Search

Purpose: Evidence from animal and human studies demonstrates that cortical regions play a key role in autonomic modulation with a differential role for some brain regions located in the left and right brain hemispheres. Known as autonomic asymmetry, this phenomenon has been demonstrated by clinical observations, by experimental models, and currently by combined neuroimaging and direct recordings of sympathetic nerve activity. Previous studies report peculiar autonomic-mediated cardiovascular alterations following unilateral damage to the left or right insula, a multifunctional key cortical region involved in emotional processing linked to autonomic cardiovascular control and featuring asymmetric characteristics. Methods: Based on clinical studies reporting specific damage to the insular cortex, this review aims to provide an overview of the prognostic significance of unilateral (left or right hemisphere) post-insular stroke cardiac alterations. In addition, we review experimental data aiming to unravel the central mechanisms involved in post-insular stroke cardiovascular complications. Results and Conclusion: Current clinical and experimental data suggest that stroke of the right insula can present a worse cardiovascular prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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 Periplo Sustentable is the property of Yanelli Daniela Palmas Castrejon 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: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) represents the pathologic end stage of several interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, current treatments can only delay disease progression rather than provide a cure. The role of inflammation in PF progression is well-established, but new insights into immune regulation are fundamental for developing more efficient therapies. c-MET signaling has been implicated in the migratory capacity and effector functions of immune cells. Nevertheless, the role of this signaling pathway in the context of PF-associated lung diseases remains unexplored. Methods: To determine the influence of c-MET in immune cells in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis, we used a conditional deletion of c-Met in immune cells. To induce pulmonary fibrosis mice were administered with bleomycin (BLM) intratracheally. Over the course of 21 days, mice were assessed for weight change, and after euthanasia at different timepoints, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells and lung tissue were assessed for inflammation and fibrosis. Furthermore, c-MET expression was assessed in cryobiopsy sections, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells samples and single cell RNA-sequencing dataset from human patients with distinct interstitial lung diseases. Results: c-MET expression was induced in lung immune cells, specifically in T cells, interstitial macrophages, and neutrophils, during the inflammatory phase of BLM-induced PF mouse model. Deletion of c-Met in immune cells correlated with earlier weight recovery and improved survival of BLM-treated mice. Moreover, the deletion of c-Met in immune cells was associated with early recruitment of the immune cell populations, normally found to express c-MET, leading to a subsequent attenuation of the cytotoxic and proinflammatory environment. Consequently, the less extensive inflammatory response, possibly coupled with tissue repair, culminated in less exacerbated fibrotic lesions. Furthermore, c-MET expression was up-regulated in lung T cells from patients with fibrosing ILD, suggesting a potential involvement of c-MET in the development of fibrosing disease. Conclusions: These results highlight the critical contribution of c-MET signaling in immune cells to their enhanced uncontrolled recruitment and activation toward a proinflammatory and profibrotic phenotype, leading to the exacerbation of lung injury and consequent development of fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemistry is an essential context for understanding current energetic technological processes, especially those that use batteries. On the other hand, it is one of the most neglected subjects in the classroom for reasons of associated complexity. Because of this, we have sought new methodological strategies to overcome the difficulties encountered in teaching practice. Thus, this research aims to investigate the possible contributions of a didactic sequence on the disposal of batteries from the teaching by research for the learning of electrochemistry. A qualitative methodology, a case study, applied in a high school class was adopted. The sequence consisted of six methodological steps: implementation of the problem situation; developed hypotheses; a class on electrochemistry; investigative experiment on the decomposition of batteries in aqueous solutions; systematization and communication of results. The results showed that before the application of the didactic sequence, most of the students did not know the dangers that improper disposal of batteries causes to the environment and did not understand how galvanic cells generate electrical energy from a redox reaction. After the sequence was developed, most students were able to identify and conceptualize the main electrochemical terms studied from a critical thought about this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of exotic pastures is responsible for significant deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. The pasturelands in the Amazon are created through both legal and illegal means, and are responsible for major biodiversity loss. In this study, we evaluated the effect of an anthropogenic habitat type (i.e., exotic pasture) on native dung beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) – an excellent bioindicator group for measuring biodiversity-loss. We analyzed dung beetle diversity and assemblage structure in a large and well-conserved forest fragment and in an exotic pasture (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu; Poaceae) that is used for cattle-ranching activities, both located in the Southwestern Brazilian Amazon. A total of 569 individuals belonging to nine genera and 31 species of dung beetles were collected. From the sampled species, 13 were collected in both habitats, 16 species were exclusive to the native forest, and only two were found exclusively in the exotic pasture. Species richness as a whole and specifically of paracoprid dung beetles was higher in the forest fragment. Our findings also revealed a distinct assemblage structure between native forest and exotic pasture. