Search

The establishment of fibroblast lines enables several applications from the formation of biobanks for the conservation of biodiversity to the use of these cells in physiological and toxicological assays. Considered a species vulnerable to extinction, the characterization of fibroblastic lines of northern tiger cat would contribute to its conservation. Therefore, we established and characterized fibroblasts derived from northern tiger cat during extended passage (third, seventh, and eleventh passages) and cryopreservation with regard to the morphology, viability, apoptotic classification, metabolism, proliferative activity, and oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Initially, we identified four dermal fibroblast lines by morphology, immunophenotyping, and karyotyping assays. In vitro culture after the third, seventh, and eleventh passages did not affect the viability, apoptotic classification, and ROS levels. Nevertheless, cells at seventh and eleventh passages featured a reduction in metabolism and an alteration in ΔΨm when compared to third passage cells. Additionally, cells at eleventh passage showed changes in the proliferative activity and morphology when compared to other passages. Regarding cryopreservation, no effect was observed on cryopreserved cells for morphology, viability, apoptotic classification, metabolism, and proliferative activity. Nevertheless, cryopreserved cells had alteration for ROS levels and ΔΨm. In summary, fibroblasts from northern tiger cat were affected by extended passage (seventh and eleventh passages) and cryopreservation. Adjustments to the in vitro culture and cryopreservation are necessary to reduce cellular oxidative stress caused by in vitro conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, the maintenance and expansion of the federal road network conflict with the country's climate neutrality goals. The National Department of Transportation Infrastructure (DNIT), responsible for Brazil's federal highways, lacks tools to assess and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its projects, which can be achieved through the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Additionally, the scarcity and insufficient quality of environmental data on Brazilian road materials led to using foreign databases in LCA studies conducted in Brazil, generating uncertainties in the results. This research aims to apply LCA to analyze the GHG emissions from highway projects developed by DNIT. The analysis covers the phases of material production, transportation, and construction. Additionally, this study investigates the influence of the leading project disciplines on the results and the differences in outcomes resulting from the use of local Portland cement compared to its equivalent produced in the United States of America (USA) and Europe. The results indicate that the materials production phase has the most significant impact on the project's global emissions, contributing over 78% in all scenarios. The transportation phase accounts for more than 16% of global emissions, with the potential for greater contributions depending on project transportation distances. Environmental data showed that foreign cement increased the project's global emissions by 7.31% (Europe) and 12.91% (USA), with the most significant differences observed in pavement disciplines. In all scenarios, the discipline of new pavement presented the highest unitary emissions, followed by the discipline of restored pavement, which showed average values 58% lower than the former, and earthworks. Other services, drainage, and special structures disciplines showed minimal influence on the results. In conclusion, this research proposes an approach to estimate the environmental impact of Brazilian federal highway projects, enabling early mitigation of GHG emissions during the design phase, focusing on critical disciplines and materials, and highlighting potential distortions associated with the use of environmental data from foreign cement in LCA studies of Brazilian highways. Finally, considerations are presented regarding improving and expanding the scope of the calculation methodology used in this study, allowing for a more comprehensive and accurate analysis of the environmental impacts associated with the Brazilian federal road network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal forests are characterized by seasonal dynamics that influence the growth and ecophysiology of forest species. Erythroxylum pauferrense is an understory species endemic to the Northeastern region of Brazil, with a distribution limited to Paraíba, Brazil. In this study, how the physiological characteristics of E. pauferrense vary in response to seasonal changes in an open ombrophilous forest of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest was investigated. Precipitation, air and soil temperature, and leaf area index were monitored and correlated with gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll indices, and leaf morphofunctional attributes. The results show that E. pauferrense exhibits ecophysiological plasticity, adjusting its photosynthesis rates, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency according to seasonal changes. During the rainy season, photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were higher than in the dry season, indicating more excellent photosynthetic activity due to increased water availability. Water use efficiency varied, with more efficient use in the dry season, which is crucial for survival in conditions of low water availability. Thus, this study contributes to understanding the ecology of endemic understory species in seasonal tropical forests, such as Erythroxylum pauferrense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical desiccation is widely used in agriculture to anticipate harvest and mitigate the effects of adverse environmental conditions. It is applied to both grains and seeds. Although this practice is widely used, there are still significant gaps in understanding the effects of different herbicide application times on seed quality and plant physiological responses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different herbicide application times on cowpea, focusing on seed quality, physiological responses, and biochemical composition, including chlorophylls, carotenoids, sugars, and proline, under nocturnal desiccation. In the first experiment, eight herbicides and two mixtures were applied at night: diquat, flumioxazin, diquat + flumioxazin, glufosinate ammonium, saflufenacil, carfentrazone, diquat + carfentrazone, atrazine, and glyphosate. All of the tested herbicides caused a reduction in normal seedling formation, with the diquat + carfentrazone combination resulting in 100% abnormal seedlings. A significant decrease in chlorophyll levels (chlorophyll a: 63.5%, chlorophyll b: 50.2%) was observed using diquat, which indicates damage to photosynthetic processes, while the carotenoid