antagonists as a promising target for the development of new antidepressants. Considering that purinergic and dopaminergic systems are involved in depression and anxiety states, we characterized the role of these signaling pathways on MK-801-induced antidepressant effects in zebrafish. Animals treated with MK-801 at the doses of 5, 10, 15, or 20 μM during 15, 30, or 60 min spent longer time in the top area of aquariums in comparison to control group, indicating an anxiolytic/antidepressant effect induced by this drug. Animals treated with MK-801 spent longer time period at top area until 2 (5 μM MK-801) and 4 (20 μM MK-801) hours after treatment, returning to basal levels from 24 h to 7 days after exposure. Repeated MK-801 treatment did not induce cumulative effects, since animals treated daily during 7 days had the same behavioral response pattern observed since the first until the 7th day. In order to investigate the effects of adenosine A 1 and A 2A receptor antagonist and agonist and the influence of modulation of adenosine levels on MK-801 effects, we treated zebrafish with caffeine, DPCPX, CPA, ZM 241385, CGS 21680, AMPCP, EHNA, dipyridamole, and NBTI during 30 min before MK-801 exposure. The non-specific adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine (50 mg/kg) and the selective A 1 receptor antagonist DPCPX (15 mg/kg) prevented the behavioral changes induced by MK-801. The non-specific nucleoside transporter (NT) inhibitor dipyridamole (10 mg/kg) exacerbated the behavioral changes induced by MK-801. Dopamine receptor antagonists (sulpiride and SCH 23390) did not change the behavioral alterations induced by MK-801. Our findings demonstrated that antidepressant-like effects of MK-801 in zebrafish are mediated through adenosine A 1 receptor activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of invasive species represents a major threat to the integrity of stream-dwelling fish populations worldwide, and this issue is receiving increasing attention from scientists, in particular because of potential impact on biodiversity. In this study, we analysed the dispersal of an exotic loricariid fish the red fin dwarf pleco (Parotocinclus maculicauda) in a stream of the Atlantic Forest biome in coastal south-eastern Brazil and evaluated the effects of this invasion on the native loricariid common pleco (Hypostomus punctatus). Specimens were collected at eight sites located along the course of the stream over a 15-year period. The distribution and density of the two species were determined by the Successive Removal Method. The introduction of P. maculicauda occurred in the medium sector of the stream, and during the course of the study, the species dispersed to new sites further upstream. By the end of the study, it was found at all points upstream from the original site. Hypostomus punctatus was registered at all sample sites both before and after the introduction of P. maculicauda, but its density decreased at all upstream sites after the arrival of the exotic species. Our analysis shows that colonisation by P. maculicauda seems to have a negative effect on H. punctatus densities. The maintenance of H. punctatus densities at the sites not colonised by P. maculicauda reinforces the conclusion that the colonisation of the stream by the exotic species had deleterious effects on the density of the resident H. punctatus populations, either by direct or indirect action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies on the health benefits caused by physical activities during adolescence are extant. Surveys in Brazil reveal low percentages of active young people. Inactive displacement is one of the factors that contributes towards such inactivity. Current research identifies the type of displacement in school adolescents and relates it to their socio-demographic profile. Fifty-nine students (37 females and 22 males), aged between 13 and 19 years old, in the 9th year of Elementary Education of a government school in the town of Paulista PE Brazil participated in the study. The adolescents answered two subjective questions on displacement to school and the Chi-Square and Frequency Distribution test was applied. Results show that 57.6% of school adolescents go to school by bicycle or on foot. The frequency rate of active displacement was higher in students living in the countryside and those with mothers featuring schooling of ⩾ 8 years, demonstrating a significant association of the variables with displacement. Current study showed that more than half the school adolescents displaced themselves actively and underscored the importance of public policies to raise the indexes of physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylmercury, organic form of mercury, can increase the number of abnormal sperm and decrease sperm concentration and testosterone levels possibly due to the damage caused by reactive species to germ and Leydig cells. Maná-cubiu (Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal) is a native fruit from Amazon rich in iron, zinc, niacin, pectin, and citric acid, used in foods, beverages, and medicinal purposes, since it has been useful for treatment of various diseases caused by oxidative stress or nutritional deficiency. Therefore, this study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of this fruit on damages caused by exposure to MeHg on sperm quantity and quality and the histological aspect of the testis and epididymis. Wistar male rats (n = 20) were randomly allocated into four groups: Control group (received distilled water), MeHg group (140 μg/Kg), Solanum group (1% of fruit Maná-cubiu on chow), and Solanum plusMeHg group (same treatment asMeHg and Solanum group). The organs were weighted, histopathology; sperm morphology and counts were obtained. The results showed reduction in body weight gain, testis weights, reduced sperm production, and increased histopathological abnormalities in the MeHg-treated group. However, treatment with Solanum plus MeHg revealed a protective effect of this fruit on damages caused by MeHg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Glycated PS oxidation occurs with cleavage in glycated polar head. [•] Oxidation in C6 of glucose leads to the formation of glucuronyl-PS. [•] Oxidative cleavage of glycated polar head yields several PS-AGEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution to health promotion in the workplace can be offered through a Worksite Health Program (WHP), which includes physi - cal exercises and relaxation techniques, usually present in stretch break classes. Since it is essential to optimize adherence to any program or activity to achieve consistent benefits, the objective of this review is to bring examples to encourage the participation of workers in WHP, with emphasis on the Stretch Break Program, maximizing the effectiveness of these programs. It was concluded that the manager and the stretch break teacher, an ergonomic approach and creative stretch break classes with massage and music are crucial to promote adherence to such programs, allowing positive impact on worker's quality of life and diverse individual, organizational and social improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]