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that the dung beetle assemblage in exotic pasture is a subset of the assemblage present in native forest, with a poor richness of species, indicating that dung beetles are drastically affected by the opening of new areas for implementation and expansion of pasturelands in the Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the prevalence of abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia and its associated factors in adults in a low income region. Cross-sectional, population-based study with probabilistic sample representative of a region of the Brazilian Northeast. Abdominal obesity was determined by waist circumference = 80cm for women and = 94cm for men. The classification considered for hypercholesterolemia was cholesterol = 240mgdL-1 and for hypertriglyceridemia, triglycerides = 200mgdL-1. The Poisson regression analysis evaluated the association between abdominal obesity, serum lipid changes and explanatory variables. A number of 260 adults, of the economic level C and D/E (≅96%) were evaluated. The prevalence of abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were 71.5, 21.2 and 26.9%, respectively. There was an association between abdominal obesity and female gender, age 50-59 years, overweight, and brown/black race was related as a protection factor. Hypercholesterolemia, was associated with subjects aged 50-59 years and = 60 years, and hypertriglyceridemia was associated with overweight, aged = 40years and smoker individuals. High prevalence of abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were found. From the age of 40 the subjects already had a risk factor for hypertriglyceridemia and 50 years for hypercholesterolemia and abdominal obesity. Abdominal obesity was also associated with overweight female individuals, and the brown/black race was connected to a protective factor. Smoking and overweight were associated with hypertriglyceridemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the necessity for agile health services that enable reliable and secure information exchange, but achieving proper, private, and secure sharing of EMRs remains a challenge due to diverse data formats and fragmented records across multiple data silos, resulting in hindered coordination between healthcare teams, potential medical errors, and delays in patient care. While centralized EMR systems pose privacy risks and data format diversity complicates interoperability, blockchain technology offers a promising solution by providing decentralized storage, ensuring data integrity, enhancing access control, eliminating intermediaries, and increasing efficiency in healthcare. By focusing on a Brazilian case study, this paper explores the significance of EMR standards, security challenges, and blockchain-based approaches to promote interoperability and secure data sharing in the healthcare industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Paulista de Pediatria is the property of Assocoacao de Pediatria de Sao Paulo 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.)

Hunting by rural and urban populations is essential for securing access to protein and other nutrients throughout the tropics. The hunting patterns of urban hunters in Amazonia, and the similarities with those of rural hunters, are unclear, as are the social factors that influence hunting practices. We analyze the effects of socioeconomic and cultural factors on hunting frequency and composition of species hunted by urban and rural Amazonian hunters. We interviewed 49 urban hunters and 57 rural hunters within 10 municipalities in western Amazonia in Brazil. A total of 44 species were cited as hunted. Our analyses show that the probability of engaging in sport hunting (for recreation) is greater among urban hunters. Rural inhabitants, hunters with lower monetary incomes, and hunters who were non-practicing Christians and atheists hunted more frequently. The composition of species hunted was similar, regardless of the hunters' livelihood (rural or urban) or religion. We found that hunting frequency is influenced by hunters' socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, but these factors do not affect the composition of the harvest. This similarity between urban and rural hunters might be related to species distribution and availability and could potentially impact the most hunted species if hunting grounds overlap. Understanding hunting patterns, especially those of urban hunters, allows for more effective hunting management strategies, improvements in law enforcement against illegal hunting, as well as development of more effective and sustainable conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide health problem and patients in intensive care are more vulnerable, requiring strict control measures and early identification. Currently, clinical culture materials are used to identify the bacterial agent, but saliva culture is not validated, which has great clinical relevance because it participates in several pathophysiological processes. The aim of this study was to validate saliva culture in an intensive care unit environment, determining its diagnostic value for infection. For this purpose, the results of the 39-month surveillance cultures, from the database of a private hospital were evaluated. A total of 323 cultures were paired between saliva, tracheal secretions, blood and urine from patients who were hospitalized for more than 5 days. The search for correlations between the results was performed using the Spearman correlation test. Severity and evolution data were also correlated. It was possible to correlate the presence of Klebsiella spp. between blood culture and saliva culture in 25% of the results (r = 0.01) and the correlation between saliva and tracheal secretion was 33% (r = 0.33447) with p < 0.0001. In conclusion, saliva can be an excellent discriminator of systemic infections, and can be considered a useful culture in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first records of Cerdocyon thous on the left bank of the Madeira river, extending its