content increased. Total soluble sugars and proline were also negatively impacted, reflecting physiological stress and metabolic changes in seedlings. In the second experiment, three application times were tested with diquat, diquat + flumioxazin, and diquat + carfentrazone. Nocturnal application showed the most significant reduction in chlorophyll levels and increased carotenoid levels. Application at noon and late afternoon also significantly changed the soluble sugar and proline levels. These results indicate that the herbicide application time directly influences the seeds' physiological quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of animal husbandry for food production has necessitated effective management of livestock waste, including cattle manure and poultry litter. Using these byproducts as organic fertilizers in agriculture represents a sustainable approach to their disposal. While these residues offer known benefits for soil health and crop productivity, further studies are needed to explore the effect of different manure microbiota on soil composition. The objective of this study was to address this gap and contribute to the advancement of this area. A randomized block design experiment was set up in the field with three replications per treatment, including the application of cattle manure, poultry litter, and a control treatment without fertilizer. After a 60 day period, the chemical characteristics and bacterial population composition of the soil were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Organic carbon, phosphorus (P), aluminum (Al), and the pH level played pivotal roles in changing the structure of the soil's bacterial community. Notably, the incorporation of poultry litter induced more pronounced changes in both the chemical properties and bacterial community composition compared with cattle manure. Bacterial groups were enriched in the soils treated with poultry litter, which may indicate enhanced soil fertility. This association may stem from both the chemical alterations resulting from poultry litter application and the direct transfer of microorganisms from this organic fertilizer to the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management and improvement of yam productivity are associated with a good supply of essential nutrients for the growth and development of the crop that has economic viability. This research aimed to evaluate the economic feasibility of foliar fertilization with Zintrac® in two yam agricultural seasons (2022/2023 and 2023/2024). Therefore, two experiments were conducted at the Rafael Fernandes Experimental Farm, Mossoró, RN, Brazil. The experimental design was in a Latin square design with five treatments of doses of Zintrac® (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 L ha−1) and five replications. Among the production costs of yams, labor and seed acquisition were the most significant. The highest profitability index was achieved with the dose of 1L Zintrac® ha−1 in the first season and second season, which corresponded to 78.97 and 57.86%. For the first season, increments were observed in all treatments that received zinc doses with increases of 48.70, 31.22, 14.30, and 15.93% for 1, 2, 3, and 4 L of Zintrac® ha−1 compared to the dose of 0 L ha−1. On the other hand, in the second season, there was an increase only in the dose of 1 L ha−1 of Zintrac®, which corresponded to 51.3% in the net yield (ha−1) of the dose of 0 L ha−1. Therefore, foliar zinc oxide fertilization was economically viable for the yam crop, obtaining higher economic indices at the dose of 1 L ha−1. The highest cost for growing yams is using a dose of 4 L ha−1 of Zintrac®, totaling USD 6977.59 (first season) and USD 6868.33 (second season) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to analyze the application of a seaweed biofertilizer as an attenuator of salt stress on the morphophysiology of scarlet eggplants. The experiment was carried out under protected conditions in Areia, PB, Brazil, using an incomplete factorial arrangement in a randomized block design with four replications and two plants per plot by adopting the Box Central Composite Design with five electrical conductivities of irrigation water – ECiw (0.50 – control, 1.15, 2.75, 4.35 and 5.00 dS m−1) and five concentrations of seaweed biofertilizer (0 – control, 1.45, 5.00, 8.55 and 10 mL L−1). The electrical conductivity of irrigation water at values starting at 0.5 dS m−1 negatively affected the growth of scarlet eggplants. Therefore, the crop is considered sensitive to salt accumulation. The increase in electrical conductivity of irrigation water negatively affected the morphophysiology of scarlet eggplants, with reductions higher than 10% at electrical conductivity values higher than 1.37 dS m−1. Biofertilization at 6.67 mL L−1 mitigates the effects of salt stress on the gas exchange variables and the phytomass accumulation of scarlet eggplants 60 days after sowing. The seaweed biofertilizer can be used to improve the physiological and morphological performance of scarlet eggplants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the stigma evidenced in doctors' and nurses' perception regarding prenatal care for transgender men. Methods: A qualitative study developed with nine health professionals (six nurses and three doctors) working in Family Health Units in a municipality in Bahia. In-depth interviews were carried out, subjected to reflective thematic analysis and interpretation based on the theory of social stigma and the concept of cisheteronormativity. Results: Two topics were derived that explained the establishment of labels and stereotypes on the body, mind and gender identity of pregnant trans men: professional (un)preparedness and distancing from cisheteronormative demands and perspectives for prenatal care for trans men. Elements of stigma observed were distance, labels, stereotype, discredit and discrimination. Such elements (stigmatizing perceptions) manifested themselves within the logic of normality and cisgender equality of trans men's health needs in the prenatal context. Conclusion: There is stigma in doctors' and nurses' perception regarding prenatal care for trans men. Stigmatization can negatively impact the quality of prenatal care and trans men's health and safety in the pregnancy and puerperal cycle, anticipating thoughts, attitudes and practices that contribute to the deterioration of transmasculine identity during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Paulista de Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Changes in body weight are associated with the regulation of DNA methylation (DNAm). In this study, we investigated the associations between maternal gestational weight gain-related DNAm and foetal and neonatal body composition. Methods: Brazilian pregnant women from the Araraquara Cohort Study were followed up during pregnancy, delivery, and after hospital discharge. Women with normal pre-pregnancy BMI were allocated into two groups: adequate gestational weight gain (AGWG, n = 45) and excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG, n = 30). Foetal and neonatal body composition was evaluated via ultrasound and plethysmography, respectively. DNAm was assessed in maternal blood using Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip arrays. Linear regression models were used to explore the associations between DNAm and foetal and neonatal body composition. Results: Maternal weight, GWG, neonatal weight, and fat mass were higher in the EGWG group. Analysis of DNAm identified 46 differentially methylated positions and 11 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between the EGWG and AGWG groups. Nine human phenotypes were enriched for these 11 DMRs located in 13 genes (EMILIN1, HOXA5, CPT1B, CLDN9, ZFP57, BRCA1, POU5F1, ANKRD33, HLA-B, RANBP17, ZMYND11, DIP2C, TMEM232), highlighting the terms insulin resistance, and hyperglycaemia. Maternal DNAm was associated with foetal total thigh and arm tissues and subcutaneous thigh and arm fat, as well as with neonatal fat mass percentage and fat mass. Conclusion: The methylation pattern in the EGWG group indicated a risk for developing chronic diseases and involvement of maternal DNAm in foetal lean and fat mass and in neonatal fat mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Prescrição e Fisiologia do Exercício is the property of Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Ensino em Fisiologia do Exercicio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research aims to analyze the effect of functionalized nanosilica (NSF) with different levels of amine groups in the formation of hydration products. Four cement pastes were investigated, one reference with Portland cement and three replacing 1% of Portland cement by nanosilica (NS), NSF with a low content of amine groups, and NSF with a high content of amine groups. The heat of hydration of the pastes was evaluated up to 7 days of hydration, the amount of calcium hydroxide (CH) and hydrated phases by means of the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) test and compressive strength at 2, 7, and 28 days, and porosity through tests of mercury intrusion porosimetry and computed tomography at 28 days of hydration. It was possible to observe that the NSF directly influenced the hydration kinetics of the pastes, delaying the hydration of the Portland cement; however, it demonstrated a similar mechanical performance to the paste with NS at 2 days of hydration and an increase of 10% at 28 days of hydration due to the improvement in the hydration process. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the functionalization of NSF with a low 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) content is promising for use in cementitious materials and may improve hydration and mechanical performance at more advanced ages compared to NS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lately, several machine learning (ML) techniques are emerging as alternative and efficient ways to predict how component properties influence the properties of the final mixture. In the area of civil engineering, recent research already uses ML techniques with conventional concrete dosages. The importance of discussing its use in the Brazilian context is inserted in an international context in which this methodology is already being applied, and it is necessary to verify the applicability of these techniques with national databases or what is created from national input data. In this research, one of these techniques, an artificial neural network (ANN), is used to determine the compressive strength of conventional Brazilian concrete at 7 and 28 days by using a database built through publications in congresses and academic works and comparing it with the reference database of Yeh. The data were organized into nine variables in which the data samples for training and test sets vary in five different cases. The eight possible input variables were: consumption of cement, blast furnace slag, pozzolana, water, additive, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and age. The response variable was the compressive strength of the concrete. Using international data as a training set and Brazilian data as a test set, or vice versa, did not show satisfactory results in isolation. The results showed a variation in the five scenarios; however, when using the Brazilian and the reference data sets together as test and training sets, higher R2 values were obtained, showing that in the union of the two databases, a good predictive model is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of quality seedlings when irrigated with water with a high saline index has become a challenge for fruit growers in arid and semi-arid regions, requiring the adoption of techniques that will mitigate such effects. In this scenario, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of irrigation with saline water and foliar nitrogen fertilization on the formation of custard apple seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design and arranged in a 5 × 5 factorial corresponding to five electrical conductivity levels of irrigation water—ECiw (0.5, 1.15, 2.75, 4.35, and 5.0 dS m−1) and five nitrogen levels applied on the leaves (0, 0.33, 1.15, 1.97, and 2.3 g L−1), with four replicates and two plants per plot, totaling nine combinations generated by Box's central composite design. Irrigation with the electrical conductivity level of 1.33 dS m−1 caused acceptable losses of up to 10% in the net photosynthesis rate, phytomass accumulation, and quality of custard apple seedlings. Nitrogen fertilization at the level of 1.45 g L−1 mitigated the effects of salt stress on the morphophysiology and quality of custard apple seedlings. The N level of 1.59 g L−1 associated with the ECiw of 0.5 dS m−1 increased the gas exchange, phytomass accumulation, and Dickson Quality Index of custard apple seedlings 90 days after emergence. The application N level from 0.95 ml L−1 maintains the acceptable quality of custard apple seedlings under irrigation conditions with water of 5.0 dS m−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction sector is increasingly seeking sustainable alternatives in its processes worldwide, with a particular focus on the production of eco-friendly materials. Additionally, the improper disposal of solid waste is rapidly increasing, particularly in the agro-industry, including the waste generated from beer processing such as malt bagasse. Therefore, the objective of this study was to incorporate malt bagasse residue into ceramic materials at varying proportions (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15%) as a partial substitute for clay, submitted to different sintering temperatures (750, 850, 950, and 1050 °C). The raw materials, namely ceramic mass and malt bagasse, were characterized based on their chemical properties (XRF, loss of fire, and elemental