distribution to more than 10 km to the N–W. We carried out a survey of official information present in scientific articles, technical reports, and management plans for conservation units in the state of Rondônia, and accessions to the iNaturalist. Our records show C. thous occurs widely in state, even in busy urban areas such as the area surrounding the international airport of Porto Velho. This highlights the importance of monitoring the fauna present in the urban fragments of Amazonian cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the growth, body protein status, and micronutrient biomarkers of Brazilian infants with cow's milk allergy (CMPA) at baseline and at 18 months of follow-up in comparison with their healthy peers. Methods: Thirty infants with CMPA younger than six months of age were included in this longitudinal study, and their nutritional status was compared with that of 24 non-allergic age-matched children. Anthropometric measurements were used to assess growth, and blood and urine samples were analyzed for protein and micronutrient status. Mixed linear models adjusted for birth weight, socioeconomic status, infant feeding at baseline, weightfor-age, C-reactive protein, serum albumin, micronutrient dietary supplementation, and salt consumption were employed to evaluate the evolution of nutritional parameters throughout the follow-up period. Results: Overall, the mean age of the children at enrolment was 2.9 (standard deviation 1.7) months, and 29 children (53.7%) were male. Infants with CMPA showed a higher prevalence of functional iron depletion (transferrin saturation <20) (p=0.027), lower serum ferritin (p=0.009), and lower urinary iodine (p=0.034) levels than non-allergic children at baseline. Patients with CMPA showed a higher increment in weight-for-age and length-for-age over time than those in the control group (p<0.01). Mixed linear analyses showed a significantly lower increase in serum vitamin B12 (s-B12) (p=0.001) and urinary iodine (p<0.001) concentrations over time compared to the control group. Conclusion: Infants with CMPA on a cow's milk elimination diet had a higher weight and length at 18 months of follow-up but showed signs of inadequate iron, iodine, and B-12 vitamin status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to replicate a model developed to explain the problem-solving process through insight with human participants. This process happens when an organism solves a problem by producing a behavior chain with at least two operant behaviors that share similar consequences during acquisition but in different contexts. We recruited six participants aged between 20 and 30 years old with a low level of previous experience in first-person video games. They also did not have significant experience with the Portal 2 game and had adequate structural conditions to participate in the experiment remotely. The procedure has five phases: familiarization, pretest, practicing of behaviors not necessary for problem solving, practicing of behaviors necessary for problem solving, and posttest. As a result, three participants solved the problem only in the posttest, one solved it in the pretest phase, and two did not solve it in any of their presentations. However, all participants issued the necessary behaviors to solve the problem. For future experiments, it is encouraged that changes in the problem-solving situation occur that seek to increase the probability of solving the problem once the participant emits the necessary behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hunting is a vital means of obtaining animal in various human populations. Hunters rely on their knowledge of species ecology and behavior to develop and employ hunting techniques and increase their chances of success. The comparison of the hunting practices of different human societies can shed light on the sustainability of hunting and the impact it has on species' populations. In this study, we examine and compare the techniques, modalities, and baits used by urban and rural hunters in Rondônia, a state in southwestern Amazonia, Brazil. We expected that rural hunters would use these elements and have greater knowledge when compared to urban hunters. We also expect that the use of specific hunting techniques and modalities will have greater selectivity and specificity of capture for rural hunters and that this knowledge will differ between groups. Methods: We conducted 106 semi-structured interviews with rural and urban hunters from October 2018 to February 2020. We analyzed the data using PERMANOVA and Network analyses to compare and contrast the hunting practices of each group. Results: We recorded four main hunting techniques divided into ten modalities with three techniques and seven modalities being the preferred choices among hunters. Waiting for at a Fruit Tree was cited as the primary technique employed by hunters living in urban and rural areas indicated. While the techniques and modalities were similar among hunters, the composition of species targeted and baits used differed between groups. Our network approach showed that modularity in urban areas was numerically lower than in rural areas. All species had one to more techniques associated with their capture. Conclusions: Hunters living in urban and rural environments showed high similarity in their practices, probably due to sharing similar environments to hunt containing similar species, as well as targeting preferably the same species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imbalance in the concentration of metallic nanoparticles has been demonstrated to play an important role in multiple sclerosis (MS), which may impact cognition. Biomarkers are needed to provide insights into the pathogenesis and diagnosis of MS. They can be used to gain a better understanding of cognitive decline in people with MS (pwMS). In this study, we investigated the relationship between the blood concentration of metallic nanoparticles (blood nanoparticles) and cognitive performance in pwMS. First, four mL blood samples, clinical characteristics, and cognitive performance were obtained from 21 pwMS. All participants had relapse–remitting MS, with a score of ≤4.5 points in the expanded disability status scale. They were relapse-free in the three previous months from the day of collection and had no orthopedic, muscular, cardiac, and cerebellar diseases. We quantified the following metallic nanoparticles: aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, nickel, zinc, and total concentration. Cognitive performance was measured by mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the symbol digit modalities test (SDMT). Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients and stepwise linear regression were calculated to assess the relationship between cognitive performance and blood nanoparticles. We found that better performance in SDMT and MMSE was related to higher total blood nanoparticles (r = 0.40; p < 0.05). Also, better performance in cognitive processing speed and attention (SDMT) and mental state (MMSE) were related to higher blood iron (r = 0.44; p < 0.03) and zinc concentrations (r = 0.41; p < 0.05), respectively. The other metallic nanoparticles (aluminum, chromium, copper, magnesium, and nickel) did not show a significant relationship with the cognitive parameters (p > 0.05). Linear regression estimated a significant association between blood iron concentration and SDMT performance. In conclusion, blood nanoparticles are related to cognitive performance in pwMS. Our findings suggest that the blood concentration of metallic nanoparticles, particularly the iron concentration, is a promising biomarker for monitoring cognitive impairment in pwMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the biggest challenges in the sugarcane industry is obtaining raw material of sufficiently high quality to ensure best economic return. The use of technologies such as chemical ripeners to increase sucrose accumulation is highly recommended when natural ripening conditions are unsatisfactory. The insecticide thiamethoxam is also a bioactivator that can stimulate new stalk and leaf growth, and thus the application of thiamethoxam to sugarcane ratoon regrowth in association with ripener may improve sugarcane quality and yields. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of foliar application of thiamethoxam to sugarcane ratoon regrowth alone or in association with the ripener sulfometuron-methyl. The study comprised six experiments carried out in the early and late harvest seasons in three different locations using the sugarcane varieties RB855453 and SP80-3280. The treatments consisted of a control (natural ripening), application of the ripener sulfometuron-methyl or the bioactivator thiamethoxam alone, or application of both ripener and bioactivator. Thus, biometric and technological parameters were evaluated. The use of thiamethoxam increased stalk yield significantly, with gains up to 13 Mg ha−1. When both ripener and bioactivator were applied, sugar yield increased by up to 14.7% compared with the control. As a bioactivator, thiamethoxam has the potential to increase energy cogeneration from sugarcane via higher biomass production. Thus, thiamethoxam application on sugarcane regrowth treated with sulfometuron-methyl promoted desirable effects on the plant physiology without altering the industrial quality of the sugarcane juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde Coletiva is the property of MPM Comunicacao 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.)

We describe a 68-year-old female patient with unilateral central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) with cilioretinal artery sparing post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. The patient presented with acute vision loss in the left eye 11 days after discharge from a severe COVID-19 infection, with altered D-dimer, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen levels. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the left eye was 20/400; fundoscopic examination revealed diffuse pallor retina with a patent arterial branch from the optic disk to the fovea, confirmed by fluorescein angiography. CRAO with a cilioretinal artery sparing post-COVID-19 may be considered an additional ocular manifestation of the post-acute COVID-19 syndrome spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde Coletiva is the property of MPM Comunicacao 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 harvest of meat from wild animals is essential for the nutrition of many human populations in the Neotropics. Specific techniques are used to access wild meat in this region, but collecting meat from road killed animals, or purposely run over animals to kill and consume the meat have not been documented so far. In this study we interviewed four residents of the state of Rondônia who claimed to consume roadkilled animals. Respondents cited only medium and large mammals (10 species in total) as the group from which wild meat is harvested, with one respondent claiming to intentionally run over the animals. The interviewees analyse the smell/putrefaction condition, swelling and exposure of viscera as criteria for not collecting the meat. The meat from roadkilled animals may pose a risk to the health of humans who consume it due to the foodborne diseases it may spread after the decomposition process. In addition, the practice of running over animals for consumption of their meat can cause potential impacts to the fauna and humans since it can reduce animal numbers and also cause serious accidents. Further investigations are needed to clarify whether this is widespread phenomenon occurring in other places of the Amazon and the Neotropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute stroke care demands fast procedures performed through the collaboration of multiple professionals across multiple organizations. Cloud computing and the wide adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs) enable health care systems to improve data availability and facilitate sharing among professionals. However, designing a secure and privacy-preserving EMR cloud-based application is challenging because it must dynamically control the access to the patient’s EMR according to the needs for data during treatment. Objective: We developed a prototype of a secure EMR cloud-based application. The application explores the security features offered by the eHealth cloud-based framework created by the Advanced Secure Cloud Encrypted Platform for Internationally Orchestrated Solutions in Health Care Horizon 2020 project. This study aimed to collect impressions, challenges, and improvements for the