analysis), physical properties (grain size, Atterberg limits), and mineralogical properties (XRD) characteristics. The properties of the ceramics, both with and without the incorporation of waste, were evaluated using dilatometry, apparent density, apparent porosity, water absorption, linear shrinkage, and tensile strength. The compositions that exhibited the best sintering temperatures were subjected to microstructural characterization using optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Significant differences were observed in the properties of the ceramic material, particularly in terms of linear shrinkage and apparent porosity. It was concluded that as the amount of malt bagasse residue incorporated increased, the mechanical properties of the pieces decreased. The incorporation of 15% residue resulted in the lowest performance, primarily due to a greater loss of mass. However, it should be noted that the incorporation of up to 5% malt bagasse for all the studied temperatures can still be considered acceptable, as it meets the minimum recommended value of 1.5 MPa for masonry ceramic components. This incorporation of malt bagasse contributes to both the technological and environmental aspects of civil construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Cucurbita has been mentioned as a good source of carotenoids, including β-carotene, which is a precursor of vitamin A. However, the variability observed for the genus denotes the individual need to invest in the species. An experiment was carried out with the aim of evaluating the content of total carotenoids and β-carotene in C. maxima germplasm. Treatments consisted of 23 accessions and two commercial cultivars of C. maxima. The content of total carotenoids, β-carotene, and the pulp color of the accessions were evaluated. Clustering was performed, and the components of genotypic variance, mean heritability, and accuracy were calculated. The grouping led to the formation of four groups where the total carotenoid content influenced the formation the most. There was no difference in color parameters. High variability was observed for total carotenoids in the studied genotypes (22.28 µg/g to 49.58 µg/g) and β-carotene (7.81 µg/g to 13.75 µg/g). Accessions CMAX-09, CMAX-10, CMAX-12, CMAX-13, and CMAX-14 showed the highest levels of total carotenoids and β-carotene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horses are seasonal polyoestrous animals, and the photoperiod is the main factor modulating their reproductive activity. There is no consensus on the andrological and biochemical factors that influence breeding seasonality. To assess the involvement of climate in reproduction, Mangalarga Marchador stallions were monitored over 1 year regarding semen quality and seminal plasma proteome. Here, we show that kallikrein (KLKs) proteoforms in seminal plasma are involved in climate conditioning of reproduction. During the breeding season, greater abundance and different types of KLKs occurred simultaneously to lower sperm motility, greater semen volumes and higher concentrations of glucose and cholesterol. Considering that vasodilation due to activation of the kallikrein-kinin system and the consequent inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system may be associated with lower sperm motility, unravelling the involvement of KLK proteoforms in reproductive seasonality is a priority in horse breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Obesidade, Nutrição e Emagrecimento is the property of Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Ensino em Fisiologia do Exercicio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Several studies have investigated the effects of natural products in the treatment of diseases. Traditional Amazonian populations commonly use copaiba due to its well-known anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and healing properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of systemic administration of copaiba oleoresin (Copaifera reticulata Ducke) on ligature-induced periodontitis in rats. To do so, 21 adult rats were divided into three groups (n = 7 each): a control group, ligature-induced periodontitis group, and ligature-induced periodontitis group treated with copaiba oleoresin (200 mg/kg/day). The ligature remained from day 0 to 14, and the copaiba oleoresin was administered via oral gavage during the last seven days. On day 14, the animals were euthanized, and mandibles were collected for histopathological evaluation and microcomputed tomography analysis. Our data showed that the administration of copaiba considerably reduced the inflammatory profile. Moreover, copaiba oleoresin limited alveolar bone loss, increased trabecular thickness and bone-to-tissue volume ratio, and decreased the number of trabeculae compared with those of the untreated experimental periodontitis group. Our findings provide pioneering evidence that supports the potential of copaiba oleoresin in reducing periodontitis-induced alveolar bone damage in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity data, particularly species occurrence and abundance, are indispensable for testing empirical hypothesis in natural sciences. However, datasets built for research programmes do not often meet FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) principles, which raises questions about data quality, accuracy and availability. The 21st century has markedly been a new era for data science and analytics and every effort to aggregate, standardise, filter and share biodiversity data from multiple sources have become increasingly necessary. In this study, we propose a framework for refining and conforming secondary biodiversity data to FAIR standards to make them available for use such as macroecological modelling and other studies. We relied on a Darwin Core base model to standardise and further facilitate the curation and validation of data related including the occurrence and abundance of multiple taxa of a region that encompasses estuarine ecosystems in an ecotonal area bordering the easternmost Amazonia. We further discuss the significance of feeding standardised public data repositories to advance scientific progress and highlight their role in contributing to the biodiversity management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zika virus (ZIKV) represents a global human health threat and it is related to severe diseases such as congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). There is no vaccine available nor specific antiviral treatment, so developing sensitive, specific, and low-cost diagnostic tests is necessary. Thus, the objective of this work was to produce the Zika virus envelope protein domain III (ZIKV-EDIII) in Komagataella phaffii KM71H and evaluate its potential for diagnostic applications. After the K. phaffii had been transformed with the pPICZαA-ZIKV-EDIII vector, an SDS-PAGE and Western Blot were performed to characterize the recombinant protein and an ELISA to evaluate the antigenic potential. The results show that ZIKV-EDIII was produced in the expected size, with a good purity grade and yield of 2.58 mg/L. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed 90% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity for IgM, and 93.33% sensitivity and 82.76% specificity for IgG. The ZIKV-EDIII protein was efficiently produced in K. phaffi, and it has the potential for diagnostic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Motricidade is the property of Silabas Didaticas LDA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The EMM-ARM (Elastic Modulus Measurement through Ambient Response Method) is an experimental technique that allows the determination of the E-modulus evolution curve of cementitious materials since casting. This work presents a validation of an innovative low-cost EMM-ARM test system and its use to study very early age (until 3 days) E-modulus evolution of cement pastes produced with a 1% nanosilica-added cement and a limestone-calcined clay (LC3) cement, produced with 1:2 clay-limestone ratio and 50% clinker replacement. The tests produced, for the first time, continuous data about the early age E-modulus evolution, hydration degree and final setting time of these materials at the first 3 days of age. Compressive strength and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry tests were also performed for complementary analysis. The validation results indicated the low-cost innovative system departed only up to 6.33% from reference results and had a coefficient of variation of the order of 4.50%. The application of the system on the studied cements revealed the nanosilica-added and LC3 cement pastes reached, respectively, 220% and 50% of an ordinary Portland cement (OPC) paste E-modulus at 12 h of age, and 180% and 70% at 24 h. The nanosilica-added and LC3 E-modulus gap to OPC paste progressively reduced after 3 days of age to 113% and 91%, respectively, tending to remain at this level at later ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biomolecular interactions that modulate biological processes occur mainly in cavities throughout the surface of biomolecular structures. In the data science era, structural biology has benefited from the increasing availability of biostructural data due to advances in structural determination and computational methods. In this scenario, data-intensive cavity analysis demands efficient scripting routines built on easily manipulated data structures. To fulfill this need, we developed pyKVFinder, a Python package to detect and characterize cavities in biomolecular structures for data science and automated pipelines. Results: pyKVFinder efficiently detects cavities in biomolecular structures and computes their volume, area, depth and hydropathy, storing these cavity properties in NumPy arrays. Benefited from Python ecosystem interoperability and data structures, pyKVFinder can be integrated with third-party scientific packages and libraries for mathematical calculations, machine learning and 3D visualization in automated workflows. As proof of pyKVFinder's capabilities, we successfully identified and compared ADRP substrate-binding site of SARS-CoV-2 and a set of homologous proteins with pyKVFinder, showing its integrability with data science packages such as matplotlib, NGL Viewer, SciPy and Jupyter notebook. Conclusions: We introduce an efficient, highly versatile and easily integrable software for detecting and characterizing biomolecular cavities in data science applications and automated protocols. pyKVFinder facilitates biostructural data analysis with scripting routines in the Python ecosystem and can be building blocks for data science and drug design applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hollow steel sections are widely used in the construction industry due to their mechanical properties. Joints used in these structures are the subject of research because of their singular and critical behavior. Joints containing chords with more slender cross-sections and axially loaded are still a challenge for design, especially in joints with circular hollow sections (CHS) in the braces and rectangular hollow sections (RHS) in the chords. In this context, this work aimed to study joints formed by a combination of CHS braces subjected to compression loads and RHS chords axially loaded with tension, welded as T-joints. Experimental tests, a numerical model using finite elements, and a parametric analysis were developed. A new equation for the chord stress function was proposed, including joints containing chords with semi-compact sections in tension. The joint resistance values obtained through the numerical models were compared with the equations from ISO 14346:2013 and with the proposed equation. It was observed that, for the numerical models with geometric properties inside the normative validity ranges of ISO 14346:2013, the mean rate of analytical by numerical joint resistance results was equal to 68%, using either the normative or the proposed equation. In the same way, for models outside the current validity ranges, either the proposed equation or the modified equation from ISO 14346:2013 could be used to design CHS-RHS T-joints with the geometric and material properties analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Management Analysis / Revista Gestão em Análise is the property of Revista Gestao em Analise and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is related to cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurocognitive diseases. Furthermore, OSA symptoms, such as excessive sleepiness, fatigue, and mood disorders, may interfere in functioning. The assessment of this aspect in patients with OSA is not frequent and no specific instrument is available in the literature. Our aim is to identify if the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains are considered in the validated instruments used to assess patients with OSA. Methods: In this integrative literature review, three databases were searched: Pubmed, Embase, and LILACS. Bibliographic survey was carried out in 2020, between March and July. Articles published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish with validated tools to assess OSA in adults were included. Results: Thirty instruments have undergone a process of concept extraction and coding according to the ICF, generating a total of 769 significant concepts. It was observed that the function domain was the most prevalent, making 42% (n = 323) of the concepts, followed by domains of activity (16%), participation (10%), environmental factors (5%), personal factor (5%), and structure (1%). Only one instrument, the "Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI)," encompasses all domains of the ICF in its constructs. Conclusion: In the analyzed instruments, the function domain prevails, with most concepts related to sleep functions. Only one validated instrument included in