prototype when applied to the use case of secure data sharing among acute care teams during emergency treatment in the Netherlands. Methods: We conducted 14 semistructured interviews with medical professionals with 4 prominent roles in acute care: emergency call centers, ambulance services, emergency hospitals, and general practitioner clinics. We used in-depth interviews to capture their perspectives about the application’s design and functions and its use in a simulated acute care event. We used thematic analysis of interview transcripts. Participants were recruited until the collected data reached thematic saturation. Results: The participants’ perceptions and feedback are presented as 5 themes identified from the interviews: current challenges (theme 1), quality of the shared EMR data (theme 2), integrity and auditability of the EMR data (theme 3), usefulness and functionality of the application (theme 4), and trust and acceptance of the technology (theme 5). The results reinforced the current challenges in patient data sharing during acute stroke care. Moreover, from the user point of view, we expressed the challenges of adopting the Advanced Secure Cloud Encrypted Platform for Internationally Orchestrated Solutions in Health Care Acute Stroke Care application in a real scenario and provided suggestions for improving the proposed technology’s acceptability. Conclusions: This study has endorsed a system that supports data sharing among acute care professionals with efficiency, but without compromising the security and privacy of the patient. This explorative study identified several significant barriers to and improvement opportunities for the future acceptance and adoption of the proposed system. Moreover, the study results highlight that the desired digital transformation should consider integrating the already existing systems instead of requesting migration to a new centralized system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ateliê Geográfico is the property of Revista Atelie Geografico 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: Thiamethoxam and glyphosate are widely used in sugarcane production as an insecticide and ripener, respectively. In this study, the potential of these chemical products to also elicit phytotonic effects and enhance the physiological development and yield of sugarcane was evaluated. In field experiments, thiamethoxam and glyphosate were applied to sugarcane individually or in combination, and the effects of these chemical management strategies on sugarcane biometric and technological parameters were assessed. RESULTS: Thiamethoxam application improved biometric parameters, especially stalk yield. Glyphosate application increased sugar yield, despite reducing the number of stalks and consequently the stalk yield. CONCLUSIONS: Application of the insecticide thiamethoxam to sugarcane attenuates the depreciative effect of ripener (glyphosate) and has a potential phytotonic effect by increasing sugar yields in the early and late seasons. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer remains a health problem for men. Targeting androgen (AR) and estrogen (ER) receptors improves the outcomes of the disease, and many medicinal plants exert their effects by modulating these pathways. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to identify medicinal plants and their natural compounds that may modulate the AR and/or ER pathways in cell and animal models. A search was conducted across EMBASE, LILACS, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, with grey literature from Google SCHOLAR and ProQuest. Two authors independently selected eligible studies based on their titles and abstracts, and a third author resolved conflicts. Then, data from the full text of eligible studies were extracted and synthesized. In total, 75 studies were included. Results showed the effects of several different medicinal plants and natural compounds in reduction of AR and/or ER transcription and translation and AR secondary effects: cell growth reduction, induction of apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest. In animal models, tumor size reduction, increase in apoptosis, and downregulation of AR expression in tumors were also observed. No single phytochemical group concentrating molecules with anti‐AR and/or ER activity was identified. Nevertheless, several phytochemical compounds showed potential for future clinical studies in the management of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientia Agraria Paranaensis is the property of Revista Scientia Agraria Paranaensis 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 present study investigated the mathematical modeling foam-mat drying kinetics of cumbeba pulp and the effect of drying conditions on the color and contents of ascorbic acid, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds of the powder pulps obtained. Foam-mat drying was carried out in a forced air circulation oven at temperatures of 50, 60, and 70 °C, testing foam-mat thicknesses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm. The increase in the water removal rate is a result of the increase in air temperature and the decrease in the thickness of the foam layer. Among the empirical and semi-empirical mathematical models, the Midilli model was the one that best represented the drying curves in all conditions evaluated. Effective water diffusivity ranged from 1.037 × 10−9 to 6.103 × 10−9 m2 s−1, with activation energy of 25.212, 33.397, and 36.609 kJ mol−1 for foam thicknesses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm, respectively. Cumbeba powders showed light orangish colors and, as the drying temperature increased from 50 to 70 °C, for all thicknesses, the lightness value (L*) decreased and the values of redness (+a*) and yellowness (+b*) increased. Foam-mat drying at higher temperatures (60 and 70 °C) improved the retention of ascorbic acid and flavonoids, but reduced the content of phenolic compounds, while the increase in thickness, especially for flavonoids and phenolic compounds, caused reduction in their contents. The foam-mat drying method allowed obtaining a good-quality cumbeba pulp powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is one of the most important abiotic stresses responsible for reduced crop yields. Drought stress induces morphological and physiological changes in plants and severely impacts plant metabolism due to cellular oxidative stress, even in C4 crops, such as sugarcane. Seaweed extract-based biostimulants can mitigate negative plant responses caused by drought stress. However, the effects of foliar application of such biostimulants on sugarcane exposed to drought stress, particularly on plant metabolism, stalk and sugar yields, juice purity, and sugarcane technological quality, have received little attention. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar application of a seaweed extract-based biostimulant on late-harvest sugarcane during the driest period of the year. Three experiments were implemented in commercial sugarcane fields in Brazil in the 2018 (site 1), 2019 (site 2), and 2020 (site 3) harvest seasons. The treatments consisted of the application and no application of seaweed extract (SWE) as a foliar biostimulant in June (sites 2 and 3) or July (site 1). The treatments were applied to the fourth ratoon of sugarcane variety RB855536 at site 1 and the fifth and third ratoons of sugarcane variety SP803290 at sites 2 and 3, respectively. SWE was applied at a dose of 500 ml a.i. ha−1 in a water volume of 100 L ha−1. SWE mitigated the negative effects of drought stress and increased stalk yield per hectare by up to 3.08 Mg ha−1. In addition, SWE increased stalk sucrose accumulation, resulting in an increase in sugar yield of 3.4 kg Mg−1 per hectare and higher industrial quality of the raw material. In SWE-treated plants, Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity and antioxidant enzyme activity increased, while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased. Leaf analysis showed that SWE application efficiently improved metabolic activity, as evidenced by a decrease in carbohydrate reserve levels in leaves and an increase in total sugars. By positively stabilizing the plant's cellular redox balance, SWE increased biomass production, resulting in an increase in energy generation. Thus, foliar SWE application can alleviate drought stress while enhancing sugarcane development, stalk yield, sugar production, and plant physiological and enzymatic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposite films grown on a silica slide substrate are a suitable model for developing and, eventually, improving optical devices. Here optical properties of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) films coated with Eu3+ complex, grown directly on a silica slide substrate, were studied. The growth of the film was done by functionalizing the silica slide surface with an organosilane molecule, 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), by covalent bonding, followed by Ag+ interaction with subsequent reduction process, resulting in a yellow film typical of silver nanoparticles (NPs). Then, in the next step, to form the nanocomposite, the AgNP film was coated with the Eu3+ complex. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) peak characteristic of silver in the cubic face-centered phase (plane 111) was identified and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images confirmed that AgNPs bound to the silica substrate. The UV–Vis spectra displayed a plasmon absorption band, which was widened and slightly shifted to a higher wavelength due to the Eu3+ complex presence. Furthermore, the Eu3+ complex emission was increased in the AgNP film due to metal enhanced fluorescence (MEF). In order to exploit these emission properties, in some luminescent devices, the nanocomposite must be assembled in solid films. These changes in the optical properties of AgNP films when interacting with the Eu3+ complex are of great perspective for applications in optical devices, and this luminescent thin film configuration is an interesting system to explore nanocomposite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunting is intensely practiced in the Amazon and is related to the survival of riverside communities as a source of income and food. This study was conducted at Resex Cazumbá-Iracema between June and November, in the dry season and the beginning of the flood period. Twenty-one families were monitored, six hunting events were followed, and 23 C. denticulatus individuals were recorded, all of which were categorized as opportunistic. Among the studied individuals, 11 were males and 12 females, and those with a carapace over 40 cm were considered adults. The tortoise is captured mainly for food, but there are beliefs concerning its medicinal use in treating inflammatory diseases. Reptiles, in general, are among the least hunted species for food in the Amazon. This preference may be related to the higher mammals' biomass and the birds' species richness. However, its importance for consumption may vary according to the location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to test the use of measures obtained from freelisting as possible surrogates of the harvest rate of hunted species. For this purpose, we interviewed 100 rural and urban hunters in southwestern Amazonia to obtain the frequency of citations of each hunted species through freelisting and gather information on the number of individuals hunted per species in the last five hunting events through hunting recalls. We assessed the relationship between the percentage of records per species by each method through a generalized linear model, and then compared the predicted values obtained from this model with the values observed in our dataset using Pearson's correlation. During freelisting, fortythree taxa were listed in 608 citations as hunted by the informants. Freelisting provided data on around twice the number of species obtained from recalls. During the last five hunting trips, urban hunters reported the hunting of 164 individuals of 18 species, representing 54.5% of the freelisted species. Rural hunters caught 146 individuals of 21 species, 60.0% of the freelisted species. We found a strong logistic relationship between the harvest rates, i.e., percentage of individuals hunted per species from recalls, and the freelisting percentage citations of hunted species, with the estimated and observed values of harvest rates highly matching (Pearson's R = 0.98, p < 0.0001). The freelisting method allowed a good estimate of the composition and harvest rates of hunted species. The formula produced in this study can be used as a reference for further studies, enabling researchers to use freelisting effectively to assess the composition of hunted species and to address the difficulty of obtaining reliable data on species harvest rates in tropical forests, especially in short-term studies and contexts in which hunters distrust research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to analyze the profile of fishermen and fish trade during the pandemic (Covid-19) in Portel, Marajó, Brazil. The research was quantitative and qualitative, carried out with 18 artisanal fishermen. A questionnaire containing open and closed questions was used, addressing socioeconomic issues and the possible negative effects of the pandemic on marketing. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. All fishermen are men, over 25 years of age. The majority (83.3%) have been fishing for more than 10 years and have more than 4 people in the family (72.2%). A total of 83.3% are part of a social, fishing organization, and 88.9% are beneficiaries of some federal government program. A little more than half of the informants (55.5%) managed to develop fishing activities during the pandemic and did not spare a single hour of work, with a readjustment in the prices of most fish (79%). The production is intended only for direct marketing to the consumer and there was an increase in demand for fish (66.6%). More than half (61.1%) had an increase in family income, despite facing difficulties in developing fishing. The majority (83.3%) do not believe they will receive any help from the government. In conclusion, it was possible to know the profile of artisanal sinners and the consequences of the pandemic that were positive for the majority. Covid-19 affected the fishermen class, whether in their daily life, fishing activities, fish marketing or income obtained through it or through federal government programs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptide-based vaccines have demonstrated to be an important way to induce long-lived immune responses and, therefore, a promising strategy in the rational of vaccine development. As to malaria, among the classic vaccine targets, the Apical membrane antigen (AMA-1) was proven to have important B cell epitopes that can induce specific immune response and, hence, became key players for a vaccine approach. The peptides selection was carried out using a bioinformatic approach based on Hidden Markov Models profiles of known antigens and propensity scale methods based on hydrophilicity and secondary structure prediction. The antigenicity of the selected B-cell peptides was assessed by multiple serological assays using sera from acute P.vivax infected subjects. The synthetic peptides were recognized by 45.5%, 48.7% and 32.2% of infected subjects for peptides I, II and III respectively. Moreover, when synthetized together (tripeptide), the reactivity increases up to 62%, which is comparable to the reactivity found against the whole protein PvAMA-1 (57%). Furthermore, IgG reactivity against the tripeptide after depletion was reduced by 42%, indicating that these epitopes may be responsible for a considerable part of the protein immunogenicity. These results represent an excellent perspective regarding future chimeric vaccine constructions that may come to contemplate several targets with the potential to generate the robust and protective immune response that a vivax malaria vaccine needs to succeed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciências Sociais - Brazil is the property of Revista de Ciencias Socias do Universidade Federal do Ceara 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 Etnobiología is the property of Etnobiologia 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 Fisioterapia Brasil is the property of Atlantica Editora 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.)

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesis in dispersion, passivated by different molecules, has been widely studied for many years. Moreover, incorporation or synthesis of these AuNPs on substrates also target different applications. However, there is little research on AuNPs synthesized directly anchored on the substrate, using an amino-functionalized molecule as a reducing agent. In this contribution, we report the synthesis of AuNPs anchored on silica substrate in which 3-aminopropyltriethoxisilane (APTES) acted both as functionalizing agent—anchoring metal ion on substrate—as well as a non-conventional reducing agent by heat treatment, resulting in a facile synthesis route. Results show that APTES use in reduction stage led to smaller AuNPs with very similar sizes—5 nm average diameter, resulting in AuNPs films anchored on silica substrate more homogeneous and reproducible than using the conventional reducing agent (sodium borohydride). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization has rapidly increased in recent decades and the negative effects on biodiversity have been widely reported. Urban green areas can contribute to improving human well-being, maintaining biodiversity, and ecosystem services (e.g. pollination). Here we examine the evolution of studies on plant–pollinator interactions in urban ecosystems worldwide, reviewing also research funding and policy actions. We documented a significant increase in the scientific production on the theme in recent years, especially in the temperate region; tropical urban ecosystems are still neglected. Plant–pollinator interactions are threatened by urbanization in complex ways, depending on the studied group (plant or pollinator [generalist or specialist]) and landscape characteristics. Several research opportunities emerge from our review. Research funding and policy actions to pollination/pollinator in urban ecosystems are still scarce and concentrated in developed countries/temperate regions. To make urban green spaces contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services, transdisciplinary approaches (ecological–social–economic–cultural) are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nature & Conservation is the property of CBPC - Companhia Brasileira de Producao Cientifica 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 Nature & Conservation is the property of CBPC - Companhia Brasileira de Producao Cientifica 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.)