this research covered all the ICF domains. This instrument closely matched the recommended way of assessing functioning, though it approached the domains in an unbalanced way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an emerging arbovirus of the Americas that may cause a debilitating arthritogenic disease. The biology of MAYV is not fully understood and largely inferred from related arthritogenic alphaviruses. Here, we present the structure of MAYV at 4.4 Å resolution, obtained from a preparation of mature, infective virions. MAYV presents typical alphavirus features and organization. Interactions between viral proteins that lead to particle formation are described together with a hydrophobic pocket formed between E1 and E2 spike proteins and conformational epitopes specific of MAYV. We also describe MAYV glycosylation residues in E1 and E2 that may affect MXRA8 host receptor binding, and a molecular "handshake" between MAYV spikes formed by N262 glycosylation in adjacent E2 proteins. The structure of MAYV is suggestive of structural and functional complexity among alphaviruses, which may be targeted for specificity or antiviral activity. Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an emerging arbovirus in Central and South America that is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes arthritogenic disease. Here, the authors present the 4.4 Å resolution cryo-EM structure of MAYV and describe specific features of the virus, which could be exploited for the design of MAYV-specific diagnostics and therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is one of the most prevalent injuries in runners. Unfortunately, a substantial part of injured athletes do not recover fully from PFP in the long-term. Although previous studies have shown positive effects of gait retraining in this condition, retraining protocols often lack clinical applicability because they are time-consuming, costly for patients and require a treadmill. The primary objective of this study will be to compare the effects of two different two-week partially supervised gait retraining programs, with a control intervention; on pain, function and lower limb kinematics of runners with PFP. It will be a single-blind randomized clinical trial with six-month follow-up. The study will be composed of three groups: a group focusing on impact (group A), a group focusing on cadence (group B), and a control group that will not perform any intervention (group C). The primary outcome measure will be pain assessed using the Visual Analog Pain scale during running. Secondary outcomes will include pain during daily activities (usual), symptoms assessed using the Patellofemoral Disorders Scale and lower limb running kinematics in the frontal (contralateral pelvic drop; hip adduction) and sagittal planes (foot inclination; tibia inclination; ankle dorsiflexion; knee flexion) assessed using the MyoResearch 3.14—MyoVideo (Noraxon U.S.A. Inc.). The study outcomes will be evaluated before (t0), immediately after (t2), and six months (t24) after starting the protocol. Our hypothesis is that both partially supervised gait retraining programs will be more effective in reducing pain, improving symptoms, and modifying lower limb kinematics during running compared with the control group, and that the positive effects from these programs will persist for six months. Also, we believe that one gait retraining group will not be superior to the other. Results from this study will help improve care in runners with PFP, while maximizing clinical applicability as well as time and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of radioactivity on human health have been debated for many years but there are still important gaps that need to be addressed especially related to the effects of high natural background radiation on the local population. The beach of Meaípe, in the city of Guarapari (Brazil), emits natural gamma radiation due to the presence of monazite sands. We aimed to investigate the effects of gamma radiation doses on the biological system of wistar rats using a physical simulator of gamma radiation designed using Meaípe monazite sands. Female Wistar rats were divided into three groups, submitted to no radiation (control group) and to continuous radiation levels, one of very high level (20 μSv h−1) and another of high level (3.6 μSv h−1). The three group of animals were monitored weekly for 3 months and at the end of the study the animals were sacrificed, and the organs were extracted and weighed for anthropometric, oxidative stress and histological evaluations. Exposure to radiation released by the monazite sands did not cause anthropometric alterations or blood pressure change in the animals. Similarly, there was no change in the quantification of ovarian follicles between the radiation groups and the control group. There was no difference in the oxidative stress quantification by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and advanced oxidation protein product methods in the ovaries. There were no evidenced damages in the structure of the renal tissue. It was observed the presence of granulomas in the hepatic tissue and alterations in the nuclei of the hepatocytes. Our results suggest that the continuous exposure of females rats to 3.6 and 20 μSv h−1 doses of gamma radiation slightly affected the hepatic tissue, but did not alter the histological parameters in the kidneys and ovaries and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Verify the influences of physical activity level, nutritional status and screen habits on the prevalence of back pain in Brazilian students. Methods: The sample consisted of 577 schoolchildren (female = 274; male = 303) aged between 10 and 16 years old, regularly enrolled in the 6th grade of elementary school living in the metropolitan area of the Alto Tietê of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The prevalence, intensity and frequency of pain was verified with the Back Pain Assessment Instrument. The usual practice of physical activity was verified with the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children/Adolescent. Nutritional status was analyzed using Body Mass Index. Screen habits were obtained through a previously structured questionnaire. Results: The Chi-square test indicated that pain complaint and its prevalence in the cervical region are significantly higher in females (p < 0.05). The multiple logistic regression test revealed that watching television influences the prevalence of cervical pain and that the use of more than one screen increases the occurrence of low back pain in male students (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Female students were the most affected by back pain complain, especially in the cervical region. However, factors associated with the prevalence of back pain were found only in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The envelope (E) protein is an important target for antibodies in flavivirus. Literature reports that the mutation T198F, located at the domain I-II hinge of the E protein, regulates viral breathing and increases the accessibility of a distal cryptic epitope located on the fusion loop, having a direct impact in the neutralization of West Nile virus (WNV). Our study aimed to describe, using accelerated molecular dynamics simulations, the effects of the T198F mutation in the flexibility of the E protein of WNV and to elucidate the mechanism that regulates epitope accessibility. The simulation results revealed that the mutation favors the formation of alternative hydrogen bonds, hampering the bending movement between domains I and II. We hypothesized that this is the mechanism by which the T198F mutation, located at the middle of the protein, locks the distal cryptc epitope near a single preferred conformation, rendering it more prone to recognition by antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish use spatial cognition based on allocentric cues to navigate, but little is known about how environmental enrichment (EE) affects learning and memory in correlation with hematological changes or gene expression in the fish brain. Here we investigated these questions in Colossoma macropomum (Teleostei). Fish were housed for 192 days in either EE or in an impoverished environment (IE) aquarium. EE contained toys, natural plants, and a 12-h/day water stream for voluntary exercise, whereas IE had no toys, plants, or water stream. A third plus maze aquarium was used for spatial and object recognition tests. Compared with IE, the EE fish showed greater learning rates, body length, and body weight. After behavioral tests, whole brain tissue was taken, stored in RNA-later, and then homogenized for DNA sequencing after conversion of isolated RNA. To compare read mapping and gene expression profiles across libraries for neurotranscriptome differential expression, we mapped back RNA-seq reads to the C. macropomum de novo assembled transcriptome. The results showed significant differential behavior, cell counts and gene expression in EE and IE individuals. As compared with IE, we found a greater number of cells in the telencephalon of individuals maintained in EE but no significant difference in the tectum opticum, suggesting differential plasticity in these areas. A total of 107,669 transcripts were found that ultimately yielded 64 differentially expressed transcripts between IE and EE brains. Another group of adult fish growing in aquaculture conditions were either subjected to exercise using running water flow or maintained sedentary. Flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood showed a significantly higher density of lymphocytes, and platelets but no significant differences in erythrocytes and granulocytes. Thus, under the influence of contrasting environments, our findings showed differential changes at the behavioral, cellular, and molecular levels. We propose that the differential expression of selected transcripts, number of telencephalic cell counts, learning and memory performance, and selective hematological cell changes may be part of Teleostei adaptive physiological responses triggered by EE visuospatial and somatomotor stimulation. Our findings suggest abundant differential gene expression changes depending on environment and provide a basis for exploring gene regulation mechanisms under EE in C. macropomum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have prepared a review of the physical-chemical composition and the functional and anti-nutritional properties of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoaWilld.). It is a plant of the Chenopodiaceae family, originally from the Andean regions, adaptable to different types of soils and climatic conditions. Its composition has attracted the attention of scientific community for its high nutritional value, being rich in proteins, lipids, fibers, vitamins, and minerals, with an extraordinary balance of essential amino acids. It is also gluten-free, a characteristic that enables its use by celiac patients. In spite of all these attributes, quinoa is not widely used by consumers due to the high cost of imported grain and little knowledge of its benefits. More studies are required to increase knowledge about this “pseudo-cereal” to demonstrate its functional and nutritional benefits and to study its anti-nutritional effects, since it presents high commercial value and excellent nutritional quality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Engenharia na Agricultura is the property of Engenharia na Agricultura and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Iniciação Científica Cesumar is the property of Iniciacao Científica Cesumar and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lectins are proteins of nonimmune origin, which are capable of recognizing and binding to glycoconjugate moieties. Some of them can block the interaction of viral glycoproteins to the host cell receptors acting as antiviral agents. Although cyanobacterial lectins have presented broad biotechnological potential, little research has been directed to Amazonian Cyanobacterial diversity. In order to identify new antiviral lectins, we performed genomic analysis in seven cyanobacterial strains from Coleção Amazônica de Cianobactérias e Microalgas (CACIAM). We found 75 unique CDS presenting one or more lectin domains. Since almost all were annotated as hypothetical proteins, we used homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate the structural and functional properties of three CDS that were more similar to known antiviral lectins. Nostoc sp. CACIAM 19 as well as Tolypothrix sp. CACIAM 22 strains presented cyanovirin‐N homologues whose function was confirmed by binding free energy calculations. Asn, Glu, Thr, Lys, Leu, and Gly, which were described as binding residues for cyanovirin, were also observed on those structures. As for other known cyanovirins, those residues in both our models also made favorable interactions with dimannose. Finally, Alkalinema sp. CACIAM 70d presented one CDS, which was identified as a seven‐bladed beta‐propeller structure with binding sites predicted for sialic acid and N‐acetylglucosamine. Despite its singular structure, our analysis suggested this molecule as a new putative antiviral lectin. Overall, the identification and the characterization of new lectins and their homologues are a promising area in antiviral research, and Amazonian cyanobacteria present biotechnological potential to be explored in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcosis is considered endemic in Amazonas state, occurring more frequently in individuals with AIDS, who are predominantly infected by Cryptococcus neoformans molecular type VNI. Infections by Cryptococcus gattii VGII predominate in immunocompetent hosts from the American continent and are associated with outbreaks in North America, particularly the subtypes VGIIa and VGIIb, which are also present in the