Cover crops promote nutrient cycling, and lime and gypsum can alter the soil physical attributes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lime and gypsum rates applied to a no-tillage system with addition of residues of three cover crops on the soil physical attributes. This experiment was carried out in chapadão do sul-ms. The treatments were comprised of three cover crops (Urochloa ruziziensis, fallow, and Pennisetum glaucum), with gypsum (0, 2.3 and 4.6 Mg ha-1) and lime applied at a dose of 0, 2, 4, 6 Mg ha-1).The attributes evaluated were: soil density, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity and penetration resistance. The soil of the experiment was classified an Oxisol. Cover crops and lime and gypsum improved macroporosity, microporosity and total porosity at all depths, 0-0.2 m. Millet presented lower values for penetration resistance with the lime application and without gypsum application. No residual effect on soil density was detected for lime and gypsum application or cover crops in the 0.1-0.2 m layer. Brazilian Cerrado producers will have a well-defined management system to follow aiming at improving the soil physical attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestriality in Platyrrhine primates is primarily associated with low arboreal resource availability, low predation risk when on the ground and increased contact time with human observers. To test the relationship between these variables and ground use frequency, we studied a group of endangered Coimbra-Filho's titi monkeys (Callicebus coimbrai) in a 14-ha forest fragment in north-eastern Brazil. Terrestriality data were collected on a monthly basis (33 months) using scan sampling procedures from July 2008 to July 2012. Overall, Coimbra-Filho's titi monkeys were recorded during 0.6% of observation time (113 out of 18,164 scans) on the ground. Most of the time on the ground was spent feeding on young leaves (71 records) and the least amount of time on fruits (14 records). Availability of arboreal foods, rainfall, and time of contact with human observers did not influence overall terrestrial behaviour (ground use). However, the timing and nature of the monkeys' terrestrial feeding was strongly related to the absence of arboreal fruit (β-estimate = −3.078) and young leaf (β-estimate = −3.515) food resources. We suggest that terrestrial feeding by Coimbra-Filho's titi monkeys could be an adaptation to low arboreal fruit availability and the exploitation of alternative food resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report fur-rubbing behavior of brown titi monkeys, Plecturocebus brunneus, using chewed leaves from (Fabaceae) and Piper tuberculatum (Piperaceae). These reports were obtained during systematic monitoring of titi monkeys from May until December 2019 (218 h) in an urban fragment forest in the Brazilian Amazon. Both plant species contain chemical substances in their leaves that potentially repel ectoparasites. The genus Piper is known for its repelling action due to the presence of amides, alkaloids and benzoic acid. The presence of dogs, cats and human settlements may contribute to an increase of ectoparasites, making a potential self-medication function of fur rubbing in this primate species plausible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pasos: Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural is the property of Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Politicas y Sociales 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.)

Objectives: This study was to carry out a prospective study on the patents reports of homeopathic formulations in the brazilian intellectual property bank, the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). Methods: This is a prospective research of patents referring to homeopathy products and medicines carried in May 2020. Searches were made for patents deposited with homeopathic purpose with the terms "homeopathy" and "homeopathic" from the first document until the last one deposited in 2019. We have found thirty-eight deposits with the search terms cited above, after exclusion of duplicates we selected twenty four. Results: Among the 24 patent reports selected, 15 (62.5%) were patents of invention. Among the classification of products, we highlight those of type A61K with 19 (79.1%). Twenty-four deposits were selected with the search terms "homeopathy" and "homeopathic". 20 (83.3%) deposits with the term "homeopathic" and 4 (16.66%) to the term "homeopathy". Among the reports stand out patents of homeopathic formulations 14 (58.3%). There were a greater number of deposits in the years 2009 and 2013, both with 4 (16.6%) deposits. Conclusion: After analyzing patents on homeopathic products at the intellectual property bank in Brazil, it is concluded that most are related to new formulations. It can be seen that in Brazil the interest in relation to the protection of intellectual property in this topic is still small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In emergency care, fast and efficient treatment is vital. The availability of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) allows healthcare professionals to access a patient's data promptly, which facilitates the decision-making process and saves time by not repeating medical procedures. Unfortunately, the complete EMR of a patient is often not available during an emergency situation to all treatment teams. Cloud services emerge as a promising solution to this problem by allowing ubiquitous access to information. However, EMR storage and sharing through clouds raise several concerns about security and privacy. To this end, we propose a protocol through which all treatment teams involved in the emergency care can securely decrypt relevant data from the patient's EMR and add new information about the patient's status. Furthermore, our protocol ensures that treatment teams will only access the patient's EMR for the period during which the patient is under their care. Finally, we present a formal security analysis of our protocol and some initial experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista FSA is the property of Revista FSA (Faculdade Santo Agostinho) 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.)