Brazilian Amazon region. Despite few environmental studies, several aspects of the molecular epidemiology of this disease in Amazonas remain unclear, including the limited use of multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to evaluate the genetic population structure of clinical isolates, mainly C. neoformans. Therefore, we used MLST to identify the sequence types of 38 clinical isolates of C. neoformans VNI and C. gattii VGII and used phylogenetic analysis to evaluate their genetic relationship to global isolates. Records of 30 patients were analyzed to describe the current scenario of cryptococcosis in the region and their associations with the different subtypes. Broth microdilution was also performed to determine the susceptibility profile to the antifungals amphotericin B, fluconazole and itraconazole. MLST identified that patients with HIV (n = 26) were exclusively affected by VNI strains with ST93, and among the VGII strains (n = 4), three STs (ST5, ST172 and the new ST445) were identified. An in-hospital lethality of 54% was observed in the HIV group, and there were no significant differences in the clinical aspects of the disease between the HIV and non-HIV groups of patients. In addition, all isolates were susceptible to the antifungals tested. Therefore, in Amazonas state, VNI isolates are a genetically monotypic group, with ST93 being highly important in HIV individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few decades, sustainability has become one of the world's most important but also controversial subjects. The construction industry, in particular, has a significant impact on societies' sustainability, prompting the creation of certifications and standards designed for mitigating the impact of buildings on the natural environment. However, despite the efforts to clearly quantify a sustainable building, the complexity of this term and its assessment, challenge an easy evaluation. This article aims to connect Building Information Modelling (BIM) and sustainability, by means of an automated BIM-based software, to tackle this problem. This software, which was developed as a plugin for BIM-modelling software, assists on updating the applied certification by simplifying its parameters, easing its calculations and helping the user choose the credits to acquire. The example certification is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). However, since sustainability is such a broad topic, this article limits itself to a portion of LEED, extracting overall conclusions from the acquired results. This particular portion relates to stormwater runoff management, proposing an intuitive tool to calculate the runoff of a building site, regardless of building type, while also offering Low-Impact Development (LID) Best Managing Practices (BMP) to address the issues identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The definition of nitrogen doses for baru species becomes necessary because each forest species responds differently to nitrogen fertilization. The aim of this study was to evaluate baru seedlings' response to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilization and liming. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a randomized blocks design, arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, being the factors consisted of five doses of nitrogen in covering (0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 mg dm−3) and substrate with and without limestone and PK, with four replications. At 60 days after transplanting, the plant height, stem diameter, number of leaflets, leaf area, shoot dry mass, chlorophyll content, N content in the leaves, root length, root volume, root dry mass, height/stem diameter ratio, shoot dry mass/root dry mass ratio, and Dickson quality index were evaluated. The substrate with liming influences positively the root dry mass. Nitrogen and PK fertilization promote increase in the relative chlorophyll content and N concentration in the leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A number of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films based on dimethacrylate monomers were synthesised by polymer-induced phase separation (PIPS) using polyethylene glycol p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl ether (TX-100) as an additive up to total solution weight of 10% aiming to modify the initial anchorage force of the liquid crystal (LC) molecules to the polymeric matrix. The effects of the addition of this additive to the PDLC films were studied resorting to electro-optical studies. Using a fitting model, several parameters were correlated such as the permanent memory effect (PME), the voltage required to achieve 90% of maximum transmittance (E90), the average elastic constant (K) and the rotational viscosity of the director (γ). The use of TX-100 results on an increase on the PME and γ, and decrease on the E90 and K. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: The electronic method has been studied and improved aiming to add precision, speed and reliability of the measurement technique to determine the exact location of the working length. Currently, the root canal preparation recommends prior to determine the tooth length and consequent perform instrumentation of the apical portion, a previous preflaring of the cervical and middle thirds in various techniques. This procedure may provide a reduction in system impedance, leading to read errors by the apex locators. Objective: Investigate the influence of preflaring of the cervical and middle thirds on the accuracy of measuring the working length by apex locators. Material and methods: Twenty-five mesial roots of molars were used and had their crowns cut at the cemento-enamel junction. The actual measure of each root canal was performed and then the samples were embedded into a mixture of alginate, used as a conducting medium, where electronic measurements were taken with apex locator before and after pref laring of the canals with Gates-Glidden drills in descending order (#4, #3, #2). Measurements obtained by electronic method were then compared with the actual measurement of the root canal. The results were tabulated and submitted to the Student t test Results: The results show that there was no statistical significance (p<0.05) between the readings before and after preflaring. Readings closer to the foraminal ending occurred in the group after preflaring with Gates Glidden. Conclusion: It was concluded that preflaring with Gates Glidden drills were not able to influence significantly the accuracy of apex locator in determining the exact working length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum: Agronomy is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum: Agronomy is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Food & Nutrition / Alimentos e Nutrição is the property of Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, UNESP and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)